tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91736832024-02-06T20:56:43.525-08:00riversandcreeksStories and Thoughts on River Exploration, Conservation, Research, and Education with a focus on the Pacific Northwest.Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-68437941349048199882016-01-09T08:53:00.005-08:002016-01-09T09:53:38.359-08:00Remembering Doug WalkerDoug Walker was one of those guys I always thought was invincible in the mountains, a view that anyone who saw him scramble up a mountain likely shared--sadly his death is a reminder that none of us are.<br />
<br />
I remember when I first met Doug over 15 years ago (I doubt many can forget their first time meeting Doug) at a fundraiser for a conservation group where he was being honored for his contributions. As the event staff tried to clean up the room and the crescendo of stacking chairs increased (in a vain attempt to give us all the message it was time to go home) Doug was peppering us all with an endless stream of geography trivia.<br />
<br />
I'll admit that the geography quiz (or Civil War quiz) was not something I ever engaged in and seeing me roll my eyes when he started in with me at an event at his house one evening he quickly sensed my lack of interest. We instead got into a discussion of art history and discovered we both had an interest in the painters of the Hudson River school. I told him about a lecture I had been working to develop on the subject of the importance of the western landscape painters for educating members of Congress in the effort to designate Yellowstone National Park (beginning with Thomas Moran's participation in the Hayden Expedition) and the evolution of our advocacy for public lands from landscape paintings to Instagram. Doug was intrigued and soon we had left the party he was hosting behind and disappeared for the next 20 minutes talking about art as he showed me some of his personal collection in rooms throughout the house. As the finale on the tour he took me to a room where he casually showed me a painting from one of the more well-known 19th century landscape artists--an individual whose artwork we had been discussing earlier in the evening. The experience was a remarkable example of the breadth of Doug's knowledge and intellectual curiosity: "you don't like my Civil war trivia?; OK, I'll meet you at your interest in art history." Not only had he met the challenge of letting me choose the subject of 19th century art history; he had a painting in his house of one of the very artists I had brought up in the discussion!<br />
<br />
Doug and I crossed paths on a regular basis; we served together on the board of Forterra, the Advisory Council of The Mountaineers, and he was a board member of Outdoor Alliance where I serve as one of the policy chiefs. I would get the occasional phone call from him that usually started with, "what do you think about..." He always had his own thoughts on the matter but challenged me to go first. Through all those conversations however he was genuinely interested in my perspective. As the dialogue ensued he would challenge my own thinking and approach. Having a conversation with Doug could be intellectually exhausting but I always benefited from the exchange. Doug had that impact on people: he could make you a better climber or a better critical thinker as he challenged you to reach your full potential and then exceed it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54aabb14e4b01142027654ee/t/568c237da12f449ad8fc7c4e/1452024701818/?format=500w" height="265" style="-webkit-user-select: none; display: block; margin: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><i>Doug was not one for the coffee shop meeting; if you had something to discuss you met at the climbing gym or on a trail in the North Cascades. Photo credit: Luke Humphrey, via The Mountaineers.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Doug recognized talent and passion in individuals and while he was mentoring me to become successful in river conservation, and think beyond the nose of my kayak, he was also mentoring countless other individuals--Martinique Grigg as she took the helm of The Mountaineers and worked to make it more relevant to families and a younger generation, Ben Greuel as he sought to bring new leadership to The Wilderness Society's work in the Cascades through initiatives that recognize the importance of both conservation and enjoyment of our public lands, Joe Sambataro as he developed a program with the Access Fund to bring the tactics of a land trust into the toolbox for the climbing community, Eddie Espinosa as he worked to implement the vision of the American Alpine Club to become more relevant to climbers through regional programs and services, Martin LeBlanc and his work to make the the dream of no child left inside a reality, Adam Cramer as he sought to build a new and effective coalition for outdoor recreation known as the Outdoor Alliance, and the list continues.<br />
<br />
Many of us Doug mentored are in mid-career; we've been at it for a few years but still have potential to do some great things. Doug was quick to recognize that potential and willing to invest his time, money, and intellect to help us realize it. By any measure Doug was a successful individual--as a businessman, an outdoor athlete, a community civic leader, and an advocate for conservation and recreation--and he had a passion for helping others reach their potential to be successful. Sadly there will be no more of those engaging conversations, but I will remain forever grateful for the time he spent with me as a mentor and a friend. I know there are many of us who feel the same and his impact on our careers will live on.<br />
<br />
Doug left us all a lifetime of work (and perhaps a little more). Now it's up to us to go out and execute. I'm sure he would remind us to remember to have fun--even if it's a little type II fun--and enjoy ourselves along the way.<br />
<br />
<b>Words from others:</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/remembering-a-tech-environmental-and-philanthropic-role-model-doug-walker/">Seattle Times: Remembering a tech, environmental and philanthropic role model: Doug Walker</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/doug-walker-1950-2015">The Mountaineers: Doug Walker 1950-1965</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2016/1/5/reflecting-on-doug-walkers-life">Outdoor Alliance: Reflecting on Doug Walker's Life</a></li>
<li><a href="http://forterra.org/editorial/remembering-doug-walker">Forterra: Remembering Doug Walker</a></li>
<li><a href="https://environment.uw.edu/news/2016/01/a-reflection-on-a-life-well-lived-doug-walker/">UW College of the Environment: A Reflection on a Life Well Live--Doug Walker</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rockandice.com/lates-news/tribute-to-doug-walker-first-american-alpine-club-president-killed-in-office">Rock and Ice: A Tribute: Doug Walker, First AAC President Killed in Office</a></li>
<li><a href="http://blog.rei.com/climb/remembering-doug-walker-an-outdoor-industry-leader/">REI: Remembering Doug Walker, An Outdoor Industry Leader</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web16a/newswire-remembering-aac-president-doug-walker">Alpinist: Remembering American Alpine Club President Doug Walker</a></li>
<li><a href="http://trailposse.com/2016/01/the-doug-walker-i-knew/">Trail Posse: The Doug Walker I Knew</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/2046166/doug-walkers-fierce-love-outdoors">Outside: Doug Walker's Fierce Love of the Outdoors</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.geekwire.com/2016/seattle-software-pioneer-doug-walker-dies-in-new-years-eve-avalanche-on-granite-mountain/">Geekwire: Seattle Software Pioneer Doug Walker Dies in New Year's Eve Hiking Accident on Granite Mountain</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/snowshoer-found-dead-on-granite-mountain/">Seattle Times: Doug Walker, Noted Conservationist and Philanthropist, Dies in Hiking Accident</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wta.org/signpost/in-memory-of-doug-walker">Washington Trails Association: In Memory of Doug Walker, Longtime Champion for Trails</a></li>
<li><a href="https://wilderness.org/blog/remembering-our-friend-doug-walker-and-his-great-conservation-legacy">The Wilderness Society: Remembering Our Friend Doug Walker and His Great Conservation Legacy</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-69336167828172903722015-04-11T16:18:00.001-07:002015-04-11T16:26:52.618-07:00Celebrating Wilderness<pre style="word-wrap: break-word;"><pre style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; word-wrap: break-word;"><font face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><span style="white-space: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act</b></span></font></pre><pre style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; word-wrap: break-word;"><font face="UICTFontTextStyleBody"><span style="white-space: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Special to Kayak Session, 2014</i></span></font></pre><pre style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="white-space: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When American Whitewater was founded 60 years ago, a founding principle included protection of the wilderness character of waterways through conservation of water, forests, parks, wildlife, and related resources. Our founders also sought to promote appreciation and respect for the value of wilderness activity and whitewater sports.</span></pre><pre style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="white-space: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A few years later, on September 3rd, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law, officially establishing the Wilderness Preservation system in the United States "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." Over the past five decades, protected wilderness in the United States has grown to nearly 110 million acres. Great whitewater includes classic multi-day trips like the Selway and Salmon Rivers in Idaho; adventures like the South Fork Flathead in Montana, Lost River in Washington, or Chetco in Oregon; and steep creeks like Upper Cherry Creek in California.</span></pre><pre style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="white-space: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Today, most define wilderness as biologically intact areas that are legally protected; the concept has spread beyond the United States and many paddlers have experienced the spectacular rivers of countries like New Zealand and Canada that have have protected their undeveloped river corridors.</span></pre><pre style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="white-space: normal; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">One may legitimately ask if wilderness, as an area untouched by man, truly exists on our planet. Air pollution, climate change, and spread of invasive plants to do not respect the lines we draw on a map. For anyone who has ever hiked their boat into a deep wilderness canyon and stood at the top of a challenging rapid contemplating the line, an undeniable fact remains: wilderness areas challenge and inspire us. The protection of these places is important for the planet but also for our soul. And that is something we can all celebrate as we dream of our next adventure deep into the unknown.</span></pre></pre><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0vwc9UldVrjo_DwWN3VchsfJyO2CD5duCy5fijtxCXLFTqW4-FHNRXUcB-rf6RkAKrtaLpnLCQhWzvX68jEHDsRU05lh4v-Ntu4xQlja2wMWEzqGiexWlEHHa9RncrUdRuFC/s640/blogger-image--1980569829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0vwc9UldVrjo_DwWN3VchsfJyO2CD5duCy5fijtxCXLFTqW4-FHNRXUcB-rf6RkAKrtaLpnLCQhWzvX68jEHDsRU05lh4v-Ntu4xQlja2wMWEzqGiexWlEHHa9RncrUdRuFC/s640/blogger-image--1980569829.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Selway River, Idaho</i></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-28489543599916847382014-11-02T15:45:00.000-08:002014-11-02T20:54:54.600-08:00Sizing Ski Gear for Kids<a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/15076192963_ed8b5d33b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/15076192963_ed8b5d33b3.jpg" width="320" /></a>Every year I find myself on a treasure hunt across the city looking for ski gear for the kids. The boys have little patience for standing around as I rummage through gear at the ski swap or second-hand inventory at the local shop--inevitably I find them in a wrestling match in a pile of used boxing gear while I am trying to check sizing on skis.<br />
<br />
I have found that a better approach is to get the kids to stand up in the kitchen, mark their height, and record the measurement in my smart phone. I record their weight and shoe size too. Then I figure out what size gear they need and record all that in my phone too. With sizing information in hand, I can figure out what gear they will need and put together my shopping list. The tables below have been assembled from multiple different sources and some of my own experience (I could not find any source that had everything all in one place). This information should be considered a starting point. As kids get older, individual body types develop, and skills mature, you will develop more experience in shopping for gear.<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b>
<b>Nordic Ski Sizing</b><br />
<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/15510160478_a8acfff227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/15510160478_a8acfff227.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
First convert the height of your child in inches to cm (<a href="http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/inches-to-centimeters.htm">conversion utility</a>)<br />
<br />
For classic skis target 115% of height with a range of 110-120% of height.<br />
<br />
For skate skis target 108% of height with a range of 106-110% of height. Be sure not to go too long with kids who are just learning to skate--they need to be able to pick the ski up for each forward stride. But go too short and you compromise on glide.<br />
<br />
You can adjust this range based on age and experience:<br />
<ul>
<li>3-5 years old: Go with shorter classic skis that are closer to 100% of height. Waxless skis are the best choice.</li>
<li>5-8 years old: Select classic skis between head height and the height of an outstretched wrist (shorter end of this range for beginners and longer end of the range for those who have been skiing for a couple years). Waxless skis are recommended.</li>
<li>8+ years old: Select a ski length that is roughly equal to the height of an outstretched wrist for classic skis and about 10cm shorter for skate skis. Kids can begin to take part in the waxing process at this age but waxless skis are still a simple choice for classic skis since they require understanding the more complicated principles of both glide wax and kick wax.</li>
</ul>
Most newer skis have the length printed in the graphic on the ski but some, particularly older skis, have it printed on the side and it tends to rub off. Carry a metric tape measure with you to the ski swap or local used sporting goods store.<br />
<br />
Ski camber (the upward arch of the ski in the middle) or its resistance to flattening when weighted is also important to consider particularly as children grow older and their body type develops. A softer flex is best for those who are light relative to their height while a harder flex is necessary for those who are heavier relative to their height.<br />
<ul>
<li>Classic skis have more pronounced camber to keep the grip wax pocket (or in the case of waxless skis the fish scales) off the snow during glide but engage it during the kick.</li>
<li>Skate skis tend have less camber and tend to be stiffer. If the flex is too soft you will "bottom out" and not glide as smoothly. If you do not have enough flex, too much of your weight will be on the tips and tails of the skis.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>Alpine Ski Sizing</b><br />
<a href="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15693605911_d00d7fbcf9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15693605911_d00d7fbcf9.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><br /></b>
Ski length should generally be between the chest and the nose. Choose a ski at the shorter end of the range for a novice or a skier who is slightly lighter than average for his height. Choose a ski at the longer end of the range for a faster and more aggressive skier or one who weighs more than average for his height. Carry a metric tape measure with you to the ski swap or local used sporting goods store in case the size is not printed on the ski.<br />
<br />
<table border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Skier Height (in)</th>
<th>Skier Weight (lbs)</th>
<th>Ski Length (cm)</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>37</td>
<td>34</td>
<td>70-80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>40</td>
<td>37</td>
<td>80-90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>43</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>90-100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>45</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>95-105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>47</td>
<td>50</td>
<td>100-110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>50</td>
<td>57</td>
<td>110-120</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>53</td>
<td>63</td>
<td>115-125</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>55</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>120-130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>57</td>
<td>79</td>
<td>130-140</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>59</td>
<td>89</td>
<td>135-145</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>61</td>
<td>100</td>
<td>140-150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>65</td>
<td>112</td>
<td>150-160</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Ski Boot Sizing</b><br />
<a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7582/15510711770_3e9cd1d2e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7582/15510711770_3e9cd1d2e2.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
I find you need to get the kids to actually try the boots on as fit really does differ between brands, and in many cases with used gear the size label has rubbed off.<br />
<br />
Alpine boots are typically sized using Mondopoint which is the length of the foot in cm (sometimes expressed in mm so 22.5cm is the same as 225mm).<br />
<br />
Nordic boots typically use European shoe sizing where each unit is a Paris Point equivalent to 2/3 of a cm. I always go with NNN boots and bindings as it seems you can find more inventory when looking through used gear. Nothing wrong with SNS if you come across boots that fit well and the right length of skis with SNS bindings. Note that boots for classic and skating are different as you want more flexibility for classic and more stability for skating. The skate boots have more ankle support and stiffer soles. Combi boots offer a compromise between the two, but I generally don't recommend trying to skate with a low cut classic boot or trying to ski classic with a skate boot. Skiing with the wrong style of boot makes it harder to control the ski resulting in a less enjoyable experience.<br />
<br />
<table border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>US Kids</th>
<th>US Men's</th>
<th>US Women's</th>
<th>Alpine Mondopoint</th>
<th>Nordic Euro</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>17.5</td>
<td>29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>18.5</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>19.5</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>20.5</td>
<td>32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2.5</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>21-21.5</td>
<td>33-34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>21.5</td>
<td>34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3.5</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>21.5-22</td>
<td>34-35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4.5</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>.</td>
<td>22.5</td>
<td>36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>5.5</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>23.5</td>
<td>37-38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>7.5</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>24.5</td>
<td>38-39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>7.5</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>25.5</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>9.5</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>26.5</td>
<td>42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>10.5</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>9.5</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>27.5</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>.</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>11.5</td>
<td>28</td>
<td>44-45</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Ski pole sizing: </b><br />
<a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/15075583164_628d9fcfb7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/15075583164_628d9fcfb7.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
For alpine poles, turn the pole upside down and grab it under the basket (the side opposite the tip). Your lower arm should be parallel to the ground. A novice can go a little longer and an advanced skier can go a little shorter.<br />
<br />
For nordic poles, extend your arm parallel to the ground. The pole should come up to the underside of your arm pit. Novices can go a little shorter and advanced skiers who raise their arms higher can go a little longer.<br />
<br />
Carry a metric tape measure with you to the ski swap or local used sporting goods store as the size is not always printed on used gear.<br />
<br />
<table border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Skier Height (in)</th><th> Alpine Pole (cm)</th>
<th>Nordic Pole (cm)</th>
<th>Nordic Skate Pole (cm)</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>38</td>
<td>NA</td>
<td>80</td>
<td>90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>39-40</td>
<td>80</td>
<td>80</td>
<td>90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>41-43</td>
<td>85</td>
<td>85</td>
<td>95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>44-45</td>
<td>85-90</td>
<td>85-90</td>
<td>95-100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>46-47</td>
<td>90</td>
<td>90</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>48-49</td>
<td>90-95</td>
<td>95</td>
<td>105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>50-51</td>
<td>95</td>
<td>100</td>
<td>110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>52-53</td>
<td>95-100</td>
<td>100-105</td>
<td>110-115</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>54-56</td>
<td>100</td>
<td>105-110</td>
<td>115-120</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>56-57</td>
<td>100</td>
<td>115</td>
<td>125</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>58-59</td>
<td>100-105</td>
<td>120</td>
<td>130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>60</td>
<td>105-110</td>
<td>125</td>
<td>135</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>61</td>
<td>110</td>
<td>125</td>
<td>135</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>62</td>
<td>110</td>
<td>130</td>
<td>140</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>63</td>
<td>110-115</td>
<td>130</td>
<td>140</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>64</td>
<td>115</td>
<td>135</td>
<td>145</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>65</td>
<td>115</td>
<td>135</td>
<td>145</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>66</td>
<td>115-120</td>
<td>140</td>
<td>150</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-39993812607347153992013-10-30T23:52:00.002-07:002013-11-03T06:42:25.738-08:00Restoration of the Elwha River<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1303</o:Words>
<o:Characters>7430</o:Characters>
<o:Company>American Whitewater</o:Company>
<o:Lines>61</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>14</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>9124</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.mountaineers.org/about/magarchive/Mtr04-13.pdf">Originally Published in the Mountaineers Magazine, July/August 2013</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">The Elwha River is unique among rivers of the
Olympic Peninsula with a watershed that represents approximately 20% of Olympic
National Park and headwaters reaching to the very center of Olympic Mountains.
These mountains were formed by the domal uplift of marine sedimentary rock and
basalt that the powerful Elwha River has carved its way through. The rich
geologic diversity that resulted has been sculpted by the action of flowing
water, the errosive power of sediment, and the persistent grinding action of the
glaciers that have all shaped the landscape. The Elwha River of recent geologic
history has all the attributes of river that is well suited for the suite of
species that comprise the Pacific salmon, its </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9173683" name="_GoBack"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">deep
canyons and diverse geology create one of the region’s classic backcountry
whitewater destinations, and all the power and volume of a river descending
from the mountains to the ocean over a distance of just 40 miles made the river
an early candidate for hydropower development.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5129/5269238458_d6213d7236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5129/5269238458_d6213d7236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">The Elwha Dam was not the first dam across
the Elwha as the Vashon ice sheet dammed the river forming glacial lake Elwha a
little over 10,000 years ago. Beneath the forest canopy the observant hiker can
find evidence of glacial terraces, perched deltas, and moraines that provide
evidence of the old lake that disappeared with the retreat of the glaciers. As
can be observed today in Alaska where glacial retreat has exposed new river
habitat, salmon discovered the Elwha and found a rich diversity of habitat. The
powerful rapids and cascades of canyon sections of the Elwha exerted strong
selection pressure for massive Chinook salmon, pink salmon found ideal habitat
in the lower gradient reaches closer to the ocean, and sockeye had access to
important rearing habitat in Lake Sutherland. The abundant fishery resource
became an important food and cultural resource for the Klallam people, central
to the identify of those who called the valley home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5265/5737204845_960438ccec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5265/5737204845_960438ccec.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In 1882 the world’s first hydroelectric
project began operation on the Fox River in Wisconsin and with it came ambitous
plans to harness the power of rivers to generate electricity and fuel
industrial development. Thomas Aldwell located a homestead on the Elwha and
slowly began accumulating the land necessary for the development of a hydropower
project over a period of 20 years. Where the Klallam people had found a fishery
resource that sustained their community, Thomas Aldwell looked upon the river
and determined that it was “no longer a wild stream crashing down to the
Strait; the Elwha was peace and power and civilazation.” As Aldwell worked to
secure the financing, construction of the Elwha dam commenced in 1910. The dam
was not anchored to bedrock but instead set on glacial alluvium—“a dam on
roller skates.” Shortly after construction in October of 1912, the dam failed
in spectacular fashion when the river blew out through the gravel below the
dam. Rebuilding commenced and by the end of 1913 the Elwha was no longer a
free-flowing river as electricity flowed from the powerhouse to Port Angeles
and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="324" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6175/6225328490_8271894c6f.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Decommissioning the hydropower projects on
the Elwha was a project that took several decades. By 1927 a second dam had
been constructed at Glines Canyon which was subsequently included within the
boundaries of Olympic National Park. In the mid 1980s as the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) continued to slow walk the license applications
for the two dams, Rick Rutz made the observation that FERC did not have the
jurisdictional authority to license a hydropower dam in a National Park. It
took several years but by 1992 the audacious idea to remove the dams inched
closer to reality with the passage of the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;">Elwha River</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;"> Ecosystem
and Fisheries <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Restoration Act. All that
remained was the “small matter” of securing the funding for the project, but by
September 2011 the project was underway as an excavator set to work and began
to break up the concrete and dismantle the dam that Thomas Aldwell had worked
so hard to build. But this dam’s time had passed, and the environmental costs
associated with its continued operation greatly exceeded the small amount of
power it produced. At the official ceremony to mark the occasion, Bureau of
Reclamation Commissioner Mike Conner remarked, “</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dam removal is not the best option everywhere but it is the best
option here. and it's the best option in a lot of places because the process
that we are going through these days is we are reassessing the costs and
benefits of certain facilities that exist today… I think this is not only a
historic moment here but it's going to lead to historic moments elsewhere
across the country.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8146736810_e340139320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8146736810_e340139320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Today
the Elwha Dam is gone and the river explodes through an impressive rapid in the
heart of the canyon where the dam once blocked its flow. Only 50’ of the 210’
Glines Canyon Dam remains as work continues to completely remove it. Already
salmon have been finding their way upstream of the Elwha Dam site and the river
offers ample opportunities for exploration where one can witness first-hand
what it means to restore a river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/9592072060_67c04c9441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/9592072060_67c04c9441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Destinations for a Day Exploring the Elwha</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">River Mouth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The river mouth is quickly transforming as
the cobble beach transitions to sand as predicted. To explore the new beach
environment head approximately 5 miles west of Port Angeles to </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;">Highway 101 mile</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> 242.5 and
take Highway 112 west. Continue on this road for 2.1 miles (crossing the river)
to Place Road. Turn right (north) and follow this road 1.9 miles to the T
junction and then turn right (east) on to Elwha Dike Road and continue 0.1 mile
to the Elwha Dike access point. Day-use parking is available along the road.
