Weather Forecast: Crap
Kayaking Motivation Meter: Full
Gear is packed!
After some last minute spring trip planning late Thursday night and Friday morning we rallied a crew:
- Mike MurfNasty
- Ben Jebus Carter
- Chris Mack
- Scott Dent
- Myself
The Next Morning Trying to Stay WarmFinally we motivate after a Pabst and a breakfast bagel.
Murphy, Mack, and Spivy hiking to the putin
Murphy, Mack, and Spivy hiking to the putinNerve levels were low and Stoke levels were high.
Dent and I Hiking up
The warm weather was definitely a plus
Gearing Up!
Mack landing a lofty boof!
Me moments before my swim
Dent and I Hiking up
The warm weather was definitely a plus
Gearing Up!First up, Entrance Falls 18' with a cave on the left side that isn't in play much at low water. Everyone has decent lines, but Dent got pushed right into the over hanging wall making a roll impossible. He swims with no consequences just a few strokes to the eddy.
Trash Can is boney and has some high piton potential. Pick-up Sticks isn't much, but it's fun to boof. Fourth major rapid is Fuzzy Little Bunny. The creek at this level channelizes into a falls on the right and a falls on the left. The center boof at this level is non-existant. Unknown to us all under the river left falls is a scary 10 foot deep cave.
Me moments before my swimDent and Murph line up and come out alright, but when I run it I get pushed into the cave upside down. I swim and no one can see my boat. We all start talking, and we decide that I'm going on a hip belay down behind the curtain into a scary room of doom to see if my boat is there.
Setting anchors and discussing worst case scenario options
Here I go to one of the scariest places I've been on a river
Cave Sieve!
We're exhausted so we eat some food, get all our gear back together, and head down the river.
Next up Paddle Bitch:
Dent in Paddle Bitch
Setting anchors and discussing worst case scenario optionsAttempt #1 ends with me swimming down the channel still not seeing my boat. We adjusted the angle I was being belayed from and try again. Attempt #2, I see my boat fish it out with my leg and clip into it. I pull my quick release and swim the channel to the eddy. The boat went back into the cave and got caught in the sieve at the opening. We set an 8 to 1 pulley ratio and Dent climbs across the river, but still no luck the boat is stuck. Attempt #3, I climb back down there and man-handle it out of the cave, but the rope clipped to it wraps around my legs. I immediately pull my quick release and jump out of the loop and swim to the eddy with my boat behind me. Luckily no gear was lost and I had my boat back. This is the advantage to having a solid crew that has your back in any situation.
Here I go to one of the scariest places I've been on a riverCave Sieve!
We're exhausted so we eat some food, get all our gear back together, and head down the river.
Next up Paddle Bitch:
Dent in Paddle BitchNo Way Out and Finish Line go smooth with some great boofs. The canyon opens up and we're all on Perma-Stoke level.
Paying homage for safe swims
Paying homage for safe swimsIf I have any words of advice to people looking at Vallecito in the bone zone it would be, always bring a solid crew and never take this creek too lightly.
Enjoy this video by Chris Mack:
