tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185504622024-03-13T16:34:46.113-07:00Dejalo ir. Dejalo fluir.littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-89219974783637442742012-01-24T17:20:00.000-08:002012-01-29T19:31:32.550-08:00Chile de Nuevo<span style="font-size:130%;">A spring mission to California, an epic in Alaska, more good times in the Gorge, another 6 months in Chile, a whirlwind visit to Thailand, a summer at <a href="http://riversportonline.com/">Riversport</a>, great times with the family, a coast-to-coast road trip with my lady...I would love to sit down and write a detailed report about everything that has happened since my last blog post nearly two years ago, but that's not going to happen right now.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH34sZ2zjchGlBmWbxgvYh89534X-0ThwBWlyaSYCIoOkacLwBvcR9dBItqmW1DhSQSfRhoI9S8bPdIQhLWAs2mgAHfI7cgGJdEo74B438xvDtzDh9X90UVKqCJnYGt6O-a3CN/s1600/IMG_7709.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH34sZ2zjchGlBmWbxgvYh89534X-0ThwBWlyaSYCIoOkacLwBvcR9dBItqmW1DhSQSfRhoI9S8bPdIQhLWAs2mgAHfI7cgGJdEo74B438xvDtzDh9X90UVKqCJnYGt6O-a3CN/s400/IMG_7709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703201682735871250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Grand Canyon with Cami</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">My present moment - Santiago, Chile. January 24th, 2012. CNN (English) is on the tele, and Obama is about to give his State of the Union Address. It's 10pm here and city lights have just replaced the last hint of daylight. I thought for a second that I should give my State of the Stouting Address, but I don't really feel I have the authority to do so. I do think it is funny to note that in just a few years, kayakers have gone from "running the shit" to "stouting" to "laying treats" to "running the brown," and now everone is "winning," like cracked out Charlie Sheen. By the way, my favorite Charlie Sheen quote - "I'm a rockstar from MARS!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I am reluctant to jump on the "winning" bandwagon, but I have to say it is great to see so many people making a fun lifestyle their priority, and I have yet to see any kayakers losing down here in Chile.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LteGQx9jIk8VlF1eWSppoV0pY6YNnkIW4aUPeq4BxbzfR5RKZ_NANM2cx4ZmaxeZBV0YzcYy_XOvbdHobsOmhmwomfP5wELcltBlrT0Qsu7vzTN_bBWUS41_sNrYD_nF57rT/s1600/IMG_9060.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LteGQx9jIk8VlF1eWSppoV0pY6YNnkIW4aUPeq4BxbzfR5RKZ_NANM2cx4ZmaxeZBV0YzcYy_XOvbdHobsOmhmwomfP5wELcltBlrT0Qsu7vzTN_bBWUS41_sNrYD_nF57rT/s400/IMG_9060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703227491702299042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Salto Palguin</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">After a month of no kayaking, I flew in last week frothing to get down some stouts while there was still a crew of boaters in Pucon. Day 1, Rodrigo and Max [Blackburn] picked me up at the bus station, and helped me get my stuff situated before they took off for a <a href="http://kayakpucon.net/">Kayak Pucon</a> rafting trip. Rodrigo and Ema have been so good to me over the years, and they run a great business, so it felt weird to be there for fun rather than prepping for the raft trip with my friends, but not too weird. I was stoked to be free to go do whatever, but because I am not working and I do not have a car, I am a "barnacle" at the mercy of those with wheels.<br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpNdkg4njONZZuQqTiCraUtPIG_1h5rjrcEn7O07CXKBn_8tS4REDhNXKEU2uHrKPYLmXkHUL-s0rTGESqtwQdRf7kAD2CCrGWw5mWe9LPobE6OD45TXnNBL_hjfteknh_nIq/s1600/IMG_9062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpNdkg4njONZZuQqTiCraUtPIG_1h5rjrcEn7O07CXKBn_8tS4REDhNXKEU2uHrKPYLmXkHUL-s0rTGESqtwQdRf7kAD2CCrGWw5mWe9LPobE6OD45TXnNBL_hjfteknh_nIq/s400/IMG_9062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703202901100184514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Put-in. This way.</span><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">Fortunately, I met up with the 3 Garcias, Fred, Anton and Gramos and we took a quick lap on the Upper Palguin down through the ultimate, Jedi-stroke-n-stomp wondrous, "Boof to Swim." At these low summer flows, it might be more appropriate to call it "Boof to Win."</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDZ2QHgqjZP3LH-Rjvedegj5EBmtf_IIYJOzw6rrbTVxImkaXqOjo5R8HJt97JSLeBTSUvS_mH52P1Kflq2hyphenhyphenKVljIqOyhf7uiEd1DRK3Pb5bhistEuPa1HlB3NFOUIT06aYG/s1600/IMG_9071.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDZ2QHgqjZP3LH-Rjvedegj5EBmtf_IIYJOzw6rrbTVxImkaXqOjo5R8HJt97JSLeBTSUvS_mH52P1Kflq2hyphenhyphenKVljIqOyhf7uiEd1DRK3Pb5bhistEuPa1HlB3NFOUIT06aYG/s400/IMG_9071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703228676201153698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Nate D-o-doubleG, boofing to...</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AdIeAj36j7L46HlHeLZhKMu2lZYqn5H3EEtOY0D1qoXgQIIEeTHLHfF4lUSja8Jg005_WNxoXk1LWdSlh6AXEtHJ-DPnX5us79jWwu9b4wRSt-ujmmFovGBehNgkKNl2LVmo/s1600/IMG_9106.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AdIeAj36j7L46HlHeLZhKMu2lZYqn5H3EEtOY0D1qoXgQIIEeTHLHfF4lUSja8Jg005_WNxoXk1LWdSlh6AXEtHJ-DPnX5us79jWwu9b4wRSt-ujmmFovGBehNgkKNl2LVmo/s400/IMG_9106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703230115164844034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Anton Immler executing a textbook "squart."</span><br /><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">Because it was super hot and becuase it is a particularly dry summer down here, we opted to go redneck it up at the Ojos De Caburgua on day 2. When there's no water in the creeks, cold beers and cliff jumping into ice-cold spring water is not a bad way to pass a hot summer day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Another great way to pass hot summer day is routing down one of the most scenic and committing gorges of the area, the Middle Fuy. The same crew was motivated to escape from the tourists in Pucon in order to spend the weekend camping on the banks of the pristine Lago Neltume, and we carpooled down with "Blue Balls" and the Rivers, Lakes and Oceans van stoked for laps on the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >other</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Middle.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzMFFRGR0kljO6NaCEARxtEoW_YKkdDXcfHmAszUCILJS4hflpVhYWTySQQWSSueIM9m0FF1_pKwJuDsg62kqlQtoeQi3BMckK98h4KGEaV46NypcYQCzvf9nB8eoX76IPeW1/s1600/IMG_8963.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzMFFRGR0kljO6NaCEARxtEoW_YKkdDXcfHmAszUCILJS4hflpVhYWTySQQWSSueIM9m0FF1_pKwJuDsg62kqlQtoeQi3BMckK98h4KGEaV46NypcYQCzvf9nB8eoX76IPeW1/s400/IMG_8963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703231482626186754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-size:100%;">"Do you think my stitches will stay in?"</span><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVT6jUNPa5nZpX-W9EWjlRmO62X0FB72l6j-nzRLv6ucsXnT7vmq57rQ27eG0d_ns6rIr3vCVCRHq7ue5iCLbOvbUldVPIqNhteyFbob2lQtLfIMLOyWExxKlxL_T5t4UDuZZ/s1600/puma.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVT6jUNPa5nZpX-W9EWjlRmO62X0FB72l6j-nzRLv6ucsXnT7vmq57rQ27eG0d_ns6rIr3vCVCRHq7ue5iCLbOvbUldVPIqNhteyFbob2lQtLfIMLOyWExxKlxL_T5t4UDuZZ/s400/puma.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703234776394961058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Salto del Puma. The majestic, mystical Middle Fuy starts here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">With 2-3 times as much water as I remembered from my last trip, the gorge felt pushy and more committing, but the rapids (minus a few portages) are quality at seemingly any level. Despite the tall and unpredictable seal-launch above, the marquee 40 footer was as good to go as ever. A campfire and a few cold beers made the transition to dirtbagging under the stars that much easier.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pi8698gKNVCnZh11LFmzCgGf3hN130NOkPImuh_HFT8tJP5CZCCenR2PDqLWEiNu_nYCIpQkO_j8UCe3lrXsMRLe_0_W6ylIEyAW_KAVdhRr0SGrtJtSYxtpFz84cHmLl7x3/s1600/IMG_8982.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pi8698gKNVCnZh11LFmzCgGf3hN130NOkPImuh_HFT8tJP5CZCCenR2PDqLWEiNu_nYCIpQkO_j8UCe3lrXsMRLe_0_W6ylIEyAW_KAVdhRr0SGrtJtSYxtpFz84cHmLl7x3/s400/IMG_8982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703237344205958850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Garcias preparing for launch.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z4ZU17ko5ak3-UL1YzirTHF3SNr8D_9yFYX5fxwysJATGPsGyVF0sJliFtzDAkBga8rYPJ3LvBvOUs_DDlLGj-QojaiOrk1U6yOl88h4frCsMHHLVdu92SH-EGFH3FkQQaiR/s1600/fred+fuy+seal+launch.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z4ZU17ko5ak3-UL1YzirTHF3SNr8D_9yFYX5fxwysJATGPsGyVF0sJliFtzDAkBga8rYPJ3LvBvOUs_DDlLGj-QojaiOrk1U6yOl88h4frCsMHHLVdu92SH-EGFH3FkQQaiR/s400/fred+fuy+seal+launch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703238361921703682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Dr. Gnar en route to the O.R.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWwIVCeaN8f991-VB4FVC41eARE0tZOsYZRbALlV7uDl-89HsKPIgWplofcZj_Slx5V-XXkIhg-qWE47sml4KhtnjZH7ewaXuJrJnympER2SuiiqEO-4-W_v6fgF3ozAC6aTv/s1600/anton+fuy+medio1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWwIVCeaN8f991-VB4FVC41eARE0tZOsYZRbALlV7uDl-89HsKPIgWplofcZj_Slx5V-XXkIhg-qWE47sml4KhtnjZH7ewaXuJrJnympER2SuiiqEO-4-W_v6fgF3ozAC6aTv/s400/anton+fuy+medio1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703239939400586034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Anton popped up on the downstream side of that giant ball of mist. B-D.</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">We fried up some eggs and ham on the fire in the morning before meeting Max and Ian for our 2nd lap. I was hoping to run the shit with Rodrigo, too, but he understandably opted to stay in Pucon with Ema to put the finishing touches on their new house. During that run I took a rowdy splat to eddysurf to swim in the lower gorge, just a short pool above the two hardest rapids. Fortunately no gear was lost, but it was a lesson in focus and responsibility, a reminder to respect every wave and eddyline on the river. Regardless, it was a hot day and the booty-beer at the take-out was refreshing. Eager to take advantage of the long summer days, Kayak Pucon guide Fede Medina rallied us for a run down the waterfalls of the classic Upper Fuy before we rolled back to Pucon that night.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SJPdsqynKScCMnJY5uiMT95ZsJdpVYxj817sWSNwMQn4Ov872Qm9HPe70ChDafoj2VjEzLTbqcXocgL8QkGftswS26ZRyslRNHbBD3ZFIoOGrvyp7ueOGS0AFKDVfyVnEmTx/s1600/max+fuymedio.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SJPdsqynKScCMnJY5uiMT95ZsJdpVYxj817sWSNwMQn4Ov872Qm9HPe70ChDafoj2VjEzLTbqcXocgL8QkGftswS26ZRyslRNHbBD3ZFIoOGrvyp7ueOGS0AFKDVfyVnEmTx/s400/max+fuymedio.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703243283410590354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Max-steeze with a personal 1st D of the big one.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAbIX20ka4B8kHNYacEE4STMgNF0obWBv30FiBvDv_qS2SgOcUbhWdSaGJDzgMlRIyLzfcVAgEPHebS7OkPHnUrFV6bKgTQ0J11oXo2xd3gMBV_zREI__gzBdlT4UteY7xdux/s1600/IMG_9049.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAbIX20ka4B8kHNYacEE4STMgNF0obWBv30FiBvDv_qS2SgOcUbhWdSaGJDzgMlRIyLzfcVAgEPHebS7OkPHnUrFV6bKgTQ0J11oXo2xd3gMBV_zREI__gzBdlT4UteY7xdux/s400/IMG_9049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703246882401144706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Buena vista on the drive back to town. Volcan Villarica from the Southwest.</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Highlights from the last few days of my week in Pucon include: more "Boof to Win," Nate's last day on </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >The</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Middle, Fred and Evan stomping Stout 10, sleeping in duckies, sleeping in style at the new KP house on the Liucura, Lower Trancura rafting, more asados and more cliff jumping (Tres Saltos is epic, but watch your dome on the belly-sliding front flips...ask </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://egcreekin.blogspot.com/">Evan Garcia</a>).</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah_Y2rBWPSdCxy5KisKQgJsCGDHwpKPL_lPYWNCdkEhD7HLZQ-SOrkhTy83KCOtMUVurtl7b46PHri9NTo1kei5F1gBvMUZ0TwCPeFYCYCJSMbynk4MOYwYPqjis78whPD_7K/s1600/evan+scout+stout10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah_Y2rBWPSdCxy5KisKQgJsCGDHwpKPL_lPYWNCdkEhD7HLZQ-SOrkhTy83KCOtMUVurtl7b46PHri9NTo1kei5F1gBvMUZ0TwCPeFYCYCJSMbynk4MOYwYPqjis78whPD_7K/s400/evan+scout+stout10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703248698360002642" border="0" /></a>Damn that's stout!</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlfV3rZl7tD0Z1WfDA05YOZbCzcZ7FlTb9u-oCEQeXEwyuMKVlP-mqY4VGwJ45_sZs_RxGDn0fNcBW0yEk2BtihHzK5dfmB-lqxyKFxZ0dAe3XFCtJCEx8fGQFI1m5D7rIjvF/s1600/evan+stout10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlfV3rZl7tD0Z1WfDA05YOZbCzcZ7FlTb9u-oCEQeXEwyuMKVlP-mqY4VGwJ45_sZs_RxGDn0fNcBW0yEk2BtihHzK5dfmB-lqxyKFxZ0dAe3XFCtJCEx8fGQFI1m5D7rIjvF/s400/evan+stout10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703249911574078450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Only 70ft vert to go after this one.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT9JaUZR8v-TK1VcL9ZTBhph53xzu7_766XUpvq1U39XNbGgbsf8tulN6MQ_BNA3UwA7OBPyBlu1RwDF0k8TZSsj8Y-CCOSjUqmU42pZTgr5w1u25QDKYwsxd5u9-ZcrSgvDL/s1600/fred+stout10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT9JaUZR8v-TK1VcL9ZTBhph53xzu7_766XUpvq1U39XNbGgbsf8tulN6MQ_BNA3UwA7OBPyBlu1RwDF0k8TZSsj8Y-CCOSjUqmU42pZTgr5w1u25QDKYwsxd5u9-ZcrSgvDL/s400/fred+stout10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703251415387811138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">After this line on Stout 10, I don't think Fred will be seal-launching anymore.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl21Ql5M2g4L9NSEkA6-W-LKEiEEA378TgCwqjFHi4KILtO3IPxu4JshfDcGke0U8G1t6m-JO3BE62lZQvzzMkRFaUGQGTm7t9ei_P9jbV2hd-i6hZb8ArrW5A_bSVyU0lSG3z/s1600/medio+start.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl21Ql5M2g4L9NSEkA6-W-LKEiEEA378TgCwqjFHi4KILtO3IPxu4JshfDcGke0U8G1t6m-JO3BE62lZQvzzMkRFaUGQGTm7t9ei_P9jbV2hd-i6hZb8ArrW5A_bSVyU0lSG3z/s400/medio+start.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703253217441340370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Nate opted for the more prudent but equally scary seal-launch.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC0hCZsUYMgFpqkIF4D-7pKkejwFI4QfL0ADt-H7Xu0EsN1pUpHGWxcPuccadpWJ6QEv-vciSHrSAELgiteDubypMNQuxGfHtNMdBbzReYkcZy8UdWiVQqboj_JboCopdp6kx/s1600/nate+medio.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC0hCZsUYMgFpqkIF4D-7pKkejwFI4QfL0ADt-H7Xu0EsN1pUpHGWxcPuccadpWJ6QEv-vciSHrSAELgiteDubypMNQuxGfHtNMdBbzReYkcZy8UdWiVQqboj_JboCopdp6kx/s400/nate+medio.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703254977151221730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">This is why most kayakers come to Pucon these days. Nate wanted to ride into the rainbow one last time before heading back to winter in Montana.</span><br /><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;">Now I'm excited to go hit the beach with my girlfriend, then we're off to the South for more boating, more asados and more "ganando" before I have to find a job and she needs to get back to classes. Ganando = winning.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Special thanks to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://nrsweb.com/">NRS</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> and </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://astralbuoyancy.com/">Astral Buoyancy</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> for your continued support!</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><br /></span></div>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-91158455526930769422010-05-15T00:33:00.001-07:002010-11-22T05:21:31.165-08:00Welcome to the Northwest! Rodrigo goes to MetlakoBefore making the trip north to the USA, Rodrigo told me he could return home happy if he ran Metlako Falls on Eagle Creek. It was one of our first stops of his month long trip. This was my 2nd run of the falls and the first for Michael and Rodrigo. We had a perfect level and rare sunny day for April. Just the three of us hiked up and paddled down to the car. As they say in Chile, "Filete!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5z1hjRC7oAbhthah41lqNZLo5CX9Zp-jec22IN5TfUjmMQ9LSbkfsp_KtnDwbzyPdiQ3PTaR7uDgZ16q-wUtoY8onKNuIvUEyp16z4faxA9v2-PXufFHqQ0ONsEryLrUwh7U/s1600/DSC_1680.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5z1hjRC7oAbhthah41lqNZLo5CX9Zp-jec22IN5TfUjmMQ9LSbkfsp_KtnDwbzyPdiQ3PTaR7uDgZ16q-wUtoY8onKNuIvUEyp16z4faxA9v2-PXufFHqQ0ONsEryLrUwh7U/s320/DSC_1680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471398082225378002" border="0" /></a>Rodrigo was a little concerned about the hike. photo by Michael Shields<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-gsOonFWFvPrbMM4EQk8Jy_gDRzYNZgExY0q8bIXGFuz-t3WqAbP_NbH6PXRLYACCszPsO4OVW4a9hVA_iODJOp3dPHuer3tg4XL7mdg3Seyeb1ogYZrzRCU2GY1jZsz5IKL/s1600/IMGP5032.