Hike a couple hundred yards along the trail towards the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/9592067836_bfab951531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/9592067836_bfab951531.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Elwha Canyon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To see the site of the Elwha Dam site, head
approximately 5 miles west of Port Angeles to </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;">Highway 101 mile</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> 242.5 and take Highway 112 west
0.7 mile to the Elwha River. Just before crossing the Elwha bridge turn left
(south) on Lower Dam Road</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;"> which is
also the turn for Elwha Dam RV Park. The parking area for the trail is to your
immediate left. The first 200 yard section of trail, constructed by Clallam
County, is wheelchair accessible and leads to a partial overlook of the former dam
site. As you approach this first overlook you will see the start of a 1/4 mile
footpath to your left. This trail was built by a Washington Conservation Corps
crew and leads to an overlook that provides the best view of Elwha Canyon and
site of the former dam.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7339263952_e25f5ae338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7339263952_e25f5ae338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Former Aldwell Reservoir</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;">The former reservoir is a
fascinating landscape of gravels and sand held back by the dam, old stumps with
their springboard notches standing as reminders of the day the riparian forest
was cleared prior to flooding the reservoir, impressive views back up the
valley to the Gates of the Elwha proposed wilderness, a river that is carving
its way through a century of sediment, and evidence of vegetation that is
slowly reclaiming the corridor along the river. To see all this head about 8
miles west of Port Angeles to Highway 101 mile 239.4 just after crossing the
Elwha River bridge.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Turn right (north) onto Lake
Aldwell Road towards Olympic Raft and Kayak. Continue on the road 0.2 mile to
the end and the old boat launch that was on the reservoir. From here you can
hike out onto the old reservoir and spend several hours exploring or just a few
minutes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7339260254_065ccbe2ca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7339260254_065ccbe2ca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Former Mills Reservoir and Geyser Valley</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While Glines Canyon Dam is still an active
construction site, you can drive up to explore the upper reaches of the former
Mills Reservoir and the backcountry upstream. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-no-proof: no;">Head about 8 miles west of Port Angeles to Highway 101 mile</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> 239.5 and turn left (south) onto Olympic Hotsprings Road through
the National Park entrance. Continue 4.0 miles up this road and take the
left-hand turn up to Whiskey Bend. As you proceed up this road you will pass
the Glines Canyon Dam site at mile 1.2, described by members of the 1889 Press
Expedition in colorful prose as an area “rather unsafe for any nervous youths
to travel.” Continuing up the road to mile 4.0, there is a trail that leads
down to the exit from Rica Canyon and the historic start of the Mills Reservoir
(marked with a small sign that reads, "to Lake Mills"). Although the
0.4 mile trail is steep it provides an opportunity to explore the upper end of
the former reservoir and the exit of Rica Canyon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The road ends another 0.4 mile past this trail at the Whiskey
Bend Trailhead. From here it is a 1.2 mile hike to the junction of the Rica
Canyon trail which heads 0.5 miles down to the river and the downstream end of
the Geyser Valley. In contrast to the reaches downstream that are struggling to
digest 34 million cubic yards of sediment, the Geyser Valley is a great place
to see what a floodplain forest would normally look like. It provides an
interesting contrast and a potential future view of what a restored Elwha
forest could look like along the lower reaches someday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/180/363857647_5d2c1f1a47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/180/363857647_5d2c1f1a47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/tags/elwhariver/">More Photos of the Elwha</a></span><br />
<br />
Videos:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/73529299">Altair to the Sea: Kayking Down the Elwha</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/75830580">Going Home: The Salmon Return</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/35735450">Fire in the Hole: Blasting a Dam</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-68870446432780615162013-02-09T22:33:00.001-08:002013-02-10T10:30:58.076-08:00A Week With Small World Adventures in Ecuador<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Journey There</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past two decades I have done a
fair number of river trips around the world, many of them involving complicated
logistics. From figuring out how to paddle the </span><a href="http://www.riversandcreeks.com/china/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yangtze River</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a few months
before the gates on the Three Gorges Dam closed, taking a decked tandem
canoe down the </span><a href="http://riversandcreeks.blogspot.com/2008/03/packing-for-grand-canyon-trip.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grand Canyon</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, cramming a pack with food and boating gear for a
30 mile hike into the </span><a href="http://www.outdoorresearchverticulture.com/2010/08/return-to-paradise/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aniakchak caldera</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, or navigating the urban and rural
roads of </span><a href="http://www.riversandcreeks.com/japan/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in search of whitewater across the country, I've done my share
of trip planning. Despite the fun I have assembling the puzzle pieces that
collectively make a great adventure, I was looking forward to an entirely new
experience: joining a guided trip where all that stuff is taken care of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it was that I found myself in the
headwaters of the Amazon on a trip with </span><a href="http://www.smallworldadventures.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Small World Adventures</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, the adventure
kayaking company founded two decades ago by Larry Vermeeren in the heart of
Ecuador's Quijos River Valley. New owner and friend Guy Erb had encouraged me
to come down and check the place out. The trip also represented an unpaid debt
by my friend and occasional adventure partner Megi Morishita who sat at the
put-in of the Tamagawa in Yamagata, Japan 12 years ago and promised, as my
video camera rolled, that if she swan she would owe me a trip to Ecuador—later
in the run I captured her on a midstream rock sans boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The adventure began by waking up at 4am
and a full day of travel from Seattle to Quijto, eventually crashing at the
<a href="http://www.travellersecuador.com/Eng/index.html">Traveler's Inn</a> sometime after midnight. After breakfast those of us who came in
a day early had a chance to get acquainted and explore the city of Quijto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8445324058_ac6f00a8f5_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8445324058_ac6f00a8f5_z.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445324058">The Streets of Quito</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Day 1: Quijos River Borja Run</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our trip began early Sunday morning when
Larry and Greg Dashper met us at the hotel and loaded up the gang, with the
majority of the paddlers from Portland and the greater Pacific Northwest
region. The vans carried us up and over the 4100m Papallacta Pass and we
descended through the clouds and into the Amazon basin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8445593558_8216c8c970_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8445593558_8216c8c970_z.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445593558">Loading the van in Quito. </a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our van buzzed with anxious anticipation
and excitement as we could see challenging whitewater of the Papallacta in the
valley below and thus the road scouting began, a wonder our vans didn't tip off
the edge of the windy mountain highway as the kayakers all pressed against the
window to take in every glimpse of whitewater rapids below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444512313"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8444512313_fb5f6ca092_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444512313">Road scouting the Papallacta.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arriving at the Lodge—Cabanas Tres Rios at
the confluence of the Borja, Cosanga, and Quijos—we enjoyed a great lunch and
outfitted our boats. As someone who travels around the country and typically
settles for whatever boat is available—from cramming myself into Emily
Jackson's little pink boat for a run down the Cheaoh to Eric Nies's big creeker
for a run down the Upper Gauley—it was sure nice to have a boat that fit. I can
say the collection of boats lived up to the hype of the most modern and
complete fleet of boats in Ecuador [note to Harry: did not see a Hydra Duet so
a C2 trip may be a challenge].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444512831"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8444512831_4885861e0b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444512831">Larry overseas boat outfitting at Cabanas Tres Rios</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon enough it was time to hit the water
and our group was led by veteran guide Don Beveridge. We carried our boats
down to the put in just steps from the lodge (logistics could not have been
more convenient) and several of us peeled out into the first class III rapid on
the Quijos. With a couple of holes to avoid it provided a fun and energetic
warm up. Others had the option of putting in below as we were cautioned
not to take a swim in our first 10 seconds of boating in Ecuador as had
happened to one of last week's guests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444514075"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8444514075_0977195a4c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444514075">Firing up the first rapid in front of the lodge on the Borja Run.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bouncing down the class III run on the
Quijos was great fun and a nice way to get to know the other paddlers in our
group and dial in our outfitting. Notable rapids included Pika Piedra and
Endless Rapid. At the takeout I got to experience one of the newly
discovered joys of a guided trip—the drivers were there at the take-out and
before we could peel off our wet boating gear the boats were loaded and
strapped down. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445599340"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8445599340_24162f4725_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445599340">Boats were strapped and loaded before we could finish taking off our drytops.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Day 2 - Lower Oyacachi and Bombon and Lower Runs on the Quijos</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a pounding rain that rattled our
cabin roof in the pre dawn hours like a steel drum band, we awoke the next
morning to slightly elevated but still moderate river levels. After breakfast
we hopped into the vans, with boats already loaded, and set off downstream in
search of the day's run. Our guides for the day—Don, Greg, Larry, and Guy—settled
on a short stretch of the Lower Oyacachi followed by a run on the Quijos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445821916"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8445821916_2e5c78cf18_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445821916">Hiking in to the Oyacachi.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We put in at Ejector Seat, a great class
IV rapid to start off the day on a bouncy high volume creek run. Don led us
through a fun section of boogie water boulder gardens before we came to another
steep class IV drop with a fun line that took us down to the confluence with
the Quijos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444735373"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8444735373_9408d90d2f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444735373">Megi stylin' Ejector Seat on the Oyacachi.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued on down the Bombon section of
the Quijos. Notable rapids included "Curvas Peligrosas" an S Turn
rapid ending with a basalt wall that marks the entrance to a beautiful gorge.
We also ran in formation down "Chuchaqui", a great wave train rapid
that became our lunch spot. A couple folks took out at the bridge at Bombon and
the rest of us continued on downstream through the first section of the Lower
Quijos where we enjoyed "Welcome to the Jungle", "Corner
Pocket", and the final rapid, "Gringos Revueltos".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444784803"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8444784803_3fd2a1aab7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8444784803">Don demonstrates the line at Gringos Revueltos with grace and precision.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Day 3 - Chaco Canyon of the Quijos River</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On our third day we once again enjoyed the
convenience of utilizing the put-in at the lodge and quickly sped down the
class III section we had boated on the first day. On this day however, our real
goal was Chaco Canyon and the big rapid known as El Torro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The canyon was a spectacular river reach
through beautiful basalt with overhanging jungle and the warm-up
rapids included Basalt and Bitch Slap. The anticipation reached a crescendo
as we pulled out on river left and hopped among the boulders for a view of El
Torro, one of the classic bigwater rapids of the Quijos and the defining
feature of Chaco Canyon. A solid IV+, the line down center right is
surprisingly simple, but plenty of chaotic turbulence on either side can easily
distract one from the preferred line at which point you need to hold on and be
prepared to ride El Torro. As long as you avoid the nasty pour over on far
river left, all ends in a good recovery pool at the bottom right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446105032"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8446105032_d76c964c1a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446105032">Forget about sneaking the hole. Megi sets up for the big hit at the base of El Torro.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We split the group below El Torro and I
followed Don as he guided us through Olympic Trials, a great series of three
tightly spaced rapids that ended at a beautiful gorge at Puente Fucondo that was our take out for
the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446109646"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8446109646_8400bb09f2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446109646">The beautiful basalt gorge at Puente Fucondo.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></b></span></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following our run, we loaded up the vans and headed over the drainage divide into the Napo Valley and made our way to the river town of Tena. A festive vibe filled the air and kayakers from other groups roamed the streets. Like surfers living the Endless Summer, one could quickly tell that kayakers roaming the world in search of good whitewater could find plenty to keep them busy and fulfilled in this historic and friendly river town.</span></span></span></b></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></b></span>Day 4 - Piatua</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Awakening the fourth day in Tena we
switched to a fleet of taxis—actually yellow pick up trucks that could carry
four boats and paddlers—as we would be venturing up the Piatua and into
territory inaccessible by our vans. For this trip we left as one big group—16
paddlers and 6 guides—in what was likely one of the biggest groups the Piatua
has ever seen. The run is a relatively new whitewater destination with the
construction of a new road up the valley. As we crossed a sketchy suspension
bridge, one truck at a time, the reason for switching to smaller vehicles
became readily apparent. Just upstream, a massive new bridge was under
construction. While kayakers enjoy improved access to this once inaccessible
run it comes as a mixed blessing for the infrastructure investments are not for
kayakers but rather to accelerate the pace of resource extraction from the
basin—driving up the rutted road we could catch glimpses of a pristine
river but one was left to wonder how long the exceptional water quality
would last.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446524700"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8446524700_1173fa1550_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446524700">Platoon of Tena taxis loaded and ready to head up the Piatua River Valley.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the river we split into three groups
and I had an opportunity to join guides Darcy Gaechter and Liam Kirkham
who were leading the group of creekers who had been running slightly more
challenging runs through the week. Following Darcy down the Piatua was like
following one of the regulars down the Upper Yough as she pointed out every
hidden boof ("cheesy boofs" in Darcy parlance), slot move (aka poop
chutes), and the best line at rapids like Game Changer, Discotheque, and Disposable
Ensign. With several miles of fun boulder gardens, but a rather moderate
gradient, the river is a great run for aspiring class IV creekers while
guaranteed to keep class V veterans smiling. The Piatua offers a little
something for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446521010"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8446521010_c5b84997d0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446521010">Joey finding one of the many great boofs on the Pitua.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening I sat down with Matt Terry
from <a href="http://ecuadorianrivers.org/">Ecuadorian Rivers Institute</a> over drinks and pizza as he shared his
frustrations and hopes for protecting some of the country's best rivers from
development and destruction. While towns like Tena enjoy the benefits of a
whitewater industry that may approach $1 million nationwide (at the most
generous estimate), it remains but a footnote to the billions of dollars of
<a href="http://www.revenuewatch.org/news/china-invests-ecuador-what-cost">Chinese investment</a> in infrastructure (hydropower and projects to facilitate
resource extraction). So while the country witnesses development in the form of
new roads, bridges, rip-rap, dams, the latest Cat heavy machinery—and the
incredibly attractive cash flow that comes with all of this—the riparian forest
slowly disappears and once pristine rivers become polluted. Monkeys that
depend on contiguous patches of forest canopy go the way of the Lorax and fish
become a memory. And all of the foreign investment comes with an expectation of
repayment in the form of long-term oil contracts at $70/barrel and 7%
interest. It's easy to place the blame on the local residents, fueled by
greed and an appetite for easy money now, but it's worth reflecting on
our own consumerism that fuels our insatiable demand for Chinese products and
our role in this ever connected global economy (<a href="http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/">The Story of Stuff</a>). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Day 5: <o:p></o:p></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jatunyacu</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the creekers headed out for a day on
the Upper Jondachi—a run I hope to catch on a future trip someday—the rest of
us hit the Jatunyacu with local guide Tarquino who was proud to show off his
home run. The Jatunyacu is the local rafting run with consistently dependable
flows and great pool-drop class III rapids. We happily enjoyed bouncy wave
trains, some fun surf waves and play boating features, as we danced among the
holes—some giving them a wide berth while others crashed through with reckless
abandon. The memorable rapids included Pimpilala and Land of 1000 Holes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446759436"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8446759436_c34416d242_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446759436">Eric enjoying good times on the Jatunyacu.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was all smiles at the take-out as we
basked in the sunshine and enjoyed our lunch while curious local children
investigated our kayaks. Across the river excavators sunk their claws into the
earth and scooped up gravel for an unknown construction project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446759922"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8446759922_acd05245cd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446759922">Local kids at the take-out.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the vans we climbed the
switchbacks over the pass and through the cloud forest with a seemingly
endless expanse of impenetrable jungle below us. Ultimately descending back
into the Quijos Valley we were back at the lodge in time for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446760414"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8446760414_3a46cb2b1c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446760414">After dinner, a hotly contested game of Cuarenta.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Day 6: Cosanga</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always enjoyed following paddlers
down a favorite and treasured local run: Jim Reed on the Miracle Mile, Eric
Nies on the Upper Gauley, Adam Cramer on Great Falls, Dave Steindorf on the
Tobin reach of the Feather. Those trips are always memorable as your local host
takes you on a journey that becomes much more than a river trip as they share a little bit of themselves. So it was on the Lower Cosanga as Larry
took a small group of four of us down a run that is obviously one of his
special places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445831033"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8445831033_04951280dc_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445831033">Larry leads us down through Triple Drop on the Cosanga.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our van climbed up the Cosanga Valley and
dropped us off at a classic Ecuadorian suspension bridge and we gathered in the
eddy for a few quick warm up strokes before dropping into a jumbled boulder
garden that led into Triple Drop. Flows were low but the run was plenty of fun
on this class IV creek and the road quickly disappeared from view as we
disappeared into the canyon and deeper into the jungle. We hopped out for a
quick scout of Random Acts, one of the steeper boulder gardens that served up a
few alternate lines. The rest of the run was all boat scouting and included
rapids like Whale Eye, Cock on the Rock, and Ménage Rodeo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445834275"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8445834275_ece1415f3f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445834275">Megi hits the line at Ménage Rodeo.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We joined the confluence of the Quijos and
pulled out for lunch, a beautiful spot deep in the jungle. From there it was an
easy float with fun bouncy class III rapids all the way to the lodge which was
our take-out. For me it was another new river (#289 on my life list to be
exact), but it was a special day on the water as Larry had the opportunity to
introduce me to one of his favorite local runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Day 7: Lower Chaco Canyon on the Quijos</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The week ended where it began, back on the
Quijos. Once again we were able to pick up a new section on a river that is
truly one of the world's classic whitewater runs. Gary and Larry each led
a pod down as Guy provided sweep. The skies had opened to unleash a downpour but
we were all out to get wet anyway. Unlike my own backyard runs, the Quijos is
warm and pleasant even when it’s raining. Small streams and gullies burst forth
with torrents of muddy water that cascaded down into the canyon where we
launched. Rapids included such classics as Rodeo Star, Two Guys Hugging and
Tetas and everyone had a great run that came to an end all too soon as we
joined the confluence with the Oyacachi and reached our take-out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445879483"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8445879483_9f112f0043_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8445879483">The heavens unleash a downpour as we venture down the Quijos River.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While some were staying for a few more
days or even another week of boating, the trip came to an end for many of us.
We enjoyed a final lunch back at the lodge and then began the trek back over
the mountains to Quito. With great rivers, good food, and guides that have
intimate knowledge of the local runs, the whole trip was a great experience. I
hope to get back again some day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446969918"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8446969918_9006164928_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/8446969918">The end of the trip.</a></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/sets/72157632686909641/with/8446969918/">More Pictures From Our Trip</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Participants<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Winter Whitewater Class IV-</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eric Bessette, Bellevue, WA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter Eisner, Tucson, AZ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carrie Horner, Portland, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genny Kiley, Barton, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kenny Kiley, Barton, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Megi Morishita, Newport, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thomas O'Keefe, Seattle, WA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kathleen O'Malley, Newport, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maren Vikan, Portland, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Advanced Creeking IV+</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brandon Bloomquist, Hillsboro, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shannon Crosswhite, Portland, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alex Dey, Portland, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Craig Hermes, Scapoose, OR <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zachery Horner, St. Paul, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joey Thomas, Portland, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michael Williams, Portland, OR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guides:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don Beveridge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Josh Brewer-Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greg Dashper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guy Erb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darcy Gaechter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam Kirkham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Larry Vermeeren</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-80586075635621441332012-11-16T10:00:00.000-08:002013-02-10T10:08:27.743-08:00The White Salmon Runs Free!
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1636</o:Words>
<o:Characters>9326</o:Characters>
<o:Company>American Whitewater</o:Company>
<o:Lines>77</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>18</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>11452</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of us wondered if the
day would ever arrive, but after years of waiting it finally came in the form
of a text message from PacifiCorp staff on a Saturday in November: “It’s
official. The White Salmon is open! Spread the word. Safe paddling to all.” And
with that, paddlers hit the water to experience a truly remarkable treasure—a
new section of river that for the past century was buried beneath the placid
waters of Northwestern Reservoir.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On an overcast morning a
week later, we gathered on the banks of the White Salmon River giddy with
anticipation for the opportunity to experience a new river. Just a year before,
many of us stood on the lip of Condit Dam and watched the dramatic results of
the explosive blast that breached the dam and drained the reservoir in a little
more than an hour’s time—a reservoir that had been there for a century vanished
before our very eyes. It was easy to view the scene before us as a wasteland of
mud and debris, and hard to imagine it would ever look like a river again. But
as we’ve observed at dam removal projects across the country, rivers have an
incredible capacity for self restoration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list-ins: "Megan Hooker" 20121115T1947; mso-list: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the months that followed the dam breach,
contractors chipped away at the dam. It slowly shrunk in size while the mud
washed away and the river began to flow clear again. This past September, the
dam was completely gone, and as amazing as this may sound you could hardly tell
where it once stood. Agonizing days then became weeks as the contractors
continued their work to restore the river channel below the dam, which included
removing massive logs that had once been buried in the reservoir sediments and
then wedged in the White Salmon Narrows. Finally, the most hazardous logs to
navigation were all removed, and PacifiCorp declared the river open for public
use. Our day to experience the river had finally arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We began the day’s journey
from Wet Planet in Husum, launching as a flotilla of more than a dozen kayakers
and at least as many rafters. The run began on the mild Class II section of the
run known as the Lower White Salmon, which historically ended with the
slackwater of Northwestern Reservoir. The river continued on at a good pace
with fun Class II and a couple good features as we slowly descended below the
surface elevation of the former reservoir. Old stumps appeared that were buried
beneath the reservoir sediments for a century, and we could see vegetation
starting to colonize the newly exposed banks, while the basalt outcrops along
the banks were scrubbed clean of the thick coat of mud that had buried them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/881341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="267" src="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/881341.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Floating the White Salmon River through what was once Northwestern Reservoir.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Halfway down the old
reservoir the river flowed past a dramatic basalt cliff on river right, with a
bathtub ring stain marking the surface elevation of the historic reservoir.
Here the gradient picked up and the river crashed through some great Class III
whitewater as it followed a serpentine path through an incredibly beautiful
section of basalt gorge with waterfalls cascading in. The scenic beauty of this
section will only be enhanced as maidenhair ferns and mosses colonize these
walls. Floating through this section, anticipation built as we passed through
the bedrock gates that marked the site of Condit Dam. We could hardly recognize
that a dam once towered over 100’ above this point, but whoops of joy echoed
between the gorge walls as we pulled out on a gravel bar on river right to
savor the moment. A spontaneous celebration ensued as Pat Arnold, representing
Friends of the White Salmon, popped the cork on a bottle of champagne. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just 40 years ago the White Salmon River faced a grim future
with a proposal to develop a series of seven dams to harness the entire length
of the river for hydropower. Friends of the White Salmon, a locally based
advocacy group for the river, successfully fought off that proposal and in the
early 1980’s began to advocate for restoration of salmon on the White Salmon
River. At first the discussion focused only on fish passage around the
salmon-blocking Condit Dam, but when PacifiCorp filed an application in
December 1991 to renew their license for the hydropower project, the idea of
dam removal began to germinate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoCommentText">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">American Whitewater and Friends of the White Salmon made the
first formal requests for a study of dam removal in 1992 as part of the federal
licensing process. Rich Bowers was hired as American Whitewater’s first
Conservation Director </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thanks to
support from the Conservation Alliance and member companies, including
Patagonia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In <a href="http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_file=yes&doclist=1442800">comments filed</a> that first year of the licensing process
for Condit Dam, Rich wrote that a study was needed to “determine the
recreation, fishery, flood damage mitigation, power production and other
impacts associated with the removal of impoundments and in returning the White
Salmon River to its truest sense of 'run-of-river'.” In 1993, during scoping
for the Environmental Impact Statement, Rich requested “a detailed analysis of
the whitewater boating opportunities in the lower White Salmon River that would
be reestablished under a dam removal alternative, as well as the economic value
associated with those expanded opportunities”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 1996, federal regulators completed a review of
PacifiCorp’s license application and determined that keeping the dam in place
and upgrading facilities to meet “modern environmental standards” was the
preferred alternative. During the time when John Gangemi represented the
interests of whitewater boaters for American Whitewater, it became apparent
that the required upgrades were going to be much more costly than dam removal.
The dam produced very little power and it became clear that the dam could not
produce this power economically. Katherine Ransel, working for American Rivers,
represented a coalition of conservation groups including American Whitewater
and successfully secured a settlement agreement between dam owner PaciifCorp,
resource agencies, and river conservation groups for dam removal. The agreement
was signed in 1999 and called for the dam to be removed in 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Federal regulators analyzed this agreement and recommended dam
removal as the new preferred alternative in 2002. The plan was not without
controversy however, and at a memorable public hearing Daniel Dancer </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-no-proof: no;">launched into his song extolling the glories of a salmon
returning to a free-flowing White Salmon River, to the tune of Neil Young's “Long
May They Run.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foes of dam removal
raised their collective voice in an impromptu “God Bless America” and pandemonium
ensued as federal regulators threatened to shut down the meeting. Order was
restored and Daniel was allowed to finish his musical testimony but it was not
an end to the controversy. Despite the objections, the removal plan moved
forward. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
the date for removal approached in 2006 however, it was clear that the project
was languishing and the County even mounted an effort to acquire the dam from
PacifiCorp. The necessary regulatory steps were not proceeding in part due to
continued opposition from the County and a pending threat of litigation. It was
around this time that Keen Footwear stepped up to support American Whitewater’s
effort to launch a stewardship program based in the Pacific Northwest. With a
regional office in close proximity to the project, American Whitewater was able
to take on a leadership role in moving the agreement through the final steps of
the regulatory process. Working with our partners in the Hydropower Reform
Coalition—it was truly a team effort involving several local, regional, and
national organizations—we got the project back on track and applied the
consistent pressure that was necessary to bring the project to fruition. As we
all stood near the bank of the river above the dam that day a little more than
a year ago and felt the ground shake with the blast of 700 lbs. of dynamite we
knew there was no turning back—Condit Dam was destined for removal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Standing there at the base of Condit Dam a year later
drinking champagne, it was rewarding to reflect back on the long journey that
had brought us to that day</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Watching
the joy and excitement on everyone’s faces, it quickly became apparent what really
brought Condit Dam down. It was not the poor economics of the project, the
power of the Endangered Species Act, or even the fishway prescriptions
resulting from Section 18 of the Federal Power Act. It really came down to a
simple fact—people care deeply about this river. It was the kayakers who went
out to enjoy the river on their free weekends,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the fishermen who have a spiritual connection to the river,
members of the Yakama Nation whose connection to the river predates all of us,
the school kids who acted out the dam breach at countless public hearings, and
others who just enjoyed hanging out by the river. For all those people, the
White Salmon River mattered and it was this community of folks who ultimately
brought the dam down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Standing there at the
former dam site, our celebration wasn’t done–we all had more new river to run.
