California, no doubt about it

Everything changes and ends.

This is yet another tale of beginning, ending, and the everlasting pursuit of connectedness.  Traveling alone, physically, my trip began with a funeral, a wedding, and a peaceful day by a mountain lake with my uncle and spiritual guide.

Caitlin and myself join Scott and Kelli in starting a new life

I left those that I knew and traveled across the Sierras to begin my nomadic journey.  However, river people are never alone in a river community.  Upon reaching the Tuollumne drainage  I quickly befriended Isaiah from ARTA and Rob from Whitewater Voyages who invited me into his home for the evening where we hung out with the guides and watched some crazy dudes from Oregon running big waterfalls in a raft:)

The Merced in Yosemite Valley

Granite.

Hard, big, steep, relentless.

The Merced tumbing out of the Yosemite Valley, God is strong here

I left the park to kayak the Upper Merced at a technical level, solo boating has some disadvantages-

Didn't see this rock at the bottom of a bouncy class IV, smoothe recovery though

Headin back to the Tuolomne I discovered the boat house for Sierra Mac.

http://www.sierramac.com/

Only two companies currently run the Cherry Creek section of the Tuolomne, 16 class V rapids in 9 miles.

Granite.

It was here that I met Sierra Mac’s head guide Adam Crom, a quiet, confident, strong man who maintains a standard of vigilance by training in the martial arts when not guiding what is likely the toughest section of whitewater ran commercially in the world.

“The river is fierce. Today we must also be fierce. There will be times when you are tired but you must continue to fight, you will need to reach down inside yourself and find whatever it takes to succeed”. – Adam Crom

Adam working the portage at Lumsden Falls

Mushroom (V+), the premiere drop in commercial rafting

Jesse, another Sierra Mac warrior navigates Cherry Creek

I have Jesse on line to insure he doesn't slip into a sieve just a few feet below

Kevin, Timber, Jesse, and Adam. Sierra Mac is world class

My hope is that someday I can someday also be a gracious host to everyone I met while paddling the Tuolomne and Merced. Thanks again Marty for allowing me to be a part of the Sierra Mac experience, your guides will always have a place to stay and boats to use in Oregon.

I dropped down into the Cadillac desert and headed north for the Trinity. After paddling the Pigeon Point section Paul Gamache and myself made plans to R2 Burnt Ranch Gorge, yet another California Classic that has eluded me for too long.

In the crux of BRG.

On patrol with the USFS, Aire, and Aquabound

A solo R2 run warrants a scout of number 3

I was able to find that strength from within that Adam was referring to. The Nomad’s last journey (sold the boat this morning) was a comprehensive success. Not only was I blessed with amazing whitewater but the rediscovery of our human spirit occurred by making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. The time is now, happiness is right here.

California, no doubt about it

To learn from

The pure voice of an

Ever-flowing mountain stream

Splashing over the rocks.        - Ueshiba

Our day on the Little North Santiam at 1050 cfs began with the short hike in. A van with racks was unable to provide assistance for “liability reasons” and it would “detract from the wilderness experience”…:)

Dude I think there's a VAN behind us.

She waved and encouraged us to have a nice day. We did. Thanks van lady.

Big Ugly

A Big Ugly raft run down Big Ugly

I would be so much more comfortable in a raft.

The entrance into Big Fluffy

Sikbird and Timber went down that?

Terrifyingly beautiful

Dr. Frankenstein backs into the lab.

Peace

Drops of water fall from the sky as if to acknowledge all that is good.

A spiritual moment

Mike, Dr F, Dustin, and G1 gettin some at Thor's Playroom.

Self contained conveyance.

Rivers allow us to escape from certain realities while enabling the replenishment of goodness within. This became most evident at the Taco Bell in Woodburn when we walked into an episode of COPS. Just 30 feet from our rig, 7 law enforcement vehicles had clustered upon a vehicle with their guns drawn and laser sights honed in. No pictures of this episode. We only wished to keep evidence of positive things on this day. Of course a debriefing was held-

I had always wanted to drop in to this place:) Timbaritas were on special!

This boat seems small...

Ox and Timber enjoying the Bruno Mountain run of the North Santiam.

Big boat. Aire D Series.

Portage #1 on the Bush, just below the Slot.

Portage #2. Holdin onto the paddles this time!

Portage #3. Long rapid, not much for eddies on the approach.

The crew after an awesome day!

Boaters must have interesting weather discussions at work.  While others are complaining about the rain, we simply smile and sneak back into the office to check flows.  Personally I have quit trying to explain the benefits of rain to those who have chosen to reside in a traditionally wet climate. Take your glass that is half full and watch golf on TV in your shelter, were goin boatin!