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-gsOonFWFvPrbMM4EQk8Jy_gDRzYNZgExY0q8bIXGFuz-t3WqAbP_NbH6PXRLYACCszPsO4OVW4a9hVA_iODJOp3dPHuer3tg4XL7mdg3Seyeb1ogYZrzRCU2GY1jZsz5IKL/s320/IMGP5032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471398110228152530" border="0" /></a>Do you guys see a waterfall around here?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQhDK2Lzl8p417isul9BAfDCN4jQe-8ruwDVUTcklWbA06daHqpUWKiDFbpxBD7fyzyZ0MzberW1qGVPvefYlLJik5yXY9xlwX5mawpigUSFyNCawKptEHhlLSU84SnDrKPdH/s1600/DSC_1686.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQhDK2Lzl8p417isul9BAfDCN4jQe-8ruwDVUTcklWbA06daHqpUWKiDFbpxBD7fyzyZ0MzberW1qGVPvefYlLJik5yXY9xlwX5mawpigUSFyNCawKptEHhlLSU84SnDrKPdH/s320/DSC_1686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471398093129913074" border="0" /></a>I love this place. photo by Michael Shields<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUjzEmbqtwo-57szc8dh6ec1G4_0y1VWqdSv3Jnt4FtN8Onerj_Im4zFAScuid_uuHmNstS0YAhAzn4yBTAs3F9lxdnlW1rh9DwblANbhyphenhyphenWmra41FS7E1mV15VkAPpQfa1sRC/s1600/DSC_1688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUjzEmbqtwo-57szc8dh6ec1G4_0y1VWqdSv3Jnt4FtN8Onerj_Im4zFAScuid_uuHmNstS0YAhAzn4yBTAs3F9lxdnlW1rh9DwblANbhyphenhyphenWmra41FS7E1mV15VkAPpQfa1sRC/s320/DSC_1688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471398101723109186" border="0" /></a>It's a long way down. photo by Michael Shields<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFGDKUtDnd9m8Ifne36BW2l9B9avrpUWjJJQHKwfgV9_7nNrjyvANAUcyO3sy4e2sHQ2tOZeI11mBieLaaZgvytx860jQ3QwlBXzEIuxLAO0kY0vUqMvwgyvWB4yZjyc7mAFb/s1600/DSC_1689.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFGDKUtDnd9m8Ifne36BW2l9B9avrpUWjJJQHKwfgV9_7nNrjyvANAUcyO3sy4e2sHQ2tOZeI11mBieLaaZgvytx860jQ3QwlBXzEIuxLAO0kY0vUqMvwgyvWB4yZjyc7mAFb/s320/DSC_1689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471399688916132018" border="0" /></a>Rodrigo lined her up perfectly from the top. photo by Michael Shields<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskMLLX4Nev_yHtQn66LIYN8eY3hw7ijtTnfT0sF-cfdjsGVcx9RXV7NBASuH-jMHtoYnAF6GFYlIMI7PX4ah_OlXc_D0zcEJh9BPptw-Fib93ieyrmZs1Ux-KFsAzWpEdwoJZ/s1600/IMGP7787.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskMLLX4Nev_yHtQn66LIYN8eY3hw7ijtTnfT0sF-cfdjsGVcx9RXV7NBASuH-jMHtoYnAF6GFYlIMI7PX4ah_OlXc_D0zcEJh9BPptw-Fib93ieyrmZs1Ux-KFsAzWpEdwoJZ/s320/IMGP7787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471399664537828242" border="0" /></a>Yeah buddy!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNva8ICzu5xYcJPjpiK8KC9o1paXfOHyGHsipNInwi1p8WK2GSeptFr4CzTj2hncpOJitKTbg2hcFcNqi1A9As3Z2A7-xnrqPD3XnxWryjwjznoC3pCbbAZJAY1jBcI-eYEkO/s1600/IMGP7792.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNva8ICzu5xYcJPjpiK8KC9o1paXfOHyGHsipNInwi1p8WK2GSeptFr4CzTj2hncpOJitKTbg2hcFcNqi1A9As3Z2A7-xnrqPD3XnxWryjwjznoC3pCbbAZJAY1jBcI-eYEkO/s320/IMGP7792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471399671856696578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgi4D1LdCl_o1rEvcJPUZ00Rocq_U_DvYJERBLPJlx2xOyT5GX4oGqVZvnA4CcVRCDxaayQC1CPcyIWQkMAD0qivUqDW9NHZ2InVuxoM_ZcaWvTrIthv3HNVCaIk2YqBNpbgW/s1600/IMGP7806.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgi4D1LdCl_o1rEvcJPUZ00Rocq_U_DvYJERBLPJlx2xOyT5GX4oGqVZvnA4CcVRCDxaayQC1CPcyIWQkMAD0qivUqDW9NHZ2InVuxoM_ZcaWvTrIthv3HNVCaIk2YqBNpbgW/s320/IMGP7806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471399680478795922" border="0" /></a>The Stoutmaster prepares for freefall.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pojPnd03shM5RvxcmJsAzrKKLtn2v1U5tUMAAoHFdjZvsNVTFGZ7Q1SJhDjzROCtBtyHsGBGQbLLr1vBhcsQ9vs0OIjWFGzSQ0fUC5ZiR05-AvyU1XK5kaADzinWxBDsXDnA/s1600/IMGP5054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pojPnd03shM5RvxcmJsAzrKKLtn2v1U5tUMAAoHFdjZvsNVTFGZ7Q1SJhDjzROCtBtyHsGBGQbLLr1vBhcsQ9vs0OIjWFGzSQ0fUC5ZiR05-AvyU1XK5kaADzinWxBDsXDnA/s320/IMGP5054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471399650382876146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://kayakpucon.net/">www.kayakpucon.net</a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5z1hjRC7oAbhthah41lqNZLo5CX9Zp-jec22IN5TfUjmMQ9LSbkfsp_KtnDwbzyPdiQ3PTaR7uDgZ16q-wUtoY8onKNuIvUEyp16z4faxA9v2-PXufFHqQ0ONsEryLrUwh7U/s1600/DSC_1680.JPG"><br /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-85254873292451784052010-05-14T23:37:00.000-07:002010-05-15T00:33:01.719-07:00Terremoto Tour - On the road with Jess and Ryan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jieOX3J7exT70NXVCfkD6JeczuKw7w208DUfibQc_cIwTY1eBFEF4Ru9zoDuoV5NAQCf-nCrQj2AcDPCs6fH1Ta6xi7VM6cF2guYdEQ4qcn0zhN8GBYhMh8RRx_juPu03t7s/s1600/IMG_4600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jieOX3J7exT70NXVCfkD6JeczuKw7w208DUfibQc_cIwTY1eBFEF4Ru9zoDuoV5NAQCf-nCrQj2AcDPCs6fH1Ta6xi7VM6cF2guYdEQ4qcn0zhN8GBYhMh8RRx_juPu03t7s/s320/IMG_4600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471394115481741666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxD8wDPP62Px7iBiD0SM73ek0P9wfNxXYkJhhRhPjaIifosSTqeC94UTx8V5tzSJMlCQmVgAD7xM5WKLqjK750HP0KBVXG4aRP6dmsFk0NCXdfp9gJ4LkOmi94Y_EarrFbdAf/s1600/IMG_4795.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxD8wDPP62Px7iBiD0SM73ek0P9wfNxXYkJhhRhPjaIifosSTqeC94UTx8V5tzSJMlCQmVgAD7xM5WKLqjK750HP0KBVXG4aRP6dmsFk0NCXdfp9gJ4LkOmi94Y_EarrFbdAf/s320/IMG_4795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471394105752215474" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhWtfiaQLCdZLtLuD6G1r5ryOxXP_RoMIdoQF1-hsT08nIwXY0VyBsy4AIZOnmT1SrRuiLXGDThNHLByZ-FlbCU752x4E-Fd35DKEFrxs4aReJfitqfoujdttiI-daH10HOFq/s1600/IMG_5213.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhWtfiaQLCdZLtLuD6G1r5ryOxXP_RoMIdoQF1-hsT08nIwXY0VyBsy4AIZOnmT1SrRuiLXGDThNHLByZ-FlbCU752x4E-Fd35DKEFrxs4aReJfitqfoujdttiI-daH10HOFq/s320/IMG_5213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471394099524252482" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF-UJZ8qqsYc9mIwj9PYd1lY0UzGF9KqaalMUSYvo82_rVbwbsyS1Kri8cKcHJauVg9ztjWgQrTTLcgAlhXM1ih2WHKDZLluxr0sNSnXHNLD0qiq_kOFsvxqBG1NtdYqY3F9b/s1600/IMG_4966.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF-UJZ8qqsYc9mIwj9PYd1lY0UzGF9KqaalMUSYvo82_rVbwbsyS1Kri8cKcHJauVg9ztjWgQrTTLcgAlhXM1ih2WHKDZLluxr0sNSnXHNLD0qiq_kOFsvxqBG1NtdYqY3F9b/s320/IMG_4966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471391658397776146" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJu1k_GeboaXSLba6dQM9774VRscn2-Tfek31XWJxG1wOJkUncXr2i4-iyVpBERgi3zH-qY3upgII2PkR0SpOIO0rjIWLSkzSUd348azVca00pxLF9zKEnbQ17HTy7p_N3iuRQ/s1600/IMG_4961.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJu1k_GeboaXSLba6dQM9774VRscn2-Tfek31XWJxG1wOJkUncXr2i4-iyVpBERgi3zH-qY3upgII2PkR0SpOIO0rjIWLSkzSUd348azVca00pxLF9zKEnbQ17HTy7p_N3iuRQ/s320/IMG_4961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471391651215994130" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHNEgqh-PnIOwb3FiF3SHjT0LzqE44wrZr6MxXNiuL-vsCrKnIKGISjuihCVqsGm933Uoy4FmnZb9PdHN46o2COLxFsj14SvpYm8pW4Kfm1zKku2O-y3r3XjWuuJjoMWXZi5h/s1600/IMG_5098.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHNEgqh-PnIOwb3FiF3SHjT0LzqE44wrZr6MxXNiuL-vsCrKnIKGISjuihCVqsGm933Uoy4FmnZb9PdHN46o2COLxFsj14SvpYm8pW4Kfm1zKku2O-y3r3XjWuuJjoMWXZi5h/s320/IMG_5098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471391640053418034" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgynnCEYeV8wWl0gEamkKqWUiuUKbZ4Cl96pel61b9847-WD8vFuypI7AmKQliIaZqpx9zu52FeFD5M5WB5sHzPC8ka_IbgnrxPNLwELzoc1fOc9lU2qqt88L3WQGHOJAZT8bb/s1600/IMG_5166.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgynnCEYeV8wWl0gEamkKqWUiuUKbZ4Cl96pel61b9847-WD8vFuypI7AmKQliIaZqpx9zu52FeFD5M5WB5sHzPC8ka_IbgnrxPNLwELzoc1fOc9lU2qqt88L3WQGHOJAZT8bb/s320/IMG_5166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471391632074326242" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeC9vGIDzX4H-fT9n18obNmk9boI04cQ1nKRvYEP5RK0zVbccXYSpaU0Osv4PzPmlN0rmiUBaKaz-2yW0v2Wv9vTm7OrL3616DlU0RnvH4_Sb0gR_Y78Eljd5F5iS4EGMFeAV/s1600/IMG_5526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeC9vGIDzX4H-fT9n18obNmk9boI04cQ1nKRvYEP5RK0zVbccXYSpaU0Osv4PzPmlN0rmiUBaKaz-2yW0v2Wv9vTm7OrL3616DlU0RnvH4_Sb0gR_Y78Eljd5F5iS4EGMFeAV/s320/IMG_5526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471391627344286018" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb48P80z9W4e2zaELX4S0h2mZ9CEc-ETPsbMci829PP-_ShjajBbNUsJk_geAUWTocCPsBU3afTh_0Ci6AMuyrxr2GUPoORX_qxuWE_D87I5yLE2baKB3CG-4vyigpj_XBo7v/s1600/IMG_5157.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb48P80z9W4e2zaELX4S0h2mZ9CEc-ETPsbMci829PP-_ShjajBbNUsJk_geAUWTocCPsBU3afTh_0Ci6AMuyrxr2GUPoORX_qxuWE_D87I5yLE2baKB3CG-4vyigpj_XBo7v/s320/IMG_5157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471389145694678722" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB53rwtuSeQc8rXoO0tN4-Wuy5v-FGE70ncn5BjdzkHy-Mm3NGwOx_SAe9x7u_zYH0ZzxjuMxJfIjfgBhuo9tIMHktEUhPz1Id0rjY9ZgGOzByZIaDZGKlZ3PwcxPDdTyMHC1/s1600/IMG_5288.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB53rwtuSeQc8rXoO0tN4-Wuy5v-FGE70ncn5BjdzkHy-Mm3NGwOx_SAe9x7u_zYH0ZzxjuMxJfIjfgBhuo9tIMHktEUhPz1Id0rjY9ZgGOzByZIaDZGKlZ3PwcxPDdTyMHC1/s320/IMG_5288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471394129592528658" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalJxd7Fw-uqnsKDnNrvVHOzPPL2SmSVDLUMoapn0kf-Uf6ZWfwfzDSeaXuozs4dE8qUW2yeOuZ_p0BiyDJdwxGyHetdxtz5HIjlKzxCNHN8SDmIyipqk1sSMKW1NvPTSKgNPE/s1600/IMG_5331.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalJxd7Fw-uqnsKDnNrvVHOzPPL2SmSVDLUMoapn0kf-Uf6ZWfwfzDSeaXuozs4dE8qUW2yeOuZ_p0BiyDJdwxGyHetdxtz5HIjlKzxCNHN8SDmIyipqk1sSMKW1NvPTSKgNPE/s320/IMG_5331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471394117926544258" border="0" /></a>photo by Jessica Land<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk25BWTxXLE4rh_NXuy25e4-i72v7Glu-FTkFNGZ9D1cYERFjrZg4OQQ_cBk-XRMj9B3alfnIXHJz0jQtc40NIBmpJSLKniv-WFza_O_Rr3bE1ZR2eC9WYyJgPUk13n7QLqZSp/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk25BWTxXLE4rh_NXuy25e4-i72v7Glu-FTkFNGZ9D1cYERFjrZg4OQQ_cBk-XRMj9B3alfnIXHJz0jQtc40NIBmpJSLKniv-WFza_O_Rr3bE1ZR2eC9WYyJgPUk13n7QLqZSp/s320/IMG_4910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471389142562796802" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqWsqr6U2dF0sNd_-5-u6uQrXbPEsumVi8hQa3CFUEaGM5eHkD3lm-s55sLno9Z1qnIDHyRh6WJZWDni0wBqc1pRfK2goQAsUQ-e3AplqQmOKuxLCk47treZMGoTyVQQyHEUk/s1600/IMG_4847.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqWsqr6U2dF0sNd_-5-u6uQrXbPEsumVi8hQa3CFUEaGM5eHkD3lm-s55sLno9Z1qnIDHyRh6WJZWDni0wBqc1pRfK2goQAsUQ-e3AplqQmOKuxLCk47treZMGoTyVQQyHEUk/s320/IMG_4847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471389130907214002" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kEHsql0o5APm5hF6Ejv2m96X3ktJ7Q8ZUSY3Z7mKQx05Ncp_BsYUGfhPwQ0K3rr6v2-1ZMhSPjt_A4dGjpKTKr4P9tpKz_KhqnCPoDHKMoH68pd1QWKOq_SdbqyIfGToG4Y7/s1600/IMG_4684.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kEHsql0o5APm5hF6Ejv2m96X3ktJ7Q8ZUSY3Z7mKQx05Ncp_BsYUGfhPwQ0K3rr6v2-1ZMhSPjt_A4dGjpKTKr4P9tpKz_KhqnCPoDHKMoH68pd1QWKOq_SdbqyIfGToG4Y7/s320/IMG_4684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471389122527477378" border="0" /></a><br />photo by Jessica Land<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IEKxvDANc8d8FOk7sMkhkz46ztrlc18G2qQTtbni-Ip36uN_qxapcBI26Ko_WwzofWNITTQmmZF4DfvZLl2K8QaLf8nPxti82cz8Y7haXs1fi4k85RJRoNc1KVzZbfF9_nGP/s1600/IMG_4594.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IEKxvDANc8d8FOk7sMkhkz46ztrlc18G2qQTtbni-Ip36uN_qxapcBI26Ko_WwzofWNITTQmmZF4DfvZLl2K8QaLf8nPxti82cz8Y7haXs1fi4k85RJRoNc1KVzZbfF9_nGP/s320/IMG_4594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471389114631731426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRXHzOUfGK5kwx4SB1UpZkkXH8eUrcA5RpghSjeUrCAFuBNLEJOFCJ3ZyDjqXUfiO635GEUKanAEKT5btQANoxSjQlgiRABgSx78aD3vGiZUJNAlv4ZHb4hrU6RHLPLc-FFaL/s1600/IMG_5690.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRXHzOUfGK5kwx4SB1UpZkkXH8eUrcA5RpghSjeUrCAFuBNLEJOFCJ3ZyDjqXUfiO635GEUKanAEKT5btQANoxSjQlgiRABgSx78aD3vGiZUJNAlv4ZHb4hrU6RHLPLc-FFaL/s320/IMG_5690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471394379861195538" border="0" /></a><br />About a week after the earthquake, I joined up with Jess and Ryan for a trip to the coast. We loaded up the van with our surfboards, camping gear and food and supplies for people who might be in need. We met a ton of great people and surfed some beautiful waves. Ryan and Jess brought the love! For more photos and great writing, check out their <a href="http://jessryansouth.blogspot.com">blog</a>.littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-58022114148600463972010-05-14T21:29:00.000-07:002010-05-14T23:36:23.264-07:0024 hours - Earthquake in ChileTree branches scratched at the roof. The house shook. Windows rattled. The lamp tipped over on a bedside table in my room. Glasses crashed to the floor in the kitchen and in the living room. The entire house began to bounce and rock and sway from side to side. Jared and I both broke from our heavy slumber and ran out of our rooms at the same time.<br /><br />We shouted at each other, “Dude, what the fuck is happening?”<br /><br />Thinking it was a bad storm, I stuck my head out of the open, bathroom window. The sensation was what I imagine to be the cabin swept away in a tornado, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, but there was no wind. As I surveyed the creaking woodwork I said, “I think our house is falling apart!”<br /><br />We ran out of the front door in our boxers. Jared shouted as I followed, “Holy shit, bro, the ground is moving, too,”<br /><br />“Dude…” I said with a confused expression as I leap off of the porch.<br />Jared said, “I think it’s an earthquake.”<br /><br />“Holy shit..”<br /><br />The earth started shaking around 4am and kept shaking for nearly 3 minutes. Several aftershocks followed through dawn. We discovered later in the morning that it had registered in the high 8's on the Richter Scale near its epicenter, and a solid 7.5 in Pucon.<br /><br />The power was out but water flowed from the tap. Cell phones did not work. A heat wave brought one of the most pleasantly warm and windless days of the summer. Jared and I raced into the center of town on our bicycles, late for work. The sun was bright and the sky blue. No buildings or streets seemed to sustain any cosmetic damage. Businesses were open and active. Did we dream this?<br /><br />As we rounded the corner onto the main street, we were shocked to see a line of vehicles waiting for fuel that stretched past our line of sight. People looked tired and concerned but patient. This was the last weekend of summer for Chilean vacationers, and the second largest city in the nation and the closest city to the epicenter, Concepcion, had been shaken like a late-night cocktail at a disco. Santiago had reportedly sustained significant damage to its infrastructure and airport. Were homes okay? Loved ones? No one knew. It was time to go home and find out. For many, the earthquake had spiked an urge for flight and an exodus began.<br /><br />We made it to the Kayak Pucon office to find owners, Rodrigo and Ema, and our driver Mauricio discussing the nights events and rumors of its magnitude and destruction. Rodrigo said he was drinking and dancing with hordes of tourists in the local party spot, Mamas and Tapas, with long time friend and client Emilio when the earth shook the bottles off of the wall behind the bar. Ema was alone in their home, waiting for Rodrigo to return. They exchanged looks, one of wry apology and one of understanding, and then laughed in amazement and relief.<br /><br />That day there would be no rafting or kayaking trips. The river had been temporarily closed for fear of an unstable riverbed. The volcano had also been closed. Tourism was canceled for the week. Rodrigo said, "This is really bad, bro. Chile is broken."<br /><br />Friends from Eugene, Oregon, Ryan and Jessica Lambert were camped at the Kayak Pucon land on the Liucura River. They pulled into town and met up with us at the office just after Jared and I had finished telling our tale of the quake. They related their experience as equally surreal, wildly awakened by the moving earth beneath. They were soundly sleeping in their van and had initially thought in their sleepy confusion that someone or some animal had been rocking the van from the outside.<br /><br />With no power and no work and no official news of the true significance of what had happened to Chile, we collectively decided there was nothing better to do than to celebrate life in the sunshine. We made a run to the store for some food and libations and packed into Ryan and Jess's van for a day on the water. We passed the entire day in front of Rodrigo's family's cabins on the Lago Villarica, soaking up sun on a floating dock and playing around on a stand-up paddle board that had been left as a gift by Dan Gavere. Relative to the earth's chaotic night, the tranquility of that day was remarkable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybrY7bqGImQTU6-iR50p5Z_SPC1milZS1hTaqOIZ78MzToBbMnUwRtoOXhIhlHQMJsEBrzJA5iJlj_E5_9umKMlaIOrfIzVnKh2LjnB5UXKYzgsNo7JkDW_PPMxHZlZoEfY-n/s1600/101_1683.