Soon we were back in our boats in nervous anticipation of Steelhead Falls<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a short distance downstream. The mile
and a half below Condit Dam was largely dewatered over the past century as the
flow of the river was routed through a pipe to the powerhouse downstream. While
some had explored this section of river over the years, it was largely
characterized by a series of stagnant pools harboring the debris and detritus
that occassionaly washed over the dam. This section contains the most
significant whitewater on the run as the river plunges over Steelhead Falls, a
ledge drop that feeds into a meaty hydraulic that is Class IV to V depending on
flows. About half the group portaged the falls-including the rafters, but
several folks fired it up and everyone styled it. Those considering their first
run are advised to go with someone who can recognize the drop because it comes
up quick at the end of a Class III rapid. As flows increase the intensity of
the hydraulic builds and the portage route closes out. Below Steelhead Falls
the river passed through one of the most dramatic sections of river
anywhere—the White Salmon Narrows, where gardens of mosses and ferns spill in
over the high gorge walls that are beautiful organic fomations of pillow
basalts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/881344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="267" src="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/881344.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Susan Hollingsworth paddles through Steelhead Falls.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emerging from the Narrows,
the river passed by the old powerhouse on river left and it was in this section
that we saw the most spawning salmon. Massive fish made good use of the abundant
supply of gravel that can now move downstream and is no longer held back by
Condit Dam. All were deeply moved by the presence of these majestic fish that
were so quickly taking advantage of the benefits of this restored river. A
short distance downstream, the river cascaded through one final Class III
sequence before settling in to the calm waters of the pool held back by
Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. It was only about a half mile of flatwater
paddling down to the point where the White Salmon joins the Columbia and the
take-out. While the take-out marked the end of the day’s journey it was really
much more than that. It was the end of a long road extending over decades to
see this project come to a successful outcome, and it was the start of a new
beginning for a restored White Salmon River.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-89299121448161784492012-08-01T00:00:00.000-07:002013-02-10T10:21:23.264-08:00Explosive<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=75081"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://www.patagonia.com/images/common/seasonal_images/spring/top_2_900x244/top2_explosive_essay_s12_alt.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thomas O’Keefe, American Whitewater’s Pacific Northwest stewardship director, stood on the banks of the White Salmon River in Washington State. The scheduled explosion was running late. As Tom looked downstream, he could see what was left of the river after 100 years – shallow pools of water starved of sediment for the past century. Upstream were the staid waters of Northwestern Lake, the five-story wedge of silt underneath invisible.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The river had run the same course as a stream near Tom’s childhood home in upstate New York. Tom played and fished in creeks and streams when he was young, and an old Civilian Conservation Corps dam held back the waters of one in particular. Over the years, silt had accumulated in the reservoir behind it, and the water was only a few inches deep. Tom would scan the surface for the tiny trout that still lived there.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom often thought about that dam. As a river ecologist and kayaker, he saw how dam owners corralled rivers upstream and downstream with fences, preventing people from experiencing rivers as he had. Tom also spent time on hundreds of wild, free rivers around the world, and began fighting to protect and restore them – for wildlife and for people. In his efforts over the last decade to put water back, tear down outdated dams and increase the opportunities to enjoy them, he highlighted the many recreational and educational benefits of free-flowing rivers.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Tom waited for the dramatic conclusion to the nearly three-decade-long fight to remove Condit Dam, he knew that others would someday experience the White Salmon the way he had experienced so many other rivers.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A warning horn blared. Someone yelled, “Fire in the hole!” A low rumble resonated from the river canyon and the ground shook. Seven hundred pounds of dynamite blew a hole the size of a two-lane highway in the bottom of the 12-story cement structure, draining the water it held like a giant bathtub. The sound of the White Salmon River exploding free echoed from the canyon below. Dark, sediment-filled water gushed, restoring access for salmon, steelhead and people.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn about what you can do to help conserve and restore our rivers – and enhance opportunities to enjoy them – visit <a href="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/">americanwhitewater.org</a>.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>From the Early Fall 2012 Patagonia Catalog featuring essays on Dam Busters</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=75081">http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=75081</a></span></div>
Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-85216927220963053502011-05-14T09:00:00.000-07:002013-02-10T09:57:55.704-08:00Wild Olympics Editorial<br />
<h1 class="title" style="font-size: 22px; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wild Olympics plan protects forests before it's too late</span></h1>
<div class="node ntype-news-clip" id="node-46" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div class="content" style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 5px;">
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-subtitle" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Guest Editorial</b></span></div>
<div class="field-item">
<em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Levi Olden and Thomas O'Keefe</b></span></em></div>
<div class="field-item">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Daily World (Aberdeen, WA)</span></b></span></div>
<div class="field-item">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Saturday, May 14, 2011</span></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people agree that protecting our ancient forest watersheds for clean water, salmon and recreation for the future is a worthwhile goal. But they don't want to lose access to their public lands either. Neither do we.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a local resident and accomplished Eagle Scout, and as an outdoor recreation access advocate, we support the Wild Olympics' watershed conservation plan because it will protect and improve recreational access -- not take it away. That's why we are participating in an inclusive public process to ensure the plan serves the Harbor's different hunting, fishing and recreation needs. We encourage everyone to take part in this conversation.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thousands of visitors and residents use and enjoy the scenic watersheds of Olympic National Forest each year. They explore the towering old growth rainforests of South Quinault Ridge, hunt elk in forested areas south of the Queets River or fish for salmon on the Humptulips River. These spectacular ancient forests and rivers provide clean water, healthy salmon runs, wildlife habitat and an enduring natural legacy for our children and grandchildren.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now, current Forest Service rules prohibit logging, new roads, dams or development for most of these public lands. But Forest Service rules can always change, and we want to see these places remain just the way they are.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more than 1,000 supporters of the Wild Olympics Campaign in Grays Harbor believe these watersheds deserve permanent, lasting protection for future generations to enjoy them as we do today. To achieve this, the campaign proposes new wilderness, Wild and Scenic River, and willing seller National Park/Preserve safeguards for these natural treasures. With extensive community input, we are working together to adjust boundaries and design a plan that both protects our watersheds and our public access.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wild Olympics is a coalition of both conservation and outdoor recreation organizations, including the Mountaineers and American Whitewater, which fight to preserve and enhance outdoor recreational access. That goal has shaped much of the campaign's outreach efforts in the Harbor and other counties on the Peninsula to improve the draft plan for local hunting, fishing, biking and other recreation needs, including the following examples:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wild Olympics proposal will not close any roads on Olympic National Forest or Olympic National Park. The proposal does not interfere with the Forest Service plan -- documented on the Forest Service website -- for the 2,200-miles of roads in the forest. The wilderness boundaries are set back from all roads within the plan identified to remain open for public access. The proposal will not affect any of the old roads that have been identified for removal until work is completed. This ensures current vehicle access on Forest Service roads would be unaffected by the Wild Olympics.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wilderness designation on the National Forest allows hunting and fishing.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wild and Scenic River designations protect and improve fishing and recreation access. Not only do the designations allow existing recreation use to continue, they protect and enhance recreation through provisions to improve public access for fishing and boating. As an example of this, new public access has been developed on the other Wild and Scenic Rivers in the state: the Skagit River and White Salmon River. Camping, hunting and fishing and vehicle travel are all permitted along these designated rivers.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Preserves are being considered in place of park additions to preserve important tribal and public hunting areas. If timber companies want to sell land for development and remove it from the timber base, a willing seller provision would provide an option for putting these lands into public ownership, without infringing on private property rights in any way.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extensive efforts have been made to work with local mountain bike advocates to adjust wilderness boundaries to accommodate mountain bike use, including the West Fork Humptulips and Lower Pete's Creek Trail system.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With respect to trail management and the ongoing delay in restoring the Colonel Bob Trail, we share the frustration. Support for reopening this trail has been universal and it is just a matter of securing the resources -- something we are personally working to accomplish.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving forward, we believe that protecting these backcountry jewels is the best way to preserve recreational opportunities and enjoyment of these areas in the future. We encourage everyone to get involved in helping draft the proposal and offer constructive input. By all working together, we can protect not only our forests and rivers for future generations, but also public access to them as well. To learn more, visit <a href="http://www.wildolympics.org/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="www.wildolympics.org">www.wildolympics.org</a>.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px;">
<em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Levi Olden is an Aberdeen Eagle Scout who grew up camping in the forests and along the rivers of the Olympic Peninsula. Thomas O'Keefe is a recreation advocate for American Whitewater and has hunted, fished and kayaked all the major river systems of the Olympic Peninsula.</span></em></div>
</div>
</div>
Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-91237231555752938632009-10-10T22:00:00.000-07:002009-10-22T21:36:40.970-07:00Florida Springs and Rivers<div style="text-align: center;">Central Florida is home to some incredible rivers that emerge from crystal clear springs and my son and I recently returned from a week of exploring these special places. After a couple days on the <a href="http://riversandcreeks.blogspot.com/2009/10/oklawaha-river-trip-exploring-old.html">Oklawaha River</a>, we headed up to Gainesville for a day exploring the Santa Fe River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YtCpuOR8j5r8Nv7JVw7tX1Yu_QVk0NpIcr0nXY2ComPr-CVBzeswC3k35s1wKzoKPtvAgG3ipaQJENnU7bKhoT4wstaDUEx1_ZO64YOO-qEgab1Z6IKCJGjsRrHthwPgdXk8/s1600-h/santa_fe_river.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YtCpuOR8j5r8Nv7JVw7tX1Yu_QVk0NpIcr0nXY2ComPr-CVBzeswC3k35s1wKzoKPtvAgG3ipaQJENnU7bKhoT4wstaDUEx1_ZO64YOO-qEgab1Z6IKCJGjsRrHthwPgdXk8/s320/santa_fe_river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395291459979675970" border="0" /></a>Enjoying the Santa Fe River, a lazy float along a forested river corridor with several springs that contribute flow to the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiH_fEZKbvy_UmkltPlHBVH3IAr8tvE91FBkW_0nYQJrIyABoA0H9n2nKm2uLPx57ZyLn7D3fdEggNCf8xJQHsImCFcC2bdsumGHxcvm_A7f4I5Uis6hRAYpPqyuD5-MH4KiwF/s1600-h/ginnie_spring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiH_fEZKbvy_UmkltPlHBVH3IAr8tvE91FBkW_0nYQJrIyABoA0H9n2nKm2uLPx57ZyLn7D3fdEggNCf8xJQHsImCFcC2bdsumGHxcvm_A7f4I5Uis6hRAYpPqyuD5-MH4KiwF/s320/ginnie_spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395291252033095714" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/">Ginnie Springs</a> is a popular destination known for its SCUBA diving. We had a wonderful time snorkeling, exploring the springs, and learning more about this habitat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW-OfzKgu58LN8bk5U2htpQfjLgNY63N92QlUVoW1DSghWfGhHDkCh5BHsaFUl-X2I8fgb5rQB2LFRz0XmxDuBJww9hMj62g0VDNfX0dakFENEIHWdpKnQdGI1geAG_AHUXEF/s1600-h/ginnie_fish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW-OfzKgu58LN8bk5U2htpQfjLgNY63N92QlUVoW1DSghWfGhHDkCh5BHsaFUl-X2I8fgb5rQB2LFRz0XmxDuBJww9hMj62g0VDNfX0dakFENEIHWdpKnQdGI1geAG_AHUXEF/s320/ginnie_fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395563988284017794" border="0" /></a>Watching the fish swim by at Ginnie Springs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7VoAt27g4ghzoH6qDtwrf6G1loNqkUXGM_UqIaqpv1_qKBtDmlaR1wkjfdiF-inV87Q__bf52kKEQUaB2BmPYFg-dGNsA6OXmCsbjbvUwpVNQDTVSlHmkro0TS1DCw4c6WYz/s1600-h/lizard_blue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7VoAt27g4ghzoH6qDtwrf6G1loNqkUXGM_UqIaqpv1_qKBtDmlaR1wkjfdiF-inV87Q__bf52kKEQUaB2BmPYFg-dGNsA6OXmCsbjbvUwpVNQDTVSlHmkro0TS1DCw4c6WYz/s320/lizard_blue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395291269327003010" border="0" /></a>The springs are home to both aquatic and terrestrial life and we had a great time watching all the lizards.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHyJESbq1-kTCq1wAB72AelDSKfBXDMSt7JDtRxIWgjz9Yess4qRfNdeBhHPVnC7mwnjPIhjLAnCnZ7EoFyoP3oWUN_KLlcjj6hJZCKhEr5BYfk1pYzUpsRha-BzLjfBXIiSp/s1600-h/lizard_brown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHyJESbq1-kTCq1wAB72AelDSKfBXDMSt7JDtRxIWgjz9Yess4qRfNdeBhHPVnC7mwnjPIhjLAnCnZ7EoFyoP3oWUN_KLlcjj6hJZCKhEr5BYfk1pYzUpsRha-BzLjfBXIiSp/s320/lizard_brown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395291272112140178" border="0" /></a>Another lizard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcblQQ2UybskEJvZuSZC7d1TD79wzvQtHnR44HrZO2tzTvQZ9aRB3Cbflk9OvpYO0qHSMfxGYYvksgLnIR9NVc3T92nBdy-KxSYGeqXdTO2m6Hu-aKVlwN-RJehr8UJfpHoyP8/s1600-h/spider.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcblQQ2UybskEJvZuSZC7d1TD79wzvQtHnR44HrZO2tzTvQZ9aRB3Cbflk9OvpYO0qHSMfxGYYvksgLnIR9NVc3T92nBdy-KxSYGeqXdTO2m6Hu-aKVlwN-RJehr8UJfpHoyP8/s320/spider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395291463654650306" border="0" /></a>And a very cool spider<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gDLKpRx133BYHaRb7G9RP8aQCWzfqxahdm4AmW4ZqME5p3imaYA24-20GqbvlMDmNx6wvL2zZeFzVRAgJKX5dwt3163TB5sBt5ryHYL3zpWKRWYZcl_iLwth3T1LJOtZ3mSt/s1600-h/icheetucknee_springs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gDLKpRx133BYHaRb7G9RP8aQCWzfqxahdm4AmW4ZqME5p3imaYA24-20GqbvlMDmNx6wvL2zZeFzVRAgJKX5dwt3163TB5sBt5ryHYL3zpWKRWYZcl_iLwth3T1LJOtZ3mSt/s320/icheetucknee_springs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395291255348523714" border="0" /></a>We also got over to <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/">Icheetucknee Springs</a> which is the start of a great river trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMu2iP7HV6gpWR-mRRDIIOt0Ejp21CD-7m3z570pvFxsb4NyvnPKbBggopwBso4dLud8Yn4bE0f72O-9TO6y_-pNiJS1_O2aZLBUapBOS3KkOMLfbd1xdBIwEhj0SH0ZRfLZh/s1600-h/icheetucknee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMu2iP7HV6gpWR-mRRDIIOt0Ejp21CD-7m3z570pvFxsb4NyvnPKbBggopwBso4dLud8Yn4bE0f72O-9TO6y_-pNiJS1_O2aZLBUapBOS3KkOMLfbd1xdBIwEhj0SH0ZRfLZh/s320/icheetucknee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395563985084304242" border="0" /></a>Peering into the source of Icheetucknee Springs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF4rWN6NPn53i7ktfqBXHl_f1OEKnV1O9cd4UTgKJEbww6-r51i5rEq587AsMk5aGmOixcBazEDhmBT7tJGoyx9RJqjF_u9YizwxP7EVDaXLYQUogWOjccMTHF8qTRMdw61Ds/s1600-h/jamie_aki_snorkel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF4rWN6NPn53i7ktfqBXHl_f1OEKnV1O9cd4UTgKJEbww6-r51i5rEq587AsMk5aGmOixcBazEDhmBT7tJGoyx9RJqjF_u9YizwxP7EVDaXLYQUogWOjccMTHF8qTRMdw61Ds/s320/jamie_aki_snorkel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395291257469503538" border="0" /></a>Aki and Jamie snorkeling the edge of the spring in search of fish and turtles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe_IK2zvdVeHkYe7I65T8LE-uZO5CRRwP1LEsxXB62qOrs_CUbbn8pvyKW7jQqfviopdmfx35hCnuW3HtZS4sJ6jIPrRfF-LZL1kOmhw6wlbjPU8elaQ4FDhnf5mOaoAGsXtE/s1600-h/a_springs_source.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe_IK2zvdVeHkYe7I65T8LE-uZO5CRRwP1LEsxXB62qOrs_CUbbn8pvyKW7jQqfviopdmfx35hCnuW3HtZS4sJ6jIPrRfF-LZL1kOmhw6wlbjPU8elaQ4FDhnf5mOaoAGsXtE/s320/a_springs_source.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395290805562072786" border="0" /></a>Alexander Springs is in the <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/ocala/index.php">Ocala National Forest</a> and we were there to check out the river that emerges from the springs which is eligible for Wild and Scenic designation. The river also flows through the Billies Bay Wilderness and the Alexander Springs Roadless Area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC-JYYUaD3nPhoJFU57ywywGt7-Emrxx6kAZlwwFwxhWz_M9eDId1NlH5lbAiLiIzzk2_bPIUNHZexsslLiMnITBncouyrMh2PrtEf3DHNTXZoaaSRtLdzhbDU9eLpwjUriZj/s1600-h/a_spring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBC-JYYUaD3nPhoJFU57ywywGt7-Emrxx6kAZlwwFwxhWz_M9eDId1NlH5lbAiLiIzzk2_bPIUNHZexsslLiMnITBncouyrMh2PrtEf3DHNTXZoaaSRtLdzhbDU9eLpwjUriZj/s320/a_spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395290790277358434" border="0" /></a>The Ocala National Forest was established in 1908 and is the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi. Alexander Springs is part of the St. John's Watershed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KKBca2ra12KmG01pPuit7cEWTgfM-FHvHAtFiKMxZio9b2Gzvrbw5F2fnJlAZ3dL574DMAzR8Cw_5V12QTGrXksEYn33jVZhX4kiSAIwxIQB6gEEB5pmvjRZzmUDsP4BqK3G/s1600-h/a_spring_aki_canoe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KKBca2ra12KmG01pPuit7cEWTgfM-FHvHAtFiKMxZio9b2Gzvrbw5F2fnJlAZ3dL574DMAzR8Cw_5V12QTGrXksEYn33jVZhX4kiSAIwxIQB6gEEB5pmvjRZzmUDsP4BqK3G/s320/a_spring_aki_canoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395290799541389538" border="0" /></a>On a beautiful section of Alexander Springs Creek passing through Billies Bay Wilderness I was reminded of the passage in A Sand County Almanac--"wilderness areas are... a means of perpetuating... the more virile and primitive skills in pioneering travel... one of these is canoe travel." It was a pretty cool way of exploring this incredible place with schools of fish, turtles that dove beneath our canoe, and alligators lurking in the vegetation along the banks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUmjwnzTzCOobq30EeV_S7k-1P056NpIjbYL91Tuu9CNPcWEpiV5bAMAbVZPqkMQi57xThSHNyWVEHkvvljiIPqTB3BB_-8IdaBCTT8JVyOi04gjxH5wIwBflyDHmfDsAo9wX/s1600-h/gator_subsurface.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUmjwnzTzCOobq30EeV_S7k-1P056NpIjbYL91Tuu9CNPcWEpiV5bAMAbVZPqkMQi57xThSHNyWVEHkvvljiIPqTB3BB_-8IdaBCTT8JVyOi04gjxH5wIwBflyDHmfDsAo9wX/s320/gator_subsurface.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395290807055089538" border="0" /></a>An alligator sits quietly in the vegetation along the shore all but invisible.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPe40ghtxxCB64fYMuKM-v37yrmm1sAKOzW1LPI4pAQvXTfbaqMwqXddSd4qxBSW1PmARt6Qp41yShwX2ksaUQKFHZB_tCw7ujut1d86WjAiQN2zNpFS2sNlcosGVdehItoMj/s1600-h/a_spring_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPe40ghtxxCB64fYMuKM-v37yrmm1sAKOzW1LPI4pAQvXTfbaqMwqXddSd4qxBSW1PmARt6Qp41yShwX2ksaUQKFHZB_tCw7ujut1d86WjAiQN2zNpFS2sNlcosGVdehItoMj/s320/a_spring_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395290794756117474" border="0" /></a>Alexandar Springs Creek with clear water and a beautiful sandy bottom interspersed with aquatic vegetation provides spectacular viewing opportunities for aquatic fauna.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S3tygekkfynVJD86K3qqus0C0D2IOzzlC32XzWGgJlI7hOLHEvx8yQbuOtfB7DsHeM4R_m_MGy7KJfdTMun5alUkrdFFU6lmPrOIVhcsoqpzeP_rqhUt9W-ZrceHVdFyaYRZ/s1600-h/a_springs_snorkel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S3tygekkfynVJD86K3qqus0C0D2IOzzlC32XzWGgJlI7hOLHEvx8yQbuOtfB7DsHeM4R_m_MGy7KJfdTMun5alUkrdFFU6lmPrOIVhcsoqpzeP_rqhUt9W-ZrceHVdFyaYRZ/s320/a_springs_snorkel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395292439943559218" border="0" /></a>My son Aki at 4 years old, oblivious to the time, as he snorkeled and explored Alexander Springs all afternoon.<br /><br />Our trip was a great opportunity to visit some different river landscapes with an impressive diversity of flora and fauna unlike anything we are used to seeing in the Pacific Northwest.<br /><br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-15415894827081239712009-10-06T05:53:00.000-07:002009-10-06T08:01:40.068-07:00Oklawaha River Trip: Exploring Old Florida<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">In late September we set out on a journey to explore some of the rivers, springs, and wetlands in the Ocala National Forest. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocklawaha_River">Oklawaha River</a>, a major tributary of the St. Johns, is a wonderful piece of old Florida forming the western boundary of the <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/ocala/">Ocala National Forest</a> it follows a narrow winding course through a beautiful forested canopy. This river has an important place in the history of river conservation as it was originally destined to be the route for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Florida_Barge_Canal">Cross-Florida Barge Canal</a> which was to be a direct route from the Gulf to the Atlantic. The project was ultimately cancelled in 1991 and the right-of-way was turned over to the state to become a spectacular corridor of public land known as the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, in honor of the woman who led opposition to the canal.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUI7F9wzvGIsJjLgjMB_RDDXl6yWDdQAnSnbDs_t3Y_gZfvVjT6haJieUEC1gwUA3aAlRB9KSP6NOvYJC-ZcqptlR_2g8satngD3dOd2NW0KsiaMom1woc7zJFJjybmBTxJuM/s1600-h/canoe_outpost.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUI7F9wzvGIsJjLgjMB_RDDXl6yWDdQAnSnbDs_t3Y_gZfvVjT6haJieUEC1gwUA3aAlRB9KSP6NOvYJC-ZcqptlR_2g8satngD3dOd2NW0KsiaMom1woc7zJFJjybmBTxJuM/s320/canoe_outpost.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470650358612482" border="0" /></a>We came rolling in late on Sunday evening to the <a href="http://www.outpostresort.com/">Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost</a> which is at the take-out. The guys there were wonderful hosts and they have some cute little cabins and some nice tent sites on a piece of wooded property right along the river. The next morning they drove us up the river to the put-in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdI7hR2S3D5tdYwN-v-7ERjRpIqtfJMF7Itcy13uKoxx7Yug5THlIhu8CtMELaKfB4rQx675YoF-KnpBE6CoKecqwH5HA_Ytqmgw2QV9mCukr45gGifTGplvHvYz2Tr38c8Jq/s1600-h/aki_paddling_silver.