ThePaddler 15 Dec 2013 Open Canoe cover

Issue 15 - December 2013

ThePaddler ezine com .

International digital magazine for recreational paddlers

BOWRON Lakes CANADA PADDLING MADAGASCAR GRANDEST of CANYONS British Columbia sanctuary

The land of odd

The Grand Canyon

RegularPaddler

KayakPaddler

SaltyPaddler

SUPPaddler

OCPaddler

contents

Photo: Hurley Weir Freestyle, United Kingdom Antony Edmonds (http://aephotos.co.uk) editor

Peter Tranter peter@thepaddler.co.uk Tel: (01480) 465081 Mob: 07411 005824 www.thepaddler.co.uk

advertising sales

Anne Egan Tel: (01480) 465081 advertising@thepaddler.co.uk

covers Kayak: Sam Ellis, China by Travis Winn sUP: Kiran Kumar, India by Ram Paranjape salty: Pelion, Greece by Apostolos Kontoulis oc: Pete Richardson, Canada by Jody Dymond

additional contributor credits: Justin Miles, Rob Mazzetti, Dan Yates, Travis Winn, Tom Mclay, Ken Driscoll, Rich Young, Ben Moore, Melanie Seiler, Pete Iscara, Randy Fisher, Matt Rusher and Ram Paranjape

Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so don’t be put off writing because you have no experience! ThePaddler.co.uk ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddler’s magazine written by paddlers. next issue is February 2014 with a deadline of submissions on January 5th. Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed to submissions@thepaddler.co.uk. Images should be hi-resolution and emailed with the Word file or if preferred, a Dropbox folder will be created for you. ThePaddler ezine encourages contributions of any nature but reserves the right to edit to the space available. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishing parent company, 2b Graphic Design. The publishing of an advertisement in ThePaddler ezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2b Graphic Design, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in ThePaddler ezine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.

Issue 15

December 2013

004 Eight of the Best

the best films from around the planet

006 News: SUP India Justin miles and isF 2014

008 Testing, testing

new kit reviewed by Phil carr and tez Plavenieks

012 Coaching

david rossetter on Fundamentals

016 United States

rafting the Grand canyon by Hannah taylor

028 Madagascar

sot kayaking the land of odd by don Pinnock

040 Canada

open canoeing bowron lakes, bc by Jody dymond

056 Interview

mathieu dumoulin

064 China part 2

exploration of western china by sam ellis

076 Hurley Freestyle 1

Photo montages by antony edmonds

076 Hurley Freestyle 2 by lee Parry

084 United Kingdom

Fairy Glen by Joe rea-dickins

094 Cold water safety part 2 Golden rule no.3 by moulton avery

100 United Kingdom

sea kayak fishing advertorial by Jeff cross

106 Greece

Pelion beach hopping by apostolos Kontoulis

118 The Paddler’s Planet christian wagley

120 Interview matt rusher

130 Whitewater SUP Gear overview by ian smith

138 Sickstick paddle review by tez Plavenieks

142 India

Himalayan sUP by april Zilg

ThePaddler 3

82 ft Salza Drop

absolute outdoors strobl austria

2014 Airborn

sUP HQ international

The Other Side of the Game First D's in Likely

SUP in the Wilderness

nick Healey alaska, Usa

Kuzi Project, EP. 1

seth warren mozambique

Bulls Bridge

Hunter Pedane conneticutt, United states

Manhattan Project

ThePaddler 4

brett mayer nyc, United states

andrew cline canada

ryan mcavoy international

@

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ThePaddler 6

SUP India

One of the aims of the Polar Bears and Paddleboards expedition was to promote stand up paddleboarding; to play our part in putting paddleboarding on the agenda for everyone as an environmentally sound and accessible activity suitable for all ages and abilities.

It worked. Throughout the project, all of our activities leading up to during and after the expedition, we feel that we really made a difference to the sport by introducing a huge number of people to paddleboarding.

A few weeks after our return, three of the team were contacted by a group in India who had been following the Polar Bears and Paddleboards project. They asked us to help them to organise a SUP festival on the east coast of India and develop paddleboarding across the country.

The Indian Surf Festival (ISF) ran last year for the second time with less than 100 paddleboards. I asked how many people attended the event, expecting an answer of somewhere in the region of a couple of hundred – the reply was quite astonishing; “Last year wasn’t a big year because it’s still new and we hadn’t promoted it properly so we only had about ten thousand people over the weekend.” TEN THOUSAND!

Organisers are expecting the audience for the 2014 ISF to swell to almost ten times last years figure – a whopping 100,000 people.

During the ISF, our team will be delivering presentations to the full audience, supported with images and video, judging races and awarding prizes.

development of sUP in india

For several weeks after the initial contact we talked not only about the festival itself, but also about the issues surrounding the development of SUP in India and the factors impeding its growth and as a result we identified three main issues that we felt can help with.

The first issue surrounds the availability of paddleboards. Less than 100 boards for 10,000 people was a bit of an unbalanced equation last year. Importing boards is prohibitively expensive and betrays the essence of the very environmentally aware population who try to reuse and recycle wherever possible, minimising their carbon footprint.

We have provided a solution which focuses on using local workforces working through ‘cottage industries’ to create and build paddleboards using locally sourced sustainable and recycled materials.

Not only does this address the issues of providing a cost effective solution to the problem so that paddleboarding can expand more rapidly, it maintains environmentally sound practises, improves local employment and has the potential to provide communities with exportable products, reinvesting in India.

The second issue is with regards to maintaining professional standards. To enable any sport to develop and progress there has to be a standardised code of practice so to achieve this we have been working with the ISF team and the Indian government to create a national governing body for the sport of stand up paddleboarding .

Under the guidance of two of the members of our team, we have been writing standards and codes of practice and developing a coaching and instructor training programme for the new national governing body and we will be delivering the first training sessions for coaches and instructors in February 2014.

national governing body

A national governing body for SUP across India which people recognise and can affiliate to, will help to ensure high standards of coaching and a standard of professionalism which can be used to expand the sport.

Coaches and instructors affiliated to a bona-fide national governing body will also give confidence to tourists travelling to the area to experience paddleboarding in some new and quite stunning locations, which is our third area of work.

We are currently working with the very passionate group of people in Odisha, the tourist minister and the Chilka Development Authority to build the identity of Odisha as a destination for SUP tourism., encouraging people to visit the region from around the globe.

Chilka lake will be the centre of the initial focus to drive SUP tourism.

Chilka lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest of its kind in the world. The lake is teeming with natural beauty; its edges and islands support habitats for an abundance of wildlife and birds, there are many ancient monuments, buildings and beautiful beaches.

Once we have helped to establish the first area for SUP tourism in India, the Ministry for Tourism will roll out similar models across the country.

The team are currently undertaking a huge amount of work to make all of this happen and lay the foundations for progression. In February the team will be flying out to India to continue with our work and take part in the first ever Indian Surf Festival SUP Cup!

JUstin miles WWW.JUSTFORTHECHALLENGE.COM

IAnOVATED IAnOVATED WETSUIT The only wetsuit with a breath powered hand heating system The war with cold hands is over.

No more cold hands.

Exhale warm breath on to your hands whilst paddling and stay comfortable in the sub 5°C conditions all afternoon.

In 0 to 5°C (-10°C to 0°C wind chill) just one or two puffs every other minute down this system is all that is needed!

The breath tubes substantially run inside the wetsuit not only insulating the breath’s warmth but also boosting it. If you fall in, the water that gets into the tubes blows out warm!

Now the cold problem has been eliminated completely. Cut away the underneath of your mitten so nothing disturbs your bare hands grip on the paddle.

Or you can wear thinner gloves. You can set it that all five fingers inflate before the breath exits through the seams and around the wrist.

The mouth piece is there for whenever you need it.

Free head movement even when it's in your mouth. Can set loop size so you can grab it with your mouth.

The tube and mouth piece loop is a squeeze tight fit that pulls apart if snagged or needs to be fed through a buoyancy aid.

The hand heating system is built in to a 5/4mm semi dry with a horizontal rear entry dry zip.

Exterior in smooth skin (pictured) or nylon lined. Hand heating system is detachable, plugs provided.

www.ianovated.co.uk

ThePaddler 8

Alpkit Manta Headtorch

alpkit very kindly sent me the manta headtorch in october. i’m now onto my fourth set of batteries and that takes some doing as they do last a long time.

Quite simply they’ve been used for everything from night time open canoeing on the Thames, biking, running, dog walking and even putting the rubbish out.

They’re comfortable and hands free and that’s ideal by me.

It’s not just a one trick pony with the light either. The dimmable 120 lumen Cree LED delivers a bright beam, the width of which is adjustable using the front focussing ring. The main high output Cree LED can be dimmed to any level between 10 and 100 percent as well as a strobe setting for attracting attention. The head unit is pivotable on a 30 mm adjustable headband.

Underneath the main beam are four low-power LEDs: green for map reading without affecting night vision; double red gives enough light to see features when walking but doesn’t affect your night vision; and blue, which gives a wider, less focussed beam than the main bulb (just 5 lumen) but with a longer burn time.

Solid, good construction and neat styling all adds up to one quality and highly useful product. https://www.alpkit.com

Testing, 2013 astral Greenjacket

http://www.astraldesigns.com

By Phil Carr

a personal flotation device or PFd is one of those essential pieces of paddling kit that has to work effectively each and every time you need it. it needs to have a combination of robustness, offer good protection yet allow you move around easily without feeling restrictive.

It’s been a long time since I have had a new Astral PFD. There was something that I really didn’t like about the previous version. For me the fit was just not quite right, I know that lots of people really liked them but the design was not right for me. Roll on a few years and we have the 2013 Greenjacket.

The 2013 Astral Greenjacket retains many of the great features found in the original. This includes a 1200 lb. tensile strength rescue harness with a quick release buckle and a Spectra® safety loop for emergency extractions. The movable front panel aka ‘Freestyle Tectonics’ allow the outer front panel to move freely with your upper body, as the inner panel stays anchored in place. This is a great idea that works well.

Eight adjustment points on the Greenjacket ensure a custom fit. The points on the right hand side of the wearer are all QR which allows the Greenjacket to be put on or taken off via the side entry or via an over the head move. This seems to really help the Greenjacket fit a wide range of paddlers. I find it easier to put on over the head as reaching around to get to the fastek buckles can be a little tricky.

‘Flotection’

A PFD not only gives you that extra buoyancy you might need during it swim, it can also give some additional protection from rocks, paddles or boats. Astral have incorporated what they call ‘Flotection’ armour plating along the sides of the vest protect your ribs and vitals from impact.

I always feel that it is important that a rescue PFD looks tough and it built strong. The Greenjacket just feels super tough, the body is constructed from 500denier Cordura® nylon. Gaia™ and PE foam flotation provide buoyancy. Gaia™ foam is softer than foams found in most entry price point PFDs for better flexibility, fit, and superior comfort. Gaia™ foam is based on an organic compound, is non-toxic and is free of CFC ozone depleting materials. All in all this makes the Greenjacket bombproof as well as being an environmentally friendly life jacket.

clamshell front pocket

One of the biggest and most obvious changes in the design is the large zippered clamshell front pocket and to be honest it’s hard to miss. Inside of the clamshell are five compartments for stowing and organizing all your rescue gear.This is just simply amazing.

There is a zipped mesh pocket on the clamshell so I can zip my car keys out of the way and know that they are secure. Little pouches on the body side (with clip in points in some cases) are ideal for bits and bobs.The one on my right (whilst wearing the PFD) is ideal for a waterproof compact camera.You do need to be careful when opening the clamshell fully in order to prevent kit being dropped into the water.

One of the changes from the older model is that the zips on the two zippered side cargo pockets have been

g

testin

ter of in

I have been using the Greenjacket for all sorts of paddling including playboating duties and despite it being a full on big water rescue PFD its uber slim profile and design has never made me feel restricted.

Looking at all of the features and the fit of the Greenjacket a very capable all-rounder. It is very light; it stays put and is unrestrictive.

e will b nd it ed a view t re uc od

The front lash tab is a convenient place to hook your rescue knife but to be honest I don’t like wearing a knife in that position. But I know some people do. Having been a raft guide for a number of years I prefer to keep the front of my PFD clean so that if I do need to climb back into a raft from the water I can do so without anything snagging. Old habits die hard.

dle rs - e mail us: r eviews@t hepad dler ezin e

m .co

Front lash tab

If you want y o tion. u rp sta r st

A storage space behind the front panel gives you room to carry a small throw bag.This would have to be a bag like Astral’s own, as it would need to be flat rather than a cylindrical like most other bag systems.

Underneath the storage system is a fleeced lined hand warmer pouch, it’s a nice touch but I often forget it is even there. As the year draws on and the water gets colder I envisage using this feature a fair bit.

est pad to

re-orientated to help prevent them opening by accident.They are perfect for the storage of a river knife or other parts of your pin kit.

ThePaddle r ez ine te

Summary

so after all of that what do i not like? well actually not that much. it would be great if the shoulders were padded a little more and a little wider apart so they sat square on my shoulders (hope that makes sense). a few different colour options would also be nice.the new limited edition (le7: Hawkeye) designed by Pat Keller looks superb! sizing is accurate. at 15st with a 42in chest i wear the m/l.the l/Xl simply swamps me.

ThePaddler 9

ThePaddler 10

Alpkit Glowe torch

when i was a kid – a torch was a torch and they still are but with many more features and this stylish piece of kit form alpkit nicely illustrates that.

At first glance it is a good looking lightweight torch but take a little longer and you realise it is so much more. Give it a bit a pull and it lengthens out and the translucent upper casing becomes a lantern – very clever.

Then you realise there is a foldaway hook built into the front end that allows the Glowe to be clipped into a tent and lastly – it has little retractable feet at the bottom, which spread out to give the unit stability. Little things but thoughful.

The light unit has four settings operated by clicking the on button. These are the basic, high intensity, power saving and flashing beacon modes.

Powered by three AAA batteries, the Glowe can provide the comfort and security of light for over 50 hours. Highly recommended. https://www.alpkit.com

ianovated wetsuit http://www.ianovated.co.uk

By Tez Plavenieks

the ianovated wetsuit is a strange looking piece of kit. in terms of what’s the norm, and what isn’t,this definitely isn’t. Protruding plastic tubing, a retro fit and unconventional brand name are all talking points when you rock up at the beach.

As a concept though it’s simple; during bouts of freezing SUP conditions (less than 10C), the suit is donned and your warm breath is exhaled into the tubing, finally emerging to flow across perished fingertips – hot aches should now be a thing of the past. Here’s what Tez Plavenieks found when he tested out the Ianovated winter wetsuit.

out of the box

The suit’s designer, Iain Smith, was fed up with having to endure frostbitten fingers when out windsurfing during cold snaps. In an effort to combat the problem he masterminded the warm breath heating system – integral to the Ianovated wetty’s performance.

Using an ingenious web of tubing, the wearer’s warm exhaled CO2 ensures chilly digits are a thing of the past – an out of the box idea but one that intrigued me no end. I suffer in winter so anything to combat those dreaded hot aches is always going to be welcome.

The rest of the suit is standard, if retro, in styling. Single lined shiny neoprene with glued (rather than liquid welded) seams, a horizontal dry zip and flexible arm, shoulder and chest areas complete the look.

into the drink

The first time I suited up was during a bout of 6C SUP surfing conditions at my local spot.The breeze was puffing pretty hard offshore but the waves were up – perfect for testing out the warming properties of the Ianovated suit.

Clambering into the wetty was easy, the only difference having to avoid the internal tubing.

This however isn’t cause for concern and in a jiffy I was zipped up and ready to sweep (I did have to ask for assistance with pulling the heavy duty zip across and securing the suit).The baggy nature of the upper section did concern me a little as I’m more used to tight fitting wetsuits and this appeared to be a cold chill waiting to happen – but I needn’t have worried…

During the testing period; I was confronted with everything from waves to downwind paddling conditions – glassy and calm to choppy and blowy. All through the process I remained super toasty and never once felt Jack Frost breaking through to chill either my hands or body. Having the tubes filter warm breath onto my gloved fingers ensured those dreaded hot aches stayed at bay while the single lined neoprene kept heat evaporation to a minimum.

Having an unplanned dip was no drama – the tubes would fill with H2O but a quick blow would blast warmed water out creating an odd but pleasant sensation as salty liquid coursed into my gloves.

The supplied palmless mitts ensured a secure and comfy grip between hands and paddle shaft remained at all times. If needed you could flip the gloves up and off your fingers to sort yourself out.

Note: I also tried the suit with closed neoprene gloves which also worked well. I personally prefer the palmless mitts for paddling – others may want the more traditional option; either is fine.

waves or flat?

Having warm seawater flush through the tubing is how to experience the full benefits of Ianovated’s technology. During sub 5C sessions – flat or waves – I was thankful for the extra warmth but found that a swim was necessary so as not to overheat. On days when the air temperature is between 5C-10C it’ll be worth dropping in, just for a second, to douse the flames.

A word of warning: if you do end up in the drink then it’s worth remembering to take the mouth piece out and not try and use it for breathing whilst submerged – you’ll get a lung full of unwanted seawater if you don’t!

Final thoughts

the inaovated winter wetsuit has been a complete revelation. i don’t just have sUP as a hobby; i enjoy wind sports, surf sports and paddle sports across a variety of disciplines. in all scenarios this wetty sits in place and has now extended my playtime periods massively.

Gone are those dreaded hot aches and replaced is a warm fuzzy feeling while everyone is hunkering down in their vans with excruciating hot ache pain. robocop styling will make you stand out from the crowd (as it was described on a certain social media site) but when you’re toasty warm it’ll be you having the last laugh this winter. you can check out more about the ianovated wetsuit at http://www.ianovated.co.uk/ and a paddle specific video can be found at http://www.sitons.com/articles/stoking-fireianovated-winter-wetsuit-review/

more from tez is at http://tezplavenieks.com and don’t forget to check in with our new stand Up Paddle mag Facebook page www.facebook.com/standuppaddleboardmag where you’ll find even more sUP goodness. look out for the debut issue in the new year featuring more stand up paddle boarding gear and kit reviews.