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybrY7bqGImQTU6-iR50p5Z_SPC1milZS1hTaqOIZ78MzToBbMnUwRtoOXhIhlHQMJsEBrzJA5iJlj_E5_9umKMlaIOrfIzVnKh2LjnB5UXKYzgsNo7JkDW_PPMxHZlZoEfY-n/s320/101_1683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471380879340227378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WLzsYHi1LXd5i58LYKwlAoG4kGH4cjSrAtQQINBg79yew5zOe_F2-IAVVSinikUuK_HCMP2sFQaXz_JQyL0JOrwQVLyA4xe7QTOlGy0fDFtRz6dE5Rv2paZBvhRQ45HIq7IS/s1600/101_1693.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WLzsYHi1LXd5i58LYKwlAoG4kGH4cjSrAtQQINBg79yew5zOe_F2-IAVVSinikUuK_HCMP2sFQaXz_JQyL0JOrwQVLyA4xe7QTOlGy0fDFtRz6dE5Rv2paZBvhRQ45HIq7IS/s320/101_1693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471380905012664002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-XaasiBsugE1iskinaeIVXgFz3NTf30fFZ_Y1A_iXsM7o-0QnNeQStPqFP67ARVo_8mP2J86gRBgvWk2DfUGNljz9I2gLUSBa7q7BLH6Mef_meKel9RZv69nTSUgqNq3KjwL/s1600/101_1697.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-XaasiBsugE1iskinaeIVXgFz3NTf30fFZ_Y1A_iXsM7o-0QnNeQStPqFP67ARVo_8mP2J86gRBgvWk2DfUGNljz9I2gLUSBa7q7BLH6Mef_meKel9RZv69nTSUgqNq3KjwL/s320/101_1697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471380880906671858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidbmMVizozkbOFidfNGbFUQa0Fj8pZeQC2W9haPSefZfDe7qmNmqOd_7MEtgkDGT-ZxJ3F9xLu4LI2zftstvQInD4PvliloM8gPA-N7qfU8AdTAmsO8HBZ2bAq1xWw9yWxT3N/s1600/101_1710.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidbmMVizozkbOFidfNGbFUQa0Fj8pZeQC2W9haPSefZfDe7qmNmqOd_7MEtgkDGT-ZxJ3F9xLu4LI2zftstvQInD4PvliloM8gPA-N7qfU8AdTAmsO8HBZ2bAq1xWw9yWxT3N/s320/101_1710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471380894526146242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYnnSKiN6PPSJX-t5ussQo50QZWaVPFAFoXQZyM23lAFo3ppWyu2y43gfeLkYTyrHp-geKHim5NRUOEK4fEsD79ELs4ktoEnCWDNRGG-23QwFr-myibPYnWLJQbNOOT9X_6v9/s1600/101_1717.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYnnSKiN6PPSJX-t5ussQo50QZWaVPFAFoXQZyM23lAFo3ppWyu2y43gfeLkYTyrHp-geKHim5NRUOEK4fEsD79ELs4ktoEnCWDNRGG-23QwFr-myibPYnWLJQbNOOT9X_6v9/s320/101_1717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471380910314523650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Only later that evening did we discover the reach and power of the earthquake. Rodrigo told us again, "This is really bad for Chile, boys." Power had returned and broadcasts of images of collapsed bridges, fallen buildings, cracked and sunken highways, tsunami-flooded coastal towns, looters and the injured. Ryan and Jess dropped us off in town, where the streets were eerily empty but a few restaurants and pubs were full of people glued to televisions, discussing the death count and sharing stories of both tragedy and good fortune. One of our friends had been on a parked bus when a terminal's roof collapsed, but managed to escape unscathed. Another friend told us of her friends who had been crushed and severely injured in a disco on the central coast. We had yet to hear from our buddies who were bus traveling from Pucon to Santiago at the time of the earthquake.<br /><br />The "celebrate life philosophy" carried us through the night. I vaguely remember mobbing to the lake and drinking rum and cokes on the beach in town with our local friends after the bars had sent us on our way. At 4am the full moon shone enough silver light to brighten smiling and thoughtful faces that stared out at its reflection on the water.littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-62486097474422971912010-02-08T06:10:00.000-08:002010-02-08T09:58:43.441-08:00Lifestyle Technicians Unite in Pucon, Chile<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAVb-flvO6ogiPYdSDZnUrUvM4k249Fdt5Mz03wwQYalHa7diRaRoD5Zn8ScFKdyu_eClsrVnLBFCW8pJSz8nWfpoA4jwC0wjAfKRnnlC-ivwITSIvRPTzWnndV9getbRv9bd/s1600-h/IMGP7314.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435930876780370402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAVb-flvO6ogiPYdSDZnUrUvM4k249Fdt5Mz03wwQYalHa7diRaRoD5Zn8ScFKdyu_eClsrVnLBFCW8pJSz8nWfpoA4jwC0wjAfKRnnlC-ivwITSIvRPTzWnndV9getbRv9bd/s320/IMGP7314.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>Considering the evolution of Facebook and its photo albums and the blogging habits of the homies (<a href="http://egcreekin.blogspot.com/">EG</a>, <a href="http://kayakpucon.blogspot.com/">Rodrigo</a> and <a href="http://www.demshitz.com/">Demshitz</a>), I'm not too surprised by my own absence from this blog. These other outlets for information combined with work and parties and shit-running in my freetime have left me with a lot photos and memories that may not be published. But, today I'm chilling in Pucon's best breakfast spot, the Ecole Cafe, with cloudy skies keeping the tourists away from the doorstep of Kayak Pucon, and I have no excuses. Some stories need to be told, photos need to be uploaded. </div><br /><div>I flew into Santiago, bought a truck, hung out with the family of my good friend Israel, and boated the Mapocho with Nico and Sergio - a whilrwind of "hola" and "adios" before heading south. When I rolled into Pucon in November, a rowdy crew of the world's best partiers, I mean kayakers, had already established themselves in the sleepy, springtime vibe of the town. They were lapping 60 footers and building record-breaking bar tabs. Record holder, Tyler Bradt was bringing smiles to the local fans both day and night. A fresh crew of Spanish crazy kayakers had already been robbed. Rush Sturges and Anton Immler had already set the standard for extremes by jumping off of a giant cliff. Steve Fisher ran the world's best eddyturn, the Middle Palguin, something like 20 times in 7 days right after I moved into my house with Demshitz brownstar, Jared Seiler. Jared set the standard for his own self-abuse by first descenting one of the last great unrun stouts of the area, The Car Wreck of the Rio Carhuello - see previous blogpost for more info.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhqdNFudukkiehfx4MZUAY-XtNCJPBVqmjUCLdSalIqRR0EnEhYxkBG6srkc0O__CZWCZNmwL_DFRxjUunFwqXsAWMmmqdSd2NkXlioby4FdftqYALk70nvetkittfRg_Us51/s1600-h/IMGP7301.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435908953386223570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhqdNFudukkiehfx4MZUAY-XtNCJPBVqmjUCLdSalIqRR0EnEhYxkBG6srkc0O__CZWCZNmwL_DFRxjUunFwqXsAWMmmqdSd2NkXlioby4FdftqYALk70nvetkittfRg_Us51/s320/IMGP7301.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div>December began with a grave incident on the Cascada de Rio Bonito in Villa Angostura, Argentina, when Rush hurt his back on a brave descent of the falls. I was not there, but I have run this drop twice before, and considering the steeze and experience of this talented rapper, I feel pretty lucky to not be broken.<br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PKvaXOOXDhMDLqqI86QRAYmbljar438Wl5gsv6UlJQmiguPPx6Eo4W3bFvWCcmMSNTfGEFotWMIgGvrPGVeusUZ_8Y_hJhWnGuG0R6rC8_lJNuz41nrybJ2mIubKCMGJwWDe/s1600-h/rush+tres+saltos.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435908027212921826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PKvaXOOXDhMDLqqI86QRAYmbljar438Wl5gsv6UlJQmiguPPx6Eo4W3bFvWCcmMSNTfGEFotWMIgGvrPGVeusUZ_8Y_hJhWnGuG0R6rC8_lJNuz41nrybJ2mIubKCMGJwWDe/s320/rush+tres+saltos.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwISQOneiOsR6-u-xdwCfIxWB2RTnWLrkVGkX4gT6XEI5u3_zwiRPykoSRACKTSVkNr8I7ixopEaUJIGix2TBXarDBfunWfCQ0dqMD5za2q5Fzl9zv_Rf0ZhUBsShMqnxGz1Up/s1600-h/IMGP7399.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435909624543141586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwISQOneiOsR6-u-xdwCfIxWB2RTnWLrkVGkX4gT6XEI5u3_zwiRPykoSRACKTSVkNr8I7ixopEaUJIGix2TBXarDBfunWfCQ0dqMD5za2q5Fzl9zv_Rf0ZhUBsShMqnxGz1Up/s320/IMGP7399.JPG" /></a><br />Around that same time, the Rio Nevado dropped into the "Demshitz Zone" on the local kayaker gossip guage, and the drama continued. It was actually kind of high according to its keepers, Jared, Rodrigo and EG, but "that shit was good to go." The Demshitz Drop and the Lower Nevado is something that had intrigued many before, but most considered it to be too stout. I remember looking at it back in 2005 and thinking that it was runnable, but only by crazy bastards like Tao. Since 2005 standards have changed, kayakers are more comfortable being crazy, and Pucon can get kind of boring if you sit around Mamas and Tapas for too many nights in a row.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdhiWrfKWi20kLiSY3ZlyKmVepGeZx96gGOeM_4TEw0q020bT9axD6_ZQYrTSrHKkDoWZlSvmk84u0HWKElo4iks4XWbReNazGgEZOn3p14c5sVeeqELBkNLpb_y_mw6f-fTA/s1600-h/IMG_1916.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435910214795781858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdhiWrfKWi20kLiSY3ZlyKmVepGeZx96gGOeM_4TEw0q020bT9axD6_ZQYrTSrHKkDoWZlSvmk84u0HWKElo4iks4XWbReNazGgEZOn3p14c5sVeeqELBkNLpb_y_mw6f-fTA/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" /></a><br />The Lower Nevado begins with a fast entry into a technical eddy catch, followed by one of those "I guess I'm doing this now" kind of peel-outs into a dreamy but mandatory 5-foot boof, which runs immediately into <em>the</em> Demshitz, a 40 foot falls with limited control. The falls drops into a granite punchbowl with ampitheatre seating at its upper rim for spectators and scouters. The exit from the pool is The Diablito, named after Jared Seiler, who claimed the First D in November of 2008. This drop actually claimed Jared on his first run, and just one year later, he was claimed again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iVe0De4k2QOkg1qOxuyH1keJneHJ4meEImNsEv7TvanaxOqkIAah7iDsE9zIjMWTWmZOiAh2onhT2_Lopzhcyj7FdMeQkrhivwT9LHa5Ai0nSJtrtqMlz8dsIV_UGxOxAzhb/s1600-h/Diciembre+en+Chile+1102.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435922342878289906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iVe0De4k2QOkg1qOxuyH1keJneHJ4meEImNsEv7TvanaxOqkIAah7iDsE9zIjMWTWmZOiAh2onhT2_Lopzhcyj7FdMeQkrhivwT9LHa5Ai0nSJtrtqMlz8dsIV_UGxOxAzhb/s320/Diciembre+en+Chile+1102.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcti8BK_7DP0ic0E4EdYHs-z3-oTrCoFJrrTUxg-vRlAia2364zEk01xTMs4zu5eMzCHdGax8riNxexKyKsby_Vg7NGpW8zcY-3UtZEU7GvapZPHho_HVsphCXknItklGqUZ5T/s1600-h/IMG_1705.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435924008162747538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcti8BK_7DP0ic0E4EdYHs-z3-oTrCoFJrrTUxg-vRlAia2364zEk01xTMs4zu5eMzCHdGax8riNxexKyKsby_Vg7NGpW8zcY-3UtZEU7GvapZPHho_HVsphCXknItklGqUZ5T/s320/IMG_1705.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysRf_L_gg6NewRKrPNDjDvmHOqkmZoyhEp8HNax89mNRxlGdDe8FE_1dwwxvkPuyNzZ2u03ryCqRMBQBGVb5Z6i18cpQoFxdWUo7FrWlbRNRIobPEwJigqVx3oxY97gLpjpu1/s1600-h/IMG_1719.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435923123253794578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysRf_L_gg6NewRKrPNDjDvmHOqkmZoyhEp8HNax89mNRxlGdDe8FE_1dwwxvkPuyNzZ2u03ryCqRMBQBGVb5Z6i18cpQoFxdWUo7FrWlbRNRIobPEwJigqVx3oxY97gLpjpu1/s320/IMG_1719.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Diablito is a 10 foot curtain falls into a boily pool that banks off the canyon walls and spills into a slot not much more than a boat width wide. The canyon makes nearly a 90 degree right turn into this slot, so keeping your kayak straight through it's opening is definitely a concern. The higher water and rowdier boils pushed Jared's boat sideways at the entrance to its slot and he got pinned badly. Thanks to Rodrigo's monkey-ninja-wet rock-climbing skills, Jared was able to get his boat safely connected to a rope and he was able to escape unscathed. Since that day, Jared has run The Diablito three more times and cleaned it every time. Victory! The rest of the lower canyon is mythical, magical and awaits your visit. </div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLSS1OuYowl4YFF6ws5eWWszY2qyItBBa0jRytMP1LeQxWybmOg5cYGkCjMrr4bPa9-cwM07LgSRx6Pr0j4ytgt0DIyV0V3tpGwHHAO7UVKeWKNaDdur0-ebaumpSg6vKT-0l/s1600-h/Diciembre+en+Chile+1207.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435922348162170866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLSS1OuYowl4YFF6ws5eWWszY2qyItBBa0jRytMP1LeQxWybmOg5cYGkCjMrr4bPa9-cwM07LgSRx6Pr0j4ytgt0DIyV0V3tpGwHHAO7UVKeWKNaDdur0-ebaumpSg6vKT-0l/s320/Diciembre+en+Chile+1207.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Ok, back to the general wrap-up of the last few months...<br /><br />Also sometime in december, we had the good fortune of making a trip the "Magic Valley" in the Kayak Pucon van. EG, Candace, Diablito, Todd Richey Rodrigo and I motivated to make a First Descent of the Rio Blanco above it's hot springs. The Blanco is beautiful and well worth a trip, even if just for the camping.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEYJkefmEHUmDcZUHhWWKKEK-fMOJA33VxCGbBFc68wqT3JYQzqUwtzfd7nwG9mulw5Bfl6K5OhWy-I8WGqSWUYOwjRfd5UsAfOyAkOrRhMubtANR1jFhrGSWKTQYGHNQ4G-R/s1600-h/IMGP0858.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435912525006880786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEYJkefmEHUmDcZUHhWWKKEK-fMOJA33VxCGbBFc68wqT3JYQzqUwtzfd7nwG9mulw5Bfl6K5OhWy-I8WGqSWUYOwjRfd5UsAfOyAkOrRhMubtANR1jFhrGSWKTQYGHNQ4G-R/s320/IMGP0858.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw3tMfdFLyLkGBtEuyNKOeWRfmuByWJqZvMXer1dQ-p_U6zmQyDRRzplGzpSSInD8q6kBr_0RFaZ6hHMmKQcIxPDfETwolLbeGzy9yW8-H-TXvJKKokyYQsmoymTAtsygVIdg/s1600-h/IMGP0833.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435913556027813634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw3tMfdFLyLkGBtEuyNKOeWRfmuByWJqZvMXer1dQ-p_U6zmQyDRRzplGzpSSInD8q6kBr_0RFaZ6hHMmKQcIxPDfETwolLbeGzy9yW8-H-TXvJKKokyYQsmoymTAtsygVIdg/s320/IMGP0833.JPG" /></a><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4HlYSiCf_Mkcgaiui3fppShhnuBz1ZuC4ptx4aDwCs2tNbWd8LwT59ZaSC3PBC0UZ4HhbBMWZ-NvD4bhlpDthJBEkRW60oV6RQsWIdWIronNvZCtsdzPQ_dJxnyikCWwMhC7/s1600-h/IMGP0880.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435915871816744930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4HlYSiCf_Mkcgaiui3fppShhnuBz1ZuC4ptx4aDwCs2tNbWd8LwT59ZaSC3PBC0UZ4HhbBMWZ-NvD4bhlpDthJBEkRW60oV6RQsWIdWIronNvZCtsdzPQ_dJxnyikCWwMhC7/s320/IMGP0880.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO4aAvQbBdv7NJBg9wBHpLPoXCWd26Ue7wUUQ0PTvD9e-unk41zqGhI2BbXG6t6s6fgtCgEYW6q-H6igzQHj0tZiVbyw2bjrQDvs9_0vdUkDvubl-5TF6XmLND8z3w0WtkfRz/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435915869203859746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO4aAvQbBdv7NJBg9wBHpLPoXCWd26Ue7wUUQ0PTvD9e-unk41zqGhI2BbXG6t6s6fgtCgEYW6q-H6igzQHj0tZiVbyw2bjrQDvs9_0vdUkDvubl-5TF6XmLND8z3w0WtkfRz/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbpFr_8Jw0Sxu6FJP0HJU3lqqtHaGuEGWaBaZkV187gvf68zQGYeiecVZc143ye_wrmok3deQXZkSy60KF1WypOExmfbizwFlkj9r8IeIXh2aoB-EpdGuU5QIk7H20NUKGrAw/s1600-h/IMGP7515.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435915861056760514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbpFr_8Jw0Sxu6FJP0HJU3lqqtHaGuEGWaBaZkV187gvf68zQGYeiecVZc143ye_wrmok3deQXZkSy60KF1WypOExmfbizwFlkj9r8IeIXh2aoB-EpdGuU5QIk7H20NUKGrAw/s320/IMGP7515.JPG" /></a><br />By the way, there were many many many kayakers running around Pucon and Chile at this time. There was a race on the Upper Palguin, won by Keegan Grady. He and his friends were also getting their laps on the big drops and steep creeks of the area. Todd, Jared and I were living toegether and doing our best to get our waterfalling on when not working - Kayak Pucon keeps me BUSY - thanks Rodrigo and Ema!!!! The Humboldt county boys were out there running the shit as well. The Spaniards and the Garcias were and still are traveling like the true gypsies we all want to be. The Desague and Puesco, arguably some of the best rivers in the world, were running daily. And, yes, we were all have way too much fun at the bars. </div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EEykf-jLOj7Ej-dT6SkcW-TcAj6Cy-qojxGaUzUZ4jsOUr9ZT69v3v8kQVwLnlDHGTwmAaQFdAWctDClQMcrnuiUMil9FMNS1650JIIhz5mzElb1Czv5jFCsgeLonuiY6P2u/s1600-h/IMGP7437.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435932095142658370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EEykf-jLOj7Ej-dT6SkcW-TcAj6Cy-qojxGaUzUZ4jsOUr9ZT69v3v8kQVwLnlDHGTwmAaQFdAWctDClQMcrnuiUMil9FMNS1650JIIhz5mzElb1Czv5jFCsgeLonuiY6P2u/s320/IMGP7437.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJo4oDyXP70YjEBJoJY2_6wU3iG1inbCanulW2pKOu0s0MQPzXRsZ0I6Y9JpXG5_tx1H_RZfQAqJQBMPZwWgRnH5BwYWrlRcJsV6hr8ExEkS6PhfdUCTQoI31a_DHn8mUgrsM/s1600-h/IMGP7479.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435917815875782786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJo4oDyXP70YjEBJoJY2_6wU3iG1inbCanulW2pKOu0s0MQPzXRsZ0I6Y9JpXG5_tx1H_RZfQAqJQBMPZwWgRnH5BwYWrlRcJsV6hr8ExEkS6PhfdUCTQoI31a_DHn8mUgrsM/s320/IMGP7479.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlz4BIzw9qdd-eQ2-yzb3qxd6mgwhlhM9w5ut9-wNj_Lkg84-c2UzZhuck9Xm8lV4qwittMpNZdWvtV9t1d7wnqquOIgjR039OdRqvEPSrZCWYduFNJHYPAFeIYJ9YRtn7SU_/s1600-h/IMGP7464.