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdI7hR2S3D5tdYwN-v-7ERjRpIqtfJMF7Itcy13uKoxx7Yug5THlIhu8CtMELaKfB4rQx675YoF-KnpBE6CoKecqwH5HA_Ytqmgw2QV9mCukr45gGifTGplvHvYz2Tr38c8Jq/s320/aki_paddling_silver.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470025030336594" border="0" /></a>We began our journey where the Silver River joins the Oklawaha and paddled up the Silver. We were joined by a number of other paddlers who were out for a Monday morning paddle on this beautiful clear river which emerges from the well-known Silver Springs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQRI_cn3tjjZdGOydjH3eEY-ErfJX5c1kgtuC7zNqMW4cxpuqtUX41SPC_p715Dtm485_aZz5ZiXT89K1ZqcBiR5N-iCpbJgMX27zZ-7Jw-pAjW0eKmXF3ELQuCI_u41Zz-xn/s1600-h/gator_on_log.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQRI_cn3tjjZdGOydjH3eEY-ErfJX5c1kgtuC7zNqMW4cxpuqtUX41SPC_p715Dtm485_aZz5ZiXT89K1ZqcBiR5N-iCpbJgMX27zZ-7Jw-pAjW0eKmXF3ELQuCI_u41Zz-xn/s320/gator_on_log.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470673764459778" border="0" /></a>We saw quite a few alligators along the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjT0LWPMFmcgfdpsyk5hlA6qu0dFzKe5IcE0yWCfKQcYo_-NJ9qj_78wa4aHV8yCGFCAabkz-eniiOijFy5iTr8-AvmiGfs4Mkcipnvb3YpkHmB4MTL4CcARyFWGYNm8fm2ty/s1600-h/gator_along_river.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjT0LWPMFmcgfdpsyk5hlA6qu0dFzKe5IcE0yWCfKQcYo_-NJ9qj_78wa4aHV8yCGFCAabkz-eniiOijFy5iTr8-AvmiGfs4Mkcipnvb3YpkHmB4MTL4CcARyFWGYNm8fm2ty/s320/gator_along_river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470663351460626" border="0" /></a>Just about every patch of aquatic vegetation had an alligator just watching.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBh41vBlcDOjRx65X3SlPVOuW1Ix0eC3BBLaJOj9eznlv56Dxtb35xYQlG8nOqEWKt_swYRgPFvSZwV1ixDc-0LN5HNxTA105la9Z_rXrzrtetB_W6K-en_LccOG7vrYiEKGf/s1600-h/baby_gators.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBh41vBlcDOjRx65X3SlPVOuW1Ix0eC3BBLaJOj9eznlv56Dxtb35xYQlG8nOqEWKt_swYRgPFvSZwV1ixDc-0LN5HNxTA105la9Z_rXrzrtetB_W6K-en_LccOG7vrYiEKGf/s320/baby_gators.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470029486800834" border="0" /></a>And we even found a nest of baby alligators.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUQvFuJMUOnfDCPp9sF0V2ny8odF4cX31khKEpVYKEv3A9T29EXhZk4cDxxzF7gnLH7VzKmO5SM0CcT_ILipPlzFxb1_3Dp6xBADa4O0zJl8cS1AbdcCYK46_G4Tm1WY4bN9b/s1600-h/turtle_silver_river.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnUQvFuJMUOnfDCPp9sF0V2ny8odF4cX31khKEpVYKEv3A9T29EXhZk4cDxxzF7gnLH7VzKmO5SM0CcT_ILipPlzFxb1_3Dp6xBADa4O0zJl8cS1AbdcCYK46_G4Tm1WY4bN9b/s320/turtle_silver_river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389475667964097698" border="0" /></a>Hundreds of turtles along the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXWf1EkJ2yTBIdHaCtSj8Rtn4nsD1_bcgbwWuFlQ4HZP2RnbOqbdCpN2-iYrd9oarDB9FbGtZNJl9K_HbPUD99mWS1a65sbKvyVkKIxu7S6SiSilmYbKwwvEVnBnceHm5BiFl/s1600-h/silver_springs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXWf1EkJ2yTBIdHaCtSj8Rtn4nsD1_bcgbwWuFlQ4HZP2RnbOqbdCpN2-iYrd9oarDB9FbGtZNJl9K_HbPUD99mWS1a65sbKvyVkKIxu7S6SiSilmYbKwwvEVnBnceHm5BiFl/s320/silver_springs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389475649369224258" border="0" /></a>Silver Springs through the back door--the best way to see <a href="http://www.silversprings.com/">Silver Springs</a> and although you miss the glass bottom boat ride it was a lot of fun to paddle all the way up to the source of the river and spend time peering down into the spring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KEjVX2ivdlsJFwWBdTRJI69S-eohQVWuA7ReG8YhnX1EET5SxeUqK1jwkNQvK2xVqk52SD2yE13ftlnavywmfF4RAM13pLQEj74BqDQHr8oueXuh1caxOQLTQuyXAfYPs4gr/s1600-h/gator_silver_springs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KEjVX2ivdlsJFwWBdTRJI69S-eohQVWuA7ReG8YhnX1EET5SxeUqK1jwkNQvK2xVqk52SD2yE13ftlnavywmfF4RAM13pLQEj74BqDQHr8oueXuh1caxOQLTQuyXAfYPs4gr/s320/gator_silver_springs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389472252423643490" border="0" /></a>We found this big alligator sitting on the bottom at Silver Springs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaH7V7uSisC-zT0NkJlEfG-za80NAv1wwBwFH7y6yHgqs-8KiVQPCLtVYjBl0tMZFv91fMju1LDfoHZ63a2oVk2VeFTv-SZCzzM1J9FxX9u-T8GtL4wKvE8iO5YVB-PS1PI_f/s1600-h/bird_turtle_silver_river.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaH7V7uSisC-zT0NkJlEfG-za80NAv1wwBwFH7y6yHgqs-8KiVQPCLtVYjBl0tMZFv91fMju1LDfoHZ63a2oVk2VeFTv-SZCzzM1J9FxX9u-T8GtL4wKvE8iO5YVB-PS1PI_f/s320/bird_turtle_silver_river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470046740647458" border="0" /></a>Lots of great bird viewing opportunities along the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwSuAxf1PlDiCLFkfDekNrwsNsgbRupPgPaR-pYXsUfHY5FXtd5oaQm6aDkdd8yhi7GhBHi7wydqfDFh6dcGKSgWXBtXOOhdoe6IPUzPV2DoeYZ-3_KpPatJDcBpnyIrkei69/s1600-h/bird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwSuAxf1PlDiCLFkfDekNrwsNsgbRupPgPaR-pYXsUfHY5FXtd5oaQm6aDkdd8yhi7GhBHi7wydqfDFh6dcGKSgWXBtXOOhdoe6IPUzPV2DoeYZ-3_KpPatJDcBpnyIrkei69/s320/bird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470036689459058" border="0" /></a>Bird along the Silver River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB_q6dZ7IepCiAB55xB-0EQRuBmqFm8qCNTEAKwAO3MVayQPEbw0f7dbiviVsgMvbGl07dunkqbktnAFuOatAYfP0nhdgoJeezXfGoXfh6tz4YExjpxgeSSJzKIkR5OTY_sr6/s1600-h/silver_mouth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB_q6dZ7IepCiAB55xB-0EQRuBmqFm8qCNTEAKwAO3MVayQPEbw0f7dbiviVsgMvbGl07dunkqbktnAFuOatAYfP0nhdgoJeezXfGoXfh6tz4YExjpxgeSSJzKIkR5OTY_sr6/s320/silver_mouth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389474919433478258" border="0" /></a>The exploration of the Silver River ended up taking most of day and we made our way down to the mouth where the clear waters of the Silver River join the brown-water Oklawaha River. We found a place to camp downstream along the Oklawaha and spent a wonderful evening listening to the sounds of a night out in Florida.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfyIxP0G1uOC-419IbAvwcqiIgfI35AIjcWWS-7r-LbK1B7KtxLaeiVPBrbXXOF-oDwnVm7jZAapBWDKFSD63k2pX4KQTVKnfyVsfG2qHmvx9Z2W93GSblufMzfpMVNK3TNos/s1600-h/oklawaha_brown_water.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfyIxP0G1uOC-419IbAvwcqiIgfI35AIjcWWS-7r-LbK1B7KtxLaeiVPBrbXXOF-oDwnVm7jZAapBWDKFSD63k2pX4KQTVKnfyVsfG2qHmvx9Z2W93GSblufMzfpMVNK3TNos/s320/oklawaha_brown_water.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389475640684317458" border="0" /></a>Shallows along the Oklawaha River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJ6jX0t66PbxaEmmHfq0YX_o7QTwnBjidAxRgtELJFhH73tF962jSGvDcAGNorrdImaEgbfhEHE21ZMRpAZq4XYRODKNkH75vTAl8IcEYcJFqCNSWc3LGG5GxC6JL9QdRLKzp/s1600-h/gbh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJ6jX0t66PbxaEmmHfq0YX_o7QTwnBjidAxRgtELJFhH73tF962jSGvDcAGNorrdImaEgbfhEHE21ZMRpAZq4XYRODKNkH75vTAl8IcEYcJFqCNSWc3LGG5GxC6JL9QdRLKzp/s320/gbh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470682216767874" border="0" /></a>A great blue heron takes flight down the Oklawaha River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhKQ32Qwg6-CqHhb3mPGMJL9TVnt9wLPyqO_yEh6fZ47l-3RUkAbyoCYhhlGcngaiWvP8BW1saYd2l3bJthh5G4_Z8dC5ulS76wSDEyT18Z072KFO-a6nnsy_FgeK-kFFQcmn/s1600-h/flowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhKQ32Qwg6-CqHhb3mPGMJL9TVnt9wLPyqO_yEh6fZ47l-3RUkAbyoCYhhlGcngaiWvP8BW1saYd2l3bJthh5G4_Z8dC5ulS76wSDEyT18Z072KFO-a6nnsy_FgeK-kFFQcmn/s320/flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470654102364690" border="0" /></a>Flowers along the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKblbmjcxlNS9cVUOBcqjnXKT7APumOYiwZ2-_6LRgb5_oUTPL7Rj-gFxPkUuRJ-YxIEl4liW7dNs_1Jlin4EHECMEKrGEW6L_rRDcIchBY-Is9i_7WbIVAEx4fIbNsBASPA3/s1600-h/birds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKblbmjcxlNS9cVUOBcqjnXKT7APumOYiwZ2-_6LRgb5_oUTPL7Rj-gFxPkUuRJ-YxIEl4liW7dNs_1Jlin4EHECMEKrGEW6L_rRDcIchBY-Is9i_7WbIVAEx4fIbNsBASPA3/s320/birds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389470052938364898" border="0" /></a>Lots of bird life along the Oklawaha River. At the end of our second day we paddled up to the ramp at the outfitter and were on our way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAZLVFiFYSMGFdTY9K601n6l4tOQxt4sBbgtMx_7i5ym1v7lZ86vRxrVydaY8Q6Jk1GgEC3miNg7tyMXPw_GGco0_7I5bKQA7ou73HTcY_GPPB7A6phdSfsdFoxDngmDK6aZx/s1600-h/rodman_dam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAZLVFiFYSMGFdTY9K601n6l4tOQxt4sBbgtMx_7i5ym1v7lZ86vRxrVydaY8Q6Jk1GgEC3miNg7tyMXPw_GGco0_7I5bKQA7ou73HTcY_GPPB7A6phdSfsdFoxDngmDK6aZx/s320/rodman_dam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389472267241401986" border="0" /></a>Following our journey down the river we made a stop at Rodman Dam, a remant of the partially-completed Cross Florida Barge Canal, the dam has been discussed as a candidate for removal for many years which would reconnect the Oklawaha River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim3FVKAhy5Fps2o-_R2dKFxP0E6o0_FX6YkjqK285HJuhPpf__L9nDhXzsEM4wQPvZ26WH0QLfn7Xdm5QeN7veHdwOpCOhO5YeKqQwUjnSx2YXKiIP5AS8755yjM6s-yZE9q7/s1600-h/barge_canal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim3FVKAhy5Fps2o-_R2dKFxP0E6o0_FX6YkjqK285HJuhPpf__L9nDhXzsEM4wQPvZ26WH0QLfn7Xdm5QeN7veHdwOpCOhO5YeKqQwUjnSx2YXKiIP5AS8755yjM6s-yZE9q7/s320/barge_canal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389472257772644098" border="0" /></a>A section of the barge canal, a project that was never completed.<br /><br /><br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-11544641502989791572009-08-04T14:06:00.001-07:002013-11-18T16:11:10.239-08:00Descending into the Aniakchak caldera<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/3757436108/" title="photo sharing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/3757436108_2b2c70efa4_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/3757436108/">Descending into the Aniakchak caldera</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/riversandcreeks/">riversandcreeks</a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A spectacular landscape in the dry caldera of the Aniakchak volcano on the Alaska Peninsula. We set out to explore this seldom-visited unit of the National Park Service in 2009. The caldera itself is 6 miles in diameter with a diverse array of geologic features including streams that emerge from lava tubes, several cones from past volcanic activity, fields of lava, warm springs, and a small lake known as Surprise Lake. Surprise Lake is the source of the Aniakchak Wild and Scenic River which flows through a gap in the caldera known as The Gates.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For more of the story check out the write-up of our trip by Harry House for the Outdoor Research Verticulture Blog:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Gates of Paradise, July 2009</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Harry House</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Megi, Tom, and I stood on the grey ash and rock rim of the volcano, looking down into the mist. As we waited, we dropped our overloaded packs into the wet dust at our feet. The same wind that was chilling our sweat was also whipping the fog into eddies in the chasm below. Swirling. Spinning. Slowly lifting; higher and higher. Watching. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4008/4672358864_03f0fe9131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4008/4672358864_03f0fe9131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And then, we saw it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Down in front, a perfectly circular vent of sand-like ash hundreds of feet high. A child’s dream playscape, for Tonka Trucks, pails and shovels, or simply rolling their bodies in. Looking a bit higher, the entire caldera revealed itself. Snowfields. Lava fields frozen in motion; slick black or covered with moss. Undulating. Sliced with meltwater rivlets and gulleys. Stretching beyond, six miles, a horizontal sliver of blue against the other rim – the lake. The entrance to the Gates. And just like that, it was gone. But we had seen enough… a memory snapshot.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3460/3757432640_458af65078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3460/3757432640_458af65078.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We knew we had a clear descent to the floor of the crater. A thousand foot plunge through a repose of course black sand. Energized, we shouldered our packs, and descended into the haze. Against our instincts, slowly, carefully, respecting the weight on our backs pressing down with each step into the slanted ramp. By the time the slope leveled off onto the flats, our thighs were burning. No matter. We had entered a new world; a self-centered ecosystem that played by its own rules, permitted to do so by surrounding walls thousands of feet high in all directions. Though we had miles to go before our lake camp that evening, we all felt a sense of exhilaration and attainment. For the next few days, this would be our playground to explore. We felt free, like ‘adventurers’, if there is such a thing anymore. In the sequence of our plans, we had just completed a ‘crux move.’ Our visions were all forward looking; to the caldera, the Gates, and the rivers beyond. If we had taken a moment to reflect, we would have realized we were also potentially trapped.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2542/3756639465_1b99dac4c0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2542/3756639465_1b99dac4c0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For the next two days, we climbed lookouts, bathed in hot springs, and paddled the lake. An immense brown bear ambled by our camp the first evening, heading across the flats until the low white cloud engulfed him. If he hit the wall on the other side, would he bounce back into us? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One morning, I walked alone to the outlet of the lake, where the river formed and made its way to the singular cut in the side of the bowl; the Gates. I came to the point where it made its break through the gap; a low flat terrace covered with colored lupine, with the river sliding quietly past to my left. Downstream, the river boiled through a set of rock teeth. To my right, a small tributary that sourced from under a lava flow added its weight to the river’s momentum on its way to the Pacific. I stood entranced for a long time. The day after tomorrow, we would begin our descent through the Gates. I had dreamed of this spot, of that moment, for a quarter century. “There’s this volcano; it has a lake in it, and a whitewater stream pours out of it to the ocean: Run the volcano.” That either resonates with someone, or it doesn’t. It can’t be explained. If it does, it’s impossible to be disappointed with the reality once you’re there. What I didn’t expect was how stunning it all was; how perfect the point of egress. For me, it was a misty paradise.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2617/3750165152_a13cfc5e37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2617/3750165152_a13cfc5e37.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The next morning, before our final hike, I said to Tom and Megi, “I’d like to say that at this point we’re home free, but I know better than to ever say that, so I won’t.” Prophetic. We packed extra gear and food, and set off on our last excursion in our hidden world. Our route took us to the other side of the crater and around a large vent mountain. What we didn’t know was that the largest storm of the summer was approaching the volcano. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It started slowly, building over a period of a couple hours, at our point of maximum distance from camp. By the time we started angling back, it was in full force. An hour from camp, gusts were picking up handfuls of gravel and driving them into our backs. After one particularly heavy blast, I told Tom, “If a gust like that hit our camp, it’s gone.” Tom began to run towards camp across the hardpan flats. He disappeared in the driving rain and fog. As Megi and I neared camp, we could make out Tom waterbugging about the area, and then sprint downwind across the tarmac. I knew at that moment we had problems.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3479/3757443518_e9ebc361d4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3479/3757443518_e9ebc361d4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When we arrived in ‘camp’, it became immediately obvious how serious the situation was. The shelter had been flattened and was in disrepair; the bivi sacks, sleeping pads, and sleeping bags were gone. All of the clothing was wet, as were we. Megi took off after Tom and disappeared into the mist. We had a little over an hour until dark. I gathered together what was left of the camp, bunched it downwind of a soil berm, and started moving towards the others. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Most of us who recreate in the outdoors never come close to death; not really. Or maybe some of us do, but are too unaware to realize it at the time. How many of us wonder, “If I ever was in such a situation, how would I react? How would my partners react?” </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t have to wonder anymore. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I walked through the storm, I felt almost disembodied from the reality of the situation. While none of us were “professional outdoorsmen/women”, or better yet, natives living in the wild, we certainly had enough experience to fully realize the implications of our predicament. It’s not that we didn’t have good gear. For example, Tom, the gear nut, had suggested we all go with the Outdoor Research Advanced Bivi Sack, which he considered the best of the best. Which was all fine and good, until it goes blowing across the caldera like a drunken weather balloon. I continued to simultaneously act and detachedly observe. It was almost like an academic study; “so this is how people perish in the outdoors...by increments.” </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ahead, I saw Tom hand Megi an armful of gear, but before she could get back to me, she dropped to the ground to keep it from blowing away. There was a lot of scampering and long running, at least by Tom. Some of us did their best to act calm. Others concentrated on persevering. Search for a new camp, away from the Gates. Miraculously, and probably fortuitously, all three bivi sacks were recovered and a few other things. Insulation? What’s that? Darkness fell, and we burrowed into a makeshift nest as time ran out. I remember green parachute cloth between my face and a cold, wet piece of lava; the feeling of chilling, wind-driven rain racing over the tops of our bodies. But mostly, I remember a voice in the dark stating: “Actually, I’m not sure we are ok.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We later learned winds were clocked on the volcano at 80 mph, but I suspect they were higher near the Gates. No big deal, unless you’ve lost your toys in the rain.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Morning broke, and we spread out looking for gear and trying to improve the situation. We found one parachute chord. Critically, one of the boats was missing. The storm dropped some, but was still running hard. Someone asked me in my experience, how long storms like this last up here, and I said “three days.” (It lasted five.) We examined our options, considered the risks, and made our decision.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We triggered the emergency beacon late that morning, so whoever might come would have plenty of daylight to work with. A couple hours later, a Coast Guard C-130 out of Kodiak began overflying the volcano. Then we heard a Jayhawk helicopter thwupping through the Gates a hundred feet off the deck, cross the lake (lights flashing), and drop down into the wind on a nearby ridge, power on. “That took some balls”, I thought. In minutes, we were barreling down the river and out of the caldera. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Surreal. Grateful. Embarrassed. Stunned. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The captain told us we had left the best contingency plan they’d ever seen. Said it wasn’t our fault (of course it was.) Park Service said the same thing the next day. Nice of them all, but we knew better. A series of small mistakes normally don’t matter, but they do when you’re five miles from camp in a blowout. How lucky to have the U.S. Coast Guard watching your back, at least once.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So what does one do when your dreams are crushed by the winds of fate? You’ve had your memory, and given it your best shot after all. In this modern world, that’s about as good as it gets in any event. At the end of the day, there’s always another mountain to climb; always another river to run, by yourself or someone else. Who really cares what would have happened to us on the other side of the Gates? Who cares if we ever stand again on that terrace of flowers, boat in hand, about to complete a youthful dream? Who cares?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We care.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Run the volcano.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Return to Paradise, July 2010</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Harry House</b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">One year later, we stood again on the crater’s rim, looking down into the depths of our emotions.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This time, sunlight played across the entire caldera, revealing formations and undulations we had never seen during our previous encounter. For the first time, we could see the entire majestic panorama before us; like a reward of some sort. “Welcome back”, the wind whispered. Shyly: “Did you miss us?”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4084/4846820536_e73e9d14a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4084/4846820536_e73e9d14a1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Did we miss the volcano?” I’m not sure any of us had thought of it like that. A strong desire to ‘finish the trip’ took hold within days in each of us the year before. The hard way - again. Stubborn –determined… stupid? But Miss It? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Yes”, we replied – “we missed you.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Down the same slope of cinders we plunged, approaching new fields of snowpack glaring back at us in the sun. As we rested at the bottom, seven caribou sashayed past while we snacked. Rising again, we headed across the landscape toward the lake. We knew the way. By evening, we were putting our camp down within two feet of where it was when the storm hit the year before. A stronger camp – tighter, but with escape routes planned, like a wildebeest at a waterhole.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At our feet, still in the ground, stuck a stake from the year before. I used it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We spent the next three days exploring the caldera floor and features, ‘looking for gear’ as an excuse. The Park Service had found one of our sleeping bags earlier, and we stumbled onto a paddle. Not much else - except for all the geomorphic treasures hidden by space and time. “I’ve never seen something that looked like that before”, I would ponder. “Be careful where you step”, we would say to each other. “It’s bigger than I thought it would be”, I would muse. I felt like we were doing time in nature’s funhouse.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4092/4846228711_1fde2f1e2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4092/4846228711_1fde2f1e2c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lest we forget where we were, the volcano soon reverted to form – hitting us with wind and rain, shutting down visibility and preventing any visitors from dropping in on us from above. Outdoor Research had ensured we were prepared for it all – as long as we kept their provisions in-hand. For those days, the funhouse gave access in spurts, but protected us as well, like new friends. “See”, she said, “I can be nice when I want to be.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4086/4846875996_1c80028695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4086/4846875996_1c80028695.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As we traversed the landscape, we at times came across our path from the storm. “This is where I got picked up and blown through the air!” Megi exclaimed. “This pond looks different now – I can actually see it!” “Here’s where Tom ran for the gear.