To be honest it is really difficult sometimes to think of something new to say about base layers, either they work or they don’t.Their job is to wick sweat away from the body leaving the skin dry and warm during and after exercise. However, not all base layers are the same and sometimes something new comes along.

There are the man-made fibres such as Helly Hansen’s Lifa fabric, Merino wool products from sheep that have claimed to be the best and now – step forward yak wool, which is claimed to wick and transport more water vapour through it than Merino, whilst being lighter to boot.

Merino sheep live at around 1,000m altitude; yaks live at 4,-5,000m altitude.This difference in altitude and the hardiness of the yak is part of the reason why kora™ has chosen to develop what they believe is the best all-round performance base layer fabric for outdoor pursuits. kora™'s Hima-Layer™ fabric is made from yak wool sourced from the high altitude Himalayas and therefore it is not cheap at £95.00 for the leggings and £105 for the long-sleeved top and there is only the one colour of dark blue with purple piping, which may or may not to be to your liking depending upon your taste.

So what about the important aspect of base layers – the performance.

Well firstly, I had to wash the top before wearing as the first time it seemed to irritate my skin and I came out in red blotches but it must be stressed that I do have very sensitive skin. In fact I washed it twice and then it felt really comfortable and non-itchy.

One of my favourite pursuits is longer distance night cycling along a very convenient cycle track down here in Cambridge.The outside temperature is cold and close to freezing but going at nearly full pelt soons brings a sweat on. I have a Helly Hansen mid-layer and a Paramo top-layer to boot and it’s a very satisfying feeling to be so cosy warm with the knowledge that everything is working – but how?

Soon as I get home I strip off the two top layers and you can then clearly see the reason why. Even as I stand in the bathroom, you can visually see the sweat being drawn from my body and onto the surface of the kora wool – it works beautifully. It’s worth understanding that if the base layer doesn’t perform then the mid and top layers are redundant and so top marks to kora for producing a wonderfully efficient garment – oh and the yaks as well.

After two bike stints and a couple of runs – there is no noticeable smell but they’re going in for a wash now anyway. It must also be noted that on the running side of matters, the built-in zip is quite important as you can cool yourself down quite easily once you get going.

All in all, it is a very impressive start for kora and we’ll see how they go from here with widening their range and colours – watch this space. http://www.kora.net watch and listen to the designer.

www.kora.net/ pages/fabric/ the-garment

ThePaddler 11

ThePaddler 12

By Dave Rossetter –paddlesport instruct

Fundamentals This article is all about the use of Fundamentals for moving sideways

}

Over the past years when introducing beginners to the sport and working with paddlers at all levels the following areas have been in my coaching:

Posture connectivity Power transfer Feel

These are known as: Fundamentals

What I perhaps didn’t do in the past was label them as such however, now this gives me a structure.

Fundamentals for skill development

The skills we learn in paddlesport are all about being able to move the boat to a desired destination, preferably in a controlled, efficient, and economic fashion, in order to achieve this we need to: •

•

Have an active posture, allowing the body to move freely, with the muscles sensitive to movement and free to act quickly.Whilst being able to effectively transfer our weight, changing the centre of gravity and remaining in balance.

Be connected to our boat allowing us to react to the movements of the boat, paddles and water around you.

This allows us to feel / anticipate the movement of the boat through the water and efficiently transfer power from the body to create movement of the boat.The paddler can perform strokes that generate power, turning and stability; control the speed, angle, edge and trim of their boat; and move efficiently and economically.

Resulting in the controlled and efficient movement of the boat to achieve a desired outcome.

Regardless of the discipline being followed these four areas keep us in control of the craft no matter what the environment is doing.The ability to blend them and change them to help you is vital for any boater. Doing this means that we don’t rely on just arm power and therefore allow us to freely perform the strokes.

This has been brought into the coach education courses right at UKCC Level 1 as a way to help new coaches deliver information but also as a way to observe and analyse performance.

The use of Fundamentals for moving sideways Draw

Moving the boat towards the paddle side.

Stroke used in canoes and kayaks.

Pry

Moving the boat away from the paddle side.

Stroke predominantly used in canoes.

Draw stroke •

Good upright posture connected to the boat

•

Hands over the water on the same side you are travelling towards

•

•

•

Looking (upper body) in direction of travel

Vertical/upright paddle shaft as possible Blade in water throughout stroke

tor at Glenmore Lodge

ThePaddler 13

ThePaddler 14

Posture

To have an efficient and effective draw stroke we need to look at our posture in the boat first.

We need to have our pelvis in the middle position.

With the pelvis in this position it allows our surrounding muscles to be relaxed. A relaxed muscle is able to contract or tense quicker, is more sensitive and mobile than a muscle under tension. In the picture (plate A) we can see the paddler able to rotate their upper body over to the side that they would place the paddle on. This is possible due to the upright upper body with the pelvis in the middle position. To aid finding this position sit on the boney bits of your bottom – ‘Sit bones’ or ‘ischial tuberosities’.

In the picture (Plate B) we see the paddler applying the upright body with the middle pelvis position.

We can observe this due to the freedom to get both hands over the side they are paddling on/the upright head and the body rotation achieved.

This also allows the paddler to reach out comfortable giving the full range of movement.

Our next fundamental is connectivity and specifically connections within the boat.

We use the points of the body that are in contact with the boat; and a basic level of tension through our main upper body (our core) to connect the boat to the body. This is essential to achieving control over the boats movement.

Connections within the boat are:

•

Where and how we sit

•

Where the feet touch

•

•

Where the knees are and the points they touch

Any other points of contact

(Plate C) Knees up under the knee braces under the cockpit/feet touching footrest and side of boat.

(Plate D) Knees pressing against the side of boat/use of kneeling thwart.

Just because something is touching or in contact with the boat doesn’t mean that it is in use. By this I mean is it switched on and actively being pressed against to give the control. Too tight in the boat is as bad as too loose. Either of these extremes makes it difficult to regulate or adjust the pressure that is being applied. This will ultimately lead to loss of control and you becoming tired.

We need to use these with a degree of tension as we plant the paddle we are aiming to pull ourselves up to and past the paddle.

This brings us onto our next fundamental: power transfer.

The strength of the stroke (stroke efficiency) is determined by remaining stable. This means that the water is left in the water and we remain upright and in control.

Next time you are out on the water experiment with the following: ~

• •

Task 1 Draw stroke only using arm power and try and move the water.

Task 2 Draw stroke using your core muscles and think about leaving the water stable and calm.

What differences do you note?

By having a strong connection to the boat we can then use muscles from the feet (or knees if kneeling a canoe) and up and through to the core and ultimately into the arms. When we fix the effort onto the water this gives us the ability to drive the boat and having stability while we power.

Once we are this stage it is time that we start developing our feel. We need to learn to work with the water and not against it. To do this we need to develop a feel for how the boat/paddle interact with the water. The paddler who can do this looks like they are working together with the water and not fighting it. Combining the other three fundamentals and having the ability to adapt to the surrounding environmental demands achieve this.

Exercises that can help us improve our feel are:

•

Practicing draw strokes with your eyes closed.

Do your reference points (points where you position your hands/arms/pressure on contact points) change?

(Plate E) Practice your draw strokes on the move to challenge your skill.

Dave is the full time paddlesport instructor at Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre. He has been involved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on all things to do with coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. He is passionate about all things paddling and specialises in white water kayak and open canoe where he will most often be found. He is supported in his paddling adventures and coaching by Pyranha Kayaks, Mad River Canoes and Palm Equipment. http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/ http://www.pyranha.com/ http://www.palmequipmenteurope.com/ http://www.madrivercanoe.co.uk/

Play time

take your draw on the move and link it into a turning stroke such as the bow rudder.

How does your posture/connections/power transfer and feel change?

Having looked at the fundamentals within moving sideways and being able to adapt them from static through to dynamic draws and / or other strokes we can now apply them to other skills within our paddling.

By being able to recognise and feel when something is not working means that we can change one of the other areas.

This means that we are adaptable paddlers which will help us have a variety ways of achieving tasks to allow us to enjoy different types of paddling experiences in different environments.

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CANYON

EXPEDITION ThePaddler 17

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Two years ago I sent Patrick, my partner, an email with the title ‘Paddle Down the Grand Canyon’. On the very next line I wrote, “I NEED to do this. I have set a calendar alarm for February and we should apply each year until we get it! There’s some pretty big rapids.”

and that’s how it all started.

by HannaH taylor

However, we didn’t have

to apply each year because only a few weeks after entering our first US National Parks Lottery for a non-commercial Grand Canyon permit we were told we had been successful. I was grinning from ear to ear and so was Patrick. We opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

In the following 18 months there was a lot to plan not least of all finding another six people to join our team. Time ticked on until eventually we were ready for the adventure. Two UK friends were joining us and we had ar

Paddlers: Gill Mark Joseph Rick Bruce Patrick Dwight

camp

rranged to meet four Americans from California. It’s fair to say we were an inexperienced bunch when it came to oar rafting but there was a sensible amount of white water knowledge amongst the team.

Arriving into Las Vegas it was too damn hot but ‘The Strip' is a bonkers as you'd expect. Thunderstorm floods settled on the main boulevard causing mayhem! Little did we realise at the time that the same weather pattern would also be turning our lush green river into muddy bath water. It was monsoon season after all and perhaps we should have done a little more homework.

Our team of eight had 16 days from put in to take out for our trip permit and we chose to do one of the longest variations pulling out at Pierce Ferry totalling 281 miles.

Once at a very hot Lees Ferry we start inflating and rigging boats. A good job we only do this once. We loaded coolers full of food/ice/beer/gin/vegetables the list goes on. We planned to be eating fresh vegetables on day 15... and huge steaks on day five! We have a huge four-burner stove, washing up buckets, three full size folding tables, chairs and umbrellas. It's camping but not as I know it. We have a Portaloo

of a sort called the 'groover'. Essentially a large ammunition can with a toilet seat on top.

Everything that goes down the river must be packed out... and I mean everything! Further down the line we come to resent unpacking, hauling, setting up, breaking down and repacking quite so much stuff.

A debrief by the ranger the following morning talks about some of the issues the canyon can entail, snakes, bark scorpions, heat stroke. At one point he reminds us... “You’re going on holiday in an oven.” He wasn't wrong. Although we came to realise quite quickly that it was way more of an expedition than a holiday.

We finally cut loose from the bank and drifted down the Colorado River! The moment we had been waiting for. Spirits were very high. Gill and myself chose to paddle the inflatable kayaks (duckies) along the first stretch as there no significant rapids. We float down the river full of expectation. I’m taking my lead from Gill and we’re both surprised at the size of the riffles. If these aren’t even graded I can’t quite imagine the size of what is yet to come.

scouting

The water is incredibly cold, probably 5 Celsius.

It's come from the bottom of the dam about 15miles upstream and warms up only slightly over the 280 miles. Hyperthermia is a real issue if you end up accidentally swimming.

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a tributary that seems to be pumping in liquid mud soon muddies the green water of the Grand Canyon. From here on out the river is like chocolate milkshake. Full of fine brown grit that finds its way into everything. It will stay that way right up until the end. Even the usual turquoise waters of the Little Colorado run thick and brown.

We’ll find only a few cherished places in the next 16 days where spring water runs clear and we get the chance to clean and splash around.

On the second day I get my own chance to row a raft. I've no real experience and this size boat in the UK just doesn't work but I get to sample how

Our raft went down the centre and attempted to move right but it’s easier said than done and we’ve never taken on a rapid this big. We shout instructions to each other but our oarsman wasn’t able to move the boat. We hit the huge wave train at its biggest wave and sideways on.

The raft is shunted almost vertical and sideways.

Even our 18ft and 1.5 tons are like a plaything in these waves. The raft was practically vertical and what was our floor was no longer there... and neither was Patrick! He was tipped out of the boat and into the rapid.

Far left: The kitchen left: Steaks

an 18ft inflatable raft that weighs about 1.5 tons feels. Heavy but also strangely light. It turns well with the long oars but for now I only attempt flat water and riffles.

Day two also introduces us to our first significant rapid, House Rock, a class 7, at 17 miles down.

We stop to scout. The rapids turn a right hand corner so you enter centre and move right avoiding the huge wave train and the canyon wall on the left. We talk through the plan and the third boat (my boat) holds back so I can capture video footage of the others. It’s incredible how tiny the 18ft rafts look when seen from this vantage. It really adds a sense of scale as we watch them ‘bob’ along to the bottom.

Good fortune played a part and he wasn't far from the raft. One pulse of waves pushed him towards the raft and he managed to grab the spare oar strapped to the side. He hung on for dear life as the boat and water around him pushed this way and that. With another pulse of water I get a firm grasp on his PFD and he manages to haul himself back into the raft. He’s shocked and cold but ok. Joseph keeps the raft steady until we reach safety. It was a close shave and it all happened in the blink of an eye. After the initial rush of adrenaline and excitement the people on our boat grow a little quiet and I’m sure they’re all contemplating, like me, just how close we came to flipping and how on earth we are going to handle bigger grade rapids.

The raft was practically vertical and what was our floor was no longer there... and neither was Patrick! He was tipped out of the boat

and into the rapid ThePaddler 21

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We float through some of the most inc Being there, in the bottom of it, l

Days melt into each other. We have days of blazing heat and quite regular thunderstorms.

Patrick begins to row a little more and discovers having a lot of grunt is quite helpful. He can manoeuvre the boat well but has little experience about which lines to take and what the water is doing. It's a steep, wet learning curve.

Around day five we have a hellish day. We have to run a class 7, four class 8s and a class 9 rapid, not to mention several small rapids that we’ve already become quite nonchalant about. It's physically and emotionally draining for everyone, not only the oarsmen and the consequences of getting it wrong can be bad.

Patrick and Joseph row our boat and take

advice on lines from the more experienced people in the team. We row conservatively looking to stay out of the big wave trains and away from holes and obvious rocks. Always looking for sneaky ways through. “It’s a marathon not a sprint” we were once advised.

On one of the rapids we get an oar blade snagged between some rocks, it snaps in half and we get pushed into the worst of the rapid and all we can do is square up to the on coming waves with one oar! We survive and the advice of 'T-up' becomes our mantra.

We float through some of the most incredible scenery you're ever going to see! Being there, in

credible scenery you're ever going to see! looking up, it's almost too much to take in.

GoPro filming

Camp

the bottom of it, looking up, it's almost too much to take in. The colours, rocks and sheer scale of the Canyon, provide the most aweinspiring backdrop to our experience. But the Grand Canyon is more than just rapids and water – there are many elements to explore. The myriad of side canyons, some accessible by boat others you'd need a climbing rack and rope to access. Little oases of cool with fresh running water hide up steep cliffs. There's even evidence of previous occupation and exploration throughout the ages which are astounding. Man made wonders that are dwarfed by the natural wonders around them.

It all sounds incredible and it was, but it’s easy to forget how much hard work is going on as well. Cooking breakfast for eight people every morning, preparing lunch, monitoring our food, filtering water, packing away the kitchen and getting it stowed on the boat all takes time and effort. I would say that like all great adventures it was 80% hard graft, which made it what it was. I'd had ideas of sunbathing in the back of the raft, perhaps going for a swim but those ideas quickly fade. Full hat, glasses and long sleeved shirts were the order of the day. Doused with breathtakingly cold muddy river water on a regular basis.

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after a week or so

everyone began to relax. We had proved we were capable and the challenges ahead felt manageable. I took to the oars again myself successfully tackling a long grade 4.

There were moments of relaxation. Patrick and I became aficionados of mid-morning or afternoon naps on the back of the boat wedged in between drybags. All valuable down time to keep you going.

On the whole trip we only had one rest day, which was at the mouth of National Canyon.

There's was fresh water running higher up and it provided a great day of canyon exploration, shade from the heat and a sense isolation that can sometimes be hard to find. We found pools deep enough to jump into and slots tight enough to bridge hands and feet across. It was a welcome change to the muddy waters of the Colorado.

On the eleventh or twelfth day there was still one big rapid left to do. The Colorado through the Grand Canyon saves the best till last – it was the infamous Lava Falls. Infamous because it can bite. A grade 9 rapid with a huge pour over ‘raft flipping’ hole on river left that should be avoided at all costs. Needless to say there are also numerous monster waves throughout.

Lava Falls was everything I had expected and worse. All other rapids we had encountered had a way through that you could visually see, a place where the quieter water lay and an 18ft raft could sneak through. Lava was different! It was big, munchy and waiting to eat us up. We scouted the rapid on river right and there was a sombre feel to the group. Finally, after much pointing at waves, routes, holes and places to avoid everyone

Author bio

Hannah is a freelance filmmaker and head honcho of Maia Media based in Manchester, UK. She loves to combine her passion for the outdoors with her creative talents and specialises in creative video production with a focus on outdoor adventures, action sports, travel, tourism, culture and lifestyle.

Website: www.maiamedia.co.uk

We pushed back into the current. The oarsmen were quieter than usual. A right line was the general consensus but there was going to be a huge wedge of luck to getting through. Patrick, Dwight and I were in the lead boat. We hit the tongue first and pulled hard right before the oars were knocked out of Dwight’s hands. We lost the line and from there it was a case of T-up or go over. Dwight managed to get the oars again just in time to hit another huge wave square on. The pulses of water knocked the oars from his grip again. A desperate scrabble for the oars ensued as we could see one of the biggest waves at the bottom that we had been desperate to avoid was right in our path.

SEE HANNAH’S 3D GRAND CANYON FILM

Lava was different!

It was big, munchy and waiting to eat us up.

The water reacts to obstacles like rocks, ledges and holes by becoming stacked or bunched against these obstacles and creates waves that stand in place. The wave stays there and the water flows through it. We were about to collide with our wave.

If we got it right we could flow through without flipping. We crashed into the wave, a wall of water went over the front knocking Patrick and I down.

The boat stalled but then bounced up and over the worst of it. We made it – if only just!