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435917806213990626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlz4BIzw9qdd-eQ2-yzb3qxd6mgwhlhM9w5ut9-wNj_Lkg84-c2UzZhuck9Xm8lV4qwittMpNZdWvtV9t1d7wnqquOIgjR039OdRqvEPSrZCWYduFNJHYPAFeIYJ9YRtn7SU_/s320/IMGP7464.JPG" /></a><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435917802786344450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgEyDbQlpozZ1bDHwRApNljsEqY5kpaEDdFAW1E90Q4w3XodQVNfkMQvc_4K_rlkVVhXOVDspANvPz7Bsn2qYDSZ-AAmksfLJCudiZECf5APQkTiH0yM8eR47aRt0Y7sUHA6F/s320/IMGP7458.JPG" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW37yMR-6wnF6Ylw17EdvWP_pRjtLYhmnSeE_gZHzStG-GUxH7G7zCahcjRqS1XkiIIzE1lBoLFSaA386sbnbh1-FgHnDSbB6OnPK2oHT0z4isPdi_aUWUW7tODLflOXkLBJ7W/s1600-h/IMGP7444.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435917796632103490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW37yMR-6wnF6Ylw17EdvWP_pRjtLYhmnSeE_gZHzStG-GUxH7G7zCahcjRqS1XkiIIzE1lBoLFSaA386sbnbh1-FgHnDSbB6OnPK2oHT0z4isPdi_aUWUW7tODLflOXkLBJ7W/s320/IMGP7444.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Christmas in Pucon for kayakers is usually defined by hangovers and the Rio Palguin. On the morning of the 25th, a massive group rallied to do a "Todo Palguin." On this day, we did the whole thing, Salto Palguin included. Steve Fisher ran the beast for the first time just a week or two before. (Steve and Anton also did the first "double descent" in a Jackson Duo over the Middle. Yes, he is a super hero.) I ran the Salto first and Jared followed. No one else wanted any of that one, on that day, but I think 7 more people have run it since??? Did I mention Pucon can make kayakers a little loose? I was lucky enough to make it through that one with a clean line, rolled up at the bottom and paddle in tact, no injury - woohoo! There is a really good Todo Palguin update on <a href="http://egcreekin.blogspot.com/">Evan's blog</a>, but we all ran the portage and Jared and I also ran the entrance to the Middle Palguin stout falls, which had never been done before since the falls transfomed into 65-70 footer. Big props to Adam Bixby, Brian Kirk, Chris Baer and Nate Garcia who all ran the Middle for their first time that day. Yes, we like it. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1JlkKrQKh9EokKSInt_XfaWawqpM59Yn2iDuryLzqbPt4b77NzENXYBO-GpQHuAaNsfeFOi5SQ7aEG5RlrzFr9EKE1jnjViBwUijyNJPvr4uIXeayoftUOfpAo_FJLJVL9Cz/s1600-h/IMG_3420.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435929753699538306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1JlkKrQKh9EokKSInt_XfaWawqpM59Yn2iDuryLzqbPt4b77NzENXYBO-GpQHuAaNsfeFOi5SQ7aEG5RlrzFr9EKE1jnjViBwUijyNJPvr4uIXeayoftUOfpAo_FJLJVL9Cz/s320/IMG_3420.JPG" /></a><br /><div>New Year's was a huge party, everywhere in the world I'm sure. Thanks to Zorro and Villa for getting it started at their house. Thanks to Mamas and Tapas for tolerating us!<br /><br />January is a blur. I think I did around 50 trips down the Liucura River, paddled the Nevado and its Lower Canyon a few times. One of those times I got ejected on The Demshitz and I was glad that we set a rope a the bottom, because I went first. Jordi, a wild Spanish man, also ran the Demshitz that day and it was his first time - way to go, bud! Young buck, Steve from Canada, ran the Todo Palguin (Salto, portage and Stout 10 entrance to the middle). I think he is 18?? Good work.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiOWguLnYf_EtpQ1Ja72M-Y-k-ibhSZ5uc07mjgCg6QLi_jjYu1jn9Bi9tU4E7HUc-X1R2qJtEIrpRlHGkF53wDETIjcYIngZMJiNZznAtogOliMM979rDHXUZEiajM3o49vJ/s1600-h/IMGP8008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435929749155768834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiOWguLnYf_EtpQ1Ja72M-Y-k-ibhSZ5uc07mjgCg6QLi_jjYu1jn9Bi9tU4E7HUc-X1R2qJtEIrpRlHGkF53wDETIjcYIngZMJiNZznAtogOliMM979rDHXUZEiajM3o49vJ/s320/IMGP8008.JPG" /></a><br />Also of note in January - Macy and Amanda came down from Reno and had a reallly good time. The Run Shit trip from Montana and Oregon kept Rodrigo, Ema and I busy but also helped with our sanity! Rodrigo, Todd, Jared, Ian, Jake and I went to the Rio Negro de Hornopiren for a little vacation from Kayak Pucon work. We wanted to hit up the Coachamo, but we just didn't have the time. The Negro is a classic, and one of the most beautiful areas of Chile. Go there if you can.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZy3PXaXh3tyuSzRwxnFaGUTmkG05p9Ff_NtjMTYYKmIB2-RvderFGAnvy2OyCUBpCWpdEk0VoupcwRx357M_qsN48QljYH4cUzbWhdNVkBmNg1X7ZZNZlFOuXCvJUHORej9b/s1600-h/IMGP7144.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435926273841296754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZy3PXaXh3tyuSzRwxnFaGUTmkG05p9Ff_NtjMTYYKmIB2-RvderFGAnvy2OyCUBpCWpdEk0VoupcwRx357M_qsN48QljYH4cUzbWhdNVkBmNg1X7ZZNZlFOuXCvJUHORej9b/s320/IMGP7144.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotbWVcRzQLmpNNUXfs08zaFsIs6i0aV1vpfxTB8IAP9qcZZ5vU6gq-G1KsFDa4JtVWvJIH7kTQYthjcqNKjwene-YmR1hiqzpFjrs7kWXEveYC_7Q64oSEE7BvXEFlxJhC9HJ/s1600-h/IMGP7711.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435926283384298514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotbWVcRzQLmpNNUXfs08zaFsIs6i0aV1vpfxTB8IAP9qcZZ5vU6gq-G1KsFDa4JtVWvJIH7kTQYthjcqNKjwene-YmR1hiqzpFjrs7kWXEveYC_7Q64oSEE7BvXEFlxJhC9HJ/s320/IMGP7711.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzKtkxobURpARHLX76csZ8nw-nnmCtC4h_NQauV4FMT2Yhpn4BVXNDkvoGIPZyfRL4dK7Aea02Ov_duPKGuIQ_01Ue8sGfXib0OmiN-Nb22sMy3O5g9HeqCx4-MU-eVZWH-X6/s1600-h/IMGP7717.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435927619262276066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzKtkxobURpARHLX76csZ8nw-nnmCtC4h_NQauV4FMT2Yhpn4BVXNDkvoGIPZyfRL4dK7Aea02Ov_duPKGuIQ_01Ue8sGfXib0OmiN-Nb22sMy3O5g9HeqCx4-MU-eVZWH-X6/s320/IMGP7717.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtQZHT4pCiMAaEH_E8bDas4jGQ6CLO_fQGTR74UHSCIUP2a68oG4c0hkcgHKAN-RuITRJIBp2YTWM1IHRtdD6_wockgWqpQ3pIkCwe96ugURZduPlViDX-ynN4oBpv3F2MXln/s1600-h/IMGP7685.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435927611325068162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtQZHT4pCiMAaEH_E8bDas4jGQ6CLO_fQGTR74UHSCIUP2a68oG4c0hkcgHKAN-RuITRJIBp2YTWM1IHRtdD6_wockgWqpQ3pIkCwe96ugURZduPlViDX-ynN4oBpv3F2MXln/s320/IMGP7685.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4glxUBWi8KoUvZlAVWHtX7EImFkGy5S86fyZqC985klaoBLAXCiwsGgOCWXY6Xn6y5cMOrnxUeatrpQu6qSGiQsXJVy29KIiC5xO3rfmVQ5A0DM4LqnEp9KkDbKcW6f96Nm-0/s1600-h/IMGP7269.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435928334614881682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4glxUBWi8KoUvZlAVWHtX7EImFkGy5S86fyZqC985klaoBLAXCiwsGgOCWXY6Xn6y5cMOrnxUeatrpQu6qSGiQsXJVy29KIiC5xO3rfmVQ5A0DM4LqnEp9KkDbKcW6f96Nm-0/s320/IMGP7269.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS3XgKsV_QEqWEPehXEM9njCVnpIVck-M-wjBvFmGiZmHr-63LKAWu2kMWnoy71VZ6EZ-OS-hjpPWiVe4aru-0kQotJyobIMv7w-PdCSiXzy26t4gGdcC4niu3ILRmFmk7Syd/s1600-h/IMGP7261.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435928328987273346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS3XgKsV_QEqWEPehXEM9njCVnpIVck-M-wjBvFmGiZmHr-63LKAWu2kMWnoy71VZ6EZ-OS-hjpPWiVe4aru-0kQotJyobIMv7w-PdCSiXzy26t4gGdcC4niu3ILRmFmk7Syd/s320/IMGP7261.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ3O3UtuQlK1fJw0I9_57OTesCd5Z1-vJH3jdy5v5787diLlVtYCN7tbwTyK38lcyzb2RNWx6Y0Hzm0zc_aO5LIT6ctjxzA1Z3qe4dCoGSMvxC98A-HZtBZErPT2KfAFuHvwK/s1600-h/IMGP7332.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435928339545277858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ3O3UtuQlK1fJw0I9_57OTesCd5Z1-vJH3jdy5v5787diLlVtYCN7tbwTyK38lcyzb2RNWx6Y0Hzm0zc_aO5LIT6ctjxzA1Z3qe4dCoGSMvxC98A-HZtBZErPT2KfAFuHvwK/s320/IMGP7332.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOz2FqNhcIz0WFQ-JTrv8McwctNKqUvfFrZDwzlGKO-_DQMcSDvgClNtlUuHMckpfDjcdGFBMu7XtDpbhIsyXbh6mpPqLUk67iyMXuWHnoVXmQ1QOV05FBBAKpWiuhnhXfcmf/s1600-h/IMGP7656.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435928954895361362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOz2FqNhcIz0WFQ-JTrv8McwctNKqUvfFrZDwzlGKO-_DQMcSDvgClNtlUuHMckpfDjcdGFBMu7XtDpbhIsyXbh6mpPqLUk67iyMXuWHnoVXmQ1QOV05FBBAKpWiuhnhXfcmf/s320/IMGP7656.JPG" /></a><br />Well, I started with good intentions of sharing a lot of detail, but this will have to do for now. I hope the world is happy. I definitely feel like I've been trapped in a little bubble down here. I'm stoked to see the World Class family here now, and I can't give enough thanks to all of those who have come to paddle with Kayak Pucon. Mauricio, Ema, Jared and Rodrigo and I are all loving all of the work, even if it means a little less freetime.<br /><br />Phones are ringing and it looks like some people are going to go do a lap on the Nevado, or maybe the Puesco or probably the Palguin. It's Zorro's birthday today and he wants to run the Middle.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKWlmQxe6Mj0J7sOlVbcjemMJ4jNLblhiuxoslNABDUgcfxT9Qwz53oGUUoRVZ5_EiJiHowFV8fIsbzX8sMS-KmbwsNUrmMjVesUNm9IrdJCJHSMU5a-0QcLmVArsHtevTspz/s1600-h/IMGP7283.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435930880864793378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKWlmQxe6Mj0J7sOlVbcjemMJ4jNLblhiuxoslNABDUgcfxT9Qwz53oGUUoRVZ5_EiJiHowFV8fIsbzX8sMS-KmbwsNUrmMjVesUNm9IrdJCJHSMU5a-0QcLmVArsHtevTspz/s320/IMGP7283.JPG" /></a><br /><p>photos by me, rodrigo, todd richey, adam bixby and candace sanders</p>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-75422517648923039452009-11-26T09:53:00.000-08:002009-11-26T10:23:43.764-08:00Rio Carhuello with Demshitz<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdZ3e4m176P4vXOWO-CSnbpyTqPSRn-FavPgkVbFhMkbS742ddpIlsCiy1qhxkzThTTt04U5GCqYEcrsn9UD_cSbhN7iNSuHUd243kRsYpud1g_zDANJzvR8_2NFHfPWlxrGC/s1600/IMGP7220.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408473798721748066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdZ3e4m176P4vXOWO-CSnbpyTqPSRn-FavPgkVbFhMkbS742ddpIlsCiy1qhxkzThTTt04U5GCqYEcrsn9UD_cSbhN7iNSuHUd243kRsYpud1g_zDANJzvR8_2NFHfPWlxrGC/s320/IMGP7220.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQCd42vGoUO3XQRwcRWer1SAIl5Yc_dBR8BNAHxiCFsrBH7quy-K-xbJR99o-4-1GqJa-nQjHRLWJbu8bDiECa11Kw_YIs_qYn6d0elVecNePN1mc1Rs4WHHAlJAv_9t74QcA/s1600/IMGP7216.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408473793135237426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQCd42vGoUO3XQRwcRWer1SAIl5Yc_dBR8BNAHxiCFsrBH7quy-K-xbJR99o-4-1GqJa-nQjHRLWJbu8bDiECa11Kw_YIs_qYn6d0elVecNePN1mc1Rs4WHHAlJAv_9t74QcA/s320/IMGP7216.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFWMdp9WCysv7E1wHu5dMI_sjgDUEavmCQ3f44qsIZdo24-M0JYBbG1nR4hsqQLIGzpLZWD6HWlXBJ3-1gmpbB0STjeOLLu9xpBMsllaeA9icprUQ2i-CjYEd_ywtadYojD2-/s1600/IMGP7201.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408473787148009666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFWMdp9WCysv7E1wHu5dMI_sjgDUEavmCQ3f44qsIZdo24-M0JYBbG1nR4hsqQLIGzpLZWD6HWlXBJ3-1gmpbB0STjeOLLu9xpBMsllaeA9icprUQ2i-CjYEd_ywtadYojD2-/s320/IMGP7201.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYTkmshMU2MS8VtwV5I7fkAXtneGm8VY4_jNUsTWPhSwmj-AE9BhXoDNIawaG4hWNEfJsGobmXB8SreTaJL036JjnRcvift1SOqdiTKOxPy0Rng4KuZUZNM5chGO_k7Skoen1/s1600/IMGP7196.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408473778630026882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYTkmshMU2MS8VtwV5I7fkAXtneGm8VY4_jNUsTWPhSwmj-AE9BhXoDNIawaG4hWNEfJsGobmXB8SreTaJL036JjnRcvift1SOqdiTKOxPy0Rng4KuZUZNM5chGO_k7Skoen1/s320/IMGP7196.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I'm settled in here in town, working with the best people in town<br />(Mauricio, Ema and Rodrigo) and sharing a casa with Jared and Todd. We loaded up and headed out to the Rio Carhuello, a super-steep micro-creek that rarely has enough water to run. Before putting on, Jared and I gave a thorough look at the manky drop at the take-out, which had never been run before. It appeared to be "runnable." </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The Carhuello is famous for its incredibly stacked Cuatro-Drop, and after styling clean lines through that crux section, we were fired up to give the take-out drop another look. Jared decided it needed to be done, and he put-in to run the clean but steep entrance rapids. He caught a tight eddy at the lip, took a moment to steady his nerves and sent himself flying off of kicker rock into the manky mess at the top of the falls. We both thought it to be possible to make it right, into the deeper channel, but the unforgiving seams at the lip of the drop sucked him into the ugly side, which eventually landed on some rocks. Fortunately for El Diablito, his kayak took most of the impact, but his left elbow also took an exreme impact. 8 stitches later and a couple of beers into the night, Demshitz is fine. He'll be back on the stouts in a week. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>As Rodrigo says, "Bring your balls...and your elbow pads. You gonna need 'em."<br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-48219648857325036372009-11-26T09:33:00.000-08:002009-11-26T09:53:03.715-08:00Los Piscoleros return to Tres Saltos!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4RBbO8sBneRe9ceV518-raUE5328TbZLCi9iWmrSpNy6pQKGFVPtl1baofHB-jlVjbFhFDa7GmzaHeFkZqTtPGYIPrFIBg9d0zK4QeEODpTT7vJ-jrtaVoea8AbjHGkZVjme/s1600/tres+saltos+111909+050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408469927611278978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4RBbO8sBneRe9ceV518-raUE5328TbZLCi9iWmrSpNy6pQKGFVPtl1baofHB-jlVjbFhFDa7GmzaHeFkZqTtPGYIPrFIBg9d0zK4QeEODpTT7vJ-jrtaVoea8AbjHGkZVjme/s320/tres+saltos+111909+050.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Tyler Bradt...Just his size.</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi10P_48JUoIXtilwkU_hqyEJYgQQ5-DAjmBSUQ3_lAPnjOiufokojb8TleuLruc8BGPB9kTD_cJGBIfEz-AQzLa6rAdmAQmHTjSNQtDrD7j_UHiJB1pMPbfGFMrYjYYe7taX/s1600/tres+saltos+111909+044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408468046096615538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi10P_48JUoIXtilwkU_hqyEJYgQQ5-DAjmBSUQ3_lAPnjOiufokojb8TleuLruc8BGPB9kTD_cJGBIfEz-AQzLa6rAdmAQmHTjSNQtDrD7j_UHiJB1pMPbfGFMrYjYYe7taX/s320/tres+saltos+111909+044.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Todd Richey with his first run off The Salto of Tres Saltos. photo by Diablito</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIROseDG8cHgHPdqrdkhYhp4163730743s6DQ9n0pdHneSyw4EQ5y5VkqHfxDOTufzTb3je2COy31ym2ywg6Qd9t4ntS7nL5RTn9DkUfHe3foKBfpjLN9qHaui4O1b8G4pb4u/s1600/tres+saltos+111909+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408468042072324754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIROseDG8cHgHPdqrdkhYhp4163730743s6DQ9n0pdHneSyw4EQ5y5VkqHfxDOTufzTb3je2COy31ym2ywg6Qd9t4ntS7nL5RTn9DkUfHe3foKBfpjLN9qHaui4O1b8G4pb4u/s320/tres+saltos+111909+035.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">This was my 6th run off of the mighty falls. So good. photo by Diablito</span><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWHuARpaFCocBsALSi9JIdqCRxwOaeJZHABC63eNA2uOiIMgCD2rPdRb2_E2qtm2QAiYksw02m-ZexsfPvnAu7CYRFO0ZtzWa1ZBCIOCwV7UvplwIY6FH4hCCXLdF2SKyHJnl/s1600/tres+saltos+111909+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408468031926375698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWHuARpaFCocBsALSi9JIdqCRxwOaeJZHABC63eNA2uOiIMgCD2rPdRb2_E2qtm2QAiYksw02m-ZexsfPvnAu7CYRFO0ZtzWa1ZBCIOCwV7UvplwIY6FH4hCCXLdF2SKyHJnl/s320/tres+saltos+111909+029.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">EG always brings steeze to the stouts. photo by Diablito<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sIjIv_efWR5bCCtpaFl_JKnByAc9PBnZjXAun3JLUnuXwLxXeBBPMQaPvS6GZuZ5A0X3rMXxbOwzok_97SLGqSlUEuE1bwLIfERXF1Pxsd5jsn15W0HxM7XI1Hv4dJIq2RDy/s1600/tres+saltos+111909+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408468030160699698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sIjIv_efWR5bCCtpaFl_JKnByAc9PBnZjXAun3JLUnuXwLxXeBBPMQaPvS6GZuZ5A0X3rMXxbOwzok_97SLGqSlUEuE1bwLIfERXF1Pxsd5jsn15W0HxM7XI1Hv4dJIq2RDy/s320/tres+saltos+111909+020.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Diablito, Jared Seiler, perfecting the paddle toss method.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB58TjyZ83tbV6z0LXeZNtB_uEGy6dNWAy2rqMmKBsFD8iGsPDUo6OpD_0gXztptVJnii_lGL3GNY0xHioEuGz_fzlqCAbtugIBuVB_DcONm_Yu4d0S3w0xmq6OX83Dc9T3sRo/s1600/tres+saltos+111909+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408468021065386354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB58TjyZ83tbV6z0LXeZNtB_uEGy6dNWAy2rqMmKBsFD8iGsPDUo6OpD_0gXztptVJnii_lGL3GNY0xHioEuGz_fzlqCAbtugIBuVB_DcONm_Yu4d0S3w0xmq6OX83Dc9T3sRo/s320/tres+saltos+111909+013.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Adrenaline Rush Sturges. The man, the myth, the legend.<br /></span><br />I finally made it back to the promised-land that is Pucon, Chile. This big one in the Tres Saltos waterfall park is a mandatory mission for anyone who loves big, clean waterfalls. This was my first stop after my arrival, and I will happily return!<br /></div><div align="left">All of the boys put on a good show, and Tyler even ran her twice. We were missing our local legend, Rodrigo Tuschner of <a href="http://kayakpucon.net/">Kayak Pucon</a>, but I'm sure we'll see more of him out on the rivers and creeks here as soon as he finishes teaching the local raft guide classes.