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When we came to the ‘emergency camp’, where we had spent the night in the storm, people became quiet, unsure of what to say or do. We found a few stakes buried in the grass; took a ‘group photo’. We climbed up to the ridge where the Coast Guard had dropped in with the Jayhawk, and stood on the spot where they put down. “Other people will stand here someday,” I thought. “They may camp here, or have a snack. They will take in the view, and maybe remember it for the rest of their lives.” I looked down towards the emergency bivouac, reflecting. “But we will emotionally own this patch of ground until we die.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It was misty and cold the day we ran the volcano. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As we slipped through the Gates and out of its embrace, the volcano shut down behind us. “Go”, she prodded us, “it’s time for you to go.” And so we did. In heavily loaded Pakrafts, we ran. We ran for closure and redemption, and a promise to the Coast Guard. We ran because we are paddlers, and that’s what we do. We ran for each other. But mostly, we ran for the sheer joy of descending a pristine river that comes out of a volcano in the middle of nowhere.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4089/4846819125_80dcf61f60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4089/4846819125_80dcf61f60.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For miles, the river sped through tundra and spilled over rocks and ledges without pause. I put my foot through the bottom of my raft on a sharp rock. I ran the next drop with it hanging out the bottom like the Flintstones drive a car, up to my hips in water. No matter. Megi and Tom patched the boat, and we continued down to where the river paused the next day.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In our plans, we had hoped to complete a giant circle back to where we began, via a second river to the southwest. With some regret, we collapsed our boats and left the river behind, our last connection to the interior of the volcano. From now on, we ran under the shadow of the volcano as we wrapped around its base, but were no longer part of its hidden secrets.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4128/4847241724_657f90bc98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4128/4847241724_657f90bc98.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A day later we found ourselves re-inflating our rafts next to a muddy bank, about to put in what looked like an irrigation ditch next to a lake. Three Red Salmon swirled in the stagnant water at our feet. “You know what that means”, said Tom. “Bears”, I nodded. An hour later, a side stream came in, and the ditch turned into a clear, narrow stream hurriedly winding over gravel bars and high banks. The salmon ran in thick schools from shore to shore. At every turn, we envisioned startling a sow and her cub, fish-in-mouth, not amused. We ‘sang out’ for two days running.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4142/4916140901_393d87dbbb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4142/4916140901_393d87dbbb.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And bears there were; a gauntlet of them; each one behaving in their own manner. Running away, running towards us and standing to look, not running at all, but slinking back into the brush. One, having jumped out of the river at seeing us, thought better of it, jumped back in to grab a particularly nice fish in his mouth, and then hopped back up onto the bank again to watch us slide past while he dined.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The weather worsened as we descended the river towards the Bering Sea. Though we were only a few miles from the volcano, we caught only occasional glimpses of it to remind us where we were. Unsure of the wisdom of taking the rafts all the way out to the ocean and down the coast, we elected to pull off the river a few miles from the mouth and portage back to our starting point. Looking back on it, logistically, that was probably a mistake. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The next two days entailed a lot of swamp-walking, with occasional slivers of relatively hard ground to follow. The packs were still too heavy for conditions, the price we paid for combining a river trip with an extended backpack journey. As a friend told me once, when experiencing the consequences of a questionable course of action in the outdoors, we were “out here to get some EXERCISE!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4089/4847325706_b899e77007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4089/4847325706_b899e77007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Two weeks after we departed, we stood again on our point of embarkation. Our bodies had paid the price. When we got back into town, we asked a helpful fellow we had met the year before if he thought we were going to make it this time. He smiled, dodged the question, and said “we were just discussing yesterday that you were about due back today…”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/4916223087_eba00893b0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4078/4916223087_eba00893b0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The next day, we boarded a plane back to Anchorage and homeward, back to our normal lives and routines. Airborne, we looked out the windows to the south, towards the volcano, but it was veiled in angry clouds, as usual. Just as well - to remember it like that. Each of us knew what lay concealed in that curtain of mist, both the physical wonders and our own memories. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We also knew we would likely never return.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/sets/72157624498826219">Photos on Flickr from our 2009 Trip</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/riversandcreeks/sets/72157624498826219">Photos on Flickr from our 2010 Trip</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.riversandcreeks.com/google_earth_files/aniakchak_expedition.kmz">Google Earth File of our Campsites</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-9057432260805954332009-03-07T22:01:00.000-08:002009-03-07T22:01:14.611-08:00Balance the Load: Look Beyond HydropowerSpecial to the Cascadia Weekly<br />Balance the Load<br />LOOK BEYOND HYDROPOWER TO MEET STATE’S RENEWABLE ENERGY NEEDS<br />BY THOMAS O’KEEFE<br /><br />IN 2006, Washington voters passed Initiative 937, which required utilities to obtain 15 percent of their power from renewable sources. Hydropower was not included in this goal. The reason for this was simple: Washington already receives more than 60 percent of its electricity from hydropower, representing more than a quarter of the nation’s total hydroelectric production.<br /><br />Recognizing the need to diversify our state’s energy portfolio, voters sought incentives for development of alternatives to carbon-based sources that would not result in further impacts to our already stressed river systems. This week, however, lawmakers in Olympia are working to amend I-937 to include new hydropower and new dams resulting in further impacts to our already stressed river systems. The majority of amendments seek incentives for “small hydropower.” Sites for large dams have already been developed, but more than 500 sites for small hydropower have been identified the state, including several in the Nooksack watershed.<br /><br />While developers attempt to portray an image of a quaint little waterwheel cranking out the megawatts along a forested mountain stream, a closer look reveals the problems with these projects.<br /><br />Small projects produce very little power relative to the impacts. Incentives for new projects under 5 megawatts (MW) are among the proposals currently in the legislature. If one considers all 323 potential sites that have been identified in the state that meet this standard and if we developed all of them, we could produce a total of approximately 680 MW. This is comparable to one or two wind projects. The impacts would include not only those to the stream but also significant infrastructure that would be required for transmission lines to integrate each one of these little projects, scattered across the headwaters of the Cascades, with the regional energy grid.<br /><br />Some have suggested that because these projects would not have “dams” or “reservoirs” but would instead utilize “weirs” and “headponds,” the impacts would be minimal. Despite the clever use of language, the reality is all conventional hydropower requires removing water from the stream to send it down a pipe and into a turbine.<br /><br />Just a few years ago, we asked our timber companies to invest millions in forgone harvest to protect native trout populations and the integrity of our watersheds. Removing the water from these streams for hydropower would have obvious and immediate impacts on the resources we are<br />working to protect.<br /><br />In addition to the fishery impacts, many of these headwater streams are enjoyed by whitewater kayakers. It is access to outdoor recreation opportunities that makes Bellingham one of the nation’s great cities for outdoor recreation and is a defining feature of the quality of life. Despite claims these projects would be upstream of “conventional navigation,” all of the best whitewater destinations in the region are at risk.<br /><br />Some have also argued that more hydropower is necessary to balance the load from wind power. While our existing hydropower infrastructure is useful in this regard, building new small projects would not help. For the flashy headwater streams representing candidates for new projects, power production is greatest in the spring when flows are highest. This is also when regional power rates are at their lowest due to the overabundance of hydropower on the grid. In fact, this past spring power prices were negative and producers had to pay to place power on the grid.<br /><br />Hydropower is an important part of our state’s energy resources and will continue to be so, but it’s time to diversify to new renewable technology and challenge our elected officials to look beyond the old technology of the past. Let’s not threaten our investment in watershed protection through careless incentives for new dams and hydropower.<br /><br />********************<br /><br />Thomas O’Keefe, PhD, is a river ecologist and the Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director for American Whitewater, a national river conservation organization dedicated to conservation of our nation’s headwater streams and enhancement of opportunities for the public to enjoy them. He serves on the steering committee for the Hydropower Reform Coalition, and on weekends he can be found exploring many of the wild rivers in the Cascades that have been identified as sites for new hydropower projects.Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-58164938071974605392008-10-02T12:26:00.000-07:002008-10-05T21:13:12.424-07:00A Day on the Skagit RiverOur raft dropped into Goodell Rapid a wave crashing over the side of our boat as my three-year-old son giggled with excitement. He sat on the center seat next to me, my parents were in the front, and the entertainment of watching Grandma and Grandpa being splashed by the Skagit River was providing more enjoyment than Saturday morning cartoons.<br /><br />The Skagit has always been one of my favorite rivers and a place that I always take out-of-town visitors--for me, the river defines the Pacific Northwest Experience. While a section of the river is harnessed for hydropower, providing a significant contribution to Seattle's power needs, careful attention to management of the river and the hydropower system has provided that elusive balance that is so often hard to achieve. The river itself is one of the most spectacular rivers on the West Coast. It provides approximately 20% of the water flowing into Puget Sound and is home to all five species of Pacific salmon with some of the largest and healthiest wild Chinook and pink salmon runs in the region. Mature riparian forests provide habitat for wildlife including hundreds of eagles that overwinter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Photo_detail_photoid_41845_"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/41845.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But the best part about this river is that it is simply a great place to go out and enjoy a day on the water. I have visited hundreds of rivers around the country and I can think of few places that approach the Skagit as an accessible river that provides opportunities for wildlife viewing, world-class fishing, and rapids that provide a thrill for those who want a taste of what the higher gradient rivers of the Cascades have to offer.<br /><br />As I continued the journey downstream with my family we gazed deep into the crystal clear water where we could see salmon on their own journey up the river. A family of ducks pulled into an eddy and a eagle soared overhead. Forests climbed the steep valley walls and disappeared into the clouds above, a tranquil autumn scene as the vine maples showed the first signs of turning.<br /><br />The quiet pace was soon broken as we drifted into the S Bend Rapids, a trio of challenging class III wave trains that represent the most difficult whitewater on the run. Prior to our run I had stopped along the road above these rapids to scout out a line that would keep my passengers dry. I told everyone to hold on as we slid onto the tongue of the rapid--the calm before the storm as the waves churned white just below. I pulled to the left, but my timing was just a half second off as I tried to skirt the biggest wave below which crashed over our boat. We pulled into an eddy below and my mom shook off the water like a wet dog as my son laughed.<br /><br />Soon after our ride through the rapids we pulled into the take-out at Copper Creek. In the early 1980's this was the site for a proposed hydropower project that would have inundated the section we had just run. Today the river runs free and I hope it stays that way. We all use electricity but the river also provides another kind of power--the power to draw one into the natural world, connecting us with friends and family, and reminding us what it means to be alive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Photo_detail_photoid_41847_"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/41847.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-13831462665906093122008-08-18T22:58:00.000-07:002008-09-13T13:12:36.754-07:00Western River TourI spend a lot of time in meetings talking about rivers, thinking about how they should be managed, and negotiating agreements that balance the ecosystem services that our nation's waterways provide. It's always good to take some time to go out and see rivers, talk to people who live and work along them, spend time with river managers and business owners, fish and play on the water, and experience the diversity of rivers our country has to offer. With that in mind my son Aki and I set off on a 19 day journey to explore rivers. Here are a few of the places we went.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkR7QX9qnqU-GJK1qGdJpEUflax03F5m6Gf7bdxv9uRAZ1IBpJd0kXaYz1mRT70H4m8hpEJ2CX4jywNwe05qL0o0Z39gso9wo2bpc8iA8dnV9qtTugxWSjYQRhXPe1blsNmUO/s1600-h/post_falls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkR7QX9qnqU-GJK1qGdJpEUflax03F5m6Gf7bdxv9uRAZ1IBpJd0kXaYz1mRT70H4m8hpEJ2CX4jywNwe05qL0o0Z39gso9wo2bpc8iA8dnV9qtTugxWSjYQRhXPe1blsNmUO/s400/post_falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236105198758524354" border="0" /></a>Day 1: We spent our first day on the road driving through the Columbia basin along the Yakima, Spokane, and Clark Fork Rivers. We made this stop at Post Falls where the Spokane River begins at the Washington/Idaho border at Coeur D'Alene (pictured above). The dam at the falls is part of the hydropower projects operated by Avista along the <a href="http://www.hydroreform.org/projects/spokane-river-p-2545">Spokane River</a> that are currently being relicensed with the federal government.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgm0sMPLzRd7F3wWzdHmFSNqXDFiRLM-Qa_jbpcnej3UY5N2rYxeOYRKZgYoHzW7Y-V084nKea4K4ELFb4KEftIc7DY0AAWFJQYUUgBX-PqiCKgOuRWJSxt6f-KVs_wqrSY-9/s1600-h/upper_missouri_river.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgm0sMPLzRd7F3wWzdHmFSNqXDFiRLM-Qa_jbpcnej3UY5N2rYxeOYRKZgYoHzW7Y-V084nKea4K4ELFb4KEftIc7DY0AAWFJQYUUgBX-PqiCKgOuRWJSxt6f-KVs_wqrSY-9/s400/upper_missouri_river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236106432923072162" border="0" /></a>Day 2: On our second day we crossed the continental divide and entered the Mississippi drainage. We drove along the Missouri River to Great Falls along the route that Lewis and Clark traveled (pictured above). We saw lots of people fishing and floating the river and made a stop at <a href="http://lewisandclark.state.mt.us/sites.asp?IDNumber=9">Great Falls</a>. The falls are altered by a series of dams and reservoirs. We had made arrangements in Fort Benton for a canoe to take us down the Upper Missouri River and launched in the late afternoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2TY8DwuUjhoJQSCSZDx5BYnSdAqhHvgfG7PuxnNqGJ4uW1eci6OzLrWdOJpkeBv-Hv-WPPOM43_9xGJ-616czUm8V7kn-jyHNcpFXRyo1fmY_3Ndk_DuFg2yZYd4yHFr-Aw-/s1600-h/white_cliffs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2TY8DwuUjhoJQSCSZDx5BYnSdAqhHvgfG7PuxnNqGJ4uW1eci6OzLrWdOJpkeBv-Hv-WPPOM43_9xGJ-616czUm8V7kn-jyHNcpFXRyo1fmY_3Ndk_DuFg2yZYd4yHFr-Aw-/s400/white_cliffs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230287086848873682" border="0" /></a>Day 3: We emerged from our tent on the banks of the Missouri River and spent the whole day floating through the <a href="http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/lewistown_field_office/UM.html">Missouri Breaks National Monument</a> (pictured above). This is one of the few remaining sections of a free-flowing Missouri River that is completely undeveloped. We followed along with excerpts from the journals of Lewis and Clark and watched the scenic tapestry unfold before us as in a George Bingham painting. (<a href="http://riversandcreeks.blogspot.com/2008/08/missouri-river.html">Read and See More of Our Trip</a>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKspKMerKvW1ARWnYLUTUpT0kqEC86VEVHntmx9Mgs9Voa9Na8wuIuOBwuHULoTvlkhiqsgm76aY98URwOM_V6rGOrVijWJSfgiZoHS0uLA0mzjmua6sv1QbLdjb3jFe4BOXJ/s1600-h/yellowstone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKspKMerKvW1ARWnYLUTUpT0kqEC86VEVHntmx9Mgs9Voa9Na8wuIuOBwuHULoTvlkhiqsgm76aY98URwOM_V6rGOrVijWJSfgiZoHS0uLA0mzjmua6sv1QbLdjb3jFe4BOXJ/s400/yellowstone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236108856474789874" border="0" /></a>Day 4: We finished our float on the Missouri River around lunch time and then set out east across Montana on Highway 200. A highlight for Aki was a small town we passed through in Garfield County where they had a cast of a complete fossilized Triceratops that was discovered on one of the nearby ranches. I think we will be back someday to do the <a href="http://mtdinotrail.org/">dino trail</a>. As we headed into North Dakota we crossed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_River">Yellowstone River</a> (pictured above). At 671 miles it is the longest undammed river in the lower 48 and the principal tributary for the Missouri River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8tFHOqnVni-n85C_6IMOhPtzfPd3rNWmShcRG8V7hLkKd-aFwdWuvSFmND3-DdyN-t6x4ki2X7c0SCemy_xJZD3Sl1XuKI5JOAYoVVyCPHqtOrdWjJo2vnB0qiiwjApsQZi9/s1600-h/little_missouri.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8tFHOqnVni-n85C_6IMOhPtzfPd3rNWmShcRG8V7hLkKd-aFwdWuvSFmND3-DdyN-t6x4ki2X7c0SCemy_xJZD3Sl1XuKI5JOAYoVVyCPHqtOrdWjJo2vnB0qiiwjApsQZi9/s400/little_missouri.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236110508050686002" border="0" /></a>Day 5: We had pulled in late the evening before to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/thro/">Theodore Roosevelt National Park</a> along the banks of the Little Missouri River (pictured above). We spent the morning exploring the countryside and scenic geology along the river. We then continued down the Missouri River stopping at the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/knri/">Mandan Village</a> site where Sacagewea and Charbonneau joined the Lewis and Clark expedition. We continued along the river to Bismarck where we set out east along the interstate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjumLxJC5rTUJ-9MqX753s988PF_twZh6x4crewuFSLFO-q-T6heEqQkKH-T9XtNnLgjvQYc_6nrDV6yiG0demNxw0WAJMASj_ugl3hOdCV-Qt6yvIIMMFngtWA8QGy5uJV8O/s1600-h/mississippi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjumLxJC5rTUJ-9MqX753s988PF_twZh6x4crewuFSLFO-q-T6heEqQkKH-T9XtNnLgjvQYc_6nrDV6yiG0demNxw0WAJMASj_ugl3hOdCV-Qt6yvIIMMFngtWA8QGy5uJV8O/s400/mississippi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236112094205233794" border="0" /></a>Day 6: After a few hours on the road we came into St. Paul and started exploring the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/miss/">Mississippi National River</a> (pictured above). We spent some time along the river and then headed down to Hastings which is a significant site as the first formal proposal for a <a href="http://www.hydroreform.org/news/2008/08/21/in-river-hydrokinetics-faq">hydrokinetic project</a> on the Mississippi River at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_and_Dam_No._2">Lock and Dam Number 2</a>. Hydrokinetic projects generate power through current and the proposed project would be at the outlet of the lock<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJin0AJbs38Ve-5zQlxIWMf31B6eZ1p9AQQAqy5zZACBnQ1_r8D1IgTAHs8dQ_Klljwk63GRI8RdQj_xtKK0__CWaPChI76nLAPeo2D7NvRexi6_GoKqWl4HUbI2GQEwMmmK4j/s1600-h/IMGP1122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJin0AJbs38Ve-5zQlxIWMf31B6eZ1p9AQQAqy5zZACBnQ1_r8D1IgTAHs8dQ_Klljwk63GRI8RdQj_xtKK0__CWaPChI76nLAPeo2D7NvRexi6_GoKqWl4HUbI2GQEwMmmK4j/s400/IMGP1122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242792626806415842" border="0" /></a>Day 7: We took a break from rivers but did splash around in Lake Wingra in Madison Wisconsin. Our friends Helge and Laurieann were married and that was the main activity for the day (pictured above). A couple dozen paddlers were present for the occasion and the reception turned into a planning session for future trips and expeditions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgXZMduTgjxqauIdlzjm41fmivdJyqBiIU399XWWIwkiTqHzQSGbYahME59xjZHZEnRBbF8QTfvfM23LumLQ3WZapfK9sXyLyGaOrcPC4WtrKyWlFUxYYUmIgU03K7ZFbolUc/s1600-h/water_gun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgXZMduTgjxqauIdlzjm41fmivdJyqBiIU399XWWIwkiTqHzQSGbYahME59xjZHZEnRBbF8QTfvfM23LumLQ3WZapfK9sXyLyGaOrcPC4WtrKyWlFUxYYUmIgU03K7ZFbolUc/s400/water_gun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240966540001890" border="0" /></a>Day 8: The Wisconsin River is one of the Midwest's great river trips (pictured above). I have done sections of the lower Wisconsin several times and it is simply one of the most outstanding canoe trips in the country. The river flows through Aldo Leopold country and several islands and beautiful sandy beaches make for great camping and picnic opportunities. Steve, Paul, and I all brought our kids along and our friend Megi joined in the fun as well. (<a href="http://riversandcreeks.blogspot.com/2008/08/enjoying-wisconsin-river.html">Read and See More of Our Trip</a>).<br /><br />Day 9: I spent most of the day cleaning and repacking the car as we prepared for our trip home. We drove up to the Mecan River and Aki did spend some time splashing in the water with Harry and Jan's dog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_j3EQKlLWiO34oWcmjBwUvMs6uj-tuVpF_SKZJlC1E1QUDEea-Bl-crAzNNkXMPxM4fVKv8QM01jx_shcLW8kZBvYlFwOIK0qdckF09vAoZTL5TJ0sg5W6f6vl7gEZO-53dd/s1600-h/aki_fish_on.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_j3EQKlLWiO34oWcmjBwUvMs6uj-tuVpF_SKZJlC1E1QUDEea-Bl-crAzNNkXMPxM4fVKv8QM01jx_shcLW8kZBvYlFwOIK0qdckF09vAoZTL5TJ0sg5W6f6vl7gEZO-53dd/s400/aki_fish_on.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235146334117707026" border="0" /></a>Day 10: I grew up trout fishing and it was great to introduce my son Aki to the sport for the first time (pictured above). The Mecan River is a classic trout stream in central Wisconsin and we were up early so Aki could catch our breakfast. We spent a day exploring this stream in the Fox River drainage (<a href="http://akiokeefe.blogspot.com/2008/08/trout-fishing-mecan-river.html">Read and See More of Our Trip</a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJQuam8ni4Lu5oonyxRrQIMsrUbmZU9Ivvu1yaDcM9UEM34cA3iqmidS82aG8sI5gmuNv-n37hTc584-ZidGdFCBmkGurosvEk9D1Shhvae7O2m21VKlUHY3Qx1N-kh3ieThC/s1600-h/kaukauna_dam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJQuam8ni4Lu5oonyxRrQIMsrUbmZU9Ivvu1yaDcM9UEM34cA3iqmidS82aG8sI5gmuNv-n37hTc584-ZidGdFCBmkGurosvEk9D1Shhvae7O2m21VKlUHY3Qx1N-kh3ieThC/s400/kaukauna_dam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236114285023028178" border="0" /></a>Day 11: The Fox River was the industrial waterway that transported and processed the timber from Paul Bunyan's northwoods. With some of the oldest hydropower in the country the river continues to be a working waterway (pictured above). The Kaukauna Project is currently trying to negotiate a new license so they can rebuild their power plant and local paddlers contacted me expressing concerns over what this would mean for recreational opportunities on the river. I came out for a site visit with project operators, agency staff, and local stakeholders to learn more about the project and the issues at stake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJhyphenhyphenWu_3hUPdQWKeFKv-vqgUMmJDRIjLh1IV2tpSfEbTh8BLERQ3plMnIokD0KlnRgLF_bWizR6PD2-5JhHqXihZ4IiP_yz9Xs48Tu14hVygNGHdX6MotlfmxTj_B7GaY3fFA/s1600-h/missouri.