Our two other boats we're less lucky. The oarsman on the second boat made a good entry but was pushed hard right and got stuck spinning against a huge rock. Pulsing up and down against the slab and being spun at the same time. Our third boat fared no better, like us they had been knocked by

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Favourite camping spot

walked back to the boats. I felt physically sick. I was tempted to avoid the rapid under the guise of filmmaking and clamber along the shoreline once the boats were through...but deep down I knew I had to face up to our nemesis or I would forever be disappointed with myself.

Dwight

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the power of the first waves and had lost the grip on their oars. Whilst reaching back for his oars Mark was dumped into the water. We had a long swimmer... someone who was in the rapid. This was really not good. Fortunately, Joseph scrambled to take Mark’s place and steered as best he could through the rest of the rapid.

I can't imagine what swimming Lava Falls must be like but what I do know is the ashen, pale face of that oarsman as he was pulled out of the water is as close as I ever want to come to knowing.

Our second boat, still spinning and swirling in their deceptively dangerous monster rock eddy finally managed to get out and pushed through the rest of Lava Falls to join us. Everyone had a fairly emotional reunion. We were all in one piece and alive to tell the tale. Lunch in a shady spot enabled us to gather ourselves physically and emotionally.

We had taken the worst and we had made it. There were still rapids to run and days to paddle but we felt we'd put the most serious stuff behind us.

The next few days were very calm. The river was still flowing fast but it was deeper and there were no significant rapids. We eventually passed through the Grandwash Cliffs and suddenly the Grand Canyon disappeared. We were now essentially in Lake Mead, which is created by the Hoover Dam that feeds Las Vegas miles ahead.

Early on the final morning we beached the boats at Pearce Ferry and derigged. Waiting for the outfitters everyone was quiet, tired and introspective. It certainly struck me that it was going to take a while to absorb our whole experience. â—?

One of the many side canyons

LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR ADVENTURE Are you drawn to the excitement of whitewater, but want the freedom to paddle further? The Katana will take on rapids and glide over calm water. You’ll find the cockpit more spacious than traditional whitewater designs and there’s plenty of room in the stern for camping gear. Available in two sizes; 10.4 and 9.7 – and two specifications; adjustable Contour Ergo and robust Action outfitting.

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Mysterio Mysterio

Kayaking in the land o

ous ous island island

of odd things

Dropping a kayak in a nameless, rainforest river beneath wild mountains on an island where almost everything is weird can be thrilling or just plain crazy, as don Pinnock discovered.

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madagascar’s a strange place

But nothing – not spiky tenrecs, thumbnail-sized chameleons or dancing lemurs – was weirder than the lake of elephant ears.They might have been related to delicious monster pot plants but almost no living thing in Madagascar is like anything elsewhere in the world.There was a huge forest of them sprouting out of the water and when they swallowed us we were unable to navigate. We plunged into the impossible green maze and hoped for the best.

It was the third day of kayaking the waterways of the densely forested south eastern region and we still had a long way to go. Rather by chance we discovered that the river passing through the lake knew the way, its inky stream the only moving thing among the towering fronds. But as the increasingly rapid flow twisted us this way and that, slamming the kayaks into the tangled root systems, I remembered the crocodiles.

If Madagascar were a sleeping dragon, its head would be in Antsiranana in the north; its heart in Antananarivo, the capital, and its spiny backbone would run down the east coast from Toamosina to Fort Dauphin. That backbone, the steep edge of the Imerina plateau, forces cyclones swarming in from the Indian Ocean to drop their load against its eastern flanks. This creates rivers and lagoons which lattice across more than a thousand kilometres of tropical lowlands, feeding dense, rich rainforest.

That backbone, the steep edge of the Imerina plateau, forces cyclones swarming in from the

Indian Ocean

to drop their load against its eastern flanks

In the 19th century, French colonists connected the lagoons with a series of canals, forming a 800-kilometre transport waterway, the Canal des Pangalaines. They abandoned the project around 200 kilometres north of Fort Dauphin, leaving the area to lemurs, tenrecs, crocs and a sprinkling of fisher folk. That's the area we'd come to explore. The region is wilder, the lakes and rivers more overgrown and secretive. People stared in wonder at our passing and at one point children ran screaming in fright as we emerged from a channel.

We'd put in three days earlier at a stream that had no name with the idea to scout a route that others could follow. Behind us, purple peaks drew a jagged line across the western sky. The only movement was the ripples radiating from our yellow kayaks and malachite kingfishers zipping alongside us. Besides our local guide, Ernest Adriamanarina and myself, the team consisted of Debby Oscroft, Dylan Kotze, Brian Berkman and JP Fluckiger – all with varying skills in a kayak. Brian and JP mounted a video camera on the nose of their boat but, while trying to work out how to go straight, it was almost immediately scraped off by a branch and lost.

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the red island

cooking up curious creatures

Madagascar has 101 lemur species, more than 70 chameleon species (some metre-long dragons) and seven species of baobabs. And for added oddity, let’s not forget the predatory fossa and 34 species of tenrec. And Nile crocs.

How they all got to Madagascar nobody really knows.

The island fled Africa 88 million years ago, shed India – which drifted up to bother Asia and create the Himalayas. Then, in blissful isolation after all that tectonic ruckus, it cooked up some decidedly strange creatures.

To get there they must have sailed or swum, but, with no opposition, they invented new versions of themselves and are now all shapes and sizes. Except the crocs, which seem happy the way they've been for 80 million years.

Figuring out fady

Fady is a taboo system so complex that neighbouring villages and even close neighbours don’t necessarily share it. Taboos can vary from family to family, community to community or even person to person.

Perhaps eating pork is fady, or digging a grave with a spade, which doesn’t have a loose handle, is fady (not too much contact between the living and the dead). In Imerina area it’s fady to hand an egg to someone, it must first be put on the ground. In many areas it’s fady to work in the rice fields on Thursdays, or work at all on Tuesdays.

A close relative of fady is vintana, which is a sort of personal taboo which cuts up time into good times and bad times to do things, which means people might suddenly stop what they’re up to and sit down for an hour or two. Some things, though, are generally agreed to be fady, like chameleons and lemurs, though not aye-ayes or tenrecs.

Five hours of rivers,

lakes and lagoons later we stopped for lunch and to rest our aching arms.

Curious fan palms peered down at us and a raptor circled high overhead.

Other than by road, there was no connection to the next water system (the French would have fixed that), so our kayaks were portaged while we trudged north along the seashore.

We passed through a small village that was built entirely of palm poles and fronds. Apart from the clothing identifying the century of its friendly residents, they could have been in any earlier one. Beyond the village, walking through valleys and along beaches shaded by coconut palms, we never saw a single person.

That night we camped in a forest beside the beach and slept to the crunch and hiss of waves. In the night Debby popped out the tent with a torch and found tenrecs scuttling everywhere. As creatures go, like all other Madagascan mammals, they're best described by what they're not.

They aren’t shrews, platypuses, hedgehogs or guinea pigs, but have something in common with all of these. Unfortunately they aren't fady so they tend to get eaten.

On day two we walked over several sand dunes to be reunited with our kayaks. The sweet sound of singing led us to youngsters tending fish traps along a lake shore. Some hours later we lunched on bananas beside crab catchers in dugout canoes, who proudly displayed their fearsome, snapping prey.

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Beyond a lake we entered a bay sheltered by granite rocks and ran up a beach beside a restaurant, chalets, top-class food and, above all,

hot showers

After that some

of us got lost up a narrow, muddy creek but our guide, Ernest, said not to worry because Madagascan crocs were small and didn’t eat people. After some mud wading we found our campsite – we’d been paddling for six hours. Brian flopped into a chair and stared, glazed, across the lake towards the mountains, one of the most magnificent views of the trip.

Then he closed his eyed and pronounced, “I'm totally @@@!”

The following day, the lake of elephant ears led to a river running alongside a hill of towering rainforest. It began in mangroves with their sinuous legs in the water and rose up through palms to high, mysterious, canopy forest. There should have been a sign reading: HERE BE LEMURS AND MAYBE DRAGONS. Beyond a lake we entered a bay sheltered by granite rocks and ran up a beach beside a restaurant, chalets, top-class food and, above all, hot showers. Manafiafy, owned by Welshman Edward Tucker Brown, just has to be on the list of the most idyllic resorts in the country and was our reward for all the hard paddling. There was even a pretty masseuse for weary backs and shoulders.

Our kayaking ended in the bay 45 kilometres from where we started, but there was one more quest ahead: lemurs. In the forests around the lodge they were high and shy, so on the way back home we visited a lemur reserve near Antananarivo.

As a sifaka lemur bounded across an open space like a dancer on steroids, Brian stared at a ruffed lemur regarding him with puzzlement and wide-eyed curiosity.“This place,” he said, holding its unblinking gaze and in a tone that encompassed all of Madagascar, 'is decidedly strange.'

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INFORMATION location: Madagascar is situated off the coast of Mozambique in southern Africa and covers an area of 587,040 sq km, (similar in size to Kenya and France). Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island. The island was created when it separated from the Indian subcontinent 80100 million years ago.

Madagascar

www.jenmansafaris.com

weatHer: Madagascar's climate is tropical along the coast with a temperate inland, and arid in the south. The best time of the year to visit is probably September/November after the cool, dry winter but before the hot rainy season. Cyclone season is February to March when the climate is at its rainiest.

Google map

HealtH: Madagascar is a high risk malaria area, so prophylactics are strongly recommended. Yellow fever, typhoid and cholera vaccinations are also recommended.

sPecies: 250,000 species are found here, of which 70% are found nowhere else in the world. Of the estimated 14,000 plants native to Madagascar, 90% are found nowhere else in the world. With 26 endemic families and more than 470 endemic genera, Madagascar is one of the richest places on Earth for higher level endemism. Of the 50 different kinds of lemurs, 10 are critically endangered, seven are endangered and 19 are considered vulnerable. There are seven species of baobab trees in Madagascar compared to only one in all of the rest of Africa. The Toliara coral reef, off Madagascar's southwestern coast, is the third largest coral reef system in the world. Recent surveys indicate that coral diversity is higher in Madagascar than in any of the East African states or the Red Sea. The region also has the most extensive mangrove coverage in the Western Indian Ocean.

deForestation: Analysis of satellite imagines indicates that forest cover has decreased by almost 40% from the 1950s to 2000.This forest destruction and degradation threatens thousands of species with extinction. Experts now predict that Madagascar has already lost 90% of its original forest cover. The exposed soil gives the island its red colour.

wHat to taKe: For kayaking take a long-sleeved t-shirt, lots of sunscreen, a hat and a kikoi to keep the sun off your legs as you paddle. Don’t forget mozzie spray. There are coral reefs along the shore so bring a mask and snorkel .

GettinG tHere: Air Madagascar flies to Antananarivo from Johannesburg on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Contact them on www.airmadagascar.com.

How to booK: The adventure described here was an exploration trip for Jenman Madagascar Safaris. They're now offering it on their Madagascar itinerary. Contact them on 021 683 7826, email info@jenmansafaris.com, web www.jenmansafaris.com or www.travel2madagascar.com.

Price From UK: The trip costs £1,600 (a person for a minimum departure of four people. The price includes meals and local beverages, return international flights from Johannesburg to Antananarivo on Air Madagascar, domestic flights from Antananarivo to Fort Dauphin and accommodation at Manafiafy Beach and Rainforest Lodge, Pavillion de l’Emyrne in Antananarivo and Kaleta Hotel in Fort Dauphin.

Madagascar Barefoot Luxury Kayak Adventure

Soak up the sun on unspoilt, idyllic beaches Experience exotic & amazing wildlife Kayak on an incredibly beautiful & pristine river 11 days of barefoot luxury adventure & relaxation (includes 4 nights at the 4* Manafiafy Beach & Rainforest Lodge on fully inclusive basis and 4 nights barefoot luxury camping, all other nights in up-market accommodation. Includes local drinks and all meals.)

Priced from ÂŁ 1,451 pp sharing (excluding flights)

Madagascar: Your: Adventure, Our Expertise +27 21 683 7826 www.travel2madagascar.com

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ThePaddler 40

Sanctuary

y

[Middle English, from Old French sainctuarie, from Late Latin sanctuarium, from Latin sanctus, sacred; see sanctify.]

plural sanc.tu.ar.ies noun \’san(k)-cha-,wer-e\

A place of refuge and protection (2): a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal ThePaddler 41

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We had a lynx run across the road in front of us.

This was the first wild cat I’ve encountered, which is always a lovely way to

start a trip

History The Bowron Lakes are located in the northern Rocky Mountains 120 kms east of Quesnel in British Columbia. Originally, hunters and trappers with several cabins and lodges residing on the shores of the lakes frequented the Bowron Lakes and the surrounding forests and mountains.

by Jody dymond The park covers an area of approximately 149,207 hectares and within its boundaries are a set of 11 lakes connected by portages and rivers. In total the rectangular circuit covers 116kms of some of the world’s finest backcountry canoeing. The main lake was formerly known as Bear Lake, but was established as Bowron Lake in 1961 and was named for John Bowron, the first Gold Commissioner of near Barkeville. Due to the increased number of moose and other big game in the early 1900s, there was interest from hunters in the area and soon hunting outfitters set up shop. Frank Kibbee ran the largest game-hunting outfitter in the area and in 1921 Kibbee Lake was named after him. In 1961, the recreational reserve was purchased by the British Columbian Government and designated a Provincial Park.

trip

As we knew we were going to be paddling as a group and since the Bowron Lake Circuit is a world-renowned paddling destination, we booked our departure date in the park and paid park fees in March 2013. While this seems really early, good dates book up quickly, especially long weekends and it is imperative that you have your departure date booked before you or your group book flights, as was the case for us.

After picking up the group from Calgary International Airport (YYC) on August 24, 2013 we made a quick pit stop at Mountain Equipment Co-op to pick up any last minute personal trip items then headed to our first campground, Tunnel Mountain in Banff National Park.

The next morning we decided to get up and leave as early as possible, knowing that the drive would be quite lengthy. From here on our journey takes us north up through the Rocky Mountains, passing by the Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls, Jasper, Grande Cache, McBride, and the northern most point of the trip, Prince George. From Prince George we had a threehour drive south to the Bowron Lake Provincial Park.

This part of the trip takes you through a lot of forest and some gravel roads. Just before arriving at Becker’s Lodge (the outfitters whom we hired boats from) we had a lynx run across the road in front of us. This was the first wild cat I’ve encountered, which is always a lovely way to start a trip. Because we arrived at Becker’s Lodge after hours, we had to stay in the campground as opposed to the Lodge, which was a two-minute drive towards the lake.

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The following ThePaddler 44

morning, we again got up about 0600 to get ready and to get up to Becker’s Lodge to organize equipment to ensure we were ready for the 0900 orientation at the Bowron Lakes Provincial Park registration hut.

T

f

The briefing that everyone has before you’re allowed on the circuit lasts for approximately 30-minutes, 20 minutes of which is a video plus 10 minutes of main bullet points a ranger addresses. These points are about safety, attracting attention, storing food in a bear cache, and remembering to pack out what you pack in. This is a favoured saying by park authorities in backcountry settings to ensure that people don’t litter or leave food wastes allowing others to equally enjoy a pristine wilderness. This very much reminds me of a saying back in the UK, “Take only memories, leave only footprints”. If paddling as a group, the rangers are supposed to go over campsites with you prior to departure. The ranger at our orientation was new and unfortunately didn’t go over the importance of designated campsites. After the brief, every boat has the combined kit weighed to prevent over erosion of the portage paths. This weight cannot exceed 60kg per boat. Now the real journey begins…

The circuit itself is 116.4 km in total length with a portage total of 10.8 km. From the registration centre, the initial walk into Kibbee Lake is an arduous 2.4 km. This trail is rough under foot and very steep. This is a great initial warm up for your muscles and sets the standard for what’s ahead. After about 45 minutes we reached Kibbee Lake. After a brief rest, we got on the water and paddled up through the slough and reeds, opening to the main lake itself. Kibbee Lake is quite small in relation to the other lakes of the circuit but is very scenic none the less. This is a good place to spot beavers and waterfowl in the summer. After a short paddle across the lake, we arrived at campsite 2, which is a group campsite, and the egress for the second portage, the campsites are all numbered 1-53 with a designation of either an individual campsite or a group campsite. If you are paddling individually (a non- registered group of seven people or less) you are entitled to stay at any of the campsites, but if you choose to stay at a group site and a group turns up, you will be asked to move on to the next available site.

bear caches

From campsite 2, we loaded the boats back up with the allocated kit and had remaining kit in 90L rucksack drybags, which everyone carried. This 2km portage begins with a long but relatively easy incline and finishes with a decline onto Indian Point Lake. This is where you get your first true glimpse of the scale of the larger lakes on the circuit.

After a 30-minute stop and some homemade jerky and trail mix, we got the boats ready and paddled towards campsite 7, our first pit stop of the circuit. All of the campsites are equipped with a pit toilet and steel bear caches. The bear caches themselves are for storing all smelly items such as food, soap, toothpaste and sun cream when you aren’t using them. Bear caches are there to be used and it is very prudent for you to use them. After setting up camp (Pete, Ash, and myself in hammocks with Clive and Susie, and John and Tracy in tents) I prepared the first group meal, a tuna pasta. My wife, Nicole, took time to try dehydrating food for the trip as there is no access to refrigeration and she wanted creative and tasty meals. It should be noted that if you dehydrate tuna it needs to start rehydrating at lunch, not five minutes before dinner as we discovered. Saying that, the meal was still edible and much needed sustenance to give us energy for the days ahead.

Ash and I, we demoing tandem ferry-gliding and breaking in and out and generally playing about on ‘the chute’ rapid

The bear caches themselves are for storing all smelly items such as

food, soap, toothpaste and sun cream

when you aren’t using them

Wooden carving I made whilst at camp 3 with all the group members names and the date of the trip

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Although notoriously windy, the snow-capped mountains and glaciers make for an amazing backdrop and

great photo opportunities

After dinner,

a few of us tried our hands at fishing. Although we didn’t catch anything, it was still a good laugh.

That’s what it’s all about anyways, right? As it got dark, we had a hot chocolate and good natter around the campfire before turning in for a good night’s sleep. We all fell asleep to the howling of wolves in the area.