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /> </div><div align="left"></div><br /></div>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-70363645780557480632009-11-12T12:30:00.001-08:002009-11-12T12:41:39.426-08:00Kinsuka Rapids, Congo River - Part I<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8sqbUmq3WBiUaF6izmAjPaXOwTs2zptFFMDeMm_68cbLpuaFLvZAK9c13dobTeWW3i2gbq-WhNkGXljsOB_2smxnZhgXvT2b-gnMP2F0ij5Jpk0JZIOriJOj3b94cjZ2pMkE/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+241.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403320045792630066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8sqbUmq3WBiUaF6izmAjPaXOwTs2zptFFMDeMm_68cbLpuaFLvZAK9c13dobTeWW3i2gbq-WhNkGXljsOB_2smxnZhgXvT2b-gnMP2F0ij5Jpk0JZIOriJOj3b94cjZ2pMkE/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+241.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9kpXaa1AgSaTRvPQ5WwLzLnhP8SsYuRio-GdA7v8fjBXkOxQvuVzk-g9FMysZz-BD-kGLMuETKJpvbyvwhrN-w2UM-U7ouT29stjgFkuKPxEGebGltrcbrCWIvw3c2Xhr7z-/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+240.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403320041632325714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9kpXaa1AgSaTRvPQ5WwLzLnhP8SsYuRio-GdA7v8fjBXkOxQvuVzk-g9FMysZz-BD-kGLMuETKJpvbyvwhrN-w2UM-U7ouT29stjgFkuKPxEGebGltrcbrCWIvw3c2Xhr7z-/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+240.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeD3pycrgnM_9kNlVgY4OwQXBw8bxvbZo08_NAE0ftaa3JU4g9M_ivEW_z8Bo_gsxdzyaG3XqWYFr8PF3lrwe-lJwlwJVFnEQC-ntPDMyXAh1xPuZeawiHsZH1D8ZGLc9WGN_/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+186.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403320037825531906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeD3pycrgnM_9kNlVgY4OwQXBw8bxvbZo08_NAE0ftaa3JU4g9M_ivEW_z8Bo_gsxdzyaG3XqWYFr8PF3lrwe-lJwlwJVFnEQC-ntPDMyXAh1xPuZeawiHsZH1D8ZGLc9WGN_/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+186.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1YjhKaJtdl8SqRM45ANyhmfVlGWbwqv2XDv14VVCxIjufehCXPU8A9UIR-8TFJ_EaTMPyB4dz7tplCSf9vi5uurml491zsVkaj1JedqbISF3PmILpcWl53soPvouWw3ETFF-/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+070.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403320036644456210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1YjhKaJtdl8SqRM45ANyhmfVlGWbwqv2XDv14VVCxIjufehCXPU8A9UIR-8TFJ_EaTMPyB4dz7tplCSf9vi5uurml491zsVkaj1JedqbISF3PmILpcWl53soPvouWw3ETFF-/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+070.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-90702563788967246272009-11-12T12:20:00.001-08:002009-11-12T12:30:15.661-08:00Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG-dn2UXhRbN3Vm6lA2yWx-dZheCyU5HxuAgf-ftcYguxpPf_867ieBp5HudAE-n4D9UnTUuPs8YP_eWLr8LRWMH3_OsgnICfnUxU4SI5uwLUne_NlxBT-oFVgiaNXnx22rxE/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403317022038496914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG-dn2UXhRbN3Vm6lA2yWx-dZheCyU5HxuAgf-ftcYguxpPf_867ieBp5HudAE-n4D9UnTUuPs8YP_eWLr8LRWMH3_OsgnICfnUxU4SI5uwLUne_NlxBT-oFVgiaNXnx22rxE/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxzo1HENDIfoBdbuRSxH8HNN4k4MFB7X9045VdaPTavKgK9V09YRhGDXtBojdGuUlgJ91KyoXEFYmsrwArwTEhmmFo8MQwAMeYmFnpS69WS94ionLPVQOfMbsH7-GZrJaFS4u/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+015.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403317017998635106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxzo1HENDIfoBdbuRSxH8HNN4k4MFB7X9045VdaPTavKgK9V09YRhGDXtBojdGuUlgJ91KyoXEFYmsrwArwTEhmmFo8MQwAMeYmFnpS69WS94ionLPVQOfMbsH7-GZrJaFS4u/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+015.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9rd6XSwxnoTeHuunJCQcUlMYB7ctJ5BY1v-NvcxGdfG3xNvWj5QW9Uq8Zp_qNSynoUJk0DIMCYjLjmu1Egijxrn7RhEiG-fY4EcCyJ6Sxq-aYJ5Bxz0OTZnBvf7QMjtGKrKc/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+033.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403317014620371570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9rd6XSwxnoTeHuunJCQcUlMYB7ctJ5BY1v-NvcxGdfG3xNvWj5QW9Uq8Zp_qNSynoUJk0DIMCYjLjmu1Egijxrn7RhEiG-fY4EcCyJ6Sxq-aYJ5Bxz0OTZnBvf7QMjtGKrKc/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+033.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz4iYICM14-Yw-00dj03FuqaReSGkBWZku8y9YXwR282FyQzBJ058Lbb-AMuCMdx82rSTbt3PWmtwvd63QjT9MbK2gQ14qEQyfbPfqOd4IhG9MTtxAZLPeA5ZYsXDar_bBu1o/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+039.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403316995556007650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz4iYICM14-Yw-00dj03FuqaReSGkBWZku8y9YXwR282FyQzBJ058Lbb-AMuCMdx82rSTbt3PWmtwvd63QjT9MbK2gQ14qEQyfbPfqOd4IhG9MTtxAZLPeA5ZYsXDar_bBu1o/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+039.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-9714130276879333122009-10-03T14:28:00.001-07:002009-10-03T14:33:40.048-07:00Upper Cherry '09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlesr66TLm7K6lTeUKVgjfeciIDrM8ihAz365L3qMnx-MPzTlb3d2zbOd1hyphenhyphen1BOCLYM392HrnI6UKTAu2IIQ2NV9xiXKl2GFAZAtwZfZ4trYohIc-01EarUdGQOCahglrhR8J/s1600-h/upper+cherry+hike+09+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlesr66TLm7K6lTeUKVgjfeciIDrM8ihAz365L3qMnx-MPzTlb3d2zbOd1hyphenhyphen1BOCLYM392HrnI6UKTAu2IIQ2NV9xiXKl2GFAZAtwZfZ4trYohIc-01EarUdGQOCahglrhR8J/s320/upper+cherry+hike+09+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388489808903204674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb-30upHmNy90Wtjq8TYIqQR-acm8PcdX6yaBy8ZLsh6qy4WdmVbKKnfFmfUt6vQSw3wQYwrpAEWty9B4vdZ4UF9pqa8ZnLTuwlnshaU7w1EmdYXmyabzffCmlayN_U5ZplrG/s1600-h/upper+cherry+first+slide+maser.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb-30upHmNy90Wtjq8TYIqQR-acm8PcdX6yaBy8ZLsh6qy4WdmVbKKnfFmfUt6vQSw3wQYwrpAEWty9B4vdZ4UF9pqa8ZnLTuwlnshaU7w1EmdYXmyabzffCmlayN_U5ZplrG/s320/upper+cherry+first+slide+maser.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388489798850095554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ugswkJ0KpjkfveJU8reN7dnZQWh6hsBlY4Gs01qwiPduyKUtSzT8J_uLzzyXiFRxJnAWQeHz20TALBWH0p07mJKVk8JBt-jDQw3VUHIboBT-4Uo7oL6o5FEyaxdpU8PDVf6C/s1600-h/upper+cherry+teacups.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ugswkJ0KpjkfveJU8reN7dnZQWh6hsBlY4Gs01qwiPduyKUtSzT8J_uLzzyXiFRxJnAWQeHz20TALBWH0p07mJKVk8JBt-jDQw3VUHIboBT-4Uo7oL6o5FEyaxdpU8PDVf6C/s320/upper+cherry+teacups.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388489792595038946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxMywAfDtKkG0-uZ1BG437GqbFEQdzQtro8hR0jd2GAHrX0JPI8stH6dBW38LZcVQfHrotIW0nXdAeLWNpWifpyQlFT8edJuiHHTIugG-lRHlqB9Le22QB-tLiNTilmCbSlq_/s1600-h/upper+cherry+beitler+steez.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxMywAfDtKkG0-uZ1BG437GqbFEQdzQtro8hR0jd2GAHrX0JPI8stH6dBW38LZcVQfHrotIW0nXdAeLWNpWifpyQlFT8edJuiHHTIugG-lRHlqB9Le22QB-tLiNTilmCbSlq_/s320/upper+cherry+beitler+steez.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388489783533517042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaJX8K7HcIH_ULQEZqWJf3h4hk9bOMzTCMNwaXLrOhfrsD9UNRAXx8-Pa3OeNSLLekwyCHbVr9y3Ix0n7q-nHZSbSK6PxBpNq-5sB70DS2V6pEG1eYXkbwN9SMpBCx26oFfqY/s1600-h/upper+cherry+beitler+random+slide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaJX8K7HcIH_ULQEZqWJf3h4hk9bOMzTCMNwaXLrOhfrsD9UNRAXx8-Pa3OeNSLLekwyCHbVr9y3Ix0n7q-nHZSbSK6PxBpNq-5sB70DS2V6pEG1eYXkbwN9SMpBCx26oFfqY/s320/upper+cherry+beitler+random+slide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388489774632992162" border="0" /></a>more photos on day waylittlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-66985559783360191762009-10-03T13:42:00.000-07:002009-10-03T14:16:43.052-07:00Fantasy Falls '09<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbtSHbfJRBNUSQWsRrXJPGa9qoZzXmzLKDopfetCO-wQre_gLNG1I_zsvByLgEB-OXD91UQDpfYFS4thTyxVKMBZhuemK2RdDUCo6-sm0A5OQo-dzepLWA32ms5AXBc-E1UwD/s1600-h/camp+1+fantasy+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbtSHbfJRBNUSQWsRrXJPGa9qoZzXmzLKDopfetCO-wQre_gLNG1I_zsvByLgEB-OXD91UQDpfYFS4thTyxVKMBZhuemK2RdDUCo6-sm0A5OQo-dzepLWA32ms5AXBc-E1UwD/s320/camp+1+fantasy+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388484084688374290" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite LVM moments of zen is when Willie Kern sits at the put-in for Fantasy Falls and says something like, "I did it once at high water and there was more water than this. I did it once at low water and there was less water than this."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3uPCTa8xrjZe60YwqOOlEyr9KV5QAa1p97kjYso_EnediHaS3Rktea9_GEb9_dvyMaPBNpVN3oIAcsyCZOjz55R99tAnGVPg1cg6C2tBwbAnYpR995isBIlBZjcwJ8EAnDsl/s1600-h/view+fantasy+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3uPCTa8xrjZe60YwqOOlEyr9KV5QAa1p97kjYso_EnediHaS3Rktea9_GEb9_dvyMaPBNpVN3oIAcsyCZOjz55R99tAnGVPg1cg6C2tBwbAnYpR995isBIlBZjcwJ8EAnDsl/s320/view+fantasy+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388485488323073650" border="0" /></a><br />I had never done it before, but I'm pretty sure we put-on somewhere on the "lower than this" end of the spectrum. Regardless, the Mekolumne Wilderness is a mystical place full of rugged character. The sun shone bright each day and the stars rocked out each night. All of the classic rapids were fun and exciting. The camping in there is all-time. Lane Jacobs, Dan and Tom Simenc, Andy Maser and I snuck in a run the day after we jumped off West Cherry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-C-OFP2MNx5j5z5tF6x8U_hVBiCxculY9f_3YVtqEUduD9mbo3oi_Gcp3BNN_ns4EJTRzxVXigZMCFw2Fn4588aaxa1vcpwA7DjriQ493CaKwUcVXSj3q2RT_s4ROvF-OlSr0/s1600-h/night+shot+fantasy+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-C-OFP2MNx5j5z5tF6x8U_hVBiCxculY9f_3YVtqEUduD9mbo3oi_Gcp3BNN_ns4EJTRzxVXigZMCFw2Fn4588aaxa1vcpwA7DjriQ493CaKwUcVXSj3q2RT_s4ROvF-OlSr0/s320/night+shot+fantasy+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388484099889275490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDpakH1I2ARZpXvBLTyQwNuuROmTmuiN5we4ZH5tYxbdW1AZ1pruYPlhp_oGuCHDIqk-afuayXtI0mZ6UOz5qGDbe_rfe4XGjZfmxbQL0CqT7Ozpe8QXos0xoQw-7aH353Pd4/s1600-h/skippy+fantasy+falls+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDpakH1I2ARZpXvBLTyQwNuuROmTmuiN5we4ZH5tYxbdW1AZ1pruYPlhp_oGuCHDIqk-afuayXtI0mZ6UOz5qGDbe_rfe4XGjZfmxbQL0CqT7Ozpe8QXos0xoQw-7aH353Pd4/s320/skippy+fantasy+falls+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388484090900495346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv90yW2-zVKj-NnCFazJTC4UFD24MJxaXwW8Oi-ITlusaaoqqaVluyOd0rm3Zkyqsy7hjhQAoeMGiZ130xpE7m8pf0zNwn6u9GyIMCbYKtZ4QTtZ2DsOBYPKHHS-83VTxtWNUh/s1600-h/between+falls+fantasy+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv90yW2-zVKj-NnCFazJTC4UFD24MJxaXwW8Oi-ITlusaaoqqaVluyOd0rm3Zkyqsy7hjhQAoeMGiZ130xpE7m8pf0zNwn6u9GyIMCbYKtZ4QTtZ2DsOBYPKHHS-83VTxtWNUh/s320/between+falls+fantasy+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388484112616660194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnzI0mCb9H8b5iaoqW6P26-aYQ0b_uRfR1ArF53YPn2LytMC_jkCnDsh4K2EbML-Fk2-SMN2a1dHctAHAei8Gvb0mXCbqpqgYJL5cxSzMg4PrKApvcxDaP9brIhP4sXoZQxWy/s1600-h/island+drop+fantasy+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnzI0mCb9H8b5iaoqW6P26-aYQ0b_uRfR1ArF53YPn2LytMC_jkCnDsh4K2EbML-Fk2-SMN2a1dHctAHAei8Gvb0mXCbqpqgYJL5cxSzMg4PrKApvcxDaP9brIhP4sXoZQxWy/s320/island+drop+fantasy+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388484120282493666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWs7o0n1TGIAhYh_6rVVRq7MWlvzDOlZyps83V4TehJiU_2tBuYhyPkXq03824eqomgxl2qNjglF_qI0NY7_gLGP01ydlevf_2p_J_n_pLrgRCT-fRkETw9ILbzGbLNc3Nikr/s1600-h/tom+in+the+thing+fantasy+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWs7o0n1TGIAhYh_6rVVRq7MWlvzDOlZyps83V4TehJiU_2tBuYhyPkXq03824eqomgxl2qNjglF_qI0NY7_gLGP01ydlevf_2p_J_n_pLrgRCT-fRkETw9ILbzGbLNc3Nikr/s320/tom+in+the+thing+fantasy+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388484655204565954" border="0" /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-79057458462066311582009-07-07T13:13:00.000-07:002009-07-07T15:49:28.552-07:00West Cherry Creek, June '09<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmsg61yShzI81OT-Jbam25ieElJXsRI4U54f-8IQGeNX1NBnVUE3SCqW1Zb3TXArKGqsA7t6WqSP_MbOCT28Kk4jLQTRaw0csVJ-pOYPZ-o_vNO0wek_nW9_EkQXk1MIgDBwX/s1600-h/west+cherry+vista+from+ridge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmsg61yShzI81OT-Jbam25ieElJXsRI4U54f-8IQGeNX1NBnVUE3SCqW1Zb3TXArKGqsA7t6WqSP_MbOCT28Kk4jLQTRaw0csVJ-pOYPZ-o_vNO0wek_nW9_EkQXk1MIgDBwX/s320/west+cherry+vista+from+ridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355844225893790002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The boys take a look from the ridge.<br /></span></span></div><br />California. Hollywood. Baywatch. Big city life. The OC. The Dude. Oceanside. The Cruz. The Bay. Norcal. Grateful Dead. 2pac. West siiiide! Oranges. Avacadoes. Grapes. Hops. Marijuana. Farmers. Loggers. Chicanos. Gringos. Gangstas. Hippies. Rednecks. Movie stars. Shooting stars. Death Valley. Sequoia. Mammoth. Yosemite. Tahoe. Big sur. Chico. Shasta. Trinity. Humboldt. Redwoods. Mendocino. Sonoma. Traffic. Waves. Waterfalls. Trails. Mountains. Trees. Desert. Meadows. Wilderness. Granite. Sunshine.<br /><br />It's a start, but certainly not enough to do justice to a place so diverse in landscape and in culture. Considering all of this diversity, it strikes me that we, as kayakers, search for the one thing that all of California's alpine rivers share in common - granite slides and waterfalls. And rather than immersing ourselves in the busy streets of the big cities, or looking for luck on a movie set or for love in one of California's many beautiful coastal towns, we find ourselves lost on dirt roads and passed out on granite slabs with no one else but the friends we came with, the stars and the river and the bears and the mosquitoes.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGb5Fto6FEhNdLZCQHFjQHlJtm8bdl7qNQIf96L2r891-afUrir0hH5d4LYddTRuyCzEFmVBKFk5L6IMYbloPPUzorJSggJE36TGXBcRpnxoesPXdvZmqifPR4Rz4sopaRoBI/s1600-h/west+cherry+bonzai.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGb5Fto6FEhNdLZCQHFjQHlJtm8bdl7qNQIf96L2r891-afUrir0hH5d4LYddTRuyCzEFmVBKFk5L6IMYbloPPUzorJSggJE36TGXBcRpnxoesPXdvZmqifPR4Rz4sopaRoBI/s320/west+cherry+bonzai.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355849017466052514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">California Bonzai!<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div>Inspired by a decade of LVM reports and gnarly first-hand accounts from friends, more and more boaters make the pilgrimage to the Sierra of California each year.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwjTTo23G1vdvsksUDR1lS7_TLOE6TQrQnTwoLpNBjWR-F-Pa0KC40yEIgjnrtEZ_t1qoKLcplTebji76zyd4_aOxJKtu_K2kEsu_BamW_ertHJ86zRmB-_DaUkFGdlIwrV2z/s1600-h/west+cherry+boatpacks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwjTTo23G1vdvsksUDR1lS7_TLOE6TQrQnTwoLpNBjWR-F-Pa0KC40yEIgjnrtEZ_t1qoKLcplTebji76zyd4_aOxJKtu_K2kEsu_BamW_ertHJ86zRmB-_DaUkFGdlIwrV2z/s320/west+cherry+boatpacks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355844214937296130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Working with the "boatpacks."<br /><br /></span></span></div>We follow the adventurous paths led by Muir, Kerouac, Robbins, Holbeck, Lindgren and DeLaVergne. The latter, Daniel D., once told me, "West Cherry is a kayak assisted backpacking trip." I'm not sure if he was trying to dissuade me from making the push or encouraging me to take on the challenge of hiking into Emigrant Wilderness with a loaded boat. Regardless, he planted the seed of curiosity, and 5 years later in June, along with Charlie Center, Dan and Tom Simenc, Lane Jacobs, Paul Gaumache and Andy Maser, I was finally able to ride my backpack back down this great watery path.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdFydQnaVtk2jyDRGb2R72FPGJe0q8oFgbZZH1-9AOgApPmcSqhfnk0tjeuVX8fgR8f8I8Ph8kkjf9W37zvMzHiOPrC43IHfuY30537YH-XzfXQSZYoilxJDE527ON4SyCibD/s1600-h/west+cherry+skip+boof+rapid+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdFydQnaVtk2jyDRGb2R72FPGJe0q8oFgbZZH1-9AOgApPmcSqhfnk0tjeuVX8fgR8f8I8Ph8kkjf9W37zvMzHiOPrC43IHfuY30537YH-XzfXQSZYoilxJDE527ON4SyCibD/s320/west+cherry+skip+boof+rapid+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355847440266419298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dan "Skippy" Simenc launches in the 1st stout.<br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SoRQCESADs8cgJfUOQoKXb3K1zHc-gibHsaa2v7WZTWZXvk4x21NP-FqoV6XqWPqrQMTiheh4O2KOKlPxU9BQyfuxZxhjIpdHNudW0-5zdWUemQV5bVZ9DIvnzzqQeq67PPB/s1600-h/west+cherry+maser+boof+rapid+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SoRQCESADs8cgJfUOQoKXb3K1zHc-gibHsaa2v7WZTWZXvk4x21NP-FqoV6XqWPqrQMTiheh4O2KOKlPxU9BQyfuxZxhjIpdHNudW0-5zdWUemQV5bVZ9DIvnzzqQeq67PPB/s320/west+cherry+maser+boof+rapid+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355848201336120306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Look at the top of this one, and you shall see Mr. Maser getting busy in stout #2.