Ever since I first saw the footage of Trip Jennings running Metlako falls, I knew I wanted to run it someday, after 5 years of kayaking, I finally got the chance, and felt like I could stick it. If you want to run a tall waterfall, this has to be the perfect one, its so clean, has a perfect rolling lip and large pool at the bottom. After a sweet day on the Little White, we set our eyes on metlako in the morning. When we arrived, the level seemed really low at the fish hatchery. After a mile and a half or so of hiking through a beautiful canyon with moss covered walls, amazing trees and incredible scenery, we got to the falls. It looked to be on the lower side of good for sure. However after some scouting, we decided it still looked good. We set up media, hiked up, and put on just above the lip. Dan Laham and I sat at the lip while people got media in position. Sitting at the lip of a waterfall like this is pretty cool, the horizon line is huge. The closest thing you can see is the other wall of the canyon, this is when you know you are about to go a long ways down. I watched Dan drop over the lip, silence for a couple seconds, then hoots of a successful run greeted my ears. I lined up, entered the lip, right stroke, soft left rudder, once I felt like I was free falling, I checked my angle to make sure I wasnt boofing or going over the bars, tossed my paddle to the side, tucked up bear-hugging the bottom of my Remix, and waited for the hit. BAM! I got ripped to the back of my boat, it was a big hit for sure, and incredibly resurfaced upright. I was stoked. I couldn't have asked for a better line really. A big thanks to everyone who shot media that day, Ben Hawthorne, Ethan Smith, Niko Peha, and Robbin.
The video footage will be played at 5 Point Filmfest aprli 29th-may 1st Check it out here
http://www.5pointfilm.org/
The lip, with not as much water as we hoped. Its really cool how much moss is on the canyon walls here, its a pretty amazing place even if you aren't kayaking, really cool hike with lots of vegetation and interesting geology. Shot by Ethan Smith.
Dan Laham having a perfect line in his Jefe, Ben Hawthorne got this cool shot while having an extra paddle to throw to us in the pool.
Sick sequence of Dan by Ethan Smith. Dan had a great line holding onto his paddle, and taking it deep. His paddle broke, but it was already cracked so that is to be expected on a drop this tall. Sick Line!
Me entering the lip of one of the most perfect waterfalls out there. photo by Ethan Smith.
After the paddle toss, tucked up waiting to land, it was a really cool feeling free-falling for that long. Photo by Ethan Smith
Sick shot coming off the lip. photo by Ben Hawthorne.
And about half way down, you can see my paddle next to me right after I tossed it
A shot from My GoPro HD that was shooting video from the back of my boat.
At the bottom stoked to be down there and to have had such a good line.
Gnar Car loaded up for some LDUB.
This wont be my last time down Metlako, cant wait to come back and run it with some Juice!
The lip, with not as much water as we hoped. Its really cool how much moss is on the canyon walls here, its a pretty amazing place even if you aren't kayaking, really cool hike with lots of vegetation and interesting geology. Shot by Ethan Smith.
Dan Laham having a perfect line in his Jefe, Ben Hawthorne got this cool shot while having an extra paddle to throw to us in the pool.
Me entering the lip of one of the most perfect waterfalls out there. photo by Ethan Smith.
After the paddle toss, tucked up waiting to land, it was a really cool feeling free-falling for that long. Photo by Ethan Smith
Sick shot coming off the lip. photo by Ben Hawthorne.
And about half way down, you can see my paddle next to me right after I tossed it
A shot from My GoPro HD that was shooting video from the back of my boat.
At the bottom stoked to be down there and to have had such a good line.
Gnar Car loaded up for some LDUB.