The following morning we got up early to get a good head start. It was decided the night before that we’d try to get as much paddling done as possible to make the tail end of our trip a bit less strenuous. From campsite 7 we paddled the remainder of Indian Point Lake. Just beyond campsite 8 there is a small stream, which runs northeast and will take you up to campsite 9, the egress for the third portage. This 1.6km portage between Indian Point Lake and Isaac Lake is significantly more difficult than the previous two. Paddling later on in the season meant that the water line was lower. From water’s edge to the start of the portage trail is a muddy embankment that you need to get all of your kit and boat sorted on. The portage is probably the worst out of all of the portages we did, with narrow, undulating track, and steep inclines but it becomes rewarding when you reach the access of Isaac Lake.

Although our group didn’t see a moose, this lake’s edge was covered in fresh tracks. I can only assume this is because we were crossing at mid-day and moose tend to be spotted more in early morning or twilight. Isaac Lake is heavily exposed to the elements and for the majority of our paddle we had the wind in our faces, making for tougher paddling. Although notoriously windy, the snow-capped mountains and glaciers make for an amazing backdrop and great photo opportunities. We paddled about 18km from the start of Isaac Lake to campsite 21.

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this was our original planned group site, but on arrival, there was already a registered group camped here, forcing us to move on to campsite 22, another 2km down the lake. We arrived when it was getting dark, so we had to be pretty swift at setting up camp. Luckily there was already a father/son team with a fire started so we could cook dinner straight away. After a quick dinner, we were all quite exhausted so we had our hot chocolate and hit the hay.

Day three we started bright and early with a quick breakfast of porridge and hot tea. The three of us in hammocks decided to get going to secure a campsite for the night while the other four had a more leisurely pack down. Whilst paddling towards campsite 28, I decided to try my hand at fishing while paddling, dragging a spinner behind my boat. To my surprise I hooked quite a few fish.

To my disappointment, I didn’t get any in the boat as they kept falling off the hook.

I’m saying this is because you aren’t allowed to use barbed hooks, and not my fishing skills. Campsite 28 is pretty much the halfway point of the circuit.

This campsite has a group shelter that is purpose built open sided log hut with a wood burner and picnic tables inside. This is a great place to air or dry out kit and relax with a cup of tea, both of which we took full advantage. There is also an emergency phone located here that is linked to the ranger cabins and is strictly for emergency use as listed on the instructions located on the phone. There is an emergency phone in every group campsite, and there are ranger cabins dotted throughout the circuit.

This campsite is adjacent to one of the movin

ng water sections of the circuit called ‘the chute’. Paddlers have the option of running the chute or portaging around it. The chute is class 2 with two large eddies on river left and right. The following morning, we had a later cooked breakfast and then decided that the whole group would run the chute. Pete, Ash, and myself provided safety for the other four members. Everyone paddled it successfully. A kilometre past the chute, you reach another portage. This portage takes you around Isaac Falls, an impressive 11 metre waterfall and leads you onto McLeary Lake.

McLeary Lake is one of the prettiest stretches of water on the circuit boasting many large fish and also has an old cabin called ‘Old Freddie Becker’s Trapper’s Cabin’, which can be camped in. Do remember that if you do decide to use the old trapper’s cabins to sleep or as shelter, they are very small and can be full of mice. This lake provides some of the best views of the Cariboo Mountains and its glaciers. It is also fantastic for spotting wildlife. After a short paddle McLeary Lake turns into Cariboo River where the water turns from crystal clear to cloudy and milky. This stretch of the circuit is moving water and due to the opacity, it can easily hide underwater objects like gravel banks and dead-heads. Paddlers be wary.

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as the group were comfortable on moving water, this stretch provided some much needed relaxation. We could have a laugh and enjoy each other’s company without feeling the need to just press on. Part way down the Cariboo River, we heard loud cracking and saw movement on the riverbank but to our dismay couldn’t see the cause of the ruckus. It could easily have been a moose or a bear. There are many Grizzlies and Black Bears within the area.

As the Cariboo River starts to narrow, we paddled into Lanezi Lake which is one of the larger lakes with many evident avalanche chutes and glacier carved cirques running down the sides of Mount Ishpa and onto the lake’s edge.

Mount Ishpa is the First Nations Taakulli word for father and is the highest mountain in the whole of the park standing at approximately 8,000 feet. These huts are good places to look for grizzly and black bears feeding due to the high source of food types like wild berries and young vegetation which is highly nutritious. After a couple of hours of paddling we reached camp site 34. This is a group site with a group shelter.

There is also a single camp site 33 adjacent to 34 but separated by Turner Creek. That evening many other paddlers arrived at this site proving it to be one of the busiest sites on the circuit. We all enjoyed an evening meal of hunters sauce with pasta, another of my wife’s dehydrated meals that went down well with all group members. That evening we all enjoyed a few games of cards and some hot chocolate before heading to hammocks and tents for a good night’s sleep.

The next morning after getting up, having some porridge and a coffee for breakfast we once again loaded boats and headed out onto Lanezi Lake. It started to rain after we started paddling, which was bearable but to paddlers coming here, this area is still designated a rainforest. Many of the group members, myself included, were rather jealous of Pete’s cag and shorts, which seem to be far more fitting than a pair of board shorts and a Gore-Tex jacket. The kit is very well suited to this kind of expedition paddling due to its small pack size, it keeps you warm even when wet and dries in no time at all.

As we paddled along Lanezi Lake we spotted many fish jumping and swimming around the boats, a pair of osprey and a golden eagle. Pete spotted a bear passing across one of the avalanche chutes but unfortunately couldn’t get to the camera in time before the bear moved back off into the forest. Still he was very happy to see him even if it was only for a minute or so. We paddled for a little over one hour from east to west on Lanezi Lake

before the Cariboo River starts to take form once again. This joins Lanezi Lake and Sandy Lake.

Sandy Lake is shallow and has some of the best beaches on the circuit and if you decide to stay here there’s an optional portage to Hunters Lake, which is one of the best lakes to fish for trout.

moose

This section of the Cariboo River leads to the access points for Unna Lake or the portage trail to Babcock Lake. If you decide to stay at Unna Lake there is an optional 1.2km hike into the Cariboo Falls, which is a 24 metre waterfall, and a great place to see Osprey, Eagles, Moose and the odd bear. We decided to head for camp 43 on the eastern edge of Babcock Lake and in my eyes it was the best camp site on the whole trip. This leg of the journey winds up with a paddle down the very narrow Babcock Creek past another ranger cabin and onto the shorter portage trail (1.2km) leading to Babcock Lake.

Many moose have been spotted grazing along the shores of Babcock Lake and we were lucky enough to have a cow moose graze on the shore for the majority of the evening and then again in the morning. Later that evening as we all sat around the fire Tracey spotted what was first thought to be a pine martin, but I later found out was in fact a fisher. This is a close relative to the pine martin and look very similar but the fisher is almost pure black in colour. Several of the trees surrounding the camp site had claw marks from bears. They mark the trees to show to other passing bears that this is their territory and how big they are by the height of the marks on the trees.

Day six marks our last morning on the Lake Circuit. After breaking camp, getting on the water and waving goodbye to our friendly moose we headed up Babcock Lake. This half of the circuit right up to Unna Lake campgrounds can be done as a separate circuit with fewer and shorter portages and only has half of the precipitation of the eastern side. Families often frequent this half so understandably our group saw a lot more congestion on this last leg. From Babcock Lake to Spectacle Lake there are two short 0.4 km portages, which are separated by Ski Lake, the smallest lake you traverse on the whole circuit.

a cow moose

We were lucky enough to have graze on the shore for the majority of the evening and then again in the morning ThePaddler 51

ThePaddler 52

After paddling half way along Spectacle Lake we reached Pat’s point, where we stopped for a spot of lunch and a stretch. Here we were approached

by Park Rangers and informed that we would need to paddle out of the circuit on this day as opposed to camping an additional night because of no available campsites. Even though we had intentions to camp another night at campsite 53, there were many rewards with paddling out early.

These included a hot shower, beer, and a hot feast of leftover camping grub.

After leaving Pat’s Point we paddled the remainder of Spectacle Lake up to the northernmost point where the Bowron River begins. As we paddled downriver there were numerous Beaver lodges and tracks so this would be the best place to spot Canada’s national animal. The river itself winds quite narrowly for about 2km until you reach the opening of the Bowron Lake’s eastern shores. Once again we stopped for a quick snack of jerky and trail mix where we watched a Golden Eagle bring a fish down to the shore and eat only a few feet in front of us.

Once we regrouped, we set off on the last paddle of our trip. Crossing the Bowron Lake itself, we noticed many powerboats, which seemed to be fishing and water skiing. This is the only lake in the circuit that allows recreational power boats.

After an hour we reached the north shore dock, where we were picked by Becker’s Lodge. Luckily, we managed to just get to the Lodge before they shut for the evening, saving us from having to camp on the shore. And so the journey ends…

author’s note:

There is a plethora of information available online regarding the circuit that is very helpful prior to planning your trip. I can also be contacted for any questions. I’d like to personally thank Hennessy Hammocks, Becker’s Lodge, Reed Chillcheater, BC Parks, and all the members of the group: Clive and Susie Doe, Pete Richardson, Ashley Davies, John Bowler, and Tracey Cox. A special thanks goes out to my wife, Nicole, for all of her help planning the trip and for all of the food preparation.

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Kayak Paddler

ThePaddler 55

Interview

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Mathieu Dumoulin

CL Photo: Antony Edmonds (http://aephotos.co.uk)

UP

O

SE and personal

ThePaddler 57

Photo: Antony Edmonds (http://aephotos.co.uk)

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W

hat kayaks do you own?

I have a Jackson Kayak 2014 Rock star (medium, competition version), Karma (Medium, for creeking and racing) and a Zen (small, perfect boat to appreciate home runs and class 0 to 4).

Where and when was your first paddle?

That was in the Ardèche River, like 99% of French people that ever paddled in there life. I saw a different perspective in this than most of the people I guess!

What and where was your first competition?

Do you really want to hear about a kid in a flat water slalom competition, that is trying to figure out which way is going upstream for red gates when there is no stream at all?

What has been the biggest accomplishment in your career?

Living the travel/kayak lifestyle I wanted to live since I was eight-years old.

before we start – just let our readers know a little about yourself, family, background etc.

I’ve always lived in France but travelled a lot. I'm in love with a lot of countries especially Mexico and western USA. I’m now based in millau, southern France, and travel as much as I can, living out my work for Jackson Kayaks as a European team manager, Adidas, and as an article writer for magazines. I kayak as an ‘outdoory’, mixing it with a lot of surfing, climbing, running... It’s very important for me that kayaking is the base of an outdoor lifestyle that takes me to experience a lot of different sports and moments.That’s how I manage my life.

This passion took me to perform in competition as I have a bunch of French champion titles, two european titles and a few world level finales in freestyle.The highlights of the year in freestyle for me are the big wave sessions that we have in France, or during travels to Quebec or africa.

I paddled many different creeks too, and I’ve been doing extreme races like the adidas sick line. Finally, I can say that I’m in love with any aspects of white water kayaking!

What would be your ultimate achievement?

I want to keep it real for my whole life.

Apart from freestyle and river running – are there any other areas of paddling you would like to explore?

As a surfer I'm pretty curious to experience more surf kayaking and wave skiing.

mathieu dumoulin

Have you ever been scared and if not – what would it take?

Yes I've been scared many times. Every time I've been scared I've been thinking later if it was justified or not. If it wasn't I've always got back to do it calm and concentrated. If it was I stayed happy and satisfied from my decision to walk. I think fear is a very important thing to survive especially if you are used to do risky stuff. Sport and adventure have seen either people that were too scared and didn’t perform, or some who weren't scared enough and injured or worse. The smart and balanced one lasts long and performs hard.

Which paddlers out there are currently pushing the freestyle boundaries?

I think Dane Jackson is the one who pushes the most in freestyle right now. It's obvious: he is the best in challenging big wave and competition/hole features. But there are also people like Nick Troutman and Ben Marr who push hard in wave features, Eric Jackson who pushes hard in longevity and a good group of kayakers that pushes hard in hole features...

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Have a watch of Mat’s review of 2013

Photo: Antony Edmonds (http://aephotos.co.uk)

Helix, no doubts...

Can you talk about your training? Greatest inspiration? Role models/who/what kept you motivated?

matdumoulin.blogspot.co.uk

Favourite freestyle move?

I'm trying hard to inspire myself for the lifestyle part of it. For the performance I won't do the list again but all the people who push freestyle inspire me a lot, each in their own style.

I feel close to a few athletes of other sports who can put some magic and artistic style to what they do. Sometimes they don't win much or break records but everybody agrees that they are so sick! I can talk about Chris Sharma in climbing, Rob Machado in surfing… and Dustin Urban in kayaking;)

Over the years, which freestyle event has left a lasting impression?

My number one is the Rabioux festival that was organized in the Hautes Alpes back in the 90s. This was huge with people from all over the world in a great wave and a good ‘rodeo’ atmosphere. At the time with no internet, seeing those kayak idols in real was such a thing for a kid, as we didn't have daily report from them on our computer. That was crazy in my kid mind.

Right no the event I really like is the Natural Games. We have in Millau this big event with five different outdoor sport competing. Amongst them is kayaking and we have a lot of bikinis watching us kayaking all along the weekend under a blistering sun. It brings a huge community of kayakers and outdoor lovers (about 40,000 people in the weekend); it doesn't really get any better...

After paddling rivers across the planet – where is your favourite and why?

Probably a place that would look like France in the spring for big waves, Colorado in the summer for tour of events and creeking, and Vera Cruz, Mexico for creeking in the fall... if you know a place like that please let me know!

You’ve just returned from Hurley – what makes this freestyle event so special?

I love this event because we have all the best Europeans competing in freestyle in a all different context that usually: a wave feature, a chilled organization, two competitions in two days with innovating rules... It makes a very fun conclusion to our season.

What are the benefits of being a Jackson Kayak paddler?

You really feel like being part of a family who takes care of you. Anywhere you go you find people you feel confident with like Rona and Aaron from SquareRock in the UK. And also there is a place for anybody's project. It's the American way of doing that is way more opened than what we used to do, where energies of people are by themself organized as every body is paddling in the same direction.

European Team Manager for Jackson Kayak – what does this entail?

I'm trying to figure out who's got the same passion for kayaking than us, answer people about boats and equipment, receive good ideas and energies around the brand.

I’m a paddler and going on holiday, where would you recommend?

In spring you drive to Lyon, have a great session in the wave, then keep on going to the ‘Cévènnes’ area and creek boat on the upper Tarn, Dourbie and Ardèche. This has world-class freestyle and creek boating in granite valleys.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

I don't really want to know, but I know what my life will be made of: kayaking, surfing, climbing, good people.

ThePaddler 61

ThePaddler 62 if you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be?

Nico Chassing.

Pick two celebrities to be your parents?

No ideas really!.

OK Mat let’s finish w something short and

what’s on your tiVo recorder?

National Geographic.

Favourite iPod track?

Nightmare of Paris.

Favourite film?

Dikkeneck.

if you won €10 million on the lottery, what would you do with it?

Take all my friend and family on a beach in Mexico and afford a great life to all of us. Any extra travel is at your own expense.

cats or dogs?

Dogs.

Facebook or twitter?

Facebook.

an ideal night out for you is?

You don't want to know ;)

what would i find in your refrigerator right now?

Cheese.

if we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?

Cheese.

what one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?

A bottle of water.

any broken bones?

No.

what do you get really angry about?

Arrogance.

if you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?

Go fast around the world.

Favourite team?

Nope...

Fill in the blanks: i am ________ Myself.

thanks for your tim

me Mat:)

mathieu dumoulin

with d snappy‌

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ESCAPE FROM THE

QU CHINA2 by DanYates Travis Winn Tom McLay Sam Ellis

Part 2 of Yellow Fever (click here for Part 1)

As the alarmingly small truck bounced and clawed its way higher and higher on the dirt track littered with rocks, we all looked ominously at the glacier below us and the drop between. I was certain that the driver would call it a day sooner or later and leave us stranded, in the snowline, forcing us to walk over the pass to the put in. Sam sat with his fingers crossed, whilst Travis tried in vain to soothe the driver as his truck bottomed out over every obstacle.

His vehicle began to struggle, a coughing, spluttering symptom of the altitude combined with four loaded kayaks and kayakers weighing him down. To our surprise, he remained solid and single minded, he clearly did not want to be pushing his pick up alone! Surviving solely on UHT milk he persevered and we broke the back of the journey when we topped out on a high pass and negotiated a daring river crossing, descending into our chosen valley.

After two days of travel and 87km of hard off road driving we arrived at a stunning monastery perfectly positioned at the confluence of two rivers and decided to camp for the night and start paddling in the morning. The Marmots scurried away sharply as we found a patch of grassland suitably flat enough for the group and we struck camp at 1730. Sheltering from the rain, Dan once again proclaimed his rice dish, made from the same ingredients as mine to be far superior. Just how he made it tastier remains a mystery to me.

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Visibility was poor as low cloud and rain hung in the valley. The mountain from which our river sourced was hidden from view.

Standing tall at 6282m, the Amne Machin mountain is a very sacred mountain for Tibetans who live at its foot believing it to be the world’s axe, with its peak rising in the spheres of the moon & sun and its foundations in the centre of the earth. Before the annexing of Tibet by communist China in the 1950’s, up to 10,000

The silence at lunchtime was only broken by star jumps that we were forced to do in order to keep the

blood flowing

Tibetan pilgrims would make the 193km circumambulation of the mountain each year.