<br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ebhm3E1cUfcVlkqm5QNFteVm4uHBG46ZyBdj6saloQTUbscht05QINznT0-Nj_9-yrlIeldz6Gr31sU4nxjkQj8yL-LD68j38Zq19LMObKnKIpVMAwO31um1oMjTzY_KIKE1/s1600-h/west+cherry+charlie+fun+falls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ebhm3E1cUfcVlkqm5QNFteVm4uHBG46ZyBdj6saloQTUbscht05QINznT0-Nj_9-yrlIeldz6Gr31sU4nxjkQj8yL-LD68j38Zq19LMObKnKIpVMAwO31um1oMjTzY_KIKE1/s320/west+cherry+charlie+fun+falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355848209673099042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Charlie couldn't find the put-in, but he found all of the smoothe lines where it counted.<br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2hqtPVToA1BEKD0jkScYZwpLyxPU3fI5hlZKc2Ob3-3YlFbjkSxOQPKe0kURyn5ojMWtznFnXh7J4w3Ik1UmddY3GI6VHI917w2h4zf4C7xIoz1Ztgz9ejtYqayD37ydfrSO/s1600-h/west+cherry+lj+side+boof.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2hqtPVToA1BEKD0jkScYZwpLyxPU3fI5hlZKc2Ob3-3YlFbjkSxOQPKe0kURyn5ojMWtznFnXh7J4w3Ik1UmddY3GI6VHI917w2h4zf4C7xIoz1Ztgz9ejtYqayD37ydfrSO/s320/west+cherry+lj+side+boof.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355848216638787938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Skippy borrowed my camera to capture this shot of me in the entrance to a fun slide rapid.<br /></span></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfTCJb6cZ2Xr8vGBiq4bPoW764EElacTI1QTpCc6VcI1rrPGDjkUBZr6C4Qt993X7pnfkwdjmfaVkH8e5bteH0_vhJSDpXNmuS6RcHoNkhBKJc6NEJG_z8c0ry63NBbYx9BPK/s1600-h/west+cherry+lane+bombing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfTCJb6cZ2Xr8vGBiq4bPoW764EElacTI1QTpCc6VcI1rrPGDjkUBZr6C4Qt993X7pnfkwdjmfaVkH8e5bteH0_vhJSDpXNmuS6RcHoNkhBKJc6NEJG_z8c0ry63NBbYx9BPK/s320/west+cherry+lane+bombing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355848224026222786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lane is bombing through the 2nd part of said fun slide rapid.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div>Compared to several of the other remote kayak-assisted backpacking trips in California, "the meat" of West Cherry Creek is accessible with a short hike of just 2-3 miles. Once at the river, the amount of backpacking involved depends on the mood of the group. The vast amphitheater of glacier-polished granite makes walking around sections of whitewater fairly easy, but most of what could be run was routed by at least one person in our crew. Visually impressive and inspiring, the energy created by running such stout slides and waterfalls carried us through two glorious days in the California sunshine.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpAr-yVl4YqG-olGorJSQzF8lDTj_JelVOFyKBdVlcHIljnsf_F7V8JtagEBPc21q6mKCYr4ztJE2WtB6Mv_RhE4ZgnRyv27tQeJhGOXCAuXh5LxDnbPqj6-cRoBCAHHfNnzE/s1600-h/west+cherry+lane+beavers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpAr-yVl4YqG-olGorJSQzF8lDTj_JelVOFyKBdVlcHIljnsf_F7V8JtagEBPc21q6mKCYr4ztJE2WtB6Mv_RhE4ZgnRyv27tQeJhGOXCAuXh5LxDnbPqj6-cRoBCAHHfNnzE/s320/west+cherry+lane+beavers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355850665235529458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lane was getting bored...<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMjuNGA1GNkUJI8jkV9BIXLiytWjukw7quoZt6YVBMYOppY2E1tsphvSmsrm7-CoUbLALpb5cCN6By3uInjehv15vBqwiX_UxplvZpI2T0CrYh1n_fCPtLfgwwJDKF47RDWBU/s1600-h/west+cherry+skip+loco+rapid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMjuNGA1GNkUJI8jkV9BIXLiytWjukw7quoZt6YVBMYOppY2E1tsphvSmsrm7-CoUbLALpb5cCN6By3uInjehv15vBqwiX_UxplvZpI2T0CrYh1n_fCPtLfgwwJDKF47RDWBU/s320/west+cherry+skip+loco+rapid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355849010189675954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Skippy was getting bored, too...<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AFyfLFsioHI99Mx-57hP2mG45KFK15l0IP_PdlzghuyoxFEY-9rN7vhyj1ZX5qokaFcmT92MiQgGIjQ1QCDtDSL7iBUIIBeq8SIz4VCp0Nt3GY-Ns2CEX_9kxCCLlECezBuQ/s1600-h/west+cherry+day+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AFyfLFsioHI99Mx-57hP2mG45KFK15l0IP_PdlzghuyoxFEY-9rN7vhyj1ZX5qokaFcmT92MiQgGIjQ1QCDtDSL7iBUIIBeq8SIz4VCp0Nt3GY-Ns2CEX_9kxCCLlECezBuQ/s320/west+cherry+day+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355849028978686546" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></a></div>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-9085164093767068912009-01-12T08:55:00.000-08:002009-01-12T09:24:50.016-08:00Outlet Falls, Washington<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" <br />href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL5ldYyLRTIk3ClBMTUFRi1gE1H-mw0Y19GUq1rj-zXF8zeewmK_Xi_Eemu5OmKY12Fx5KnJYprtZl_tONvT8ZbICYYgjPXUk5HiYbcDcRSdtJqA9NhiB3JacKiiy64yJrcqS/s1600-h/IMG_7598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL5ldYyLRTIk3ClBMTUFRi1gE1H-mw0Y19GUq1rj-zXF8zeewmK_Xi_Eemu5OmKY12Fx5KnJYprtZl_tONvT8ZbICYYgjPXUk5HiYbcDcRSdtJqA9NhiB3JacKiiy64yJrcqS/s320/IMG_7598.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290456847724272194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQi8sTfgvjZIZRB_X14nB3N40e-XByt0faIAE1_o-erDK5RMrcuidwtFcrrPIzBAdHkU55TMxqqucL-yzNeQyamIZyDqBScm-i7RM0Rw0FETZRF-naGUipVA_8QQ-FwrtVqBD/s1600-h/IMG_7601.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQi8sTfgvjZIZRB_X14nB3N40e-XByt0faIAE1_o-erDK5RMrcuidwtFcrrPIzBAdHkU55TMxqqucL-yzNeQyamIZyDqBScm-i7RM0Rw0FETZRF-naGUipVA_8QQ-FwrtVqBD/s320/IMG_7601.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290456856613235298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ipEaa_PMJ75bMQe3SFLq1-GfYJ_pkLQsP1BFFf6-7x5aUInAHKJ4t4WQsiQtAYrPFHLzbQfKCsmj9XF_yKCwqrpaAWAAhKeTg63ybFUQnnSsUGOCe-AkLu0KiBxE94cJ-uAL/s1600-h/IMG_7603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ipEaa_PMJ75bMQe3SFLq1-GfYJ_pkLQsP1BFFf6-7x5aUInAHKJ4t4WQsiQtAYrPFHLzbQfKCsmj9XF_yKCwqrpaAWAAhKeTg63ybFUQnnSsUGOCe-AkLu0KiBxE94cJ-uAL/s320/IMG_7603.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290456863975045090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCNu_httSTFzvpgDAbMmQAs3aBNezTrHAAD1osB5BKJGRn1dwhDACVprP4ZdYPNfS-boXVTE4aI87O5-ohub4l1g2TvAzbH89Hko3IlvcrrOjYWyeZrEn51GT92Dmq_nuv1HH/s1600-h/IMG_7616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCNu_httSTFzvpgDAbMmQAs3aBNezTrHAAD1osB5BKJGRn1dwhDACVprP4ZdYPNfS-boXVTE4aI87O5-ohub4l1g2TvAzbH89Hko3IlvcrrOjYWyeZrEn51GT92Dmq_nuv1HH/s320/IMG_7616.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290456863109972866" /></a><br /><br /><br />I had the chance to spend the day watching (and doing) some big waterfall hucking here in southern Washington while on a whirlwind-friend-tour of the Northwest. Big props and thanks to Erik Boomer for firing up the 1st D of Outlet Falls. People have talked about running this beast for years, but a funky watershed and high elevation keep this creek pretty dry for most of the year. Ben Stookesberry (sp?) followed Boomer with a great line, and I decided I had to go for it, too. There was a really big crew of photographers, safety boaters and homies cheering everyone on to victory. It was a great day.<br /><br />I didn't have my camera on me, but <a href="http://northwestpaddling.com">Sam Drevo</a> snapped these shots of me falling into the freeze.<br /><br />Now I'm off to China with World Class!littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-70488908773641261432008-09-25T13:30:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:26:03.422-07:00The McMoser Wedding...and Other StoriesKarl Moser is a good man, but, sorry ladies, he's out of the game. I'm pretty sure he and his wife Tara are chasing waves in Costa Rica right now. If anyone at the University of Oregon had asked me seven years ago if Karl might be the first of our group of river rat friends to be married, I probably would have said something like, "Karl likes girls?" While most of us dudes were looking for ladies and waterfalls, Karl was completely focused on kayaking at the time we met. Well, I'd say he crossed paths with the right girl, one who makes him as happy as all of those Skook sessions he always talked about. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoim3tHAOMvcmRgpMxJKD_Ew1Z22iTLOogh4C280nS4fo_cVOpETFxjpl4hSvtGvlsSKhvoQ8lfYSGHmSEYMzGTE30aRjZ2iurartP2lGWyi_j5J2R_BMmKDdG5juum3VBudSx/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+635.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoim3tHAOMvcmRgpMxJKD_Ew1Z22iTLOogh4C280nS4fo_cVOpETFxjpl4hSvtGvlsSKhvoQ8lfYSGHmSEYMzGTE30aRjZ2iurartP2lGWyi_j5J2R_BMmKDdG5juum3VBudSx/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+635.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250060768284483970" /></a><br /><br />Karl and Tara were married under the towering Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I had never been to this part of the United States before, so I was stoked to have the opportunity to experience a new place. I road tripped over with good friends from college. Kelly, Chelsea and Kelsey picked me up in Hood River on their way from the Willamette Valley. We dropped into La Grande to squeeze in Conor Ross for the all-nighter rider through eastern Oregon and Idaho. In between sleep sessions we talked about how America is full of "America." Franchises and strip malls. I'm pretty sure we had those conversations four years ago, too. <br /><br />The parties were radical, the people fantastic, the views stunning and the champagne at the reception delicious and freeflowing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W5teL8siT4FESm85PJULqeLufgdmO1bfO1r6tXuc9FqpwIB-ZEUbVd0V56NJlaY23iAV5NQJlputJy6egbWeaYgYeX9hltGlem30epl9KeWhPx3XF7wxPVAWvEe092a5jfA-/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+686.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W5teL8siT4FESm85PJULqeLufgdmO1bfO1r6tXuc9FqpwIB-ZEUbVd0V56NJlaY23iAV5NQJlputJy6egbWeaYgYeX9hltGlem30epl9KeWhPx3XF7wxPVAWvEe092a5jfA-/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+686.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250063168842877858" /></a><br /><em>The Sleeping Indian.</em><br /><br />Karl's bachelor party was a highlight of the trip. While Tara and all of her lady friends cruised around Jackson in a swanky party bus, Dave Zinn, Philip Gordon, Conor Ross, Mr. Moser and I stopped by the liquor store and rallied Philly's Subaru to Idaho Falls. We just wanted to take Karl out for a good night of debauchery before the wedding. <br /><br />Idaho Falls is the kind of place you drive through and you probably don't stop. I think it was the setting for Napolean Dynamite? Anyway, it's a weird townon Idaho's eastern edge of dust. I don't want to reveal too much, but we found a good time at Blondie's Place on the highway through town - cowboys and cowgirls, cheap drinks and some really crazy karaoke. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs26ndWuWjaFPyExECq_MIsib0TTtbUdQQWiXEKf1oqgarD4LrntZ09ofoyGn8wul9b1iuuheGaBTWgpG2UqMWZw1hxm7I8e4HvuYDsrnSA6wcMYH1MWdpq8eSE15BgIMgYce6/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+591.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs26ndWuWjaFPyExECq_MIsib0TTtbUdQQWiXEKf1oqgarD4LrntZ09ofoyGn8wul9b1iuuheGaBTWgpG2UqMWZw1hxm7I8e4HvuYDsrnSA6wcMYH1MWdpq8eSE15BgIMgYce6/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+591.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250064466791416690" /></a><br /><em>Karl Moser nursing his hangover on Lower Mesa Falls.</em><br /><br />The only planned event was a huckfest at Mesa Falls the next morning on our way back to Jackson. After way too much fun at Blondie's, Philly stayed sober and hauled us up the highway to Lower Mesa. We woke up to two young hooligans with creekboats hovering over us, waiting for the crew to motivate for some kayaking. These two kids, Ben Dan and Fraser, were the only fellas out of the group who had actually run the falls before.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80lUyDQQzx1Op9jxLn8LXJPhtgXr-aUql2fnxlA6uDjZevZuDZLd4UGMyxWwqHQi0tA66bce2h0P7tUwj5Nq_C-wxIFJZC9rMtli689wrr6O76l_TePoU-Xar_faPewhPmjnj/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+615.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80lUyDQQzx1Op9jxLn8LXJPhtgXr-aUql2fnxlA6uDjZevZuDZLd4UGMyxWwqHQi0tA66bce2h0P7tUwj5Nq_C-wxIFJZC9rMtli689wrr6O76l_TePoU-Xar_faPewhPmjnj/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+615.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250065272066332594" /></a><br /><em>Conor Ross looks for the stroke.</em><br /><br />Conor and I waited up at the roadside lookout and snapped some photos while the other boys rallied some laps on the left side. We eventually made our way down the scree field and over to the falls for our turn to get vertical. Conor laid some treats on the left side, but I was pretty fired up to go right. I had seen the hero line done before, but it looked like I could fire up the ultimate "boof-stomp" a bit further right than I had seen in the videos. So, I grabbed a bunch of borrowed gear and made the ferry to the other side of the river to get a closer look at the take-off and landing. I could see the lip was indeed perfect for a huge boof in the Everest. There were rocks below the lip on the right, so I thought I could just launch into the center curtain, below another scary rock-ledge, and stomp the bow down for the last 20 feet or so, finally plugging into a soft pocket of aerated water.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl5XTsfHuA_3sqb2FFCzPo43ahDZBk8e1zoVxp48_XUR5XjN34nnFr0yFefpmyAFVq9hfMSCEfmK-1fAF6J8x1XO5ddKdYn3cxWDmH348WwMXyaxq0gzaGqkE71oFdLFPOo18/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+621.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl5XTsfHuA_3sqb2FFCzPo43ahDZBk8e1zoVxp48_XUR5XjN34nnFr0yFefpmyAFVq9hfMSCEfmK-1fAF6J8x1XO5ddKdYn3cxWDmH348WwMXyaxq0gzaGqkE71oFdLFPOo18/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+621.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250065931214421826" /></a><br /><em>"Looks good!" photo by Dave Zinn</em><br /><br />Let's just say that not everything is at seems. I boofed that shit. I flew through the air and smiled with stoke as I shot through the center curtain, just where I wanted to be. Then I hit a rock. Hard. Explosion of gear and body. About 40 feet down, I crushed a hidden rock shelf directly under my ass, and I felt impact harder than I have ever imagined feeling. I then fell the last 10-15 feet limp and upside down before ejecting into the aerated mess at the base of the falls. I went deep. I eventually resurfaced in shock and pain, helplessly watching my borrowed boat and paddle float away. I washed up on the rocks on the right. Conor ran the left side again, picked me up and ferried me to the more pedestrian accessible left side eddy where Zinn and Philly, both trained in WFR, helped me get stable and checked out my spine. Karl followed behind Conor and stayed to help while Conor sprinted downstream after the gear. It was scary as hell. I thought I broke my back. I was writhing in pain and regret, worried my boy Karl was going to miss his rehersal dinner, worried I wasn't going to be able to do anything fun again. It was a gnarly scene. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFBP8E5U600womo6S44QgDk4A3i9IcC1HJHksrYlLN3uQp4l6B4K6jEu9aSE8PZ0TSMmR-ucMJVVA_-cwAYUOsZ-rRIJlRNgMYkYiZckJY9h2L8KuQ6USJCWOYV_phC3N2zXc/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+625.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFBP8E5U600womo6S44QgDk4A3i9IcC1HJHksrYlLN3uQp4l6B4K6jEu9aSE8PZ0TSMmR-ucMJVVA_-cwAYUOsZ-rRIJlRNgMYkYiZckJY9h2L8KuQ6USJCWOYV_phC3N2zXc/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+625.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250066796329356914" /></a><br /><em>"Feels good!" photo by Dave Zinn</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXuYMIhBKk4eUqGcd-RLNV8WPzX5uUYc3RLSya0qHEd3DvjIx4_1Vo-V0ftzBq5V2kJ3Hl8pzT5atwHS9n-DUmXUt9BZX7Spfw9U4-vjAx6jvkmEkSZXoPvez8kJDBa9e5Zcf/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+626.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXuYMIhBKk4eUqGcd-RLNV8WPzX5uUYc3RLSya0qHEd3DvjIx4_1Vo-V0ftzBq5V2kJ3Hl8pzT5atwHS9n-DUmXUt9BZX7Spfw9U4-vjAx6jvkmEkSZXoPvez8kJDBa9e5Zcf/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+626.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250066802614665346" /></a><br /><em>Ready to stomp on demrocks. photo by Dave Zinn</em><br /><br />I thank the river gods that I was able to walk out of there, and I was even capable of laying some treats on the dance floor at the wedding party the next day. After the festivities were over, we made the most of a rushed drive back to Oregon. Kyle Dickman and our boy Mike rallied back to make our band of gypsies even more fun. We camped in the middle of a dry reservoir in southern Idaho, and it was great. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwogX8i9cWhgKua_lLskbEUNJrXxbXrf6hiJ5vnfSgZL4sNNf_4g6mytaMfd2pnpLlbhr9u18pb-7926PKVCiAiYmjlAdyCLqnGOrmxDQvlpDY2kdOMsPeX3uNX633xrdFUG0P/s1600-h/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+710.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwogX8i9cWhgKua_lLskbEUNJrXxbXrf6hiJ5vnfSgZL4sNNf_4g6mytaMfd2pnpLlbhr9u18pb-7926PKVCiAiYmjlAdyCLqnGOrmxDQvlpDY2kdOMsPeX3uNX633xrdFUG0P/s320/congo,+lewis,+the+lodge,+ohio,+wedding,+rogue+710.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250068528408794562" /></a><br /><em>Kelly and Kyle and "the light."