The Bruno Mountain run of the North Santiam was free of wood and full of big surf.  After completing this jolly session of splashing around, the take-out conversation turned to a nearby run of a treacherous nature. No one had been down the notorious for wood Breitenbush River since this last, or, current high water event much less a solo raft…

It was about 5:30pm when we put in at Cleator Bend with the level at about 1800cfs.  The flows were on the way down as evidenced by the water turning back to blue and no longer being brown as it was when we passed earlier in the day.  I was the only paddler in our R5 who had ever seen this run and that was 4 years ago in a kayak at 300cfs.  One of the benefits of training racing teams is that when you try something like this everyone is strong, dialed in, and will not hesitate when given commands.

Minus the 3 mandatory portages and 2 tight moves to miss wood, the run was Class IV.  However, throw in the unknown status of a twisty, narrow, woody river in addition to the 2 must make small portage eddies and it was game on!  We obviously made it with the only incidents being losing a paddle during the 1st portage (we should have known better!) and me getting blasted out of the boat by what had to be a hole as I’m fairly certain there were no linebackers in the river.  My paddle even stayed in the boat, ever seen those macabre pictures of someone that got hit by a train and their shoes are still on the ground where they were standing?

At any rate, all the major drops were clean “at this time”.  The wood was at the bottom of (3) Class III drops and appeared as though when the level does drop a kayak can likely limbo underneath of them. We don’t care if it is June, rain=water=life.

WOW 1st Place overall women

ORT Grey 2nd overall men

ORT Red 1st overall men

The IRF point system.

ORT Red : SFK, Timber, Ox, Dr. F, WFE

Women of Whitewater (WOW)

Boat to boat at the top of Class IV+ Caldera

Bart and Paul from Noahs battling ORT

Amazing head to head racing!

Teams fall into line at the bottom of Caldera.

Enlighten

Transcending the long drive; gas costs, hours of event coordination, asking of favors, tweeking of blogs, monitoring of websites, levels, weather, filing for permits, insurance, experiencing humility by constantly asking for help…we had a wonderful weekend.

Enlightening were the hugs and casual affirmations of old friends.  The sunshine nurtured our spirit and warmed our souls.  New relationships were formed as a river ran through it.

It seemed rather subordinate that a race occurred during this experience, a competition.  Yet the challenges provided by the racers and the big water of the incomparable Upper Klamath may have indeed facilitated this diatribe of reflection, or maybe I’m just growing up.

The earthly recollection exists as amazing sunny weather, bright yellow rafts crashing at once through the chaos of Caldera, and some darn good head to head racing for 6 miles!  Conveniently a forgiving surf wave is located at the finish line with complimentary eddy service.  Drifting and laughing allowed for closure following the tremendous challenge each of the participants had just successfully negotiated.  Or, in the words of my R2 partner Matt Lindland, “This is a great way to get a good workout while your sitting down having a chew” (which was all over his face after Hells Corner).  The Western Whitewater Championship Series rolls on.

Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, nations, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources… It arises whenever two or more parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For example, animals compete over water supplies, food, and mates, etc. Humans compete for water, food, and mates, though when these needs are met deep rivalries often arise over the pursuit of wealth, prestige, and fame. Business is often associated with competition as most companies are in competition with at least one other firm over the same group of customers.

Competition may give incentives for self-improvement…. For example, if two watchmakers are competing for business, they will hopefully improve their products and service to increase sales. If one watchmaker is more responsive to the needs of consumers, this watchmaker will flourish. If birds compete for a limited water supply during a drought, the more suited birds will survive to reproduce and improve the population.

Rivals (similarly matched competitors well known to each other) will often refer to their competitors as “the competition”. This is especially true of archrivals (primary, longstanding rivals, often the best in their segment). The term “competition” can also be used to refer to the contest or tournament itself.

How can we self reflect and better ourselves and others?

Moral character or character is an evaluation of a particular individual’s moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits-

Former Olympian and Strikeforce fighter Matt Lindland of Team Quest battles the opposition with ORT.

Moral character primarily refers to the assemblage of qualities that distinguish one individual from another – although on a cultural level, the set of moral behaviors to which a social group adheres can be said to unite and define it culturally as distinct from others. Psychologist Lawrence Pervin defines moral character as “a disposition to behave expressing itself in consistent patterns of functioning across a range of situations” (Pervin 1994, p. 108).

Shred Ready Beat Down Mass Start Kayak footage courtesy of David Pool.