We had no such intentions, especially after the snowline crept closer and closer to our camp through the night, along with a wolf that was sniffing around; presumably he had heard about Dan’s rice. Scared away by the driver, we all struggled to sleep in the poor weather, drawing uncomfortably close to each other, just for the warmth.

a game of two halves

Delaying going kayaking until after a guided tour of the monastery the following morning; we started on a low volume glacial melt river with a biting wind. Trying to forget the woes of paddling what could be endless kilometres of freezing cold class II, I let my mind wander. This area is locally known as the Watertower

of China, with the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Mekong rivers all within a very small area of Qinghai province. Like the circle of life, each of waters states can be experienced here; from water being locked away in snowpack, to a brook bouncing down a hill full of meltwater, building into one of the country’s and in fact the continent’s largest drainages, supporting millions of people along its way. We were fortunate enough to be witnessing this whole process, plus rain, on a small scale, including further downstream man’s influence on waters natural state. Dams.

up. After the confluence with another river of the same size we were finally paddling on a river of decent proportion and began some fantastic continuous sections of powerful read and run white water in a lush green valley with trees lining the shores. A rare landscape I hadn’t experienced in China before.

The silence at lunchtime was only broken by star jumps that we were forced to do in order to keep the blood flowing. Getting back on the river we began to be teased with nice long rapids and increased gradient, things were looking

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Flag by Garyck Arntzen

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the lion and the witch

shouting and wild gesticulating we were alone in this wilderness, When just beginning to think that earth did they get here? rpillar fungus collectors? How on ensued from the river right side. Cate throughout China as being a d us over to try their wares, known Toothless Tibetan women beckone us; like the White Witch intend on eating some of this fung powerful virility potion. Sam was Lucy (Travis, Dan and I) to Delight it was up to Peter, Susan and offering Edmund magical Turkish as well as share a tarp with him! save Sam from this enchantment led hard with wet wood to far bank where he and Travis batt the on us with ped cam tly ctan Sam relu their every move. Happy audience on the far bank critical of rt expe ng stro ty twen a with fire, make a marshmallows procured from we roasted strange fruit flavoured to be back on the river once again the last town. white water, pushing our g day we were treated to nonstop For the first three hours the followin ificant landslide. With t, we pressed on until reaching a sign limits of what we could boat scou of the Terror’ and gingerly rapids we named this one ‘Return flashbacks to the Yellow landslide the bottom. picked our way down the scree to ogist of note had warned us Peter Winn, Travis’ father and a geol as us to rise surp no as e cam This what we had experienced on a band of unstable rock, similar to ugh thro pass ld wou area this that the Yellow river. . Longer scouts meant slower and the rapids became more defined After lunch the gradient jacked up complete, we camped in the water and numerous tricky sections progress but after six hours on the

on melting every item of rain drinking tea, Sam was intent the from ng hidi lst whi and ds woo as heavy rain soon g to dry it by the fire. A fruitless task kayaking equipment he owned tryin sed in this mini gorge pres Com feet. river level had risen by two the find to ke awo we and isted pers to break down into ged from a river puzzle that was easy the boulder style rapids had chan . n nonstop freight train individual components to a big brow

Portage fest

, we could see the canyon nstream as far as possible on foot Rising early to try and bushwack dow in ten minutes were faced with eved, we started paddling but with widening and the river easing. Reli the sun began to blaze. unnable rapid. Portaging river left, a huge horizon line marking an un-r r, we were unable to get back to above the un-runnable white wate Following a small animal track to looking bush and sending hillside, we chose the most secure the river at a low level. High on the have a look at our options. with one of the two way radios to Dan as our probe we lowered him rted. After carefully lowering radio, ‘it gets vertical here” Dan repo “Take in, take in’ we heard over the good, you have the choice; a came back onto the radio, “It’s all him through the vertical section he with a big hole, come on down!”

30ft seal launch or a manky rapid before long we were all sent down the rest of the gear and The three of us remaining carefully ugh, into the river was the Dan. Having pulled our ropes thro standing on a precarious ledge with others lifted me up and had to ch and climbing into my boat the only way. I opted for the seal laun hit the water hard but began falling. Tucked and ready, I slide me through a bush where I then in ed the eddy, everyone seal d with ease. One by one I was join upright and paddled the next rapi launching with style and grace. re a few kilometres of class II y white water in a small canyon befo We continued through some heav py to be on the river, not so happy to be on easy water, hap water. I have never seen everyone heat. abseiling from a bush in the midday

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At 1630 we arrived as yet

another big horizon line, surely not another landslide? Travis and Sam went to look and reported back that not only was this rapid unrunnable, it was impossible to portage at river level so we would be forced to climb the hill behind our camp the following morning. This river was certainly putting some obstacles in our path and trying its best to dent our morale.

crib Goch

Rising early, the river had risen another two feet and we hiked with our empty boats up the steep hill. So steep, one false move and both kayak and owner would have ended up at the bottom. With this in mind, I made sure not to traverse too far along the hill, remaining over the beach so if I did slip and my kayak fell, it had a good chance of landing on the dry land rather than in the drink.

Securing our kayaks on the ridgeline we returned at 1030 with our gear and the ever persisting rain. The next challenge was to negotiate a knife edge ridge of great consequence, a ridge similar to one which Dan and I regularly scramble in our home of Snowdonia, Wales but with kayaks and equipment now. Carefully completing the crossing a number of times we then began a three pitched descent to the river, totalling 170m.

Relieved to be back at river level, Travis checked our GPS position; we were only 2km from a confluence with a significant tributary. This was of particular significance to us as Travis had attempted to paddle the tributary in autumn 2011 and had plotted the confluence of the two rivers.

This was to be one of our potential evacuation points as dam works in the area had brought a road all the way to Qiemu Qu. With a height loss of only twelve metres between the two points we would be there in no time at all.

Paddling two swollen rapids we entered an enormous vertical sided quartzite gorge. In awe, we floated through the gorge, awaiting the tributary and road to appear.

exploring our options

Our progress was halted with a formidable horizon line. As we crept down the canyon wall, Travis and Sam got out inspecting downstream. I knew the outcome from both their reactions and their body language immediately after. Even so, Dan and I got out seeing what little we could see of yet another un-runnable rapid as it crashed its way through landslide boulders and debris into the unknown. We hastily had to make a plan of action as this rapid was boxed in by both canyon walls and trying to cat walk along the walls or paddle the rapid would have only ended one way.

Attaining back upstream, we reached a beach, with a 70m vertical face behind. The sand was littered with fist sized rocks, no doubt some fresh. Whilst Dan and Sam continued to see if they could get any further upstream by boat, I opted to try and climb out. Like the ‘Travelator’ on Gladiators, I trudged up the steep scree, with two bits of driftwood adorned as walking poles. Knowing my two friends were in the river below I was trying to be as careful as possible not to send any debris river bound. Resting at a dead tree, I could survey both the rest of the canyon and the un-runnable rapid below. From here it was clear how serious the situation we faced was. This looked like our only option so determined to make it work I inched upwards until I was at the base of a ten metre vertical slab of rock.

Convinced I could climb it unaided, I paused a moment to figure out if I could down climb it safely enough. Safety was all relative I guess and Dan’s words from our first portage echoed in my mind ‘…the least sketchy option’.

Climbing to the top of the rock face I slumped against a tree, exhausted. I then continued up a ridge line, presumably directly above the kayaks now. Careful not to dislodge any rocks I climbed further until I reached the tree line. I thought I could see an animal track and by now I had been missing from the team for over an hour. Going any further would supply me with limited extra information and what I had found I should report as soon as I could.

Surfing the virgin scree back towards the beach, I was within earshot of the team.

“How did you get on?” I shouted “Not possible our way” Dan responded “Well that’s OK, ‘cos it looks like we can escape this way.”

“I love you!” I heard back, before seeing Dan embrace Sam. I can only attribute Dan’s new fondness of both Sam and I to the affects of altitude, as before this trip we couldn’t even get a high five from a very reserved, very British Dan. Stripping our kayaks of essential equipment and loading each other like pack horses, it was clear that attempting to try and take kayaks would be suicidal and expose the rest of the team to unnecessary danger. Leaving these and some other equipment we reluctantly had to ditch our beloved Frisbee. Playing one last game on a rock fall ridden beach in a deep gorge before trying to hike out for an undisclosed amount of time was a very surreal experience. Noticing two dead vultures, I stopped playing, this place was inhospitable and stunk of death and I wasn’t about to become part of that.

This river was certainly putting some obstacles in our path and trying its best to dent our morale.

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Rock fall!

Back on the ‘Travelator’ we trudged upwards, laden with gear, using my paddle as a support I rested, gasping for air. Travis made it to the foot of the vertical pitch first and as Dan ascended it to drop a line down for the gear I disturbed a lot of loose rock.

Falling backwards with my hands in front of a fridge sized block I was certain that I would be crushed but in a cat like moment I managed to jump away from the cascading boulders and they careered past me, down deep into the canyon with a spine chilling boom that blasted around the walls.

Suffering only minor injuries was fortunate; my final resting place after bouncing across the cliff line was metres from a significant drop that

moving on

A very sombre mood filled the tarp the next morning and with 600ml of water each we began hiking at 0810. With so much equipment adorning my buoyancy aid in awkward shapes, both my breathing and movement were severely restricted. As the haze began to lift, we all note our close proximity to the snowline but as the Sun appears, the temperature begins to climb.

Not great for people with limited water supply.

As we find shade under a tree, Travis checks the GPS once again but now, high on the ridgeline with good visibility, the confluence we were

Suffering only minor injuries was fortunate; my final resting place after bouncing across the cliff line was metres from a

significant drop

that would have spelled the end for me

would have spelled the end for me. Adrenaline fuelled, I sprang up to see a very white faced Sam, who had feared the worse for me witnessing this escapade.

Thirsty and exhausted we continued up the rock face and ridgeline, into the treeline and onto new territory for me. This had taken three times as long as it took me first time round. In the treeline, we bench cut a ledge from the loose dirt just big enough for the four of us. Travis masterminded a water collection system but within an hour it stopped raining for the first time since breakfast. Having not eaten since 0800 I tucked into my lunch and tried to sleep, worrying what our fate was to be.

Three major landslides through the night were loud enough to keep Dan awake. Perhaps our kayaks are now buried under fallen rock? I wonder if the landslides were a result of us moving about on the steep, loose terrain? Either way, we were extremely lucky to be where we were and glad we didn’t even consider sleeping at river level, even though we were not yet out of reach of a landslide.

aiming for and the ridge that will lead us there can be seen. An encouraging thought as we take water and continue upwards.

Animal scat littering the route encourages the group to push forward and we maintain a steady pace. Stopping to strip down in the heat, we shed yet more non-essential equipment to lighten our loads. It would be easy to lay in the grass watching the eagles and vultures, longing to be airborn and free like they are but we must continue upwards.

Spearheading our attack Dan stops suddenly, “I’ve found a fag butt!” he cries, waving the spent cigarette aloft. Finally some signs of human travel in this area, “Owt left on it?’ shouts Sam from the rear of the group in his thick Yorkshire accent.

So far, humour had not left the group and we remained a tight unit.

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We all felt from the safety of our sleeping bags that we were extremely lucky to have found an exit point, escaping under

our own steam, unscathed

As the water

situation began to be of serious concern we started to ascend a number of false summits to our intended ridgeline. My breathing was laboured and I had spells of dizziness that left me sitting down or reliant on the support of my paddle. We must find some water soon. Traversing around one of the false summits, Sam and I rested at what would be our last glimpse of the Qiemu Qu. Finding a water source soon after was of great relief, it took work to filter the cow muck puddle but we each drank eagerly until we felt ill.

Finding people was our next great discovery and I watched on as Travis told them of our endeavours with suitable animations for me to bridge the language barrier. They reacted with suitable expressions and told us that we were nearer to civilization than we thought.

Under their guidance we walked for another three hours until, descending a gully, we arrived at a Tibetan house, with a small shop, river and grassy area suitable for camping, a true Shangri-La! Resting under the tarp between drinking and eating as much as our shrivelled stomachs could handle, we all felt from the safety of our sleeping

bags that we were extremely lucky to have found an exit point, escaping under our own steam, unscathed. Content that we made the right decisions all the way along the Qiemu Qu and confident that any other group would have made the same choices I couldn’t help feel in hindsight that the river gods had, by putting some obstacles in our path, (namely; rising water levels, more animal carcasses than I have ever seen and very involved portages) been providing us with clues to our eventual outcome.

story: Tom Mclay Photos: Dan Yates,Travis Winn and Sam Ellis

Dan Yates: red Dagger Nomad Travis Winn: green Jackson Zen Tom Mclay: Liquid Logic Remix Sam Ellis: green Pyranha Everest

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HURLEY

2013 HAND PHOTOGRAPHED BY

ANTONY EDMONDS

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SAS HUR

RIVER THA

16 17 N ANTONY EDMOND ●

RLEY CLASSIC

AMES, LONDON

NOVEMBER DS (HTTP://AEPHOTOS.CO.UK)

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HURLEY

2013CLASSIC

Saturday dawned a perfect autumnal day: bright sunshine, clear blue skies with very little wind.The wave was almost an ideal three-gate setup, with levels maybe a little low but the shoulders of the middle gate nice and green, ready for the athletes to launch huge moves. by lee Parry

everything was looking set for a great weekend when a lonesome figure in a red buoyancy aid came solemnly walking across the weir bridge with an apologetic look on his face. The much respected and incredibly helpful lock keeper, Giles, had come to close a gate!

As is often the case with the freestyle community, this did nothing to dampen the spirits of those involved, a short break ensued whilst the gate configuration was rearranged to get the best feature with the water levels available and then we were off to a flying start with the first round of selections for the European championships 2014.

Selections continued through to mid afternoon with all the classes well represented and competition was fierce, added to which some of the top international athletes were thrown into the mix to really highlight the sort of moves and scores that can be achieved.

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8-Ball!

What's this 8-Ball thing? Well in the UK we play pool but in the US they call it 8-Ball, and what happens when the white ball hits the others at speed? They scatter in all directions! Take two burly men, stick them in big creek boats and tell them to behave like the white ball and you start to get the general idea, add in a super steep ramp, water cannon, some buoys and flowing water and you get Boater Cross Hurley Classic style!

Only two classes, men and women, straight knock out heats with the top two progressing and we were soon heading for a four boat final in each class, by now it was fully dark, floodlights were on but there was a few darker areas on the course and what happened in those dark spots only the competitors will ever know.

Saturday finals

A first for the Classic was a night-time super final under the floodlights.

The lighting, the boats, international paddlers, commentators and an enthusiastic crowd all came together for a true spectacle prior to everyone heading off to the giant heated, yes heated, marquee for the banquet and TV freestylers awards.The awards are now in their second year and went to worthy winners in all classes.

The Classic

Sunday, the day of the Classic, for those of you who haven't been to the Classic, it isn't like any other freestyle competition – what you get is a blend of every thing that freestyle has to offer. Seasoned pro paddlers alongside first timers, youth alongside senior boaters, men and women in the same heat, domestic and international paddlers all sat in the eddy together waiting for their run on the wave.This is what the Classic is about – the community as a whole enjoying the sport they love, still competitive but huge fun.

Heats were run for 25 minutes with moves scored to ICF rules with a slight twist for novice paddlers being partially scored for attempting moves they may not have been as familiar with.This means the more experienced and international athletes get the chance to go HUGE without the worry of flushing off the wave, great for spectators and the others in their heat to see some massive moves being thrown and the less experienced can try new moves and boost their scores even if they don't quite get it perfect.

Another floodlit final followed the heats with the weir gates being opened to the ideal three configuration giving the five finalist in men and women the chance to really strut their stuff to a hugely appreciative audience, world-class runs were the order of the night with massive scores that wouldn't have been out of place at the recent world championships. All the results are on the SAS Classic Facebook page for those that are interested. However, the Classic isn't about the winners it is clearly an event for the community.

Thanks go to the sponsors, organisers, volunteers, judges and any other helpers but overall to the paddlers, they make the event.

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rUn For tHe FUn FAIRY GLEN,WALES

by Joe

oF it r

ea -di ckins

Just turn up, blast down, back in car‌ and repeat until necessary:) ThePaddler 85

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I first ran the Fairy Glen in 2010 at the selection event for the

british Universities Kayaking expedition.

I was “umming” and “arring” about getting on claiming, “It’s pretty low, I’d rather paddle it for the first time at a proper level” but if I’m being completely honest I was just bricking it!

The Fairy Glen is one of the most iconic Welsh rivers, on the hit list of so many intermediate paddlers, and a training ground for many of North Wales’ best kayakers. It is just outside of Betws-Y-Coed and just a stone throw from the Lledr, Llugwy and so many other North Wale’s classics. Unlike most of the other rivers in North Wales, the glen comes up with very little rain, and stays up after a heavy downpour, so for those who do not live locally it is a fairly safe bet if rain is forecast.

It took me a while to really understand why people love the glen so much. The first time I really caught the glen at an OK level was whilst filming for Ddim Ffaffio. We had enough water to run everything and we made an effort to stop and film it all. Also we were pretty scared and used our cameras as a good excuse to stop, scout and faff. In the hour and a half it took us to paddle down we were lapped by the same group of locals three times! We had a great day out and got some nice shots, but definitely didn’t think the glen lived up to its reputation as one of the best runs in Wales.

The first time I really understood the hype behind the glen was a few months later. Our short film was out, there had been no rain for a few weeks, we had no need for cameras and were just keen to get up to North Wales and get some time on the water. And that’s exactly what we did, blasting down multiple times, not stopping before any rapids, just enjoying the river, its scenery and the continuous feel it has compared to many other Welsh rivers.

When I think of the glen and why I love it so much is because it is one of the few sections in the UK where you can turn up, blast down 2km of fantastic whitewater, get straight back in your car and repeat until you’re too tired to go again. I think that’s why you never see any good footage of the glen at anything higher than low levels.

Because when it’s good, why stop when you can just blast down with your mates, enjoying sweet lines in a beautiful gorge?

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Every rapid

on the glen has a fantastic move on it. Each time I do the glen I find myself having the “what’s your favorite rapid” chat on the shuttle back to the top, and every time my answer is different. At low levels Sticky Hole is nice because it is relatively long with a nice flair and a hole to punch. With a bit more water you can’t beat mega-boof off Mokney Drop and Speeder Biker.

More water still and the rapids take on a big volume feel with the likes of Cave Drop, Fairy Falls and Pipeline throwing big waves and sticky holes your way. And how could I forget to mention Henry Moore and its ‘random line generator’ abilities, or End Of The World, the last rapid in the gorge, with no means to stop above, and a tricky line that changes according to the level. The Fairy Glen really does have some kick ass rapids!