</em><br /><br />About 10 days later, I am still in pain but mobile and feeling better. I'm not sure when I'll be able to baot again, but I don't think I'll be dropping any fat boofs for a while. <br /><br />I just want to say to the community of shit-runners out there, that although we now have developed safer waterfall techniques like the tuck-n-toss and the boof-stomp blind faith, we still need to be mindfull of the unpredictable nature of nature itself. I have been fortunate to stay relatively healthy over the last 7 years of running big waterfalls, but I have taken some beatings along with slaying some beasts. Be carefull out there. I'm pretty stoked about some big water playboating for a while. Congratulations Karl and Tara - I'm sorry I almost broke my back at your wedding!<br /><br />BTW, if you haven't seen it already, check out <a href="http://egcreekin.blogspot.com">http://egcreekin.blogspot.com</a> for an epic update from the Stikine River in BC. The Beaver Lodge is proud of you boys!littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-83477921415033917972008-08-05T10:20:00.000-07:002008-08-05T11:13:33.499-07:00Busy living large at "The Lodge"After a three week mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with my Epicocity friends, I returned to the All Star Rafting "Beaver Lodge" on the White Salmon River in Washington. The Lodge has been my summer home in the Gorge for the last three years. It is a special place. It is our rafting center, a sort of shelter for vagabond kayakers, and a gathering place for those who are looking for adventure along the "Recreation Superhighway," 141 North. We are in the heart of the Northwest's best creekboating, rafting, longboarding, biking, and those who have visited might say we have mastered the art of chilling by the lake.<br /><br />Summertime at the Beaver Lodge means rafting twice a day over Husum Falls, longboats on the Truss and Little White, longboards down the Husum hills and BZ Glenwood Highway, and stout waterfalls in the Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier wilderness areas.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiP9dPFEFMQTRvj_kJTat9G1l4uNEYRPNhL6mIXg3M3YRNR5NLl4xqrc7TKSgEk60gN8PonJ28zIvp3jwpPwxG0eVUlBz0TUa5pYbz7eUUvCzoNuohdJ0KdJrXS_rqBdfjqeK/s1600-h/lodgemorning.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231092670433120402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiP9dPFEFMQTRvj_kJTat9G1l4uNEYRPNhL6mIXg3M3YRNR5NLl4xqrc7TKSgEk60gN8PonJ28zIvp3jwpPwxG0eVUlBz0TUa5pYbz7eUUvCzoNuohdJ0KdJrXS_rqBdfjqeK/s320/lodgemorning.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A little morning sunshine.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq13mNa3LHw7cyc-cicr8QBv7wpRlwM_TmD0dUJaypbvtImIknsrnICMDb6ryr3yVhsg9y6LYQRbuEgbgxJdmtHhsXtI0LIh3IKYD2LaG7JPeR-PKKpaJuoorJHeV3SB5kwZBJ/s1600-h/hurricane+spirit"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231092672902641890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq13mNa3LHw7cyc-cicr8QBv7wpRlwM_TmD0dUJaypbvtImIknsrnICMDb6ryr3yVhsg9y6LYQRbuEgbgxJdmtHhsXtI0LIh3IKYD2LaG7JPeR-PKKpaJuoorJHeV3SB5kwZBJ/s320/hurricane+spirit" border="0" /></a><br />I finally introduced the Hurricane to the crystal blue waters of the Little White Salmon. photo by Max Blackburn<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFny_y5OuDrFDS2XNKn51MDVxr_4Gwtv47kcC_HSHW54r8coh6uS2ecTu2S0f3X5tdqonH9n916jUthfRTh2P1MW1WZGBcJOp7JI-RhjPHhcHNahQEr6gPTLWoNgCYzN_Yeoq/s1600-h/egskatin.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231092680514370498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFny_y5OuDrFDS2XNKn51MDVxr_4Gwtv47kcC_HSHW54r8coh6uS2ecTu2S0f3X5tdqonH9n916jUthfRTh2P1MW1WZGBcJOp7JI-RhjPHhcHNahQEr6gPTLWoNgCYzN_Yeoq/s320/egskatin.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Evan Garcia riding the lightning on Oak Ridge in Husum.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH6GIVTD6K1JTIAymFcWb5W65tMb6iQOOJPNi9hRYgOKvLrBRN4BFUoY5BxvdD7MJNSFkCqDY-z1irJSRLHETriSmvDLLha9fUGMkporqIcIPnA7tYA7M3QT0CxJn7oAx8JDr/s1600-h/wpevanstop.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231092680116733154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH6GIVTD6K1JTIAymFcWb5W65tMb6iQOOJPNi9hRYgOKvLrBRN4BFUoY5BxvdD7MJNSFkCqDY-z1irJSRLHETriSmvDLLha9fUGMkporqIcIPnA7tYA7M3QT0CxJn7oAx8JDr/s320/wpevanstop.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Evan from Wet Planet, ready for a traffic violation.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhct0upc_18pMuSNwm6reMDtBC-wtdFnXIsvlBrbm6e2kpmIoDn5Wdq6xqmw51X2MeYX3okLlszgljjZzhNdSm7U6G6ps6JpwnNuvfhhXWEToJ5t669aX1hH13mQqhLR5yphhzQ/s1600-h/boonejumplewis.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231092686276981890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhct0upc_18pMuSNwm6reMDtBC-wtdFnXIsvlBrbm6e2kpmIoDn5Wdq6xqmw51X2MeYX3okLlszgljjZzhNdSm7U6G6ps6JpwnNuvfhhXWEToJ5t669aX1hH13mQqhLR5yphhzQ/s320/boonejumplewis.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sushi chef, kiter and Spirit bomber, John Boone loving the Lewis.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k3b3NWmNZMJLhMYUKWsFttuozj04sgCWZcI7bZkwP0VJZIs7f1e8asI1aFhMyC7RdVOKU0Ke4YH5fvnJzAK0qKw0ifhiY-vF4WTuT44_Nx_SpWDqCReM4KdMTk7ZzVCTGiC_/s1600-h/flying+lewis.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231096315757168130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_k3b3NWmNZMJLhMYUKWsFttuozj04sgCWZcI7bZkwP0VJZIs7f1e8asI1aFhMyC7RdVOKU0Ke4YH5fvnJzAK0qKw0ifhiY-vF4WTuT44_Nx_SpWDqCReM4KdMTk7ZzVCTGiC_/s320/flying+lewis.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is really happening. Evan Garcia busting a misty flip as Austin Rathman bombs Lower Lewis Falls. The Epicocity.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KKEKiDvERQ9aB8MxcRV4jf1PIeHEY_HMP4sUTiplntpkfysoWwU7tWgo9oJBFzpzVhoY1kJWyRLOnvKpsriw8Z8FujdMWa3OI7mzvWMYySPnS4v5F8VvXJiyLiT7BmhTqKk6/s1600-h/skuxlewis.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231096321393835250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KKEKiDvERQ9aB8MxcRV4jf1PIeHEY_HMP4sUTiplntpkfysoWwU7tWgo9oJBFzpzVhoY1kJWyRLOnvKpsriw8Z8FujdMWa3OI7mzvWMYySPnS4v5F8VvXJiyLiT7BmhTqKk6/s320/skuxlewis.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Kiwi Skux enjoying his stay in the Northwest.littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-88744040918719542192008-05-01T20:39:00.000-07:002008-05-01T21:05:00.580-07:00My Proudest Moment at Kayak PuconI was just going throught some old e-mails, and I came across this great honor given to me by Rodgrio and Ema during my first season at <a href="http://www.kayakpucon.net">Kayak Pucon</a>. Thanks guys!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYiAkpVAGRbgO3V3O6G_Iv7CYzWIwg5I0pUOOCPBvBxgFtqGbs-gu8WYAgk1GnJv8lHKaH5_xjF8A1Hlh-Hnz1jmQqbD-9b95Q6H9iabJV0f_ZahAWfa7dP09eE1nDr9ju7QT/s1600-h/LJempleadodelmes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYiAkpVAGRbgO3V3O6G_Iv7CYzWIwg5I0pUOOCPBvBxgFtqGbs-gu8WYAgk1GnJv8lHKaH5_xjF8A1Hlh-Hnz1jmQqbD-9b95Q6H9iabJV0f_ZahAWfa7dP09eE1nDr9ju7QT/s320/LJempleadodelmes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195620958766962658" /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-50294513987690321302008-04-27T12:06:00.000-07:002008-04-27T12:11:24.964-07:00Rivers in DemandCheck out what the boys are up to in China! The Epicocity Crew has a pretty sweet new website up, highlighting their change in focus from pure shit-running to shit running for a cause. This new project is designed to raise awareness for beautiful, diverse watersheds around the world, doomed to slow deaths at the hands of the man.<br /><br /><a href="http://china.riversindemand.com/">Rivers in Demand: China</a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-23683313336873125432008-04-16T16:26:00.000-07:002008-04-16T16:53:58.334-07:00Metlako Falls - Eagle Creek, ORIt's a big one and it's clean. Evan Garcia rolled into the Columbia Gorge the other day in order to start training for the Little White Salmon race this upcoming weekend. He has been talking about the Northwest's most runnable, big drop since his arrival. After a race lap down the Little White with local favorites Todd Anderson and Tao Berman, Evan drove out to Bonneville and hiked up to Metlako for a scout. He returned to the house with an intense level of excitement about what he had seen on his little walk. <br /><br />We hiked up there this morning with our kayaks and gave her a go. It was good to have a small crew of Gorge locals there for support. Eric Boomer and John Grace showed up for some media just an hour after Boomer gave Rock Creek's "Money Drop" another re-first descent. Apparently the Money Drop is now measuring in around 60 feet. <br /><br />Evan slayed the beast first and styled a perfect line. I followed with another clean, soft landing. It was a good day for waterfalling here in the Northwest. <br /><br />If you know where this is, you know where he's going.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcXy5TBGwYqcg_xLo4edbIzB0B4qj5xFKveph1gO0u2qeRP-HX9bZoyva-uLlJECgLeAGkDdHx57PUKmdwUPJfBob6Z4c25mdrWFxJVFaFCdSX8yK35bgEJo9Hy_iwsffOpkh/s1600-h/IMGP4300.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcXy5TBGwYqcg_xLo4edbIzB0B4qj5xFKveph1gO0u2qeRP-HX9bZoyva-uLlJECgLeAGkDdHx57PUKmdwUPJfBob6Z4c25mdrWFxJVFaFCdSX8yK35bgEJo9Hy_iwsffOpkh/s320/IMGP4300.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189993947217338114" /></a><br /><br />"Where is my kayak?"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G8UN6KqUb8Xi83CgxKrTWLtzqfmmFUrLSMs6zKdZEmMmXAhz1Npz3d2pFzl_6JXuv27ALRovtb4RDQfAHrxL-Xa-WePeO7ApVfR28bJGvGss9hVmDxqJahuriGXidmnfDwEM/s1600-h/IMGP4303.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G8UN6KqUb8Xi83CgxKrTWLtzqfmmFUrLSMs6zKdZEmMmXAhz1Npz3d2pFzl_6JXuv27ALRovtb4RDQfAHrxL-Xa-WePeO7ApVfR28bJGvGss9hVmDxqJahuriGXidmnfDwEM/s320/IMGP4303.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189993951512305426" /></a><br /><br />Evan picking up speed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTRGlT3rw_c5HfZ8ypDqm_pYHrLr1fgF2acKzGex79u33I2vaRnDHwDG-Ok_jfOk1kgy7Q6RcAvrts3UULwNLMwSjG2OLo1Mb9R9yrdx3BLvwYPJPsdbN7vrCehObckidu32O/s1600-h/IMGP4308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTRGlT3rw_c5HfZ8ypDqm_pYHrLr1fgF2acKzGex79u33I2vaRnDHwDG-Ok_jfOk1kgy7Q6RcAvrts3UULwNLMwSjG2OLo1Mb9R9yrdx3BLvwYPJPsdbN7vrCehObckidu32O/s320/IMGP4308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189993960102240034" /></a><br /><br />Eagle Creek is a really nice place to visit this time of year.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQlfktx2APHtr7s9-cTci5AgAM0aRPjZ0b0PiKz62wheoICdLz-6mG3qf31MHL0mqcg61oJkpam_S0QgJcVHfkWs7dYnbVrccitZJ64AsKXhvH4E545EGPXwDDBucCXlgKQUD/s1600-h/IMGP4317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQlfktx2APHtr7s9-cTci5AgAM0aRPjZ0b0PiKz62wheoICdLz-6mG3qf31MHL0mqcg61oJkpam_S0QgJcVHfkWs7dYnbVrccitZJ64AsKXhvH4E545EGPXwDDBucCXlgKQUD/s320/IMGP4317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189993964397207346" /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-58744108634445707372008-04-02T17:11:00.001-07:002008-04-02T17:25:23.516-07:00A few more shots from Santa Catalina<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgHuH8uVKz3DOqFW-Q2wC1XC5z-YN_FS_h36B9jwl9Qr6TWcjps5vBBmMTOs1xHFMc_ZLhA0liof7pP59Ax2i3mxtj4T40Ln1npaR1-6TK5bJaq1Wh1ixP7lZEf33sTxXibeo/s1600-h/IMGP4285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgHuH8uVKz3DOqFW-Q2wC1XC5z-YN_FS_h36B9jwl9Qr6TWcjps5vBBmMTOs1xHFMc_ZLhA0liof7pP59Ax2i3mxtj4T40Ln1npaR1-6TK5bJaq1Wh1ixP7lZEf33sTxXibeo/s320/IMGP4285.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184808047206908002" /></a><br /><br />Aiden, the Kiwi at low tide.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmP8cP9ZcBuQOaH3ztrhsEVyZogsYwqg-apot74wYAeXViyn5iWpj-7qGUaC8eHF9405ZQNWZhhMmLow_utjYSntbup9u-H81O9ucPi-myZMW_MTb2CU_scWrWhP6DtMNd80v/s1600-h/IMGP4220.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmP8cP9ZcBuQOaH3ztrhsEVyZogsYwqg-apot74wYAeXViyn5iWpj-7qGUaC8eHF9405ZQNWZhhMmLow_utjYSntbup9u-H81O9ucPi-myZMW_MTb2CU_scWrWhP6DtMNd80v/s320/IMGP4220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184808051501875314" /></a><br /><br />Low tide leaves a bit of the reef out of the water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32VqEgBr2WJHRMGEYDzu35gr3eP2J8fUznsc9EuEEQ9SE7A7jizOtpD6zq2cXfLnBuAZjOAvijWnQS0fy_d3irU7hQmGCwvvCppQOH8iBVP3vJk19KxBQvnTfaxKN2xL_vXT7/s1600-h/IMGP4186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32VqEgBr2WJHRMGEYDzu35gr3eP2J8fUznsc9EuEEQ9SE7A7jizOtpD6zq2cXfLnBuAZjOAvijWnQS0fy_d3irU7hQmGCwvvCppQOH8iBVP3vJk19KxBQvnTfaxKN2xL_vXT7/s320/IMGP4186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184808060091809922" /></a><br /><br />Kai and Mike's bounty from the sea.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_LvXzacGLSdjOOjeO5lU4DwSeXCyBNzO-97wSqX-8xpDmlckB7RKWLS1uqMO33795e6s5QGpUnFsRpqCimdhQt7esArzEpTEf6v7DGizsFP4MoqGvRtk9TlVmGFZhW3Iv8zW/s1600-h/IMGP4111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_LvXzacGLSdjOOjeO5lU4DwSeXCyBNzO-97wSqX-8xpDmlckB7RKWLS1uqMO33795e6s5QGpUnFsRpqCimdhQt7esArzEpTEf6v7DGizsFP4MoqGvRtk9TlVmGFZhW3Iv8zW/s320/IMGP4111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184808064386777234" /></a><br /><br />Don't fall in the bushes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZXxACYVQP_jtIUoaGVxmUtXRyHpG9HuyaAcUQoWbjGCKx85ilxedHrtKJQLWZK-p14HgVwRambci0y7KKAJIiBEG76eQitDy0hP8NuFt0pRl_tjiHI1aDVsvTGLDIcYI9BMl/s1600-h/IMGP4198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZXxACYVQP_jtIUoaGVxmUtXRyHpG9HuyaAcUQoWbjGCKx85ilxedHrtKJQLWZK-p14HgVwRambci0y7KKAJIiBEG76eQitDy0hP8NuFt0pRl_tjiHI1aDVsvTGLDIcYI9BMl/s320/IMGP4198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184808068681744546" /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-91329768485305670472008-04-02T16:35:00.000-07:002008-04-02T17:06:30.335-07:00Last River in Chile: Middle FuyWe took the ferry from Argentina to Puerto Fuy on our way back from the Baker with high hopes of running the infamous Middle Fuy. Tales of mandatory waterfalls and past vertical canyon walls had me excited. A heavy rainstorm hit as we docked in town, and after a quick scout of the river we decided that it was most likely going to be too high. So, we trucked on to Pucon where we waited out the storm for some sunny weather, and Rodrigo, Evan and I returned to the Middle Fuy two days later.<br /><br />Although the level at the put-in was frighteningly low, the level at the take-out bridge was looking like a good medium-low-flow for the classic Lower Fuy. Rodrigo had done the run before at the recommended boat bashingly low flow, but he was convinced the run could take a little extra water. Just about 100 yards below the first rapid a tibutary tripled the flow, and we committed to the gorge concerned, but at the same time confident that we could make a safe descent. The extra water actually made the run really fun and cushioned-out. <br /><br />The big falls is the big attraction. It has a sketchy lead-in before the water plunges about 50 feet into a deep pool below. heavy vegetation and steep cliff-walls make this one nearly impossible to portage. The three of us decided to do a big seal-launch to avoid running through the undercuts in the entrance. Rdorigo hucked it first with a clean line, but he lossed his paddle after tossing it to avoid the potential of a break. I followed and rolled up at the bottom with half of a paddle. Damn. Broke my paddle on my last day of kayaking in Chile. Evan hucked his paddle to be sure we wouldn't run out. I was tring to shoot video from the bottom, so I didn't get any good photos of anyone running the drop from the pool below. The rapids that followed were steep and continuous. It reminded me of the Little White. I am now back in the Columbia River Gorrge, and I had the good fortune of running the Little White this morning. It was cold, but as much fun as ever.<br /><br />Salto de La Puma. We put-in just below this beast. I think it could be run with more water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y7h22qdXtO3giwBLXNR5Ce5mgTFBk__dCem0vgG7DMRqX8i7cphDCXlcuQuWi5C3GcAqYm2cVFzify3oIqMfC-RkX2kaSr5wDZhO96SZ2MlRfMEDuWQ2dLFZG8JzzViHB1Xy/s1600-h/IMGP4056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y7h22qdXtO3giwBLXNR5Ce5mgTFBk__dCem0vgG7DMRqX8i7cphDCXlcuQuWi5C3GcAqYm2cVFzify3oIqMfC-RkX2kaSr5wDZhO96SZ2MlRfMEDuWQ2dLFZG8JzzViHB1Xy/s320/IMGP4056.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184798293336178706" /></a><br /><br />Rodrigo doing what he does best. Going big.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uMP_SRkKJ49TRcEPtWygQwE5o2mr94yEOuMEcZxpUlzen8XZKn9IK-BUSZOZ-duJcoPbnn_VI8pngj3EJa5YL_0Wp_PvZ3YrJahPVYLjDaNhQE-UYdjCjjix65SqnFkliy01/s1600-h/IMGP4073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uMP_SRkKJ49TRcEPtWygQwE5o2mr94yEOuMEcZxpUlzen8XZKn9IK-BUSZOZ-duJcoPbnn_VI8pngj3EJa5YL_0Wp_PvZ3YrJahPVYLjDaNhQE-UYdjCjjix65SqnFkliy01/s320/IMGP4073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184798306221080610" /></a><br /><br />The Middle Fuy has game! The big one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmz7-9rzuSOVMLU2zm-ghueFexDSkTBLO3P1xRnyooP6Xx75WIyHkUIgaEk5sI0cDd8OIbL8U5eBBUsjKuVYZQRF5WE3lHVJgBtQyFMD1emx2XrB3ysAOzqgQCkvBRW0qJAIz/s1600-h/IMGP4077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmz7-9rzuSOVMLU2zm-ghueFexDSkTBLO3P1xRnyooP6Xx75WIyHkUIgaEk5sI0cDd8OIbL8U5eBBUsjKuVYZQRF5WE3lHVJgBtQyFMD1emx2XrB3ysAOzqgQCkvBRW0qJAIz/s320/IMGP4077.