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJhyphenhyphenWu_3hUPdQWKeFKv-vqgUMmJDRIjLh1IV2tpSfEbTh8BLERQ3plMnIokD0KlnRgLF_bWizR6PD2-5JhHqXihZ4IiP_yz9Xs48Tu14hVygNGHdX6MotlfmxTj_B7GaY3fFA/s400/missouri.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236114966209898034" border="0" /></a>Day 12: We spent most of the day driving and finally found our way back at the Missouri River, although at a point further downstream than where we had been the week before. We traveled along the section of the river between Gavins Point Dam and Fort Randall Dam which is a beautiful section of the river (pictured above). We plan to come back someday to further explore this section by canoe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuJts_GfmGYE0KcoUfrdbhbVMHsYtSye34dQUoi04NrtK_QNH7bkK_bnTO0lzfk6rG2Ov24fBPJZpx-0m6RSDhUpo1ugw2-v00zLJBagDPGTIAKHYau8n3o2VYXlf6ukQxXM5/s1600-h/fritz_island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuJts_GfmGYE0KcoUfrdbhbVMHsYtSye34dQUoi04NrtK_QNH7bkK_bnTO0lzfk6rG2Ov24fBPJZpx-0m6RSDhUpo1ugw2-v00zLJBagDPGTIAKHYau8n3o2VYXlf6ukQxXM5/s400/fritz_island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236090858107112402" border="0" /></a>Day 13: In a region where many of the rivers have been transformed by irrigation and dams, the Niobrara remains as one of the last free-flowing rivers of the Great Plains. It flows east across the northern half of Nebraska before it joins the Missouri River on the border with South Dakota. Aki and I spent a full day on the river paddling over 25 miles, exploring waterfalls, swimming in the river, and generally enjoying this wonderful river (<a href="http://riversandcreeks.blogspot.com/2008/08/niobrara-wild-and-scenic-river.html">Read and See More of Our Trip</a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtarhTlijcDwIcmPXBers6bvixQWiJHjbJ6WSkyKNgLof-LZ3QPXCLwR5NN02iioei9KnjDQ3HSqfD41IENABTLGi6AyCTCHhZkVR2eFVzR99YuabkGAViqjHTgKmBGXmKWfFB/s1600-h/niobrara_headwaters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtarhTlijcDwIcmPXBers6bvixQWiJHjbJ6WSkyKNgLof-LZ3QPXCLwR5NN02iioei9KnjDQ3HSqfD41IENABTLGi6AyCTCHhZkVR2eFVzR99YuabkGAViqjHTgKmBGXmKWfFB/s400/niobrara_headwaters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236116313663515634" border="0" /></a>Day 14: After stopping in to meet with the folks at the National Park Service who manage the Niobrara Wild and Scenic River we continued across the state and followed the river to its headwaters. We stopped at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument where the river is just a narrow channel that passed through irrigated agricultural lands (pictured above).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI9DJAdou5W5NF1qATJo9Ju06vbvmPJYRuq_QF7GwSMSBw468x-1acVFcDIVa8rUEvf-NJFfopqNjGXT8bFczMKjy2bTRMmzzkWQwi6FQdMEDDViEtP5udiPMM6MvM8j_9dHs/s1600-h/snake_teton.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirI9DJAdou5W5NF1qATJo9Ju06vbvmPJYRuq_QF7GwSMSBw468x-1acVFcDIVa8rUEvf-NJFfopqNjGXT8bFczMKjy2bTRMmzzkWQwi6FQdMEDDViEtP5udiPMM6MvM8j_9dHs/s400/snake_teton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236116818424183490" border="0" /></a>Day 15: We crossed Wyoming and climbed over the pass into the Headwaters of the Snake River, a major tributary of the Columbia River that originates in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/yell/">Yellowstone National Park</a>. We spent the day traveling through the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grte/">Grand Teton National Park</a> where the Snake flows along the base of the Teton Range (pictured above).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR1_-kWfikI3xjNjrhriL8BQERfuf2Kz9sndeAIGxLzRaI0vvaYUWqCkAZojyV6cRlzBTrrdIKWKCpnYtLaxBOhJEuAbBAgmV1gcSUZrYpgwusJ102gs_aJU18bbtS_6gt7EE/s1600-h/snake_whitewater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR1_-kWfikI3xjNjrhriL8BQERfuf2Kz9sndeAIGxLzRaI0vvaYUWqCkAZojyV6cRlzBTrrdIKWKCpnYtLaxBOhJEuAbBAgmV1gcSUZrYpgwusJ102gs_aJU18bbtS_6gt7EE/s400/snake_whitewater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242768586584547298" border="0" /></a>Day 16: We linked up with my friend Dave who is the Forest Service manager for the Snake River as it flows through Alpine Canyon downstream of Jackson, WY (pictured above). Dave and his wife took their young daughter and my son Aki down in a raft. I had an opportunity to kayak and we all had a great day on the water. Legislation is pending in Congress to designate the Snake and major tributaries under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (learn more about the <a href="http://www.snakeheadwaters.org/index.php">Campaign for the Snake Headwaters</a>). Time is running short to pass the legislation in this Congress but it has been packaged with a number of public river and land bills under the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 (S. 3213).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKP8CZeKyHX6F8iTqSTTLaoCTCnQQLgYqfVIGINaHe6d7OSI3i-eDVWPQk7A-uc_7_1qSM2Pq8sVuH3E8GhM9_dHJGsAVSJSgPjQTWnvsTKdCXtNBi54BID1CWN2LH17E6HJo/s1600-h/grand_yellowstone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKP8CZeKyHX6F8iTqSTTLaoCTCnQQLgYqfVIGINaHe6d7OSI3i-eDVWPQk7A-uc_7_1qSM2Pq8sVuH3E8GhM9_dHJGsAVSJSgPjQTWnvsTKdCXtNBi54BID1CWN2LH17E6HJo/s400/grand_yellowstone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242768249388651202" border="0" /></a>Day 17: From a river perspective Yellowstone is a pretty fascinating place. Rivers that include the Missouri, Snake, and Yellowstone all have their origin in the Park. We spent the day exploring the Yellowstone River, which we had crossed earlier in the trip closer to its mouth with the Missouri. The overlook at Artist's Point is one of my favorite places in any of our National Parks (pictured above). The place is significant because the dramatic view was captured by Thomas Moran in vivid paintings that were an instrumental component of Congressional testimony that led to the creation of our nation's first national park in 1872. Congress appropriated $10,000 for the purchase of Moran's painting, The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone which now hangs in the Renwick Museum just a couple blocks from the Whitehouse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJE2XplFOYMcUDh96Cd9sThXKdPHK1avJVrImQXTHXw9TY-RqkdOdXhcyCGxSmVssNK7Grr5LKrYsF8upvhL6phRZll2_0qJa8v2rRO3ryL6KNmvcY_g3wxcx2ZobqkwZFQ4Y/s1600-h/geyser.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJE2XplFOYMcUDh96Cd9sThXKdPHK1avJVrImQXTHXw9TY-RqkdOdXhcyCGxSmVssNK7Grr5LKrYsF8upvhL6phRZll2_0qJa8v2rRO3ryL6KNmvcY_g3wxcx2ZobqkwZFQ4Y/s400/geyser.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242768249349294562" border="0" /></a>Day 18: We had plans to travel out along the Firehole River which is a major tributary of the Madison which then becomes the Missouri. The headwaters are well known for the famous geysers of Yellowstone and we were lucky enough to catch Beehive Geyser as we were passing through (pictured above). It is one of the most impressive geysers in the Park and we enjoyed a great show. We headed back to Missoula crossing over the divide into the Clark Fork drainage. Along the way we passed the massive restoration effort where Milltown Dam is being removed and the confluence of the Blackfoot with the Clark Fork is being restored (a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISLInzprz3M">Video</a> from my colleague who filmed the restoration of flow to the river channel). I finished off the day with my friend Molly and a paddling trip through Alberton Gorge. Aki spent the evening learning to skip rocks with Kevin.<br /><br />Day 19: Our last day on the road, Aki and I stopped in to meet with our friends from <a href="http://www.wildsalmon.org/">Save Our Wild Salmon</a> and talked about recreational opportunities a restored Snake River might provide. Aki splashed about in the Spokane River and then we cruised across the state and were home in time for dinner.Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-41990891373426957982008-08-18T21:22:00.001-07:002008-08-26T00:37:00.564-07:00Niobrara Wild and Scenic RiverIn a region where many of the rivers have been transformed by irrigation and dams, the <a href="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_5729_">Niobrara</a> remains as one of the last free-flowing rivers of the Great Plains. It flows east across the northern half of Nebraska before it joins the Missouri River on the border with South Dakota.<br /><br />On a cross country tour of rivers, my son and I spent a couple days exploring the Niobrara. We camped out at <a href="http://www.rockbarnoutfitters.com/">Rock Barn</a> and then got a shuttle up to the start at Cornell Bridge which is a popular put-in for canoe trips.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmY8ZTYVmrPnw6FPwcF1MaDGHP5w5-65IAGGC1QMaM5MQHgp8KIjNTBLYh_IWMrS3myn0ScaR8DGDRmg-l0dQAS99aKVIJyJ5nFhSc3XYehvVFAJsNboB-Cpr2TXB_JbxbeTWp/s1600-h/niobrara_cliffs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmY8ZTYVmrPnw6FPwcF1MaDGHP5w5-65IAGGC1QMaM5MQHgp8KIjNTBLYh_IWMrS3myn0ScaR8DGDRmg-l0dQAS99aKVIJyJ5nFhSc3XYehvVFAJsNboB-Cpr2TXB_JbxbeTWp/s400/niobrara_cliffs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236090879805753122" border="0" /></a>The river starts out in the Congressionally designated Wilderness within the <a href="http://www.fws.gov/fortniobrara/">Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2e3pPMf0Rh4huleBzP_jOA0g4_WrCuNVeSurH8A2_obGExCmBwmgjoBchjfuyZEA840qY4ja21HKKX9vhmlKfzTsG9DsRqi6P7U4s6UTXiEDWLieU4UionzNoDW1gtm7YXul/s1600-h/waterfall_aki.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2e3pPMf0Rh4huleBzP_jOA0g4_WrCuNVeSurH8A2_obGExCmBwmgjoBchjfuyZEA840qY4ja21HKKX9vhmlKfzTsG9DsRqi6P7U4s6UTXiEDWLieU4UionzNoDW1gtm7YXul/s400/waterfall_aki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236095736831025506" border="0" /></a>My son Aki enjoyed the dozens of waterfalls that cascade into the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6kngC5yFRoXXbdOD7Wu2o75NOybVmDYHNO8bCzvnNIPQFpNpS_DhEj6VUHfAZ4IMhb1-JvW7gU-KbrKG6D7Vn8EIu_Wq3bkjSdCOUqEoHxZ3Iw75jV36tyfYgYuxvLKfIbGN/s1600-h/smith_falls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6kngC5yFRoXXbdOD7Wu2o75NOybVmDYHNO8bCzvnNIPQFpNpS_DhEj6VUHfAZ4IMhb1-JvW7gU-KbrKG6D7Vn8EIu_Wq3bkjSdCOUqEoHxZ3Iw75jV36tyfYgYuxvLKfIbGN/s400/smith_falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236090890896405218" border="0" /></a>The biggest waterfall on the river and in fact the tallest in Nebraska is Smith Falls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlE7OzZBFRO78If40Fc-K1hdesTVQvDou4NVpPURZ5FpVZOQ50tuHQMIuzjK6J0GTMf5EVj0QU_aEssRqr0xiRAOaPuMBeay5f-0poHlk3vsmFQbWfsAmUfQfSUpcgD5T9_xx/s1600-h/smith_falls_aki.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlE7OzZBFRO78If40Fc-K1hdesTVQvDou4NVpPURZ5FpVZOQ50tuHQMIuzjK6J0GTMf5EVj0QU_aEssRqr0xiRAOaPuMBeay5f-0poHlk3vsmFQbWfsAmUfQfSUpcgD5T9_xx/s400/smith_falls_aki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236090901055039042" border="0" /></a>My son Aki playing at the base of Smith Falls with dozens of other little kids out enjoying the river. There's been a lot of discussion regarding the need to get kids in the outdoors. My idea: Give them all water cannons, buckets, and turn them loose on a river like the Niobrara. They were all having a great time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuJts_GfmGYE0KcoUfrdbhbVMHsYtSye34dQUoi04NrtK_QNH7bkK_bnTO0lzfk6rG2Ov24fBPJZpx-0m6RSDhUpo1ugw2-v00zLJBagDPGTIAKHYau8n3o2VYXlf6ukQxXM5/s1600-h/fritz_island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuJts_GfmGYE0KcoUfrdbhbVMHsYtSye34dQUoi04NrtK_QNH7bkK_bnTO0lzfk6rG2Ov24fBPJZpx-0m6RSDhUpo1ugw2-v00zLJBagDPGTIAKHYau8n3o2VYXlf6ukQxXM5/s400/fritz_island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236090858107112402" border="0" /></a>Give a guy a beer, put him in a boat, and he'll run anything. Here a paddler runs the right side ledge at Fritz's Island which is generally discouraged by those renting out the boats (they ask you to take the easier left side channel).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuADiZ377EE2Sdp9d1HwtzuHMSUYPnwxQJKWycIDctHgDweZtl-dVTN8qu4iYrsg97HhW-za0TKX0OZvf3jdrg5qZK2zx-5aTJrbiJ0ea_rU5jxj_nsUxBpZpYP9Zr26W17CiY/s1600-h/kicking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuADiZ377EE2Sdp9d1HwtzuHMSUYPnwxQJKWycIDctHgDweZtl-dVTN8qu4iYrsg97HhW-za0TKX0OZvf3jdrg5qZK2zx-5aTJrbiJ0ea_rU5jxj_nsUxBpZpYP9Zr26W17CiY/s400/kicking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236090873901277890" border="0" /></a>My son abandoning the paddle for something a little more dynamic--kicking the boat down the river or maybe it was just around in circles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fNNBllD0dvswI-YxS_qyc1Wb1Z6eSjo4ZwZp2uYCgfWeSYDEpKuBfwhwJT9i9wvMrS9K27MQ1H3hOIQp7XAttGdEwXkozIuySH33-iMO_MihJ7XHiTQMD3jDn-g9CkHE__E-/s1600-h/upper_niobrara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fNNBllD0dvswI-YxS_qyc1Wb1Z6eSjo4ZwZp2uYCgfWeSYDEpKuBfwhwJT9i9wvMrS9K27MQ1H3hOIQp7XAttGdEwXkozIuySH33-iMO_MihJ7XHiTQMD3jDn-g9CkHE__E-/s400/upper_niobrara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238722155173495058" border="0" /></a>After paddling about 30 miles of the Wild and Scenic section we traveled across the state and explored the headwaters where the river is little more than a irrigation ditch flowing through agricultural lands bordered by an arid landscape.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnR-m9RKKMUVeZlKx8FKXkH3ixSLisYWi90S5ysf46ipsGXvPPThRnckJk29cmq-opFwhoDUOmTW1pGWnUq01M8iUKLFO8oDl7hpLhIy95GPvk49BaoJCVNrfUFGPxaBdccR8/s1600-h/niobrara_irrigation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnR-m9RKKMUVeZlKx8FKXkH3ixSLisYWi90S5ysf46ipsGXvPPThRnckJk29cmq-opFwhoDUOmTW1pGWnUq01M8iUKLFO8oDl7hpLhIy95GPvk49BaoJCVNrfUFGPxaBdccR8/s400/niobrara_irrigation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238722156670940978" border="0" /></a>The river provides water for irrigation but as it sprays into the air flows on the section we enjoyed downstream are diminished. The National Park Service recently conducted a study of instream flow needs for recreation. As demand for irrigation water continues to increase the spectacular and regionally significant recreational opportunities could be lost.<br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-63444657091414672222008-08-14T12:57:00.001-07:002008-08-14T12:57:41.421-07:00Enjoying the Wisconsin RiverI've done a lot of river trips around the country and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_River">Wisconsin River</a> is one of my favorites for just hanging out and enjoying the river. Great beaches, warm water, fun people watching, and almost 100 miles of free-flowing river to explore. My son and I were on a trip across the country visiting rivers and we joined up with some of our friends for a day trip and picnic on the sandy beaches.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfir6QYYrmH_7atp5nomqy_XOwF8eYgix19SPpza-e5y3xM1XKx0zjVdL9ry-ck5Ql7pkt_WO56RJHqFteziV4AReK4pKmAjpDN2tvvnAB5jguXhxFhkc2ORDoTXvQCA6oTYD/s1600-h/canoes_on_wisconsin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfir6QYYrmH_7atp5nomqy_XOwF8eYgix19SPpza-e5y3xM1XKx0zjVdL9ry-ck5Ql7pkt_WO56RJHqFteziV4AReK4pKmAjpDN2tvvnAB5jguXhxFhkc2ORDoTXvQCA6oTYD/s400/canoes_on_wisconsin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240602148253042" border="0" /></a>On hot summer days hundreds of canoes travel down the river. There are several outfitters along the river but Wisconsin is a state with a rich canoe culture and it seems that just about everyone has an old aluminum Grumman under a tarp in the backyard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fw8swuKpG4B8l3rHF3CzvLPPTTiCyJ8fWnec1oDGespRPLsGvqesIoo9W7v8jIpCyEtxT-uOoc6UOi_jzFZRBTAu60y6wFkT4f0UH71ciswXjm91M8lR0Fl2Nu4_HtecYffF/s1600-h/kids_canoe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fw8swuKpG4B8l3rHF3CzvLPPTTiCyJ8fWnec1oDGespRPLsGvqesIoo9W7v8jIpCyEtxT-uOoc6UOi_jzFZRBTAu60y6wFkT4f0UH71ciswXjm91M8lR0Fl2Nu4_HtecYffF/s400/kids_canoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240844326641010" border="0" /></a>Charlie, Maria, and Aki all piled into a canoe together and had a great time floating down the river together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgXZMduTgjxqauIdlzjm41fmivdJyqBiIU399XWWIwkiTqHzQSGbYahME59xjZHZEnRBbF8QTfvfM23LumLQ3WZapfK9sXyLyGaOrcPC4WtrKyWlFUxYYUmIgU03K7ZFbolUc/s1600-h/water_gun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgXZMduTgjxqauIdlzjm41fmivdJyqBiIU399XWWIwkiTqHzQSGbYahME59xjZHZEnRBbF8QTfvfM23LumLQ3WZapfK9sXyLyGaOrcPC4WtrKyWlFUxYYUmIgU03K7ZFbolUc/s400/water_gun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240966540001890" border="0" /></a>It wasn't long before Charlie was showing off proper technique with his water canon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6CrnQtPPLL1FPa7Sj6EO16C1MpOQuCdyEBVlziVBaa9b0VcYgQvArubU8hoSXC5zC1D-5V7bkcSFjn7Bix9ZzDxcL4P6AlMz5pzT6a81OrzHUm_k1-nPDOloeAm7upDjJApw/s1600-h/aki_charlie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6CrnQtPPLL1FPa7Sj6EO16C1MpOQuCdyEBVlziVBaa9b0VcYgQvArubU8hoSXC5zC1D-5V7bkcSFjn7Bix9ZzDxcL4P6AlMz5pzT6a81OrzHUm_k1-nPDOloeAm7upDjJApw/s400/aki_charlie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240596672342866" border="0" /></a>Armed and ready for action the boys fired at each other and ran themselves to exhaustion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSL6C5g3b8IDNXeUSRt97sDJspjLiUraZ9bzWGAogNZehXEyO1zDga41yZc_uaOsAi6tFFB2hD8axaCEMbskBZc14Vo2UoA0tyCMG3bkBtUKj7aJKVh8mWv8JUV9358-qO3LR/s1600-h/shooting_fish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSL6C5g3b8IDNXeUSRt97sDJspjLiUraZ9bzWGAogNZehXEyO1zDga41yZc_uaOsAi6tFFB2hD8axaCEMbskBZc14Vo2UoA0tyCMG3bkBtUKj7aJKVh8mWv8JUV9358-qO3LR/s400/shooting_fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240845877654258" border="0" /></a>The boys found little fish and freshwater clams and everything became a target.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26GaYs3CWvcUbr4ahuCblaLHsZGPJpmTgNJluy-NdKOde8eZOmLeR6nJ4_CVYsnhcbEa4C9IxAjUQxyGdJ10rAp0g5ROdjR8vn0mrfrXTgqZ72zdJ7Pc-5ArF1Ecl1xYATXvF/s1600-h/aki_megi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26GaYs3CWvcUbr4ahuCblaLHsZGPJpmTgNJluy-NdKOde8eZOmLeR6nJ4_CVYsnhcbEa4C9IxAjUQxyGdJ10rAp0g5ROdjR8vn0mrfrXTgqZ72zdJ7Pc-5ArF1Ecl1xYATXvF/s400/aki_megi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240598218830418" border="0" /></a>Including women out trying to enjoy the sun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekWmDMf9uEMkFFBDNp3hNehQaNjwz_rfMNE2K5spG9MqZFZjEKtx2bPWcqj96sB1J1ANOg5pjlPs4gZmnkm1Q9nFUTIuwEfjcHNEvDUWt_jOz4_5CXcQyfYWfB2_TD5RLhnlz/s1600-h/aki_water_gun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekWmDMf9uEMkFFBDNp3hNehQaNjwz_rfMNE2K5spG9MqZFZjEKtx2bPWcqj96sB1J1ANOg5pjlPs4gZmnkm1Q9nFUTIuwEfjcHNEvDUWt_jOz4_5CXcQyfYWfB2_TD5RLhnlz/s400/aki_water_gun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240602370606882" border="0" /></a>And here he comes after the camera man.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR-oGMMTb-rKQVqM_kMyMYAHAZGxBkhmY2-lBH9SfOFWunLfUODZAC2PSVOwPaLdvY4AONwnfR7k6GCqJD33AW691Aq1h2k_OATQHxPlm190SZ_CfBcGYYUXmoLj5_y9HhR9N/s1600-h/maria_sand.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR-oGMMTb-rKQVqM_kMyMYAHAZGxBkhmY2-lBH9SfOFWunLfUODZAC2PSVOwPaLdvY4AONwnfR7k6GCqJD33AW691Aq1h2k_OATQHxPlm190SZ_CfBcGYYUXmoLj5_y9HhR9N/s400/maria_sand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240844757286418" border="0" /></a>Meanwhile Maria kept out of the cross fire and enjoyed playing in the sand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCL7fc9ivtaAQ_FWDjGCGuBAoCp7rZvT7f_2JElP38BwrWGAezaI5UJNQLsPCs23a4A81LR1E9iZ2a_Roda_nCi-AKp7OtckgUk1i2wlFQFDmbLq9qWyAhG1H52VOSYkXaFPV/s1600-h/megi_beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCL7fc9ivtaAQ_FWDjGCGuBAoCp7rZvT7f_2JElP38BwrWGAezaI5UJNQLsPCs23a4A81LR1E9iZ2a_Roda_nCi-AKp7OtckgUk1i2wlFQFDmbLq9qWyAhG1H52VOSYkXaFPV/s400/megi_beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240847867452930" border="0" /></a>The beaches are a highlight of this river and spring floods wash them clean and redistribute the sand every year. While many large floodplain rivers have highly regulated flow regimes and encroachment of vegetation that crowds out open sandy beaches, the Wisconsin still has a dynamic flow regime along its lower reaches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-YTqwOd2eU_fKrL3UryFDZL1G0Ga8Jmgjb22woHOybgdBoHjAjgo_eSrFxvZSxfRxm5d_OEnNEtJ9AScrt9fOED76-0EYyhIPezUKy0sjY230bzeGvOsl8JO3zjYAWZqY5Kh/s1600-h/charlie_floating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-YTqwOd2eU_fKrL3UryFDZL1G0Ga8Jmgjb22woHOybgdBoHjAjgo_eSrFxvZSxfRxm5d_OEnNEtJ9AScrt9fOED76-0EYyhIPezUKy0sjY230bzeGvOsl8JO3zjYAWZqY5Kh/s400/charlie_floating.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240841349434034" border="0" /></a>Megi and Paul hanging out the river. Although we were just out on a day trip, you can easily spend several days out on the water and camp on one of the many islands along the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp9CrwcuRlNQCHt_4miLSXWnRYwsd67vmbaQFWRVRIhvxzLkQFRnaUCKlcvlRqWbu3J_eWKX7n2ztsisOenRI0m7wdz3TmPlm1Qyv1dRi4qtwygUGu6xQ65gM63xB39UPTAtp/s1600-h/steve_maria.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp9CrwcuRlNQCHt_4miLSXWnRYwsd67vmbaQFWRVRIhvxzLkQFRnaUCKlcvlRqWbu3J_eWKX7n2ztsisOenRI0m7wdz3TmPlm1Qyv1dRi4qtwygUGu6xQ65gM63xB39UPTAtp/s400/steve_maria.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240963256789794" border="0" /></a>Steve enjoying a moment with his daughter Maria as he paddles down the Wisconsin River.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UrxreWILDyLDmYA6sMd2ASSCUUhSsoEs4DaZtsVB3gJLYVI5KKkBybeUgit0onjnmBb_ehRv_acNE8d27Fnf7v0449FeA6K-cwnpJG7eehfchUB7NOdNRVNDofbRqWhqxaZt/s1600-h/canoes_on_wisonsin_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UrxreWILDyLDmYA6sMd2ASSCUUhSsoEs4DaZtsVB3gJLYVI5KKkBybeUgit0onjnmBb_ehRv_acNE8d27Fnf7v0449FeA6K-cwnpJG7eehfchUB7NOdNRVNDofbRqWhqxaZt/s400/canoes_on_wisonsin_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234240605981817954" border="0" /></a>The masses out for a day on the water. With forested shores, numerous public access points, and great camping and picnic sites along the way, paddlers of all stripes can enjoy their journey down this great river.<br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-46738212074915165652008-08-03T06:37:00.001-07:002008-08-14T12:17:32.896-07:00Missouri RiverRecently my son Aki and I went on a tour of Western rivers. A highlight of our trip was a journey through <a href="http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/lewistown_field_office/UM.html">Missouri Breaks National Monument</a> on the Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River. Congress designated the Wild and Scenic river in 1976 and President Clinton established the National Monument in 2001. Lewis and Clark followed the Missouri River on their journey west and it is about the only long section left that has not been extensively developed or inundated by reservoirs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3cUkSjfqw_cVDKyMUHLiqEfWDFd1bmC0uM0TcxG402EUP7rlb_76vqJfWDWyXNc2DQKkMHvu7hF_w5qLOO5NIB_Bxm2LZr43oaSJteqHzmzcYk7H3wHHV6BSruast4PRUaFA/s1600-h/tom_aki.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3cUkSjfqw_cVDKyMUHLiqEfWDFd1bmC0uM0TcxG402EUP7rlb_76vqJfWDWyXNc2DQKkMHvu7hF_w5qLOO5NIB_Bxm2LZr43oaSJteqHzmzcYk7H3wHHV6BSruast4PRUaFA/s400/tom_aki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230287081263816722" border="0" /></a>Aki and I on the banks of the Missouri River. We spent three days on the Upper Missouri River from Coal Banks Landing (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.0321,+-110.2350&ie=UTF8&ll=48.032226,-110.234993&spn=0.006959,0.016694&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr">48.0321, -110.2350</a>) to Judith Landing (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=47.7388,+-109.6230&ie=UTF8&ll=47.738934,-109.622998&spn=0.006999,0.016694&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr">47.7388, -109.6230</a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqHf1Bk8uA0OGVFRO81SuVdLT-gWXq5Z7BqNofSuoVN-ADA4jChSmt-Tw6-JoSeKDcq76IXm1V_gRmNlIN80qKEdsCS51la5b-UgfJHRBOUBkXRNm6MFzMM2p7WOzU_jqKuno/s1600-h/white_cliffs_entrance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqHf1Bk8uA0OGVFRO81SuVdLT-gWXq5Z7BqNofSuoVN-ADA4jChSmt-Tw6-JoSeKDcq76IXm1V_gRmNlIN80qKEdsCS51la5b-UgfJHRBOUBkXRNm6MFzMM2p7WOzU_jqKuno/s400/white_cliffs_entrance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230287085763309922" border="0" /></a>Entering the White Cliffs section of the Missouri River, one of the most scenic sections of the river at Eagle Creek (47.9128, -110.0580). This is the most popular camping area along the river and the site of Lewis and Clark's camp on May 31, 1805.