I remember the first time I did the glen at what I would call a high level. It was just Daz ClarksonKing and myself on lap number three of the day.

“Oh look the level has come up,” said Daz, who, with all his Himalayan boating under his belt, has chosen to live just 20 minutes from the Fairy Glen for most of the year. “You’re in for a bit of a treat, I’d say this is now a ‘proper level.’” And that it was.

High water Fairy Falls takes the award for b

Each rapid seemed the same, and yet had way more power, size and consequence, with a far more continuous feel as each rapid flowed into the next. Fairy Falls takes the prize for best playspot, sending my Everest into a bow stall whilst coming off the second ledge. High water Pipeline definitely wins the award for most improved rapid, with all those boulders covered up it was just a series of lateral waves.

The winning rapid at high water has to be Cave Drop, with a green tongue in place of the awkward lead-in-ledge, followed by some of the biggest waves bouncing off the tight gorge. And did we take cameras? Absolutely not! Why? Whilst the Fairy Glen might be in one of the most picturesque gorges in the UK, with some of the best rapids in the UK, it is one river where the enjoyment on the water will always outweigh any motivation to get out your boat and off the river.

The Fairy Glen really does have some kick ass rapids!

best playspot,

sending my Everest into a bow stall whilst coming off the second ledge ThePaddler

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the Fairy Glen is in danger. Surveying is currently underway to establish hydro project. Whilst this would not be the end of the Fairy Glen it has sever through pipes upstream of the access to the Fairy Glen, which would mean t more often than the rest of the Welsh rivers.

For non kayakers there is also reason to be alarmed at sssi (site of special scientific interest), and i projects proposed for areas with a fragile ecosystem

Fortunately nothing is set in stone, and we still have a chance to save one of the UK’s best sections of whitewater. I write this in the dirty, noisy, crowded city of New Delhi and miss the Glen like mad.

www.savethe

If you want to make a difference then

http://www.paddlebubble.com/rivers/

and log your runs d

h whether the Fairy Glen would be a suitable place to build a five mega-watt re impacts. seventy-five per cent of the river would be diverted the glen would no longer be the reliable piece of whitewater that runs far

the planning of this scheme: The Fairy Glen is a ignoring this could set a precedent for future m.

There is nothing that would make me more happy than one more run down the Glen, sweet lines or upside down, it is always a blast and the one river I look forward to getting back on the most when I’m away.

econwy.com

the time is right now. Keep an eye on

/section/1192/8/conwy/the-fairy-glen

down the Glen on

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tHe Golde rUles oF col water saFety

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By Moulton A

an expert on heat and cold stre in 1974. He was executive direc Washington, DC for 10 years an Center for Cold Water Safety. F

en old r # ty

Avery

This is the second in a four-part series on cold water safety by Moulton Avery – ess who gave his first public lecture on hypothermia ctor of the Center for Environmental Physiology in nd is the founder and director of the National For Golden rUles 1 and 2, click here…

3

If you’re going to paddle safely in cold water, you need to make absolutely sure that your cold water gear works well and that you have the skill to use it smoothly and efficiently. That’s where field-testing comes into play. Field-testing is a process of experimentation and practice through which you become familiar with your gear, identify and correct any problems, and learn to use it effectively.

why you should field-test

Just because you went out and bought yourself a ‘wetsuit’ or ‘drysuit’ doesn’t mean that you have a cold water safety net. For example, the gear you purchased might be:

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Difficult to use.

The wrong shape or size.

Poorly designed and easily broken.

Ineffective when not used properly.

Totally inadequate for the conditions.

10% product and 90% advertising hype.

Field-testing is the best way to identify problems such as the above – so you can fix them. That may seem perfectly obvious, but it’s surprising how many people paddle around in wetsuits, drysuits and other assorted cold water gear without ever having gotten in cold water and splashed around – just to check things out – let alone practicing wet-exits, open-water rescues, or rolling.

Field test your gear ThePaddler 95

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Valuable things you can learn from field-testing ▪ ▪

▪ ▪ ▪

Whether new gear is working properly.

Whether you’re able to use it smoothly and effectively.

Whether there are any gear-related challenges, limitations, weaknesses or problems that need to be solved.

How much thermal protection you need at different water temperatures. For example at 55F (12.7C) vs 42F (5.5C) Whether your system of thermal protection is really up to the challenge of protecting you in the water on which you’re going to be paddling.

How and where to field-test

You should test and practice with your gear in a safe location, in weather conditions and at water temperatures similar to those in which you’ll actually be paddling. You need to know how both you and your gear perform, and fieldtesting gives you the opportunity to work out any kinks in the system. Always field-test new gear.

Field-testing a paddle-float rescue in 42F water

bottom line while wearing all of your cold water gear, can you…?

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

▪

▪ ▪

▪

Attach your sprayskirt.

Properly set up and roll.

Operate a clip or zipper.

Assemble a spare paddle Find and blow your whistle.

Deploy, use, and stow a tow rope.

Open a container of flares and fire one.

Open a box of Walker’s Shortbread Cookies.

Deploy, inflate, use, and stow a paddle float.

Pump out your cockpit – with the skirt attached.

Do a boat-to-boat rescue – as rescuer and as victim.

Effectively use a compass, GPS, cell phone or VHF radio.

Find and pull the grab loop on your sprayskirt under water.

Turn on a headlamp, strobe light or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

Find and use the release tab on your tow rope when you’re upside down.

as you’ve no doubt noticed, a lot of these tasks require manual dexterity, something that can be compromised in a number of ways:

Cold water can numb your hands to the point where they no longer function. In other words, you can wind up completely helpless even though the rest of your body is toasty warm inside a drysuit. If you’re having a ‘bad day’, this can happen in under a minute. To visualize this, imagine trying to kayak with boxing gloves on your hands.

Not wearing enough thermal protection can result in your entire body getting cold. One way your body defends itself in the face a cold challenge is reducing the flow of warm blood to your hands and feet – that’s why they’re generally the first parts of your body to become uncomfortably cold.

Putting on thicker gloves or mittens won’t help.

You can only solve that problem by increasing insulation and conserving more body heat. Wrist seals that are too tight can also reduce circulation to your hands. Wearing thicker neoprene gloves or mitts can reduce tactile sensation and dexterity to the point where it’s very difficult or impossible to perform certain tasks.

Pogies

A lot of paddlers recommend using ‘pogies’ to keep your hands warm.

Pogies are basically a fingerless, tube-like mitten, made of fabric or neoprene, which wraps around the paddle shaft. Invented by Bonnie Losick way back in 1974, pogies were an immediate hit with whitewater paddlers because they offer both protection and direct hand contact with the paddle.

At first glance, Pogies certainly seem more straightforward than spending a lot of time practicing and getting used to

Pogies

doing everything while wearing neo hand protection, and many sea kayakers have mistakenly concluded that pogies are an ideal solution for open-water paddling. However, as you’re about to find out, if you have to do anything with your hands other than hold the paddle, pogies have a very significant disadvantage, and for sea kayakers, it’s a whopper. Here’s the classic, textbook example:

may, 1987, sand island,apostle islands area, lake superior

The incident began when Greg Martin, an experienced paddler, capsized in large, confused seas about 100 yards off a point of Sand Island.

There had been morning snow flurries, the air temperature was 35-40F (2-4C), and the water temperature was in the low 40s (5-6C). Although he was wearing a perfectly good drysuit with plenty of protection underneath it, the only thing protecting his hands were pogies. Following his capsize, Martin was unable to roll up, which forced him to remove his hands from the pogies in order to pop his sprayskirt and bail out.

Although he was able to re-enter his boat within five minutes using a paddle float, he had to do the entire self-rescue with his bare hands exposed to the cold air and water. During that short time, they became so cold that he was unable to reattach his sprayskirt. Without the skirt, every wave washed into the cockpit and pumping was useless. Pushed by the wind and waves, Martin’s beloved Nordkapp was heading for what proved to be a very destructive rendezvous with sea cliffs and he prudently chose to swim an alternate route to shore.

case note:

By themselves, pogies can really let you down.

For sea kayakers, it’s better to get used to wearing neo gloves or mittens. If you want to use pogies, use them in conjunction with neo gloves – for example, wear thinner neo gloves underneath the pogies. Mountaineers have been doing this for decades with fabric gloves and mittens – it’s essentially a layered system of hand protection.

Proper field-testing would have alerted Martin to the fact that his pogies only worked as long as hands remained

inside them.

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Mastering the mummy roll The sensory confinement and increased buoyancy of cold weather gear can be disorienting, particularly when trying to roll. If you’re going to paddle on cold water, it’s a very good idea to practice cold water rolls and rescues in benign conditions close to shore until you’ve worked out any bugs in your system.

Help us stop death by cold!

Support the National Center for Cold Water Safety.

You can make a

contribution online at www.coldwatersafety.org

Roughly nine out of ten open water paddling fatalities are the result of cold water immersion – a tragic situation that takes the lives of hundreds of paddlers each year. It doesn’t have to be that way, and this is your chance to do something about it.

Swim-test your gear every time you go out Cold Water Safety – Golden Rule number 4:

next month.

© 2013 National Center for Cold Water Safety. This information is protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced without permission.

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Canadian Wilderness www.paddlersinn.ca ThePaddler 99

ThePaddler 100

Fatyak My

the one that didn’t

Get away Hi all, I thought I would put together a few words to tell you all about the fun and relaxation time I have whilst fishing on my Fatyak Kaafu. You see for the last 15 years I have worked for the fire service.

Although this is every boy’s dream ‘Riding the big red truck’ and ‘nee nah nee nah’ and all that – the harsh reality of it is that it is far from an easy life! I have worked in various roles within the service and lucky enough to say that all of them have been in either West Somerset or Devon and each role only a stone’s throw from the coast (at most a 30minute drive).

My first passion for ‘Fat Yakking’ came whilst I was stationed in Plymouth, Devon. Whilst there it soon became apparent that this was going to be one of the busiest stints of my career as a fire fighter. As a result I found that the level of incidents I was attending coupled with being away from my family whilst on tour I needed a hobby to help relax. After spending my down time between shifts walking along the Barbican, I made the decision to look at purchasing a kayak and trying my hand at a spot of fishing.

On my next set of days off I presented this idea to my lovely wife Kat (I’m sure all you fellas out there can guess what the reaction was!). After convincing her that I would do it on a budget, I then had the added pressure of sourcing the kayak and the equipment required for my new passion with my wife ‘pulling the purse strings’ so to speak. So after extensive research and a lot “not a chance” and “How much!” responses from Kat, I stumbled across a company by the name of Fatyak, located in the next town to where I live in Somerset. I picked up the phone to enquire about the range available, and spoke to a member of the team called Jayne, who was very helpful, asking me what I was after, looking at my budget etc. After this I decided that I was ready to make my purchase. The advice Jayne had given me led me to go for a Kaafu from their range.

I presented my Idea to Kat and she thought I was telling her fibs when I said the whole package was going to cost less than £500. But none-the-less after all the pestering of “can I, can I” Kat gave in and I made my purchase.

Advertorial by Jeff Cross

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Advertorial by Jeff Cross The next tour I arrived at station proud as punch with newly acquired bright green Kaafu on the roof of the car. Well I can assure you this seemed like a large case of ‘all the gear no idea,’ it was however, apparent that I was the envy of the watch. After the shift it was time to go off to Wembury Beach for the maiden voyage.

I arrived at the beach very excited at the prospect of what might lie ahead. With several members of the watch in tow (they were excited at the thought of me making a fool out of myself) off I set and all I can tell you is that I had never thought kayaking was going to be as much pleasure as it was. The ease of paddling the Kaafu and controlling it in the swell was simpler than I would have ever imagined. This was a bonus as I hadn’t been in a kayak since I was 15-years old and with the added pressure of the lads watching me I was only too thankful for that!

By the end of that tour two other members of my watch had ordered Kaafus from Fatyak and currently to my knowledge 36 fire fighters are currently Fat Yakkers.

In the following weeks that passed, I started to try my hand at the fishing side of the kayaking although I must say the first trip wasn’t a huge success. Picture this: Wembury Bay in June and the weather looking like it was going to be a good day. It was between night shifts so I and the two other new Fat Yakkers from the watch set off on what was promising to be the fishing trip of the year. The menu for the night shift to come was a nice bit of bass! So off we set with all the spinning gear and a few feathers for a bit of mackerel.

Two hours in and not a fish in sight, we decided to paddle round the headland a bit to try our luck in a different location. This was about the time things went from bad to worse! Not only had we still not managed to get a bite after three hours but the sea decided to let us know who was boss! The wind picked up and with it the swell. So not only was moral a little low we now had best part of a mile to paddle in 4-6 ft swell against a strong head wind.

mackerel. I have yet to catch cod but I’m hoping the cold and dare it brown waters of the Bristol Channel are going to be nice to me this winter.

The lovely Kat now also has a Kaafu and my 8year old son Ollie has the Fatyak Surf. We as a family are enjoying kayaking and have now taken our Fatyaks on many trips. I have had the pleasure of Fat Yakking at Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, which was a challenge due to the wind!

We have also taken our kayaks to the west coast of Ireland, which I would advise anybody to do – it was fantastic! The rugged coastline off Co. Donegal was beautiful and at the right time of year you can get up close and personal with the basking sharks and there is something special about that. When you’re that close to a fin in the water the heart races a little, even though your brain is telling you they’re harmless! A little further down the coast surf at Enniscrone is awesome and in addition to these places we take our kayaks to one of my favourite places – North Devon.

The fishing there in the summer is fantastic!

So to finish off and not to bore you all much more, I would just like to say, If you find that your job is getting a bit stressful and you fancy doing something a little different, then I would advise anybody to go out and purchase a kayak.

And remember the next time you see a Fat Yakker in the Somerset or Devon area, say “Hello” they might just be one of your local un-sung heroes!

As promised I did provide the watch with fish but it was battered and wrapped in newspaper!

That was three years ago and since then I am pleased to say the fishing has improved slightly – and I have managed the odd bass and a fair few

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The Fatyak Kaafu

The Fatyak Kaafu is a one piece rotationally moulded kayak, no seams no joints and is manufactured using high grade high density UV stabilised polyethylene. It has moulded in padeye fixings giving unsurpassed leak protection. All Fatyak kayaks are manufactured in accordance to BS7852 in Somerset England. The 2012 Kaafu from fatyak offers the versatility that Sit-on-Top kayakers want.

It’s unique stable lines ensures that children, fishermen, sport and recreational kayakers will all have an enjoyable t

We believe in good value for money and strive to provide you with the best product at a great price. We are innovat looking to expand our range. We have many years of experience in rotationally moulded products and are hand to a questions you may have.

Available to purchase from our accessory section are fishing rod holders etc.

Testimonial

“The Fatyak Kaafu is a superb kayak with lots of cleverly designed features. On our tests, we found it a very d water we had in the cockpit area was from paddle drips. The hatches were dry and fixtures well placed.

“The kayak tracked well and paddled really easily. This is a very responsive kayak. It's also very easy to handl rack due to the fixed balanced handles. The recommended retail of the bare kayak is around £300 so this is a option and sure to become a favourite amongst us kayak anglers.”

North Wales Kayak Fishing.co.uk. Full review: http://northwaleskayakfishing.co.uk/index.html

Ideal Christmas gift!

FatYak Kayaks Tel. 01984 632026 www.fatyak-kayaks.co.uk

KAAFU REVIEW BY TERRY WRIGHT • Easy kayak to lift • Skeg moulding for improved tracking • Stable, deceptively fast and straight • Ideal for lure and fly fishing

“I ended up paddling about four miles and I have to say I was plea the performance. I am not saying I am getting rid of the P13 or my looking to do just a bit of lure fishing and cutting back on all the ge or grandson out then this is just the job. Others have reviewed the vessel so I will only comment on it as a fresh/flat water fishing kaya found myself smiling as I paddled, it is a a great first kayak for peop also ideal for lure fishing, fly fishing. It is stable and deceptively fast

All Fatyak kayaks are manufactured in accordance to BS7852 in Somerse ISO 9001,14001, 18001 accredited manufacturer.

TRE ERSPORTS CEN T A W L A N IO T A N

BEST KAYAKING LOCATIONS IN THE UK North Wales is renowned for having some of the best kayaking locations anywhere in the UK. From the lakes and rivers of Snowdonia to the coastal waters surrounding Anglesey and the North Wales coastaline, there really is no better place in the UK to come kayaking.

At Plas Menai we run a wide range of kayaking courses suitable for the complete novice right through to advanced paddlers and those wishing to get qualified as instructors.

We also run a number of sea kayak expeditions each year.

Full details of all our kayak courses and expeditions can be found online www.plasmenai.co.uk

BOOK ONLINE NOW! k Expeditions | Schools | | Windsurfing | Cruising | Sea Kaya Sailing | Kayaking | Powerboating Training | Corporate ctor Instru ts rspor Wate | ps Fun | Grou Youth Activity Holidays | Family

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Plas Menai National Watersports Centre, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 1UE

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New fishing dedicated website www.fatyakfishing.co.uk

01248 670964

By

Apostolos Kontoulis

ThePaddler 106

Pelion

Sea Kayaking in

Damouchari, a hidden gem

north east Pelion, Greece.a breathtaking landscape that combines mediterranean wild forests and high peaks (1,600m+) with remote pristine beaches. Home of the mythical centaurs, half-men half-horse creatures.

Fakistra – the beach was included in the ‘top 10 European beaches by foot’ ThePaddler 107

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the only natural harbour of the area, Damouchari, was a little fishing village back in the early 20th century and

is the commercial hub for the whole north east Pelion area. Cobbled paths (known as ‘kalderimi’ in Greek) were constructed from the famous Pelion stone, from most of the villages to Damouchari in order to establish a proper connection with the port. Horses and mules were used to transfer the shipments up to the villages. Some of these paths still exist (now used for hiking), others were lost since the locals stopped using them and the vegetation eventually took over.