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184798314811015218" /></a><br /><br />Rodrigo and Evan taking one last look at the big one from below.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxCjTZw_WHVuiB3caf_noT54aryOfrOU3hsa_TtbeoAiNNPn6iwS1cU8Cs-ARBrGxG57ciR65wA92s1VHSb1kWReO7C9f15-y7ZmBv7OO5YA-ty8u1LvPbpCkMImsb7NFbjCu/s1600-h/IMGP4076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxCjTZw_WHVuiB3caf_noT54aryOfrOU3hsa_TtbeoAiNNPn6iwS1cU8Cs-ARBrGxG57ciR65wA92s1VHSb1kWReO7C9f15-y7ZmBv7OO5YA-ty8u1LvPbpCkMImsb7NFbjCu/s320/IMGP4076.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184798323400949826" /></a><br /><br />If the Fuy looks like this from the bridge, the Middle is good to go.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2vpPihAfZs4n3rSRWf7qMrelgSXBGKZMSTveYVa8rX6YnY1-JuZK-bdgFNfDm4G7uiDlFOVlLxWXrSu4yA3YoE30Dnt28yxF5P_QZ3IalZi6YwpIOr5ei3x70dkP5oiS_MxR/s1600-h/IMGP4079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2vpPihAfZs4n3rSRWf7qMrelgSXBGKZMSTveYVa8rX6YnY1-JuZK-bdgFNfDm4G7uiDlFOVlLxWXrSu4yA3YoE30Dnt28yxF5P_QZ3IalZi6YwpIOr5ei3x70dkP5oiS_MxR/s320/IMGP4079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184798331990884434" /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-10736361880765574522008-03-30T11:52:00.001-07:002008-03-30T12:27:02.720-07:00Boat assisted surf adventure, Isla CebacoA body boarder and group of surfers from the cabins organized a boat trip to Isla Cebaco, one of the large islands off the coast of Panama. We arrived to find two other boatloads of surfers and a heavy, barreling wave the locals call "La Caja" - The Box. It was boxy and scary, and the take-off was directly in front of a pile of volcanic boulders. In our boat we left with one snapped board and a few scratches, but it was a great day on an amazing wave. I could only get a few shots from the boat, but the front of the wave looked even better.<br /><br />The Captain. Word.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoM8Ad9tWNLrFnYDtRnPLEQ1_Y7E2TqbVgKfBdOvTk_nI8GgZqwXGUZJpYseECrDcCrP2fZUKlOfXMTXFqFklWzLxd79EMF-VzG6zGL-qDzB1nAvFkdbJKWd6ffvlQBe2aqNk/s1600-h/IMGP4118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoM8Ad9tWNLrFnYDtRnPLEQ1_Y7E2TqbVgKfBdOvTk_nI8GgZqwXGUZJpYseECrDcCrP2fZUKlOfXMTXFqFklWzLxd79EMF-VzG6zGL-qDzB1nAvFkdbJKWd6ffvlQBe2aqNk/s320/IMGP4118.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183616112177889218" /></a><br /><br />Yes, this wave breaks directly on and in front of a huge pile of rocks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn4-ZG3cOO27nCHUdwu-1D5M8ZsofokPYcSUEUxTGRS5TBkf2qQs3FBThul0K9Lyf_g5uvAlHvtzUC7F4WMjqMN6iAiq_dk1JmspyMI7FnYTC5HcDiTxzMsq9HARE51J4iyOd/s1600-h/IMGP4144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn4-ZG3cOO27nCHUdwu-1D5M8ZsofokPYcSUEUxTGRS5TBkf2qQs3FBThul0K9Lyf_g5uvAlHvtzUC7F4WMjqMN6iAiq_dk1JmspyMI7FnYTC5HcDiTxzMsq9HARE51J4iyOd/s320/IMGP4144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183616120767823826" /></a><br /><br />If you look into the mist, you can see someone taking an early exit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSWe_qvzZsqlNR2xYTkim-_0xEto3WndtVAtcQd5KIpN5QSIp14p6qr_yq128HUAuCgOeieGG1Nie6UMdg1V_bIOPr2jK060TVVzNm1SxEtXrmRrBN73HyeDKkV1xFEeVJi2Q/s1600-h/IMGP4158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSWe_qvzZsqlNR2xYTkim-_0xEto3WndtVAtcQd5KIpN5QSIp14p6qr_yq128HUAuCgOeieGG1Nie6UMdg1V_bIOPr2jK060TVVzNm1SxEtXrmRrBN73HyeDKkV1xFEeVJi2Q/s320/IMGP4158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183616133652725730" /></a><br /><br />"Did he make it?"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyJCZpApWJKOQ-7kHGpUJyXggKhovPW1guSYByjq_I3F24JkR0fankwQBHK7CaYjTMqtLsXWpbVA5Cd7sO5oDLaFZXQJRNr2f2KGJLsboaBZGiaH-VJBrluCc7EbsQtyTUL__/s1600-h/IMGP4127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyJCZpApWJKOQ-7kHGpUJyXggKhovPW1guSYByjq_I3F24JkR0fankwQBHK7CaYjTMqtLsXWpbVA5Cd7sO5oDLaFZXQJRNr2f2KGJLsboaBZGiaH-VJBrluCc7EbsQtyTUL__/s320/IMGP4127.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183616137947693042" /></a><br /><br />Enjoying the ride.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYq0wD5uOa1qgIhd8MVpG0sTaKDU2wg0vJUG5AooeUP2SBGFHmHrlULmhuLfv4AtbKjRy1ii9MslZicdUDT6cbnQZ3ESbs44ZrgyBeo2zwiPwGuzOEUAUBi0XbwCtA1wZq2Yp/s1600-h/IMGP4161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYq0wD5uOa1qgIhd8MVpG0sTaKDU2wg0vJUG5AooeUP2SBGFHmHrlULmhuLfv4AtbKjRy1ii9MslZicdUDT6cbnQZ3ESbs44ZrgyBeo2zwiPwGuzOEUAUBi0XbwCtA1wZq2Yp/s320/IMGP4161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183616146537627650" /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-37398025711783020872008-03-30T11:28:00.000-07:002008-03-30T11:51:41.895-07:00Cabañas Rolo - Santa Catalina, Panama<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIM4IM_AN47zuUZTInmD_TqXvHyAOM2glxTeBcZXHKuzhFrqObd2XDPeBRrIXnC1ou7KBhpQGEI7M_iLUPbY4qMBN4tfu69HGmAYkQoAVfOWYfENfnrO_Krwr82bQGzBJ4hyphenhyphenl6/s1600-h/IMGP4116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIM4IM_AN47zuUZTInmD_TqXvHyAOM2glxTeBcZXHKuzhFrqObd2XDPeBRrIXnC1ou7KBhpQGEI7M_iLUPbY4qMBN4tfu69HGmAYkQoAVfOWYfENfnrO_Krwr82bQGzBJ4hyphenhyphenl6/s320/IMGP4116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183608205143097218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzatLyOsexvXLfHbPPSBluzf7N_eOot5nq5ZXNGT0HvuY7SBRbGGmKtVsAt7yOOrBAT2lq-wl36oNe3gRWobvuFumbLsFhkUBjlGch6kZ2reezJhMluFZ6Ibs3PXK7kH3wfGj/s1600-h/IMGP4087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzatLyOsexvXLfHbPPSBluzf7N_eOot5nq5ZXNGT0HvuY7SBRbGGmKtVsAt7yOOrBAT2lq-wl36oNe3gRWobvuFumbLsFhkUBjlGch6kZ2reezJhMluFZ6Ibs3PXK7kH3wfGj/s320/IMGP4087.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183608222322966418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixufcxJX9GflTfKCssH8zYkI_FaQ_OkEd5dy0JuE2TslbDx9SrvemxVrgOOYyhSwHp6UGRrH0ANv1CSygPkqUtUWyxQ67iZPqZgYInMY013DbHUQYUXlNBNh80MYPZWrjQs0Z/s1600-h/IMGP4108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixufcxJX9GflTfKCssH8zYkI_FaQ_OkEd5dy0JuE2TslbDx9SrvemxVrgOOYyhSwHp6UGRrH0ANv1CSygPkqUtUWyxQ67iZPqZgYInMY013DbHUQYUXlNBNh80MYPZWrjQs0Z/s320/IMGP4108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183608230912901026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqT7delZhQpKMr2DND70mHY4QH7gDcESH4g7Qq-rQpu7st8jt3GTacpynvPRDD_PtQ06j_Z4nIVe6dE_KNbY34RjF7yhCfmNlGFKLZ455l3_YCXVLDe4zN61LmWcvnzX5OZS8R/s1600-h/IMGP4174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqT7delZhQpKMr2DND70mHY4QH7gDcESH4g7Qq-rQpu7st8jt3GTacpynvPRDD_PtQ06j_Z4nIVe6dE_KNbY34RjF7yhCfmNlGFKLZ455l3_YCXVLDe4zN61LmWcvnzX5OZS8R/s320/IMGP4174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183608235207868338" /></a><br /><br />After lots of good times with Rodrigo and Ema and the rest of the vagabond kayakers who spent time in Pucon, I was still looking for some more fun before returning to the States. I stopped for a week of good surf in Panama on my home. These are just a few shots from Rolo´s place. If you ever find yourself in Santa Catalina, I highly recommend staying there.littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-64996081334467856622008-03-16T12:48:00.000-07:002008-03-16T13:29:51.582-07:00Nice lakes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uGbgWnQsCwm1jMBRZYvy1LS7d-xa0msfX-v7od8wAJWUr5IImIuabuIL6xRyzLT7bU-Mw6VdIaYx85-bO0-iWoTdXY4bSMLPmeB3B8KDq_9pDqzcvbU57d_3Ozu2kgweeHpz/s1600-h/IMGP3728.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uGbgWnQsCwm1jMBRZYvy1LS7d-xa0msfX-v7od8wAJWUr5IImIuabuIL6xRyzLT7bU-Mw6VdIaYx85-bO0-iWoTdXY4bSMLPmeB3B8KDq_9pDqzcvbU57d_3Ozu2kgweeHpz/s320/IMGP3728.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178438064998976018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHgvWBpa29eKHm41dY3adpXjwYgLUNQVhkGe0okD4pWhAJLB9-6lg4GpsdXHhp_rTK8BOA0nqwcIuXdwHIIcGdDfdsyEpEmw4ZJFwqq7uDRfrz5TRzlA8tElJAfu1kZQoOcx1/s1600-h/IMGP4030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHgvWBpa29eKHm41dY3adpXjwYgLUNQVhkGe0okD4pWhAJLB9-6lg4GpsdXHhp_rTK8BOA0nqwcIuXdwHIIcGdDfdsyEpEmw4ZJFwqq7uDRfrz5TRzlA8tElJAfu1kZQoOcx1/s320/IMGP4030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178438077883877922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEFNtT4IL8wK9M6bt1mls6ds7_1NvrXWgdhqj_uAUg8jxhz0I3oXjYMGjEE-Q4Xq-P7uVuqaN_R48oZwNOsEpWjvFCHPVlZpTk8ddx9cupYyIi_ujale_mLLjoD9AWbbrr2fi/s1600-h/IMGP3817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEFNtT4IL8wK9M6bt1mls6ds7_1NvrXWgdhqj_uAUg8jxhz0I3oXjYMGjEE-Q4Xq-P7uVuqaN_R48oZwNOsEpWjvFCHPVlZpTk8ddx9cupYyIi_ujale_mLLjoD9AWbbrr2fi/s320/IMGP3817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178438086473812530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCbiKNfySwlb_Sr8roK-DBuozfGwNfFc-jU9qC6UuPT8YX8m4FcthiP1-hjg80CZWD-j6Y09SZD0WntpdNxuLlcK3Ro9QVbo0b5twkuzf98j1STGmi0FfQjMW6U1UEt0a3KlE/s1600-h/IMGP4001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCbiKNfySwlb_Sr8roK-DBuozfGwNfFc-jU9qC6UuPT8YX8m4FcthiP1-hjg80CZWD-j6Y09SZD0WntpdNxuLlcK3Ro9QVbo0b5twkuzf98j1STGmi0FfQjMW6U1UEt0a3KlE/s320/IMGP4001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178438133718452802" /></a><br /><br />Evan Garcia has my photos of the big whitewater on the Baker right now, but these are a few nice shots of some of many beautiful lakes we passed by in our travels. Check out <a href="http://egcreekin.blogspot.com">Evan´s blog</a> for a massive Baker update.littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-79918029282101400442008-03-12T14:37:00.000-07:002008-03-16T12:46:41.711-07:00Patagonia ChilenaOn the 2nd of March, Serverin from Switzerland, Rodrigo Tuschner, Ema Passi and I left our home in Pucon for a kayaker´s pilgrimage to the great rivers of the south of Chile. After a fun night in Pucon, a classic run on the Rio Gol Gol and some of the typical (frustrating) access issues on the rivers south of Bariloche in Argentina, we made our first official stop at the Rio Futaleufu. The Futa is world famous for its big water and impressive scenery. There we enjoyed beautiful weather at the Cara del Indio camp with Paul and Jamie from Montana, and we reunited with our friends from World Class.<br /><br />We loaded up the Kayak Pucon van and headed south on the Carretera Austral with the addition of two more friends, Evan Garcia and Peru´s golden boy, Juanito de Ugarte. We drove through epic Patagonia scenery for two days before we unloaded the rig at the Rio Baker, Chile´s largest river. Unfortunately, this river is doomed to death by dam, like so many other of the world´s most powerful waterways. The Presidenta of Chile says the country needs dams like the one on the Baker to progress like the United States. Damn.<br /><br />It looks like our generation might witness the end of free flowing rivers. This means future generations will most likely witness the end of freeflowing sand (that comes from freeflowing rivers) and the disappearance of beaches. I know this is just rhetoric to most, but apparently true: At least a small percentage of the worlds´ population will still have lots of money.<br /><br />Serverin charging on the first waterfall of the Gol Gol.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0k5vZM-Exq40AGW3F2NITSRbHuKPYiiYmWpIF2ewE7Zkb0TSeXYQw2XGCV6cfILTEAxiH4rdVQOG9WLs9CyvdDrw7Nk2o4j6y2QVx0pGQsmYtA2IAFpT8g8nFPFJTWwY1PM6/s1600-h/IMGP3646.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0k5vZM-Exq40AGW3F2NITSRbHuKPYiiYmWpIF2ewE7Zkb0TSeXYQw2XGCV6cfILTEAxiH4rdVQOG9WLs9CyvdDrw7Nk2o4j6y2QVx0pGQsmYtA2IAFpT8g8nFPFJTWwY1PM6/s320/IMGP3646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178412260835461586" /></a><br /><br />Morning at our first camp on the drive south from Futa. La Junta, Chile.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfEF1p7igV12uHtQ4wGn9I7vq-qLTzpyKOuofOFHKvwklZqYBboAs4IdnL8p3AWHcp2CBfkmnjHQbD_c7i1hsqwgSGm6NcPi0naucnVwXcyehI4NM7TIo8WOTeFPFtYFhjs1i/s1600-h/IMGP3747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfEF1p7igV12uHtQ4wGn9I7vq-qLTzpyKOuofOFHKvwklZqYBboAs4IdnL8p3AWHcp2CBfkmnjHQbD_c7i1hsqwgSGm6NcPi0naucnVwXcyehI4NM7TIo8WOTeFPFtYFhjs1i/s320/IMGP3747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178412269425396194" /></a><br /><br />Patagonia commuter.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OKh1sSHrsMotTS6XpxYhG9ESIGjOFqCgRP4WIbl-9Om03VIK6Vx6xsH-zR3UrjNM0tnMiDHiOZp5Ek_qEzjBvTGvyBj_7hCjYpY6DrCC40O200dn2czTa3iINMVAt5v5tqMH/s1600-h/IMGP3751.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OKh1sSHrsMotTS6XpxYhG9ESIGjOFqCgRP4WIbl-9Om03VIK6Vx6xsH-zR3UrjNM0tnMiDHiOZp5Ek_qEzjBvTGvyBj_7hCjYpY6DrCC40O200dn2czTa3iINMVAt5v5tqMH/s320/IMGP3751.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178412278015330802" /></a><br /><br />Learn more @ <a href="http://www.patagoniasinrepresas.cl">http://www.patagoniasinrepresas.cl</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWoZaIZxa5ZqRngFV7DyBK-2rBiCe0Xi7-_oIladEUqGdzqbNEbzVQ-RR3Dfd9EV1CJBVkUbMIY1hRE8GVHf5mx8EROuzdMB9YVB7lq6xXvRi0Q7Gu_T3EUZ6DWJ1yoxyd_KS/s1600-h/IMGP3805.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWoZaIZxa5ZqRngFV7DyBK-2rBiCe0Xi7-_oIladEUqGdzqbNEbzVQ-RR3Dfd9EV1CJBVkUbMIY1hRE8GVHf5mx8EROuzdMB9YVB7lq6xXvRi0Q7Gu_T3EUZ6DWJ1yoxyd_KS/s320/IMGP3805.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178412282310298114" /></a>littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550462.post-51862651886065806012008-01-28T09:27:00.001-08:002008-01-28T10:00:05.085-08:00The Spring 2008 World Class Crew<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk-mc0ZB6wjm0NSAeIryYctkRBbj2sVvv4HheEVM-MGmZqEe_dblhsZxYLBDx000j-R52boA-1nQwWnLko8Go6CtASngUXKt9SyQTQG0uKLYdzk8RY6AVl19kKHu6YdjcMjnz/s1600-h/IMGP3529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk-mc0ZB6wjm0NSAeIryYctkRBbj2sVvv4HheEVM-MGmZqEe_dblhsZxYLBDx000j-R52boA-1nQwWnLko8Go6CtASngUXKt9SyQTQG0uKLYdzk8RY6AVl19kKHu6YdjcMjnz/s320/IMGP3529.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160585359901900866" /></a><br />Israel is the cook, logistics man, local connection, Spanish coach and all-around good guy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jncaNmyEBhG0AHQUSwAe7TvQjWfH0sKWjSGpXC3Cl4dDTqlJTZUhrfkqj0FNsYCjcdIOuJBe8qcVCvkgSb4KivMQzKV9ZT6HULMxNpTbSLbcV2M8Gzneg0hBba6JMkVeozC7/s1600-h/IMGP3450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jncaNmyEBhG0AHQUSwAe7TvQjWfH0sKWjSGpXC3Cl4dDTqlJTZUhrfkqj0FNsYCjcdIOuJBe8qcVCvkgSb4KivMQzKV9ZT6HULMxNpTbSLbcV2M8Gzneg0hBba6JMkVeozC7/s320/IMGP3450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160585368491835474" /></a><br />Josh Bechtel is the Head Coach and math teacher.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NzmAkHBdpXDWMi_2rfZhoSv-5Hi9YaOxCCHbG80_xLdE4F5H35IlAIUcggNY9hqmSNeV_qNwBS6ZW6fTrUuIb2K8CB7N1WJwO9fS3zKGoFvts1XnVHp2jwkCvbAAbLqF3A9M/s1600-h/IMGP3420.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NzmAkHBdpXDWMi_2rfZhoSv-5Hi9YaOxCCHbG80_xLdE4F5H35IlAIUcggNY9hqmSNeV_qNwBS6ZW6fTrUuIb2K8CB7N1WJwO9fS3zKGoFvts1XnVHp2jwkCvbAAbLqF3A9M/s320/IMGP3420.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160585381376737378" /></a><br />Dave Zinn is the Program Director this semester. He also teaches history and spanish classes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgxrcB48D_GnbOu-WQGTULHtK8Uc-TuR5nlrtrDFMgzv1CbAmnDLnGu722yLGxKDs0qA24R0MNegypyfK-vaMsvT2Y4ofzrKIf5BPlIvNcWSkwzEKRtioBtA_Y6G8RRteZVdY/s1600-h/IMGP3569.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgxrcB48D_GnbOu-WQGTULHtK8Uc-TuR5nlrtrDFMgzv1CbAmnDLnGu722yLGxKDs0qA24R0MNegypyfK-vaMsvT2Y4ofzrKIf5BPlIvNcWSkwzEKRtioBtA_Y6G8RRteZVdY/s320/IMGP3569.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160585385671704690" /></a><br />Kristi Murrin teaches math and science, and she has an incredible tolerance for the "dudefest" at the school this semester.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxwEgFo_ZsuXUgiu7MCHPWZLL24CXoPur5nuQZNU-AtqjhpaLGMvwcZxA_a4Uv6_S8ixLUMLjN0ymP67Mt40-vItyvObnUALR8HP9bdM9NiNvkeWQrwxE16AtvXSOFVMdr03n/s1600-h/IMGP3570.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxwEgFo_ZsuXUgiu7MCHPWZLL24CXoPur5nuQZNU-AtqjhpaLGMvwcZxA_a4Uv6_S8ixLUMLjN0ymP67Mt40-vItyvObnUALR8HP9bdM9NiNvkeWQrwxE16AtvXSOFVMdr03n/s320/IMGP3570.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160585394261639298" /></a><br />Dan West teaches literature and spanish, and he is the Assistant Coach. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7LxS5kqeklz5tXMEHyqYvXQTeirJ7j5VB1BrZokSyB7nMbLClSLjFG2VmwW2CkFBff6QjTlq3btBoWVz3sMCPjyTivwkKdk6-rZMZhY8f1dg8wx-tEkzJfQL0RUdl7SAidMl/s1600-h/IMGP3469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7LxS5kqeklz5tXMEHyqYvXQTeirJ7j5VB1BrZokSyB7nMbLClSLjFG2VmwW2CkFBff6QjTlq3btBoWVz3sMCPjyTivwkKdk6-rZMZhY8f1dg8wx-tEkzJfQL0RUdl7SAidMl/s320/IMGP3469.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160588357789073554" /></a><br />This is me. I had a chance to help out the school for a little while, and I didn´t have to teach any classes!littlejohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02437219885507426809noreply@blogger.com0