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2TY8DwuUjhoJQSCSZDx5BYnSdAqhHvgfG7PuxnNqGJ4uW1eci6OzLrWdOJpkeBv-Hv-WPPOM43_9xGJ-616czUm8V7kn-jyHNcpFXRyo1fmY_3Ndk_DuFg2yZYd4yHFr-Aw-/s1600-h/white_cliffs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2TY8DwuUjhoJQSCSZDx5BYnSdAqhHvgfG7PuxnNqGJ4uW1eci6OzLrWdOJpkeBv-Hv-WPPOM43_9xGJ-616czUm8V7kn-jyHNcpFXRyo1fmY_3Ndk_DuFg2yZYd4yHFr-Aw-/s400/white_cliffs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230287086848873682" border="0" /></a>The White Cliffs of the Missouri. Over 200 years ago Lewis wrote, "<span class="WideParrichtexteditorText">The hills and river Clifts which we passed today exhibit a most romantic appearance.... The bluffs of the river rise to hight of from 2 to 300 feet and in most places nearly perpendicular; they are formed of remarkable white sandstone which is sufficiently soft to give way readily to the impression of water..."</span><br /><span class="WideParrichtexteditorText"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHfzgmbNAEeNzag3wptjZ9n7eiIsgMGmlzjNq1HXmfuWBXKd3eQnr1JWJMnpvB0P-BtOlgoTYxccd3vA2JWaVZu6axsArXZemK62jBGjGw2fIvEPEzsa5PmNVMPO3NCI-nKi1/s1600-h/aki_echo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHfzgmbNAEeNzag3wptjZ9n7eiIsgMGmlzjNq1HXmfuWBXKd3eQnr1JWJMnpvB0P-BtOlgoTYxccd3vA2JWaVZu6axsArXZemK62jBGjGw2fIvEPEzsa5PmNVMPO3NCI-nKi1/s400/aki_echo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285451779150258" border="0" /></a>My son Aki yelling up at the cliffs and listening to the echo. This approach did not result in many wildlife viewing opportunities but Aki had announced at the beginning of the trip that he wanted to see a snake, bugs, and fish which we accomplished. We even saw a beaver emerge from his lodge one evening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionjgRnVOVDKiyQwPzWW5xKtRbQ1UKqUsEyArgpIHHHe0V8vLYfZ4KEmVrCCT3KeRCh053738WwgXnem2Yg862ClbM2rCI8ltIlxVUzvFUgZQv1LHPNotMuX-GzT55ByHSm3s1/s1600-h/canoeists_white_cliffs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionjgRnVOVDKiyQwPzWW5xKtRbQ1UKqUsEyArgpIHHHe0V8vLYfZ4KEmVrCCT3KeRCh053738WwgXnem2Yg862ClbM2rCI8ltIlxVUzvFUgZQv1LHPNotMuX-GzT55ByHSm3s1/s400/canoeists_white_cliffs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285671205248738" border="0" /></a>A pair of canoes pass beneath the shadow of LeBarge Rock. It is an intrusion of dark igneous shonkinite named for one of the river's steamboat captains.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAo5MHGcla6zSY4QcuKWu-ATiCwqJ17RY1IhptSItW8Zs40H_XssB3EIEV-yFTOjcBDYXBLEv27Qyiza5a9loBVUZYz79S79K6BCrA3eQXD6jI092L5tR7QVpWHvuPQTP_4xV2/s1600-h/narrows_hike_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAo5MHGcla6zSY4QcuKWu-ATiCwqJ17RY1IhptSItW8Zs40H_XssB3EIEV-yFTOjcBDYXBLEv27Qyiza5a9loBVUZYz79S79K6BCrA3eQXD6jI092L5tR7QVpWHvuPQTP_4xV2/s400/narrows_hike_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230286833236266962" border="0" /></a>The hike up Neats Coulee sometimes called "The Narrows" is highly recommended and we had a great time exploring this slot canyon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNpSPHtQf3F0_mG9Ki_WRTua1skEPzu8wokVK1fua9gOv5uqqQwTW2K06K5uFp_DlnoXxr9aHPfjIVdrTbGNyI2vId-f203Wseex4Mq3ZpRkiC-xvcVbhAv1bdBife8T8060R/s1600-h/narrows_hike_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNpSPHtQf3F0_mG9Ki_WRTua1skEPzu8wokVK1fua9gOv5uqqQwTW2K06K5uFp_DlnoXxr9aHPfjIVdrTbGNyI2vId-f203Wseex4Mq3ZpRkiC-xvcVbhAv1bdBife8T8060R/s400/narrows_hike_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230286825413988338" border="0" /></a>This hike takes you right into the Virgelle Sandstone formations along the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fNGHw0ThMWEBWp8LG3lHJHlh_1GA6yLUAbGmjuSVg8QK7nHRwp61d7kerTSkYlft3bkZZlv5ei_nlHJeviNlnQUL3QbCABIVWi0cJphTRp25UR509hmjSAuouOACOSxUXzPb/s1600-h/butterfly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fNGHw0ThMWEBWp8LG3lHJHlh_1GA6yLUAbGmjuSVg8QK7nHRwp61d7kerTSkYlft3bkZZlv5ei_nlHJeviNlnQUL3QbCABIVWi0cJphTRp25UR509hmjSAuouOACOSxUXzPb/s400/butterfly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285463423587042" border="0" /></a>A butterfly we saw on our hike up the Narrows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gRUsK7RlRijFvI6OaQCRDXSHkOoabcgg9lE2blRFz5rSXWtx4c2ttJiTjs8KqpYdb_RYb_-KOcnz1nYVrwGJS0NZCQi1iSzMmiN0NmCvSmUZzhmr714OVQJjsdDhFrwLd6v1/s1600-h/cottonwood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gRUsK7RlRijFvI6OaQCRDXSHkOoabcgg9lE2blRFz5rSXWtx4c2ttJiTjs8KqpYdb_RYb_-KOcnz1nYVrwGJS0NZCQi1iSzMmiN0NmCvSmUZzhmr714OVQJjsdDhFrwLd6v1/s400/cottonwood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285675448212338" border="0" /></a>The river flows through open grasslands and one needs to be on guard for rattlesnakes--we came across a large one. Once harvested as fuel for steamboats on the river, the cottonwoods have come back in beautiful groves along the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEQ9wfWmsqGPUYD6y9nvrU0l9hcrXmHZX-NmsA4JBOGkFMqpaVGHJjjPJoaRbTY8SAR8OkOVkxLvUoLl9g1cgBoR2AB7T2b-K2PzbhD8XSy4Q1ZrVeKFIQIIZZQxCoH-7PDUZ/s1600-h/grand_national_wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEQ9wfWmsqGPUYD6y9nvrU0l9hcrXmHZX-NmsA4JBOGkFMqpaVGHJjjPJoaRbTY8SAR8OkOVkxLvUoLl9g1cgBoR2AB7T2b-K2PzbhD8XSy4Q1ZrVeKFIQIIZZQxCoH-7PDUZ/s400/grand_national_wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230286822027562386" border="0" /></a>Grand National Wall is a vertical shonkinite dike that intruded into the sandstone which has eroded away. I highly recommend Schumacher and Woodward's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Geologic-Missouri-National-Monument/dp/0974896705">Magnificent Journey</a> which chronicles the geology of the Missouri Breaks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SHdyy0N6Uj6Snksfxf8o4o0YhD2wsrRr0n8cZn_U50ps9qHjeK_z0p8_wLbCRR4sf5txQBwO76xkkjhjoEOhg5Q29iw7dJ0arWgULMWNFuMzPv2I98LDYdn3rr-iKGgvrnbl/s1600-h/cows.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SHdyy0N6Uj6Snksfxf8o4o0YhD2wsrRr0n8cZn_U50ps9qHjeK_z0p8_wLbCRR4sf5txQBwO76xkkjhjoEOhg5Q29iw7dJ0arWgULMWNFuMzPv2I98LDYdn3rr-iKGgvrnbl/s400/cows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230286820853186578" border="0" /></a>The river flows through rangeland so as is characteristic of many rivers across the west you see a fair number of cattle along the way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzhc68XeCBvw9pvSEdN9vYYNeaLBkuAcktWARwOErK8SFEuDZ-sqRQFtiYIYIeUvtFv6EODNlIStqfgF3HgEi8ERvGniCAqXnHtufa5efoJW0o7VWJSS9n2IGDgRjWm9UMitC/s1600-h/dark_butte.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzhc68XeCBvw9pvSEdN9vYYNeaLBkuAcktWARwOErK8SFEuDZ-sqRQFtiYIYIeUvtFv6EODNlIStqfgF3HgEi8ERvGniCAqXnHtufa5efoJW0o7VWJSS9n2IGDgRjWm9UMitC/s400/dark_butte.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230286821162335170" border="0" /></a>Dark Butte is another shonkinite plug that rises up through the sandstone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCNgbWZbZep0MUAdd4yGLjIdoDnFLe_eem8FKSxjD7A3UoqWacUI8JRrH67wqVs68vEaP6-iKuXxNk-liMKChClhVmWO8qk5HnQAy7C_khH4gRmKNKADA1XQV_2Elqng6GNp9/s1600-h/citadel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCNgbWZbZep0MUAdd4yGLjIdoDnFLe_eem8FKSxjD7A3UoqWacUI8JRrH67wqVs68vEaP6-iKuXxNk-liMKChClhVmWO8qk5HnQAy7C_khH4gRmKNKADA1XQV_2Elqng6GNp9/s400/citadel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285672803557298" border="0" /></a>The Citadel, captured in a well known illustration by Swiss artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Bodmer">Karl Bodmer</a> in his early explorations of the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rns-Svc_Hsollk5-lORD8QM_SZXXdGjZESGjdudsBBoFflNXFKYpxegIXg6xb1JfHKDoYu3jULYtmr4eo1rqeaMDb59h6NkMJ4TuQCeblHZ-6EqhUvTGdAMxjRCBbrN1kBua/s1600-h/canoeists.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rns-Svc_Hsollk5-lORD8QM_SZXXdGjZESGjdudsBBoFflNXFKYpxegIXg6xb1JfHKDoYu3jULYtmr4eo1rqeaMDb59h6NkMJ4TuQCeblHZ-6EqhUvTGdAMxjRCBbrN1kBua/s400/canoeists.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285667343903810" border="0" /></a>A canoe traveling down the river. The tranquil pace evokes images and feelings that one has entered a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Caleb_Bingham">George Bingham</a> painting. There are few places that one can directly experience the landscapes of the American West captured in 19th century American Art but the Missouri Breaks is one of those places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4ntp_EUaI7mX2w2-mrGrON5HLdVjccrx2iElNtCutjPvIaQGHZxHy_nM0TJFeBi1mYU0Ef9KhGLimgqVB3EZ-HILaUKUM6efgCYVGJvVmKtBQ7uST_lCMcPv4lq8_ZYeOJ4k/s1600-h/cliffs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4ntp_EUaI7mX2w2-mrGrON5HLdVjccrx2iElNtCutjPvIaQGHZxHy_nM0TJFeBi1mYU0Ef9KhGLimgqVB3EZ-HILaUKUM6efgCYVGJvVmKtBQ7uST_lCMcPv4lq8_ZYeOJ4k/s400/cliffs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285671369416098" border="0" /></a>Passing beneath the cliffs as we make our way down to the confluence with the Judith River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwfd1F91q_fuBO7LQJekCk_cSi1O5Cjv6GRJQjn2FS1UEEMMK7Lq1nYdDsYZkiPwOduUHv74O7usUbBhQRnl9HR70sq4niOs7563NFjvy11EsymjpgmL0wp9OfJZOiukdymaf/s1600-h/aki_floating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwfd1F91q_fuBO7LQJekCk_cSi1O5Cjv6GRJQjn2FS1UEEMMK7Lq1nYdDsYZkiPwOduUHv74O7usUbBhQRnl9HR70sq4niOs7563NFjvy11EsymjpgmL0wp9OfJZOiukdymaf/s400/aki_floating.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230285456313963890" border="0" /></a>Aki enjoyed the warm waters of the Missouri River and hopped out of the canoe a couple times to just float along with the current.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLt47pG6bduyXCTeBsOaKu-2VS9q32qPrTI5zOGCc3wxA8P0-qR5wVdUa2mthqNVmCQfbOZigLZjcSnu6XaWtrguZWTqJ5tGbeMElSxvSkqSP5D0JoCBYY1MSWQF5aFeb6q_3X/s1600-h/sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLt47pG6bduyXCTeBsOaKu-2VS9q32qPrTI5zOGCc3wxA8P0-qR5wVdUa2mthqNVmCQfbOZigLZjcSnu6XaWtrguZWTqJ5tGbeMElSxvSkqSP5D0JoCBYY1MSWQF5aFeb6q_3X/s400/sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230287077059192306" border="0" /></a>Sunset over the Missouri River.<br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-90189927698428977152008-07-06T18:06:00.000-07:002008-07-06T18:22:28.451-07:00Exploring the Upper Delaware Wild and Scenic River<div style="text-align: center;">My son Aki was with me to visit the grandparents in upstate New York and we decided to take a day and explore the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/upde">Upper Delaware Wild and Scenic River</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjyqwc9bHLGj7_0pjnd_cWKVp0Y4NcJ1vRssF023MazorOCa32Sb2xrs4OTmVhxcqmC_ehBnFuxns4Piu1yU8lPcJMy29_XLnFvKVH7jh1rmPS-Zp5cjJYHGxyI7spMskKHcR/s1600-h/delaware_hancock_sign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjyqwc9bHLGj7_0pjnd_cWKVp0Y4NcJ1vRssF023MazorOCa32Sb2xrs4OTmVhxcqmC_ehBnFuxns4Piu1yU8lPcJMy29_XLnFvKVH7jh1rmPS-Zp5cjJYHGxyI7spMskKHcR/s400/delaware_hancock_sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220073460244779922" border="0" /></a>We drove down to Hancock, a little over an hour south from my hometown and worked our way down the river to <a href="http://www.soaringeaglecampground.com/">Soaring Eagle Campground</a> where we parked our car and arranged for a canoe rental and shuttle up to the put-in at the Lordville Bridge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3xZcKf0epPfe0frhz49i0JAMc5KQA0bgfDS-RYAMzE8jwD0VefqM0M-X1WgWTeKQkJJTvihqgrlkaBdOX2etGoqTdcZiCGBcHlzOL8ScQg_e_842QR3kIZ6uZH5FGkiQGGYs/s1600-h/delaware_river_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3xZcKf0epPfe0frhz49i0JAMc5KQA0bgfDS-RYAMzE8jwD0VefqM0M-X1WgWTeKQkJJTvihqgrlkaBdOX2etGoqTdcZiCGBcHlzOL8ScQg_e_842QR3kIZ6uZH5FGkiQGGYs/s400/delaware_river_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220073465169287314" border="0" /></a>Looking downstream on the Upper Delaware. The section from Lordville to Kellams that we paddled is relatively calm. Despite the placid nature of the river surface, you could look down to the bottom of the river and see that the current carried us along at a good pace. Aki was able to see some fish in the exceptionally clear water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp3V5ymLTIdOXDzF0GfE-eAIHzpzOuZOOeCAJf6Zqc0X7xHaREv3cOlD-q1zMUnSftgY8tmlmYsSwcRw-WKdXHX84mYzVkqYwEIufl3k_OQZgwCCIcDF8O3aMpKIrbcu0gCyX/s1600-h/aki_canoe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp3V5ymLTIdOXDzF0GfE-eAIHzpzOuZOOeCAJf6Zqc0X7xHaREv3cOlD-q1zMUnSftgY8tmlmYsSwcRw-WKdXHX84mYzVkqYwEIufl3k_OQZgwCCIcDF8O3aMpKIrbcu0gCyX/s400/aki_canoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220073445514716050" border="0" /></a>Aki paddling down the Delaware River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXGGCg7h74MEbDRAaRYCT7JNCUV2WVwl2WnO-60bYCesDALX8KeFSbmYjcdEi7rawhbaIu7Ui8C1XZMoO733XkR9uoI9Pf25UpwtHJ2quMX3TJAdBw3EaZ7LROXfqSVP8KLoU/s1600-h/delaware_river_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXGGCg7h74MEbDRAaRYCT7JNCUV2WVwl2WnO-60bYCesDALX8KeFSbmYjcdEi7rawhbaIu7Ui8C1XZMoO733XkR9uoI9Pf25UpwtHJ2quMX3TJAdBw3EaZ7LROXfqSVP8KLoU/s400/delaware_river_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220073592916459746" border="0" /></a>Approaching one of the riffles on this section.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKRoyXBIhhUQctZ4OGrAbNFg4EHXhMvYtFt5Gd5EmrYHExQU_Ay2MVEbM7vjffoTWR03XzwK-eptdV-iTEAo_wvClr6cVEi_zKuogBCL9JUkgCQ1fl-xKhzs8gZICr5s759lq/s1600-h/aki_fishing_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKRoyXBIhhUQctZ4OGrAbNFg4EHXhMvYtFt5Gd5EmrYHExQU_Ay2MVEbM7vjffoTWR03XzwK-eptdV-iTEAo_wvClr6cVEi_zKuogBCL9JUkgCQ1fl-xKhzs8gZICr5s759lq/s400/aki_fishing_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220073448229601842" border="0" /></a>Aki is just learning to fish and we took our poles along but didn't have much luck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi5d8PDS-Fh6SBYbVLw3alIJPSuqPBHGtOCytU8CBW-MoEeojAwrklHSVy1g1YJnvDiOtqnXgRyNs69sY7bn_b4Bvs4-2kiBqC7zOUKNaEIwQCBke4iETvqdM7i47vpJQVV85/s1600-h/aki_fishing_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi5d8PDS-Fh6SBYbVLw3alIJPSuqPBHGtOCytU8CBW-MoEeojAwrklHSVy1g1YJnvDiOtqnXgRyNs69sY7bn_b4Bvs4-2kiBqC7zOUKNaEIwQCBke4iETvqdM7i47vpJQVV85/s400/aki_fishing_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220073450416889666" border="0" /></a>Aki waiting patiently with his fly rod.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUDmzL5Jll1yOZek-Z9LWvPXDtfHk5ezGeyxqmp2SEBEQMCoZEuPlBo8iEAcXnEBIMZ1Zjz-DDmRCGz6o_9yzz8hYCfZ4UoYpCg9tdtVNdmXBMhy72n-RlwHlhtwXsgpzvxcZ/s1600-h/turtle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUDmzL5Jll1yOZek-Z9LWvPXDtfHk5ezGeyxqmp2SEBEQMCoZEuPlBo8iEAcXnEBIMZ1Zjz-DDmRCGz6o_9yzz8hYCfZ4UoYpCg9tdtVNdmXBMhy72n-RlwHlhtwXsgpzvxcZ/s400/turtle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220073595897011762" border="0" /></a>A highlight of the trip for Aki was all the creatures we found along the margins of the river along with the bird life which included a bald eagle siting. Here Aki holds a baby snapping turtle on the end of his paddle blade.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-76215065890352153602008-05-27T21:59:00.001-07:002008-07-06T18:22:48.132-07:00John Day Wild and Scenic River<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">With the arrival of spring it's time to celebrate the melting snow that breathes life into our region's rivers. While many of the rivers that have defined the natural and cultural history of the region been dammed for hydropower, flood control, or water supply, a few still flow freely and the John Day in Central Oregon is one of those rivers. The John Day is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Wild_and_Scenic_Rivers">Wild and Scenic River</a>, a federal designation that protects rivers from future water development projects and preserves the opportunity to journey down our nation's original highways of travel and commerce. This year celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and Aki and I set out to explore the canyons of the John Day with friends from Portland on a 4 day trip (<a href="http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_3034_">river description</a>).<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66Fa4UYYlQOvUzW7HwSY9N5b5n-Fb6fch0G_CQycZT4u5qQW_KNzsFXU2ASqj4sSFiO34SPIto2XNi-a-ONSUuHYUl5cSsfxhNYXBZB3qDfNnl4C4jQl0zADzQ-m67loc-Zj6/s1600-h/aki_oars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66Fa4UYYlQOvUzW7HwSY9N5b5n-Fb6fch0G_CQycZT4u5qQW_KNzsFXU2ASqj4sSFiO34SPIto2XNi-a-ONSUuHYUl5cSsfxhNYXBZB3qDfNnl4C4jQl0zADzQ-m67loc-Zj6/s400/aki_oars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278568934921298" border="0" /></a>At age 3 Aki is becoming quite the veteran river runner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGyDLpzBpcB0Mtjv2_CDm5dPNG_CNbvVu-fd4zOitO0mHNaZlcx2uh5GVFry9RDXOZL7-CwU86kZTmYPvn8J4V3m4y3KWWuByOqTfja-TYD0_md9LjP9v71RvO4aYM3IM3tlg/s1600-h/john_day_canyon_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGyDLpzBpcB0Mtjv2_CDm5dPNG_CNbvVu-fd4zOitO0mHNaZlcx2uh5GVFry9RDXOZL7-CwU86kZTmYPvn8J4V3m4y3KWWuByOqTfja-TYD0_md9LjP9v71RvO4aYM3IM3tlg/s400/john_day_canyon_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278856697730210" border="0" /></a>Beautiful canyon scenery on the John Day River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KB6vl9f5bKOtfNDifckItMwgubG3kPNfYooZyTjKLvjDU3k_Gj_ooCOrTXqXJx_HkEZZcoqKvWLmsnT4CIoKSWB_T5v2KRMQL8YbT66L9_BuWrckWbeNaNQ3wd1gilQF8IFl/s1600-h/story_time.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KB6vl9f5bKOtfNDifckItMwgubG3kPNfYooZyTjKLvjDU3k_Gj_ooCOrTXqXJx_HkEZZcoqKvWLmsnT4CIoKSWB_T5v2KRMQL8YbT66L9_BuWrckWbeNaNQ3wd1gilQF8IFl/s400/story_time.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278959776945346" border="0" /></a>Story time with river friends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZE5808bglcSOihI3Exz7xmXwqzwHvkkyHFIUlSWCvflgEAvszW04l8sAYY4xjwUGya6ENxJ_OgYIg2bPUDDCOeg1jRrER9QhkMOkVZTsDkgDnNJNj7nRuZSrTBEUdKi79ryf/s1600-h/john_day_canyon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZE5808bglcSOihI3Exz7xmXwqzwHvkkyHFIUlSWCvflgEAvszW04l8sAYY4xjwUGya6ENxJ_OgYIg2bPUDDCOeg1jRrER9QhkMOkVZTsDkgDnNJNj7nRuZSrTBEUdKi79ryf/s400/john_day_canyon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205286557574091986" border="0" /></a>Traveling down the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3LtGqejJ87NDStOOiYTg1IjFq3MB1JV_iKp9V0aGdBWpRcmLBph8KSdfD0tU0auZZNYSUN9OEM3dwZBM9xe0g4Ww_NLfcPakGWzs7Uip06jRp81Od4qWm3SFM5EKz5v2I6yQ/s1600-h/aki_rowing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3LtGqejJ87NDStOOiYTg1IjFq3MB1JV_iKp9V0aGdBWpRcmLBph8KSdfD0tU0auZZNYSUN9OEM3dwZBM9xe0g4Ww_NLfcPakGWzs7Uip06jRp81Od4qWm3SFM5EKz5v2I6yQ/s400/aki_rowing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278848107795570" border="0" /></a>Carefully scouting out the line downstream before committing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJchQtanzyZqL8zHK8X5eD6d2MAcoYoVPqXhI5pEYxy1KI6fCKrdfQdLmrONlsBbIfViVFop1gArGuyHvZc_kx-_rsIQYSwLJZED0uMSJA0gA4PY3Vn8KkkSl8_wYKU6hpQxso/s1600-h/hoot_owl_rock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJchQtanzyZqL8zHK8X5eD6d2MAcoYoVPqXhI5pEYxy1KI6fCKrdfQdLmrONlsBbIfViVFop1gArGuyHvZc_kx-_rsIQYSwLJZED0uMSJA0gA4PY3Vn8KkkSl8_wYKU6hpQxso/s400/hoot_owl_rock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278852402762882" border="0" /></a>The John Day River has some great geology that kids can appreciate. Aki's favorite was Hoot Owl Rock.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W-S_1X9ZmVHusfNfJoJVAub6apG_FLf7KUiJ5VJHvg3XJXyFyajf3La8xrccn3VogMhLe3CYzQ0euSJKll3OEsmndXgsrUOB1aQznfQ2UaLq80KjNEcQy1u776_z14Il3QW4/s1600-h/aki_climb_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W-S_1X9ZmVHusfNfJoJVAub6apG_FLf7KUiJ5VJHvg3XJXyFyajf3La8xrccn3VogMhLe3CYzQ0euSJKll3OEsmndXgsrUOB1aQznfQ2UaLq80KjNEcQy1u776_z14Il3QW4/s400/aki_climb_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278564639953954" border="0" /></a>The John Day offers some great riverside hiking and Aki imagined himself as a tiger climbing to an overlook above the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiTHtQzrNKKJpvm62YjJh6PTVXJ9S3cbLkacDP6Vk7R0lwbaN1ELPP0jt9ODH38hBD-MHeNU4nZhEa9pW4lGupCw1T-ZOlQuvVaFABoDg9q8MMjpWVHkjBofTTb-bo-mckhqY/s1600-h/aki_climb_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiTHtQzrNKKJpvm62YjJh6PTVXJ9S3cbLkacDP6Vk7R0lwbaN1ELPP0jt9ODH38hBD-MHeNU4nZhEa9pW4lGupCw1T-ZOlQuvVaFABoDg9q8MMjpWVHkjBofTTb-bo-mckhqY/s400/aki_climb_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278568934921266" border="0" /></a>Aki working his way through the rocks to an overlook above the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzexNvyniWw4rdKK_J_Z0z9pWkokMDvHi-fouuXHa_ptj861FXezR1s4v8dqhwWxp9x-Uv4xX-mzZ3C4SGkXQlsk9dFuEbD2_LY_BZhVw-fEbPaGrW8xDeG_SsXNqRTY4t-hg/s1600-h/john_day_view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzexNvyniWw4rdKK_J_Z0z9pWkokMDvHi-fouuXHa_ptj861FXezR1s4v8dqhwWxp9x-Uv4xX-mzZ3C4SGkXQlsk9dFuEbD2_LY_BZhVw-fEbPaGrW8xDeG_SsXNqRTY4t-hg/s400/john_day_view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278860992697522" border="0" /></a>The view downstream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLBJDxWCRKu_jJo3H8KkOmVdU-YogaAft8qyI2DpZzQHd51RAtWlfrmHkF75awLdk5gUVCxXg4z9NFSoLxxu43M5-3aTSDRavKlBZRo5Vzy3T6YLx82qwVwk2olJ6dYjaldv3/s1600-h/aki_row_dino.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLBJDxWCRKu_jJo3H8KkOmVdU-YogaAft8qyI2DpZzQHd51RAtWlfrmHkF75awLdk5gUVCxXg4z9NFSoLxxu43M5-3aTSDRavKlBZRo5Vzy3T6YLx82qwVwk2olJ6dYjaldv3/s400/aki_row_dino.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278573229888610" border="0" /></a>Aki heading down the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxN6fPFaZpDkt7gbfU0_1zxJb_7Z2JA3xXW_geRJiNW9fgqKub1l2VM8Bm25j-qe2HJLEDZU1S6GOdOjXAapUnp5Ls3e2-ur7Oa3JRR4p8uPTgTNR80WB92fYpFs4IJQxJYgE/s1600-h/aki_nap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxN6fPFaZpDkt7gbfU0_1zxJb_7Z2JA3xXW_geRJiNW9fgqKub1l2VM8Bm25j-qe2HJLEDZU1S6GOdOjXAapUnp5Ls3e2-ur7Oa3JRR4p8uPTgTNR80WB92fYpFs4IJQxJYgE/s400/aki_nap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205278568934921282" border="0" /></a>All this boating and hiking sure is a lot of work. Time for a nap on the raft.<br /><br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-22567721619622452492008-05-11T08:59:00.000-07:002008-05-11T17:46:55.534-07:00Fishing the Sea of Cortez<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I spend most of my time on rivers but every once in a while the ocean calls and when my friend Harry suggested a week long fishing trip to the Sea of Cortez on the fishing boat <a href="http://www.tonyreyes.com/">Tony Reyes</a>, I decided that it had all the makings of a good adventure.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfx8vJ2tIvOkNGdVR21r2eyN9Hmdax5kGILyzFsE-ulmQL4lWwVWJxxk_8fR_ocbmgGd7tqedqE6J2xzLxx5_eVp_bjhA4umHjpQpmf9whEmThIJgdtxhhWYDoj1QcAORS8-U/s1600-h/san_felipe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfx8vJ2tIvOkNGdVR21r2eyN9Hmdax5kGILyzFsE-ulmQL4lWwVWJxxk_8fR_ocbmgGd7tqedqE6J2xzLxx5_eVp_bjhA4umHjpQpmf9whEmThIJgdtxhhWYDoj1QcAORS8-U/s400/san_felipe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167895864149490" border="0" /></a>I flew down to San Diego on Friday where I joined up with the crew and we drove down to Mexicali. We crossed the border on Saturday morning and continued on down to San Felipe, a festive beach town at the north end of the Sea of Cortez. We found our boat down at the pier (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.9927,+-114.828&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr">30.9927, -114.828</a>) and claimed our rooms on Saturday around noon before taking the rest of the day to explore town and enjoy a great meal at Chuey's. On Sunday morning we set out 250 miles south to the Midriff Islands.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvzBAWW5mCaae6hD3r-tbatp0GqLUuuDTXJhmq_Coae1qTaIw3sUsOrUlPvaXEO4JlRvNwCLZBY5jWVwLFKO-VLLqnuFEa_Nxi5AyLAaitUu6bxlHDJhGEl5l8-N_XtDmYhSM/s1600-h/sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvzBAWW5mCaae6hD3r-tbatp0GqLUuuDTXJhmq_Coae1qTaIw3sUsOrUlPvaXEO4JlRvNwCLZBY5jWVwLFKO-VLLqnuFEa_Nxi5AyLAaitUu6bxlHDJhGEl5l8-N_XtDmYhSM/s400/sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199168776332445234" border="0" /></a>The sun sets over the Baja coast as we journey down to the Midriff Islands.