Nowadays the village is still resisting the structural exploitation happening almost everywhere in Greece. It remains a traditional quiet and not very well known gem!

Sea kayaking is an excellent way to explore the coastline and access spots that boats, even small inflatables, would not even dare to approach. To achieve this and also to be able to quickly get in and out of the kayak the friendliest solution is sit on tops.

Having Damouchari as a base, there are two possible ways to travel – north and south. To the north, one mile away lies a nice long beach named Papa Nero. Organised camping facilities are available along with cheap accommodation options. Next to Papa Nero lies the biggest and most hectic village called Agios loannis. Along the coastline, numerous little houses are now being used as hostels restaurants and cafes. The scenery changes completely after Agios Ioannis, where a series of pristine nice long sandy beaches begins.

Damouchari

Athanasios ThePaddler 109

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Many myths and legends exist about the village and its residents, but no information has been confirmed so the atmosphere becomes

even more mysterious

First stop is Plaka,

a long nice beach with huge plain trees that offer generous amounts of shadows, essential for the hot summer months. The whole area is covered with wild vegetation and really thick forests reaching almost the sea level, that’s why this place is so special. Further north three continuous beaches Banikas, Agioi Saranta and Chorefto blend the scenery with stunning different colours due to the different rocky terrain.

Somewhere after Chorefto you are officially to north Pelion. This area is not accessible with ease by car and that keeps it very quiet all year long. According to Greek mythology, the marriage of Pileas and Thetis (parents of Achilles) took place here. Thetis (she was worshipped as a sea goddess) was transforming into cuttlefish, fire, etc. to escape from Pileas.

Troubled from this strange attitude Pileas seeked centaur Chironas's help. The marriage lasted for days and all of the Gods were there to

celebrate. A lot of the presents were later given to their son Achilles and he used them on his numerous quests.

Heading further north, the mountains change the scenery and the coast stands with jagged lines, which often brings forth sharp reefs. The morning hot sun plummets over our shoulders, the sea is calm and dark, like a mirror darkened by age. Whole flocks of colourful fish are rising suddenly buzzing in the air, jumping ten to 20 metres further and entering again sideways to the sea, creating a big cloud foam. Due to the remoteness of the area, many wildlife species find shelter, amongst them Aegean dolphins, seals, and numerous migratory birds and of course all kinds of fish come here to reproduce, hunt, etc.

Next is Ovrios beach, which is also called ‘Palia Mitzela’ from the abandoned village Mitzela located in the forest above the beach. This ghost

village is hidden among thick forests of northern Pelion. The ruins today are covered by wild vegetation but it was once a beautiful and active community of 800 people with 19 churches! Many myths and legends exist about the village and its residents, but no information has been confirmed so the atmosphere becomes even more mysterious. What is not disputed by anyone is that the inhabitants of Mitzela were rebellious people, which led the village to complete destruction. The Turks burnt down the village in 1827, it was never rebuilt and the ruins of it remain forgotten in the forest. There is a beautiful path from the beach to the village, which passes through dense vegetation above the stream of Lagonika through the stone arch bridge of Diakoumi. The path ends after a wonderful hike 30 minutes to the Old Mitzela.

Ovrios is also just before a huge bay that hosts around 35 sea caves. Between them there are a couple of intact small beaches (Limnionas and Petromelisso) only accessible by foot or by the sea. This area is truly magnificent and unique. If someone loves caves, it’s a really must go destination. The sizes of the caves vary from small ones that a kayak can barely fit inside, up to huge spectacular ones with proper domes, stalactites and little beaches inside.

Damouchari

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Camping is possible

in between at Limnionas beach were there is a fresh water spring in walking distance. The National O2 walking path is passing also from here (its connecting northern Greece with the area). At the far north end of this bay lies Koulouri Bay, a sanctuary for a controversial pioneer of tourism in the area, Alfons Hochhauser. About a dozen of little rocky houses with stunning views, were built back in the 70s and were hosting numerous Alfon's guests.

Nowadays only the ruins remain.

This route from Damouchari up to Koulouri is around 25km and conditions vary because of the Aegean Sea and the peaks above the coastline. In general during spring and summer, there is a NE wind usually in the mornings until after mid-day and later on it changes direction and comes from the SE. Sea state is usually calm, although during August the ‘Meltemi’ winds are blowing for some days, creating serious gales and swells.

South of Damouchari the coastline is less inhabited but with numerous pristine beaches almost one after the other. First we find the unknown little bay of Agios Athanasios were there is a fresh water spring that reaches sea level.

Having that in mind one can see various engraved names and dates in the stones around the spring. That’s because people were coming and spending long periods of time during the World War II and later on during the Greek civil war. They used the place as a hideout and for shelter. It is naturally protected by most winds and it offers sources of food both from the sea and the forest as well.

Limnionas beach

Next are towering cliffs surrounding a small bay named Fakistra, a beach with wild and primitive beauty. The beach was included in the ‘top 10 European beaches by foot’ in The Guardian newspaper. Characterised by clear turquoise waters, fine sand with pebbles and steep rocky landscape. Until late spring there is a waterfall running in the north east part of the beach, starting from higher above from the canyon of Fakistra. A few years ago, huge rocks collapsed

Petromelisso beach

South of Damouchari the coastline is less inhabited but with numerous

pristine beaches

almost one after the other

from the cliffs and the space was reduced, but it still remains awesome. A couple of spectacular sea caves complete the scenery next to Fakistra.

The first one, full of stalactites, is ‘Panagia Megalomata’ and the second one ‘Krifo Scholio’, which was the illegal school of the area during the Ottomans. It’s here also that thousands of migratory birds stop over in the cliffs during spring and autumn. It is truly a paradise for bird watchers during those few days.

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Veneto coastline and caves

Further south

we pass ‘Karavostasia’ a hostile bay for ships and boats, where you can rest at a tiny pebbled beach. According to historians, King Xerxes of the Persians lost many of his ships here due to severe weather in his effort to conquer ancient Greece.

Right after Karavostasia we reach the famous beach of Mylopotamos. It is actually a double beach divided in two by a huge rock with a holepassage on the bottom, which gives access to the second beach. It’s one of the busiest places for swimming in Pelion after July, when it gets really crowded. The scenery continues with the same tempo to the south were every few kilometres one can find pristine beaches like Limnionas, Lambinou, Kalamaki, Klosou and Pantazi Ammos.

Between Lambinou and Pantazi Ammos, sea kayakers have the opportunity to explore what is now left of old rock mines. These mines were capes that due to exploitation of the stones are now just reefs and some pieces of stone still stand above the sea level.

From here we can clearly view Sporades, a complex of islands (Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonisos, Panagia and a few others) a few kilometres away and one could be tempted to do the crossing but let’s leave this for another time!

From Damouchari up to Pantazi Ammos is around 16km and usually the conditions are similar to the ones described above for the route to the north.

Either way is magnificent and the best time to visit is between April and August.

ThePaddler 115

Tel: 01753 655455

Email: rapidkayaks@gmail.com www.rapidkayaks.co.uk

RAPID KAYAKS

ThePaddler ww kayak collection

&

ThePaddler 118

The land of mountains some sweet rivers too!

By Steve Brooks

.

Spring and summer is a special and colourful time in the German speaking Alps. Flowers hang from balconies of houses and hofs (traditional farm houses), high alpine meadows bloom and the ringing of cow bells set in some of the most scenic and dramatic mountains in the world is just another highlight.

Enterat your own

RISK As the river disappeared under a chockstone, created by 30-foot wide boulder wedged between the canyon walls, the size of our undertaking had become completely clear. Beyond this point we’d be totally committed to the river corridor with no possible escape, and what lay downstream was uncharted territory. I cracked a fake smile as Ben turned to me and said, “only the penitent man shall pass.”

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ThePaddler 119

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The roar of the river took on a new menacing feel as a cool light rain began to set in. Ryan took a long, drawn out look of the overall scope of the canyon, probing the area for a possible route out.

His expression said it all!

Checking coordinates at the Chalkstone Photo: Evan Ross ThePaddler 163

SUP Paddler

ThePaddler 117

Photo: Joan Vienot

h e c i i l y s B e ov l ol K

ThePaddler 118

From oil tragedy to a better future For more information on how you can participate wherever you may be on the Planet visit www.supradioshow.com/wpftp stay tuned for my weekly podcast of the Paddler’s Planet with my guest host christian wagley on www.supradioshow.com,

By Christian Wagley

I

t’s been nearly four years since the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – it really could be called the oil tragedy, as spill sounds so trivial. What’s widely considered the greatest environmental disaster in U.S. history certainly wasn’t a purposeful act. But it was the result of careless behavior in the effort to satisfy our insatiable demand for energy and BP’s quest for profit. As paddlers, we have a lot to lose as society’s addiction to cheap fossil fuels puts our favorite waters and the overall health of the planet “where we are standing Up at serious risk. for the Planet!”

The impacts of the tragedy in the Gulf continue to be assessed as new research comes in, and much of it presents a dark picture of an already suffering ecosystem. Oil still coats large areas of marsh in Louisiana and large areas of seafloor. There have been record a record number of deaths of dolphins along the northern Gulf. And scientists are concerned that some of the worst impacts may come in the years ahead as populations of fish and other animals crash from the loss of so many young animals during the spill. It will take many years to sort out all of our losses, as science works in a deliberate and methodical way that often cannot be done quickly.

As I paddle along the northern Gulf coast I know that I enjoy far less bounty than I should due to the oil tragedy and the years of polluted waters that have long flowed to the sea from industry, cities, and farms. For each fish or bird I see, I should probably see ten more, as I would have 100 years ago.

Nevertheless, every hour on the water is pure joy.

The same system of cheap energy that fouled my favourite waterways has brought similar tragedies across the planet. The coast of France got hit by the Amoco Cadiz spill in 1978. The Exxon Valdez spoiled Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Presumbly, drilling and transporting oil is safer than in years past, but clearly not foolproof, as the Gulf oil tragedy showed.

The irony is that these very visible oil spills are not even the biggest issue with our addiction to fossil fuels. It’s really not the big spills but simply the daily use, as their combustion releases harmful chemicals, nutrients that foul waters, and heattrapping gases like carbon dioxide and methane that fuel our changing climate.

While we love being on-the-water, there’s a lot of good work for us to do on terra firma. Paddlers across the world are some of the best advocates for protecting the planet. In the coming years, communities will be making critical choices about how to save energy, get us out of our cars and onto our feet and bicycles and to bring us renewable energy to power our homes and businesses. I hope that paddlers will be there to help inform those choices, to speak out for that transition to a better and healthier world.

The payoff from that better world will be spectacular.

When we look into the water our view will be everclearer and more bountiful, the air sweeter to breathe, and the schools of fish larger and more numerous. I can’t wait to explore that place!

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MATT RUSHER

Will the real

ThePaddler 120

please stand up

Kayak photo: Ken Driscoll – Jordanelle Reservoir, Park City, Utah

board photo: Alley Fontenot – Clark Fork River, Montana

From kayaking pro to white water SUP but

which does Matt prefer? We ask‌

ThePaddler 121

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B

efore we start – just let our readers know a little about you, family, background where you come from etc.

I was born and raised in Camden, South Carolina. I spent most of my child hood playing basketball, baseball and soccer until I discovered Freestyle BMX and skateboarding. Then I saw the world through ‘skateboarders’ eyes where you see obstacles and lines everywhere and my friends and I were on a constant search for ramps, pools and concrete ditches. After living at the coast and learning to surf, I moved to the mountains of South Carolina for school and was introduced to white water kayaking.

I eventually finished school and quit my job to live in my truck with some other guys on the Chattooga River. We paddled every day and I was hooked. Kayaking had the similarity of picking lines that I already enjoyed from BMX and skateboarding. I eventually ended up moving ‘out west’ to Montana because I wanted to learn how to snowboard. I spent about four years going back and forth between river guiding in South Carolina for the summers and snowboarding in Montana in the winters.

I eventually stayed in Montana for the summer of 1998 and started working for Riot Kayaks as their north west sales rep. I lived my ‘dream job’ and travelled all around the north west United States kayaking and making friends for ten years.

After a random couple of years working in the TV/movie industry in Miami, Florida, I am now back in Missoula Montana and working for Glide Paddleboards as their north west sales rep.

Riot Magnum, Boogie, Flair, Astro58, Turbo52, Disco, Trickster, Slice, New Wave Jet and a Jackson Rockstar.

Glide Retro, Sesh, Mongo, Lochsa, Speedster, Nine Six, Eight Four, Seven Six, Malolo, UFO. Being a rep has its benefits!

Where and when was your first WW paddle?

I learned to paddle on the Chattooga River in South Carolina/Georgia in the summer of 1991. My first boat was a Perception Mirage.

What got you hooked on white water kayaking?

I think it was the personal challenges and learning something new and exciting. I was pretty scared at first and I wanted to overcome those feelings. I had always loved the water and being in it. Kayaking was so completely new and I feel in love with the challenges, the path, the beauty and the people.

How did the idea of WW SUP come about?

I really had only spent a little amount of time on a SUP before moving to Florida a couple of years ago. I started paddling in the flat water and progressed to the surf. My friend Ken Driscoll had started a SUP company, ‘Glide’, and gave me a couple of their surf specific boards. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to use them in the surf. Upon moving back to Montana it was a natural progression to start SUPing the rivers that I have been kayaking for years. I was surprised how much the surfing had helped and the skills transferred to the river.

matt rusher

Firstly, what kayaks/boards do you own?

How does WW SUP give you satisfaction?

Well it’s a whole new experience on the rivers I have run in my kayak many times. It makes my local run (class 3) super exciting again not to mention all the sweet waves that the Montana and Idaho have to offer.

I have not run anything really scary yet. I would just say that it made me nervous because I didn’t know how the board would react to the river currents and what was going to happen with I went through the holes.

What would be your ultimate achievement?

I think it would be cool to SUP the Grand Canyon for sure.

Photo by: Graham Genge, Location – ‘Big Girl’ Norway

Have you ever been scared and if not – what would it take?

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How did you become involved with Glide Boards?

Kayak photo: Trask McFarland – Mekong River, Laos

board photo: Alley Fontenot – ‘Cliffsides’ Clark Fork River, Montana

My long-time friend Ken Driscoll kept messing around with shaping boards and trying to come up with a way to make them stronger for river use. I would pass through Salt Lake City every once in a while and he was always fiddling around with different ideas on design and a protective coating.

I was living in Florida when he got in touch with me and invited me up to the Surf Expo where they were displaying their new line of boards. It was so cool to see that he had succeeded in making some really nice boards and finally figured out his coating system ‘GSS’ making their boards the strongest foam/fibreglass boards on the market.

He hooked me up with some boards and I just started paddling them and figuring it all out. We talked a year later and he offered me the opportunity to become their north west US sales rep and I jumped on it. I am really proud of Ken and to be working for Glide and also that our boards are made in right here in the Rocky Mountains of the USA.

If you could run any river in the world – which would it be and why?

The Grand Canyon of the Stikine because it’s bad ass and this question makes it sound like I get a freebie…

Favourite river you have paddled?

It’s hard to pick a favourite. The Chattooga, Green and W Prong of the Little Pigeon back east where I learned to kayak. The Yellowstone, Big Timber and the Alberton Gorge in Montana.

Every river I paddled in Norway. The Mekong. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado… all favourites.

OK Matt – if it’s between WW SUP – which woul

matt rusher

n WW kayaking and ld it be?

Kayaking... it’s my first love.

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OK Matt let’s finish with somethi

than

nks for your time Matt:)

matt rusher

hing short and snappy…

if you could paddle with anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be?

Easy… My brother.

Pick two celebrities to be your parents Ninja and Yolandi.

what’s on your tiVo recorder?

Nothing currently but last time I had Tivo it was any and all Manchester United games.

Favourite movie?

Anything funny… Maybe ‘Pain and Gain’ mostly because I worked on it.

Favourite iPod track?

I have been listening to a lot of Matisyahu lately and Pretty Lights station on Pandora.

if you won $20 million on the lottery, what would you do with it?

Travel and give it away to people that need it (I don’t need that much money).

cats or dogs?

Dogs.

Facebook or twitter?

Facebook, I have not Twittered yet… I’m a photo nerd.

what would i find in your refrigerator right now?

Normal stuff I guess but I mostly reach for the Brita Filter and maybe the Huckleberry Jelly is unique to Montana.

what one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?

Does my girlfriend count?

any broken bones?

My teeth.

if you could be a superhero for one day, what superpower would you choose and why?

Well she wasn’t a superhero but the way Arwen conjured up the water in Lord of the Rings was pretty awesome.

Favourite team?

Manchester United

Fill in the blanks: i am ______?

Sensitive.

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W

G

WHITEWATER

SUP When it comes to gear, the whitewater SUP community has shown a divergence in opinions.

Board choice, fin configuration and controversial quandaries such as to leash or not to leash are debated on a regional and personal level. So how do people looking to get into the sport know what equipment is appropriate for them? While the answer may be ambiguous, the important part is finding gear that will last, keep you comfortable and safe, and make the most of your experience on the water.

Gear overview

by Ian Smith

randy Fisher surfing the legendary waves of the Gauley River in West Virginia on his rigid BIC board (9’10” x 31”)

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Board choice

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Firstly, you must choose a board that allows you to achieve your paddling goals and express your style on the water.the first consideration is the material and construction of the board.the three most prevalent types are inflatable, rigid, and rotomoulded-plastic.

inflatables

Inflatable technology has long been proven in the whitewater world and inflatable SUP boards are no exception. High quality inflatable boards offer a very rigid, lightweight, and versatile platform with unsurpassed durability. Slamming into rocks, being trapped under waterfall curtains, and being pinned against boulders are all circumstances inflatable boards can withstand repeatedly. In addition to their durability, inflatables offer incredible performance. Although inflatables can’t offer the precise lines and shapes of rigid boards, they are fast, responsive and manoeuvrable with the added benefit of being low impact when sustaining a fall onto the board.The option of deflating and stowing the board in small spaces is another advantage.These benefits make inflatable SUPs a great choice for paddlers looking to handle almost any whitewater scenario.

fast, responsive

and manoeuvrable with the added benefit of being low impact when sustaining a fall onto the board

rigid boards

A second option is a rigid board. Rigid boards are made in the same way as traditional surfboards: a piece of shaped foam wrapped by layers of fibreglass (or similar materials) and epoxy resin.The result is a fast, agile and lightweight SUP that can be shaped precisely and custom tailored to specific paddling needs. Rigid boards also offer a variety of fin configurations. The primary drawback of rigid boards is a lack of durability.The rocky conditions of many whitewater destinations pose issues for this construction type.

Some companies offer shells or coatings that

rob mazzetti showing his mastery of running steep, difficult whitewater on tiny inflatable boards (ULI Mini-Quad 8’4” x 32”).

Although inflatables can’t offer the precise lines and shapes of rigid boards, they are

Inflatables come in both fixed fin and removable fin boxes.

While some prefer the flexibility of fin boxes, fixed fins are a great, no-hassle option that has proved incredibly durable on low gradient slides, waterfalls, and through technical rapids.

Interchangeable fins, however, give you more options for adjusting the feel and performance of the board.Another key consideration with inflatables is choosing a quality brand that can handle high pressure.The best boards are reinforced with high quality materials and can handle pressures of 18 psi and higher.This greatly enhances the board’s performance.

Although these boards are expensive, you are buying a piece of gear that will last and perform at a high level.

can be shaped precisely

The result is a fast, agile and lightweight sUP that

ben moore testing a prototype rigid board by BIC and Werner Stinger Paddle on Pipeline Rapid of the James River. Photo: by Rich Young

and custom tailored to specific paddling needs

are more durable than standard fibreglass layups but are still susceptible to dings and cracks. In spite of this, many devout river surfers forego the drawback of durability, preferring the precision shaping, performance and feel of rigid boards.

Another popular type are roto-moulded plastic SUPs. These boards offer a high level of durability and are typically offered at the most affordable pricepoint. They are, however, the heaviest, slowest, and least responsive board in the water. Furthermore, their weight makes them difficult to load onto a roof rack or carry over the challenging terrain that is common in whitewater destinations. Some paddlers, however, prefer the added volume and weight, especially for high volume down-river paddling. The added stability, lower cost, and ability to take abuse make roto-moulded boards a popular choice.

To help decide what board construction is best for you; analyze the type of water you plan to paddle most. If you will be focused on freestyle tricks in a deep, highvolume surf wave, an epoxy board might be best.

If you plan to do primarily down-river trips in rocky, low to medium volume rivers, an inflatable board is a better choice.

Equally important to the type and material is the size and shape of a board.The appropriate size depends on your experience level, weight and paddling style.When you are getting started, it is essential that you have a board with plenty of volume and stability. As your skills progress, you can start to use smaller shapes, forgoing stability for manoeuvrability and performance.The best way to determine what board is going to work for your paddling style is to try as many boards as possible. Find others paddling in whitewater similar to your ambitions and see what they are using.Take note of their weight and skill set and adjust the size you need accordingly. Additionally, a trip to a local SUP outfitter can prove invaluable in terms of service and advice. Supporting local businesses is an added benefit that helps further the community of boarders while making sure you find the best gear for your region.

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Paddle choice

The next integral gear decision is a paddle.When choosing a paddle for use in whitewater, it is essential that you find a blade with a high degree of durability.You will almost certainly be stabbing unseen rocks, river bottoms and any number of other damaging situations.

For this reason, a slight flex in the paddle shaft will help avoid injury.

Carbon fibre, which is common for ocean surfing and flat water paddling, isn’t necessarily the most durable or appropriate option in whitewater. Instead, fiberglass blends with reinforced blades are a better choice.While everyone prefers a specific length, a paddle that is around 9-inches taller than your height offers the length needed for stabilizing braces and power without putting too much strain on the shoulders and upper body.

Safety gear

The influx of new locations and passionate participants has rapidly transitioned the pursuit from a novelty stunt to a credible sport and viable means of paddling whitewater.Technical rapids, steep drops, and waterfalls are now being landed, or, ‘stomped’, with regularity. An arsenal of tricks are being invented and mastered on standing waves such as the Ollie, 360-spin, and Pop-shove-it.The barriers of what is possible are being shattered with frequency as the progression of the sport moves faster than it ever will again. In its early, malleable years, everyone has the unique opportunity to take part in its formation.

Whether you set off on your board down an unknown section of river, or feel the pulse of a standing wave deep in the heart of a canyon, you are carving the path of whitewater paddleboarding.

Next, you must consider padding.This starts with a solid, whitewater specific helmet. The key consideration with your helmet is an excellent fit and comfort. Invest some time in finding one that fits you well and will be comfortable on extended down-river expeditions or epic surf sessions.

In addition to padding your head, other key areas to protect are your knees, shins, and elbows. How much padding you need depends on what you’re paddling. On a deep surf wave you might not need any body pads, while on a steep creek descent you might wish you had on a bubble suit. Kneepads appropriate for downhill-mountain-biking or skateboarding offer a wide range of equipment that will suffice for whitewater SUP. The key is finding padding that doesn’t obstruct your mobility when you are submerged. Find pads with good fastening systems that won’t be cumbersome when you are swimming.

melanie seiler is the only woman to date to surf the New River Dries, one of the biggest and most challenging river waves in the Eastern US (Badfish MVP – 7’6” with sharkskin).

Photo: Pete Iscara of Aquaholic Apparel

matt rusher: Alley Fontenot – ‘Cliffsides’ Clark Fork River, Montana.

Photo: Ken Driscoll

View Rob Mazzetti’s video

Leashes

Another piece of gear that affects a paddler’s safety are leashes.

The perpetual flow and power of rivers and creeks presents a considerable hazard of snagging a leash and pinning the paddler under the surface. For those that prefer wearing a leash, whitewater specific designs have emerged that can break away when snagged, or offer a quick-release mechanism so you can detach yourself if you get into trouble. If you do decide to wear a leash in whitewater, it is mandatory that it is a whitewater specific leash that offers these functions.

Whether you choose to wear a leash at all, however, depends on the style of whitewater you are paddling. If you are surfing river waves in a safe, deep spot without much risk of entanglement, a leash is a viable means of keeping your board within reach. Similarly, running

Green Lines by Rob Mazzetti deep, high flow rivers poses serious risk if you lose your board. In these situations it is less likely that you will snag the leash, and the danger of losing contact with the board could outweigh the risk of a snag.

In contrast to these situations are lower volume whitewater where rocks, trees, bankside obstructions, and other hazards present a high risk of snagging a leash. Even with quick-release options, there is no guarantee that you could remove the leash in a critical situation.

When paddling slides, waterfalls, and steep, technical rapids, a leash often presents a higher risk than benefit.

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Staying warm

Rob Mazzetti and Ian Smith opting for full-body pads and inflatable boards for a low-volume, steep creek descent of Paint Creek, averaging 225 feet drop per mile.

One of the amazing aspects of whitewater SUP that is often understated is its year-round capacity. You can paddle whitewater and surf river waves throughout the year as long as you have the right gear. In warmer locales and in summer months you can get away with only board shorts. If you plan to paddle in the colder climates, you will need a wetsuit or drysuit. Wetsuits are a great, relatively inexpensive option for getting started with cold-water paddling. In all but the coldest locations, a 4/3mm wetsuit, 7mm surf booties, neoprene gloves and hood will suffice. Wetsuits can take a beating and still insulate well with the gashes and holes a river will surely dish out through the season.

A drysuit, which keeps you completely dry, is another option for cold-water paddling. Since you can add or remove insulating layers beneath the suit, drysuits are very adaptive for a wide range of temperatures. They are, however, more expensive and susceptible to rips and tears.

The benefit of being toasty warm and dry before and after paddling, however, is hard to ignore.

Paddling partners

Perhaps the most overlooked thing that can make whitewater SUP fun is a solid paddling partner. Everything from running shuttle on down-river trips to setting safety on a dangerous section of river is enhanced and made possible with a solid partner or group of paddlers that you are comfortable around. The encouragement and camaraderie that whitewater facilitates is one of the greatest rewards of the pursuit.

Regardless of how perfect your gear setup is, finding enjoyment with friends, exploring beautiful places, and expressing your style on the water are the intangible privileges that whitewater SUP allows. Gather the equipment you need to make this possible but stay focused on the freedom of riding the river on whatever board you find beneath your feet.

Author: Ian Smith ian@surfsupadventures.com www.surfsupadventures.com http://ianmichalsmith.tumblr.com/

randy Fisher putting a drysuit to good use on a snowy day on the Gauley River, WV

matt rusher: Using his GoPro camera

In the next edition of thePaddler ezine, Ian discusses the tactics used in whitewater SUP and what you need to know.

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Sickstick Chopstick, Joystick and Firestick review

By

yTez Plavenieks

SickStick are another example of how far stand up paddle boarding has come in the last few years. Ever increasing numbers of home grown UK brands are springing up with SickStick a recent addition.

‘em

Stick it to

Coming to fruition in 2012,Tim Rowsell and Andrew Frigot gave birth to the concept during a paddling session at West Wittering. Developing a cost effective brand without the need for customers to take out a second mortgage, SSs’ brand of ‘scoops’ are designed with performance and affordability in mind.

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View Tez Plaveniek’s video

You can see more at www.sickstick

k.co.uk

Out of the box

All three SickStick paddles look the business straight out of the box. Ready for battle; each design was just screaming at me to get wet. High grade materials ensure durability and longevity while SickStick aesthetics complete the picture.

The Firestick is lightest of the three paddles (650 grams without handle) with a well manufactured carbon shaft and Kevlar blade – the same material bullet proof vests are made from! The Chopstick boasts an eye catching bamboo/carbon backed blade while the Joystick features 100% wood technology on its scoop – I couldn’t wait to get out in the brine and take these toys for a spin.

Sickstick also sent two different tops to try out – the MightT grip and Hammerhead (palm grip). Whichever paddle you choose; the option of customising with either of the handles is available. Both are ergonomic in design although choice will be based on personal preference.

onto the water

Straight out of the box; you’ll need to cut down your shaft to the correct length before heading out –the brand do offer a cutting service if you’re not keen on hacking your new toy to pieces though. When trimming down it’s worth being conservative as you don’t want to saw off too much – incremental adjustments will allow you to find your perfect length.

I used all three ‘sweepers’ in both flat water and wave environments. Your preferred SUP discipline may influence your SickStick choice. All three have pros and cons for wave, racing, flat water, downwind or river SUP.

With the same carbon shaft supplied as standard across the whole range; testing the flex of the ‘upright’ was a fairly easy process. There’s a moderate degree of stiffness allowing for some bend during power strokes.

This slightly softer feeling nature

of SickStick’s shaft makes for an easy going ride without unnecessary stress placed on joints and muscles.

If you’re looking at covering distance, in the most efficient manner possible, then I found the Joystick’s generous 22.5cm blade width able to move greater volumes of water and accelerate quicker. That’s not to say it wouldn’t do well in a surf environment – it coped well when presented with a few liquid walls.

The Firestick’s thinner blade made for faster rail to rail changes through surfing turns; the rider being able to make tight carves and pivoting turns.

Reef rippers will like the Chopstick’s durability and its ability to take a few knocks and scrapes. Halfway house in terms of its spec (22cm wide blade) this model bridges the gap between the Firestick and Joystick perfectly.

On a personal note, during SUP surfing I like to sit right on the critical section of the peak, waiting until the last second to stroke into a wave. Based on this I actually prefer a fuller blade which gives a last minute boost and allows me to pick off swells later. This isn’t everyone’s style but does highlight the versatility of the Sickstick range.

summing up

The Sickstick line up is a versatile one with choices available for all styles of SUP rider. From surf to racing and even a female specific paddle – check out the Lipstick model – you’ll be covered for all your sweeping adventures with one of these blades.

As SUP gains popularity it’s encouraging to see another home grown UK stand up paddle boarding company hitting the scene. Consumers now have a large range of gear to choose from and Sickstick are in the mix offering affordable products to wet most appetites.

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Plan

Himalaya

The last leg of the Himalayan adventure in the Lahaul-Spiti Valley

net

an

toppers

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Story by April Zilg Photos by Ram Paranjape

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april and Kiran posing with their Hobie inflatable sUP boards

The Indian Him are home to some of the roughest conditions in the world, but also some of the most beautiful. Nestled in the high altitudes are numerous rivers and lakes, some visited by tourists, others too difficult to reach. After months of intense planning of the stops, which rivers and lakes to paddle, and who to meet, Kiran Kumar and April Zilg set out to explore stand up paddle locations from the base of the Himalayas outside of Chandigarh all the way up to Pangong Lake outside of Leh.

After one week on the road, they discovered that the person helping them was a con artist. All of the months of planning were gone in an instant. On top of this, it was the season for snow to start melting, the roads were washing away and passes on the route to Leh were often blocked due to mud and rock slides.

With over 2,500km of road to traverse, and no local knowledge of what water to paddle or what permissions were needed, the odds seemed low that they could complete the expedition. After regrouping in Manali with friend and photographer, Ram Paranjape, the trio came up with a new game plan. It was decided that the expedition should continue on. Armed with 100 kilos of gear, including four Hobie 12’6� inflatable stand up paddleboards, paddles, pumps, fins, helmets, cold weather gear, warm weather gear, wetsuits, and camera equipment, the team set off on the Manali-Leh Highway.

malayas April is seen paddling a Grade 4 Zanskar rapid, which is actually freshly melted snow coming down the mountains. If you had a fall, it would give you a numbness which felt like eternity.

The roads were washing away and passes on the route to leh were often blocked due to

mud and rock slides

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India

Tso-Moriri Lake 15,750 foot altitude

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amidst the

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treacherous miles on the road, the team stopped to paddle in rivers and lakes next to the highway. Among the daily challenges were temperature shifts, high altitudes, cold waters, and rough terrain. In spite of the conditions, the desire to explore new places to paddle never subsided. Spirits were constantly renewed while sharing the fun with local resorts, tour companies, and children from all walks of life.

At each stop the team would unload the inflatable boards, blow them up, paddle, and then deflate to pack them back into the vehicles. Some days the boards were set up

and disassembled as much as five times! Lucky for everyone, the process became fluid and was always easy and fast.

It was also easy to find the water while driving through the Himalayas, but sometimes getting down to it was extremely difficult. Deepak Tal at 15,500 feet was easily accessible and at manageable temperatures. After taking the boards out of the vehicle Kiran and April hopped right into the water. On the other side of the equation, Suraj Tal at 16,020 feet was riddled with rough terrain and remarkably different weather. Towards the end of the paddle, a storm was surging through the valley bringing winds and snow.

world record The highest SUP was done at an altitude 16,500 ft at Suraj Taal, which was one of the most enduring activities of the trip. It was nail bitingly cold, with an approaching snowstorm and rugged terrains to access the lake.

We believe it's the world record for the

highest SUPing ever done

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April and Kiran negotiating an intense cold rapid

With freezing hands Kiran and April rushed to pack up the boards and scramble back up the 60-degree mountain face that they had so carefully descended, littered with jagged, loose rocks. It was all worth it because Suraj Tal, India’s third highest lake, may have ended up being the highest altitude stand up paddled!

Over the course of four weeks, four rivers were run and five lakes were successfully paddled.

Outside of Shimla, the high, raging waters of the Satluj River were run. Along the Manali-Leh Highway, the beautiful meandering waters of the Chandra and Bhaga Rivers were descended.

Once in Leh, the team was complete with it’s final members of Eishany Chaudhary, Janiky Chaudhary, and Corey Curtis joining the group, before running the Indus River.

After the cold waters and class four rapids of the Indus, the entire team set out to explore the lakes surrounding Leh. On the road to Tsomoriri, there was a small lake called Kyagar Tso with nomads scattered along the banks. It was a very different experience to stop and paddle this lake along with some of the local nomadic children.

Afterwards, a paddle at Tsomoriri at 15,080 feet above sea level was accomplished with the friendly help of some locals. Perhaps the most difficult destination from Leh was Pangong, which was not only a long journey, but one with narrow, washed out roads and ascending altitudes over 17,000 feet. The intense path was well worth the effort; the team was rewarded with sparking, blue waters at 13,900 feet.

Chaudhary sisters from (Mumbai) joined for the later part of the trip and performed amazing Yoga postures

A group picture of SUP'ers with locals.

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Weather, altitude, and ‘the con-artist’ made u iq n u t u b lt u ic iff d y rl la u tic ar p a n o the expediti

ue one

numerous Throughout the journey, there were by stand up challenges that have not been handled ‘the con-artist’ and paddlers before. Weather, altitude, cult but diffi made the expedition a particularly persistence of and unique one. Thanks to the strength stand up they and the team, the odds were overcome ever udes altit paddled at what may be the highest But, ies. bod r recorded for SUP in a variety of wate fun on had e yon what is more important, is that ever the expedition of a lifetime!

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ThePaddler ww kayak collection

&

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The land of mountains some sweet rivers too!

By Steve Brooks

.

Spring and summer is a special and colourful time in the German speaking Alps. Flowers hang from balconies of houses and hofs (traditional farm houses), high alpine meadows bloom and the ringing of cow bells set in some of the most scenic and dramatic mountains in the world is just another highlight.

Enterat your own

RISK As the river disappeared under a chockstone, created by 30-foot wide boulder wedged between the canyon walls, the size of our undertaking had become completely clear. Beyond this point we’d be totally committed to the river corridor with no possible escape, and what lay downstream was uncharted territory. I cracked a fake smile as Ben turned to me and said, “only the penitent man shall pass.”

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in red e u t a s fe nlin ition r sale o 2.79 d e xp € fo W e will be 2.49 W -£ on est r y b collecti $3.99 e v 3 W f the SX 201 15 o addler Wber 1st .ag/02 P The Novem ://joom .com ore e t p from at: htt es.appl .com/s y e n Bu s://itu googl . http s://play http

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The roar of the river took on a new menacing feel as a cool light rain began to set in. Ryan took a long, drawn out look of the overall scope of the canyon, probing the area for a possible route out.

His expression said it all!

Checking coordinates at the Chalkstone Photo: Evan Ross ThePaddler 163