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvAPLsFyB62FysuaqIRvjPsRgVtP4fNoEd15L0k7hZgZI3CzqWxMhqf273YqXCA7Wa7P7U1GyXFXyx47nfskDMJysUXYEFqpyGfYJHMy6P_lSRPTBTOrX6grvhwzrGPUTmm-o/s1600-h/sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvAPLsFyB62FysuaqIRvjPsRgVtP4fNoEd15L0k7hZgZI3CzqWxMhqf273YqXCA7Wa7P7U1GyXFXyx47nfskDMJysUXYEFqpyGfYJHMy6P_lSRPTBTOrX6grvhwzrGPUTmm-o/s400/sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199168772037477906" border="0" /></a>A typical day on the Tony Reyes began when we awoke around 5 am for a hot breakfast in the galley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlhoYLXL1H2C4vRDdoMCaqbCqGTJSafGjkLT3h-uI4cYWW3hnCHAbPGlBAOQCQpGWJlU5KLSmsK6IEomFErexhYVadSqUzxToIYrFnq5cpS0qK4KmKGKhBn12BUeTGZvm_7Z-/s1600-h/sunrise_gear_prep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlhoYLXL1H2C4vRDdoMCaqbCqGTJSafGjkLT3h-uI4cYWW3hnCHAbPGlBAOQCQpGWJlU5KLSmsK6IEomFErexhYVadSqUzxToIYrFnq5cpS0qK4KmKGKhBn12BUeTGZvm_7Z-/s400/sunrise_gear_prep.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199168772037477922" border="0" /></a>The guides had the pangas stocked with bait and fishing gear as we made last minute preparations for our morning out on the water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLeRs94giejy8ZKiiLmqnDyz9nroggAQkqYloYaku4-r6F9miuJz29DOrtiHVdW6untoifh368Ix0WOavs225ELlG__fGaiwjpoaYIbTTWZwAtj-w8nbYUfUL0-HR5-JTzK4j/s1600-h/tony_reyes_sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLeRs94giejy8ZKiiLmqnDyz9nroggAQkqYloYaku4-r6F9miuJz29DOrtiHVdW6untoifh368Ix0WOavs225ELlG__fGaiwjpoaYIbTTWZwAtj-w8nbYUfUL0-HR5-JTzK4j/s400/tony_reyes_sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199168780627412562" border="0" /></a>We began our first day of fishing on Monday morning at Puerto Refugia at the north end of Isla Angel de la Guarda (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=29.5471,+-113.527&ie=UTF8&ll=29.546785,-113.52632&spn=0.009875,0.016437&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr">29.5471, -113.527</a>). On a typical morning we were out on the water by 6 am. This photo shows our boat the Tony Reyes, which has room for 27 fishermen who can head out in groups of 3 on 9 guided pangas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJofADGTjNpRapJDIHaJrms35E8lNerKoz0xHCiXbj-FHlC-N5vEAFR7BBbvEg2ncQ1WoepoXj_ol-83WH5zn9-lOgvElJSrMndZwamXR6DR9RqgVUFfTtKuOvnDgVbcSplyw/s1600-h/harry_john_bottom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJofADGTjNpRapJDIHaJrms35E8lNerKoz0xHCiXbj-FHlC-N5vEAFR7BBbvEg2ncQ1WoepoXj_ol-83WH5zn9-lOgvElJSrMndZwamXR6DR9RqgVUFfTtKuOvnDgVbcSplyw/s400/harry_john_bottom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199164726178284882" border="0" /></a>The morning might start of with some time spent working the edge of reefs on the hunt for cabrilla. If conditions were favorable the night before we had live wells stocked with mackerel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpkwXIhEKE3ZosZ19jx6f2SmUtdtfYL3vEUfqVtN5SFUy7KsbvHAzLQ4-tDXGzAarPC8YGomzBAuJFDDGpsn3kAhDAASjUjcDDb9TD-dImy-H0i0WQaJEGrKgiuId271c-5WL/s1600-h/bait.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpkwXIhEKE3ZosZ19jx6f2SmUtdtfYL3vEUfqVtN5SFUy7KsbvHAzLQ4-tDXGzAarPC8YGomzBAuJFDDGpsn3kAhDAASjUjcDDb9TD-dImy-H0i0WQaJEGrKgiuId271c-5WL/s400/bait.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199162149197907074" border="0" /></a><span class="FishHeadEnglish"><span>A live <a href="http://www.mexfish.com/fish/pmack/pmack.htm">Pacific Mackerel</a> </span></span><span class="FishHeadScientific">(<span style="font-style: italic;">Scomber japonicus</span>) on the line and used as bait. We would often start out fishing with the mackerel as live bait and we'd cycle through to keep an active fish on the line, tossing those we had used in the fish well for later use as cut bait.</span><br /><span class="FishHeadScientific"></span><br /><span class="FishHeadScientific"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRv7XBsz4S9xw_Na1MDwxAaR_Bc75DoFAipLrnqpQ8F8LSCoy6OU-51ceGa1pADeHsxk_EOjspEyY4AkzlCRSU0yeHO5VNRybjDKx1IF7y9cM5YTTjgWu_IY5bAiPOZ0xrFFr/s1600-h/landing_cabrilla.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRv7XBsz4S9xw_Na1MDwxAaR_Bc75DoFAipLrnqpQ8F8LSCoy6OU-51ceGa1pADeHsxk_EOjspEyY4AkzlCRSU0yeHO5VNRybjDKx1IF7y9cM5YTTjgWu_IY5bAiPOZ0xrFFr/s400/landing_cabrilla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167238734153106" border="0" /></a>We were able to catch <a href="http://www.mexfish.com/fish/lepgrp/lepgrp.htm"><span class="FishHeadScientific">Cabrilla</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;" class="FishHeadScientific"> (Mycteroperca rosacea)</span><span class="FishHeadScientific"> by working the shoreline or reefs (in the background to the left in the photo above). These fish are quick to dive into a hole in the rocks when hooked so it was necessary to give a hard jerk and reel in quick so they would not cut the line on the rocks. Our guides--in this photo Francisco--would unhook the fish, toss it in the fish well and set us up for another pass.</span><br /><span class="FishHeadScientific"></span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="FishHeadScientific"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="FishHeadScientific"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkmezAWSnMoe7Aj_2-32sxhAARj8FxVZAzzekh9xS1yRh4oPQ4jknK4o6Rq-WHOx_b1dl9JJTIroDhTq9I-n5ag-o84LgV58YXa4G7tj7lCdWE2D3dGYvNwy2_DyA3CZsoVJZ/s1600-h/bottom_fishing_ralph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkmezAWSnMoe7Aj_2-32sxhAARj8FxVZAzzekh9xS1yRh4oPQ4jknK4o6Rq-WHOx_b1dl9JJTIroDhTq9I-n5ag-o84LgV58YXa4G7tj7lCdWE2D3dGYvNwy2_DyA3CZsoVJZ/s400/bottom_fishing_ralph.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199163463457899730" border="0" /></a>We had great luck with the spotted bass and would often park at a spot over a sandy bottom. If conditions were favorable we could pull one after another in by jigging with a two-hook rig using cut herring bait.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WC9gugaX3OQa119Vd9lnTEfdBgA-jZ9Nel4BaaAnr-GOU08cGxcTVMcK7x8V6KAJSvSeI2p3UsVzZwauJXqmC36PYSOV9kOGFCyDV-qWD7EWpbK050I1sptn93S3xdhtZbjt/s1600-h/spotted_sea_bass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WC9gugaX3OQa119Vd9lnTEfdBgA-jZ9Nel4BaaAnr-GOU08cGxcTVMcK7x8V6KAJSvSeI2p3UsVzZwauJXqmC36PYSOV9kOGFCyDV-qWD7EWpbK050I1sptn93S3xdhtZbjt/s400/spotted_sea_bass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167895864149506" border="0" /></a>A typical <a href="http://www.mexfish.com/fish/spbaybass/spbaybass.htm">Spotted Sand Bass</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus). </span><span>When conditions were poor for other fish we could just about always catch these guys.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLFOh6xwLIUetNUfcugtG5GJANW2aW4Jrty7kz4V28hLiGaSCHlR2FmFmMhTc_g_6siDxdLEwWxBhZ3VoUPSi49dqebYhaolBnPOqr4Pwsbvljpn2D2wLRjjF2V24RX71S4pn/s1600-h/pelican.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLFOh6xwLIUetNUfcugtG5GJANW2aW4Jrty7kz4V28hLiGaSCHlR2FmFmMhTc_g_6siDxdLEwWxBhZ3VoUPSi49dqebYhaolBnPOqr4Pwsbvljpn2D2wLRjjF2V24RX71S4pn/s400/pelican.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167887274214882" border="0" /></a>When the fish weren't biting there was plenty of stuff to see. The coastline offered beautiful and diverse geology along with hundreds of birds. Pelicans (<span class="FishHeadScientific"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pelecanus occidentalis</span>)</span> were fascinating to watch as they patrolled the coastline and dove for fish.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgvAKoPalrkYSCcBI5CIfdfxeFFvblRTHDo0EfRJdgS3cRdefo9KQUnNC8qBHJG6rCO9vMEHUxBT3Xd4O9jyLhg_rtQjoSHFeMjL9zsWf8KImFnh1AAoa0mMoTx4QG8U_pHMB/s1600-h/giant_sea_bass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgvAKoPalrkYSCcBI5CIfdfxeFFvblRTHDo0EfRJdgS3cRdefo9KQUnNC8qBHJG6rCO9vMEHUxBT3Xd4O9jyLhg_rtQjoSHFeMjL9zsWf8KImFnh1AAoa0mMoTx4QG8U_pHMB/s400/giant_sea_bass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199164721883317554" border="0" /></a>Around noon all the pangas came back to the boat and it was an opportunity for everyone to show off their catch. These <a href="http://www.mexfish.com/fish/bsbass/bsbass.htm">Black Sea Bass</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (Stereolepis gigas) </span>were caught off the west side of Isla Angel de la Guarda and at 84 lbs. the larger one was the biggest fish caught on the trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCKeg0i2Lz0hJ4RXNM_3PJIOETlG5LdzCaVUuA8x9JnW1O2_MqzZb3wNl80rLkMe2xKqg68EKWxPyJBk8100BvYgDBno9Sjz88LFsWo7HljkCPNzJ0GVlCeSdIFsV4VSUFK7z/s1600-h/grouper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCKeg0i2Lz0hJ4RXNM_3PJIOETlG5LdzCaVUuA8x9JnW1O2_MqzZb3wNl80rLkMe2xKqg68EKWxPyJBk8100BvYgDBno9Sjz88LFsWo7HljkCPNzJ0GVlCeSdIFsV4VSUFK7z/s400/grouper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199164726178284866" border="0" /></a>A grouper caught on a live mackerel bait that came in on the last morning and weighed in at slightly over 50 lbs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLLJVlqfrqYDg3wjx_e09M3JKRaUSgg6NtNoMXz8w_IF5_6EgKmcpdh3wLzLt-VU5HmQcrIywB9FJnqnmjBKoZoO4RioSu1KNieW7eyNV1eLxI5WZ_qljFAnaKBMeV9J8ct3C/s1600-h/fish_on_ice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLLJVlqfrqYDg3wjx_e09M3JKRaUSgg6NtNoMXz8w_IF5_6EgKmcpdh3wLzLt-VU5HmQcrIywB9FJnqnmjBKoZoO4RioSu1KNieW7eyNV1eLxI5WZ_qljFAnaKBMeV9J8ct3C/s400/fish_on_ice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199163497817638162" border="0" /></a>Within just a few minutes of bringing in our fish they were gutted and gilled and on ice in the hold.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYm0QqzItMzRQx4DjyvOJtm3CwggohlFNLNtX3c0B4-rcbOwabtvnjmg07uYA7kRHEr76H9NF3muq10R8Q3lOnWbGFU7ld5yBcAG290y-W4xUVXqebqo9g7aEI7i3xFcNjdLy/s1600-h/dinner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYm0QqzItMzRQx4DjyvOJtm3CwggohlFNLNtX3c0B4-rcbOwabtvnjmg07uYA7kRHEr76H9NF3muq10R8Q3lOnWbGFU7ld5yBcAG290y-W4xUVXqebqo9g7aEI7i3xFcNjdLy/s400/dinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199163476342801650" border="0" /></a>Lunch was served around noon after everyone had a chance to survey the morning catch. The galley could seat 12 comfortably so we'd eat in shifts and then everyone would disappear off to their cabin for a much needed siesta. During this time the captain would move the boat to a new fishing spot and at 3 pm we would all head out again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ5D7rdWSK6nz7A59nWfIULUkEWHl39Noj0-SPMLxR1sqTjipHYVO4svSFhzENSL5dx2G3idkjbH_XejIl3KvPvSBlvAmnciZUdX0TXMLAqJ2AFiwmPiCOLqwOV_i7AGqJ0Lm/s1600-h/mirrolure.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJ5D7rdWSK6nz7A59nWfIULUkEWHl39Noj0-SPMLxR1sqTjipHYVO4svSFhzENSL5dx2G3idkjbH_XejIl3KvPvSBlvAmnciZUdX0TXMLAqJ2AFiwmPiCOLqwOV_i7AGqJ0Lm/s400/mirrolure.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167878684280258" border="0" /></a>Afternoons were often a good time for trolling and we favored the <a href="http://www.mirrolure.com/">Mirrolure</a> 111 MR HP which proved successful for yellowtail and cabrilla.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnWFk9rQXBIph5r5Nf09tqKugbFvD4nN0xQuemk0JOyqRw_woNwN2XymtLyDXPxWRLqRrvlPBlxzg93ukFfBpdy5Zbm_yPk8y-58TpRbpnDBN3HwVY52lYnj64Pj7_rTCIeLp/s1600-h/john_fish_on.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnWFk9rQXBIph5r5Nf09tqKugbFvD4nN0xQuemk0JOyqRw_woNwN2XymtLyDXPxWRLqRrvlPBlxzg93ukFfBpdy5Zbm_yPk8y-58TpRbpnDBN3HwVY52lYnj64Pj7_rTCIeLp/s400/john_fish_on.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167221554283890" border="0" /></a>Fish On! John hooks into a 25 lb. yellowtail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-SxzUobJ61Kxckaf4XFhWPe3IgsPyigs9ci3SCppQrpai5Q1JgTHMr6mFBa-NJ-_0E0mWflw90KQZavFYz5_vK75U6fJMat4sL7Qnmqirzhejv4WazpTPpFOuJx-9WZpGH99/s1600-h/landing_yellowtail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-SxzUobJ61Kxckaf4XFhWPe3IgsPyigs9ci3SCppQrpai5Q1JgTHMr6mFBa-NJ-_0E0mWflw90KQZavFYz5_vK75U6fJMat4sL7Qnmqirzhejv4WazpTPpFOuJx-9WZpGH99/s400/landing_yellowtail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167243029120418" border="0" /></a>Whenever we'd hook into a fish the guide would quickly gaff the fish and haul it in. Our guides never missed a fish aside from one white bass that a seal grabbed just as Bill was pulling it in along side the boat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03sb4sX33K0q75oxLOroO7ekWc3duBjyZcEwt7nuz4zO8gOWY4DpQdbj7FQ5suEDckmQHs4qkamJL7HiDzeh1Z176vF9oASTrYhJW0b03gEhq1oVzoiYcRJAKvPJP9U3xuEpP/s1600-h/marcos_yellowtail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03sb4sX33K0q75oxLOroO7ekWc3duBjyZcEwt7nuz4zO8gOWY4DpQdbj7FQ5suEDckmQHs4qkamJL7HiDzeh1Z176vF9oASTrYhJW0b03gEhq1oVzoiYcRJAKvPJP9U3xuEpP/s400/marcos_yellowtail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167243029120434" border="0" /></a>Our guide Marcos hauls in one of our yellowtails.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN5er5lIl3Qas9UfKnvwapAKOcMwK17pgcpvDKTqVI3KJN4_ud7-qyM2YUrKcpFwNETHI_Vv4LbnHJNeDXuzh6FEx0JvcqTBkroXn1XFuyPv5W8KXIX65O1CIMe0GNYcHfMts/s1600-h/harry_ralph_trolling.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN5er5lIl3Qas9UfKnvwapAKOcMwK17pgcpvDKTqVI3KJN4_ud7-qyM2YUrKcpFwNETHI_Vv4LbnHJNeDXuzh6FEx0JvcqTBkroXn1XFuyPv5W8KXIX65O1CIMe0GNYcHfMts/s400/harry_ralph_trolling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199164730473252194" border="0" /></a>Harry and Ralph trolling for yellowtail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm6XQv9j0ShC-W0yRbCBM0mt-i00YRzQ5nRUfxNwkHv9XNsm7jsAeLnJ0rY2twwMvoZRVsuTLCNe0_LLZ4cw4yaj4SuEvNYl3UqHkbe2V5RB6BXSjLfBcBWmcptA3rSPOtk72/s1600-h/coastline.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm6XQv9j0ShC-W0yRbCBM0mt-i00YRzQ5nRUfxNwkHv9XNsm7jsAeLnJ0rY2twwMvoZRVsuTLCNe0_LLZ4cw4yaj4SuEvNYl3UqHkbe2V5RB6BXSjLfBcBWmcptA3rSPOtk72/s400/coastline.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199163472047834338" border="0" /></a>Most of the time I spent fishing but I did take an hour to do a bit of land-based exploring when the fishing was a little slow. This photo is looking north from the southern end of Isla de la Guarda (<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=29.0328,+-113.114&ie=UTF8&ll=29.025103,-113.116264&spn=0.079404,0.131493&t=h&z=13&iwloc=addr">29.0328, -113.114</a>). After looping around the southern tip of this island Tuesday after lunch we began to head north along the coast of the Baja Peninsula.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNzoYDfDB-Ta_qLpg1KYBH51vPbIggXcMes1Wz9b6SZ-CjEP6yqO3fJYxtvTfz4chLfGeMI0mabPuJNG67FCLgM8vnaQhVIX6vA7SDeLsXUii12ZLf3Li6GSrDzTPUc_Ymb2f/s1600-h/bird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNzoYDfDB-Ta_qLpg1KYBH51vPbIggXcMes1Wz9b6SZ-CjEP6yqO3fJYxtvTfz4chLfGeMI0mabPuJNG67FCLgM8vnaQhVIX6vA7SDeLsXUii12ZLf3Li6GSrDzTPUc_Ymb2f/s400/bird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199162174967710898" border="0" /></a>It was always fun to watch the birds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHnTR56eKHNSvovj4Uysbs_WgFfF6TJHq40R6dM2hd73RDAQKyT1dVzLDancFPiZDeUNp_EI0XXAL5UjaPgKFMk62iF5JHNYzb7tlgkem7X8XPGSd5sMjNJwDgwiPYO-gwCfC/s1600-h/bottom_fishing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHnTR56eKHNSvovj4Uysbs_WgFfF6TJHq40R6dM2hd73RDAQKyT1dVzLDancFPiZDeUNp_EI0XXAL5UjaPgKFMk62iF5JHNYzb7tlgkem7X8XPGSd5sMjNJwDgwiPYO-gwCfC/s400/bottom_fishing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199162179262678210" border="0" /></a>If the trolling was slow you could always jig for spotted sand bass which was typically productive. While we would often all head out to different areas for trolling or fishing the reefs, the pangas would often gather up in the same general area for jigging.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquG_LJBzbnj6_DK-W1BoJ68zEOQ3XfqA-DS714yL1hNtWdwCIGPPXNVPyx7frV6G09ZNvpl2Mxu855fOSB-o0BVTMM3hOgAc2Se0Ikcp6fN1WXsxz0zjJHfk6tTybqo6JmYHU/s1600-h/tony_reyes_sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquG_LJBzbnj6_DK-W1BoJ68zEOQ3XfqA-DS714yL1hNtWdwCIGPPXNVPyx7frV6G09ZNvpl2Mxu855fOSB-o0BVTMM3hOgAc2Se0Ikcp6fN1WXsxz0zjJHfk6tTybqo6JmYHU/s400/tony_reyes_sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199169682570544738" border="0" /></a>By about 7 pm we'd all head back in and it was another chance for everyone to show of their catch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcZIfqhkPe8Oq3rSSIJFg4g01kI3zd-Mq5jk2VykOFOt0qzc-FG5o4zOtZUxGQM6Li74zatHyX0cRUFoIl1RO01P9N1pnLYxXWe_CWV-ogkgd5yRuVzQWCDfc_hZz29H_Q1lF/s1600-h/john_yellowtail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcZIfqhkPe8Oq3rSSIJFg4g01kI3zd-Mq5jk2VykOFOt0qzc-FG5o4zOtZUxGQM6Li74zatHyX0cRUFoIl1RO01P9N1pnLYxXWe_CWV-ogkgd5yRuVzQWCDfc_hZz29H_Q1lF/s400/john_yellowtail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167234439185794" border="0" /></a> Here's John with a nice <a href="http://www.mexfish.com/fish/yltl/yltl.htm">Yellowtail</a><span class="FishHeadScientific"><span style="font-style: italic;"> (Seriola dorsalis lalandi)</span> he caught on an afternoon troll.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBpUlU9y3c-dWFhKykTHkakiUFDdLqZDQ8kHePWw6nxpXG8gdowz20SMOProOx9GTOUIlo83kLBMcSLaRbbpxImWkP2vc1OYsN9zptD68vngNhkSgsYTHp7iN-kHU6DSxo3A3/s1600-h/sunset_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBpUlU9y3c-dWFhKykTHkakiUFDdLqZDQ8kHePWw6nxpXG8gdowz20SMOProOx9GTOUIlo83kLBMcSLaRbbpxImWkP2vc1OYsN9zptD68vngNhkSgsYTHp7iN-kHU6DSxo3A3/s400/sunset_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199168776332445250" border="0" /></a>We would watch the sun set and then head in for dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K__lXH4Sn4Mjklr1mue1gKa-En2cHHmMAQJ3BsMP8JHlaQE6NTUjnKHgY1_pIZnEFM-pjIGr2y523cn9_CGi6rY2bNS_BKLM1m_DbXjiISakZPWRZf083C8_p3tUxa5eWbmf/s1600-h/bait_fishing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K__lXH4Sn4Mjklr1mue1gKa-En2cHHmMAQJ3BsMP8JHlaQE6NTUjnKHgY1_pIZnEFM-pjIGr2y523cn9_CGi6rY2bNS_BKLM1m_DbXjiISakZPWRZf083C8_p3tUxa5eWbmf/s400/bait_fishing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199162157787841682" border="0" /></a>After dinner it was time to jig for bait. The captain might move the boat while we were having dinner. Once we were anchored again we would often spend 2-3 hours jigging for mackerel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPLk1MHb6PiQb0UU19aVHw49Zz_8geTNHzJDBMptGHbuRlz5TZk2X_9xNyfZb740lKGkeS0Hw7_m8xAr4gblAK2CEjhi4_HMGhO_KOHCV3sNkm29Fot3zbz_m2GY2VkzubqW_/s1600-h/bait_fishing_ralph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPLk1MHb6PiQb0UU19aVHw49Zz_8geTNHzJDBMptGHbuRlz5TZk2X_9xNyfZb740lKGkeS0Hw7_m8xAr4gblAK2CEjhi4_HMGhO_KOHCV3sNkm29Fot3zbz_m2GY2VkzubqW_/s400/bait_fishing_ralph.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199162162082808994" border="0" /></a>Ralph gets some bait on his hook for jigging.<br /><br />Everyone wandered off to bed as they grew tired of jigging and over the night the boat might move again. We were then up again at 5 am for another day of fishing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YlMA38qLVCh3EcTMoNmnodiQHdUwXtBO0_wAJ74feLEgxOGIWh8lKEMk7oihT1KB4tsVgvUuQGbbT8_B4ym893IiwdBOJ8UIpltji-FM1FKf2JsdiLWCTkFvcAglupGayZWk/s1600-h/filet_fish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YlMA38qLVCh3EcTMoNmnodiQHdUwXtBO0_wAJ74feLEgxOGIWh8lKEMk7oihT1KB4tsVgvUuQGbbT8_B4ym893IiwdBOJ8UIpltji-FM1FKf2JsdiLWCTkFvcAglupGayZWk/s400/filet_fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199163489227703554" border="0" /></a>While we were out on the water in the morning the crew would take our catch from the day before, pull it out of the hold, and fillet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1wRp1pzg84yY3wEo59PFxEk9RJgNoHQClTuRXIJlqvGT-2AVBAhFPsfIsj-SsjqSeIon9qnY3y3PMPihVFQo5abfP3pzDP4kG6VaGtTplgXHdJLGX8aD2H3WdYcNi8USD8iD/s1600-h/fish_packing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1wRp1pzg84yY3wEo59PFxEk9RJgNoHQClTuRXIJlqvGT-2AVBAhFPsfIsj-SsjqSeIon9qnY3y3PMPihVFQo5abfP3pzDP4kG6VaGtTplgXHdJLGX8aD2H3WdYcNi8USD8iD/s400/fish_packing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199164717588350242" border="0" /></a>The fillets were then vacuum sealed and stored in the freezer with tags coded to our panga.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpyWYbITsOptEfsPQEBMQnkRMeo2D22FjrNiwytLy_ZdPBgpXDK_dRTs-IV1JodieYl7jFMNCPugV2PIThgFyITWoRfe57Q_SPDRnLtEDSI_5JYQch1CnVh5tDL5k7R50zb62/s1600-h/packing_coolers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpyWYbITsOptEfsPQEBMQnkRMeo2D22FjrNiwytLy_ZdPBgpXDK_dRTs-IV1JodieYl7jFMNCPugV2PIThgFyITWoRfe57Q_SPDRnLtEDSI_5JYQch1CnVh5tDL5k7R50zb62/s400/packing_coolers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199167887274214866" border="0" /></a>As we headed back in to port the crew pulled all our fillets out of the freezer and distributed them to our coolers where they were packed on ice. We got in to port around 8 pm and then had dinner in San Felipe before heading north to the border. We packed our fish with dry ice the next morning and all flew home from San Diego. I was able to enjoy cabrilla for dinner.<br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-36069618164922621452008-04-02T08:00:00.000-07:002008-04-21T22:21:38.529-07:00Reform of 1872 Mining LawsHere's commentary published in the Seattle PI that I authored with Ken Meidell over at Cascade Designs regarding the current discussions in the Senate over reform of the mining laws of 1872.<br /><br />Seattle PI<br />Balancing, protecting the playing field<br />KEN MEIDELL AND THOMAS O'KEEFE<br />GUEST COLUMNISTS<br />Last updated March 31, 2008 4:04 p.m. PT<br />http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/357151_mining01.html<br /><br />With two major mountain ranges, three stunning national parks and miles of coastline, it's no wonder the Washington Bureau of Tourism calls our outdoor opportunities "actively great." From rushing rivers to old-growth forests, there's arguably no better playground around. But that could change. An outdated law gives mining priority treatment on some of the same places we climb, ski, hike, paddle and mountain bike, regardless of environmental impact or other uses of public lands. We're thankful that Sen. Maria Cantwell and others are trying to pass legislation that will balance -- and protect -- the playing field.<br /><br />Strange as it may seem, gold, uranium and other hardrock mining on Washington public lands remains governed by the 1872 Mining Law, which allows the taking of gold and other metals free of charge and, gives mining priority over everything else on most federal lands. Moreover, the lack of effective environmental protections has left a devastating legacy of abandoned mines that have not only marred landscapes but also contaminated 40 percent of Western headwaters.<br /><br />This 19th century mining law is out of synch with a West whose population is booming due in large part to the quality of life public lands provide. Our Western economy is no longer dominated by resource extraction, but instead thrives from a diverse array of industries, including sustainable outdoor recreation. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, in Washington outdoor recreation contributes $12 billion to the economy annually, sustains 115,000 jobs and generates $650 million in state taxes.<br /><br />Last fall, the House of Representatives took an important first step toward bringing our nation closer to the 21st century, by passing bipartisan legislation that would protect wild places and provide stronger environmental safeguards. As a member of the Natural Resources Committee and co-sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., helped ensure passage of a strong reform measure.<br /><br />The Senate is ready to act, although opposition from mining interests could gut much needed conservation provisions from the House bill. Washington's senators can play a pivotal role in advancing much-needed reforms. Cantwell, as a member of the committee drafting reform legislation, has repeatedly called for a bill that includes stronger environmental protections.<br /><br />We wholeheartedly agree. Genuine reform means putting roadless national forests, potential wilderness and areas around national parks off limits to new mining claims. Waterways and watersheds must be protected. And, the mining industry -- like everyone else -- needs to pay to use them by compensating taxpayers for valuable minerals taken from public lands, as required for coal, oil and gas companies.<br /><br />Let's be clear. Makers and users of outdoor recreation equipment recognize the importance of mining. From climbing carabineers and bike frames to trekking poles and ski edges, navigating a downhill trail or scaling a peak depends on metal. Mining has a place in the future economy of the United States. It just shouldn't be modeled after 19th century practices. Mining needs to be conducted in a manner that is responsible to our environment, economy and communities.<br /><br />Modernizing the nation's 135-year-old mining law is simply the right thing to do for Washington's diverse economy, natural ecosystems and superlative outdoor recreation. For those of us who love the outdoors, we heartily thank Inslee for his work in the House and strongly support Cantwell's efforts in the Senate.<br /><br />Ken Meidell is vice president of the Outdoor Group for Seattle-based Cascade Designs. Thomas O'Keefe is Pacific Northwest stewardship director for American Whitewater, a founding organization of the Outdoor Alliance.Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-31850531373234565382008-04-01T10:26:00.000-07:002008-04-02T10:12:40.392-07:00Grand Canyon: Favorite HikesI have to admit I did not appreciate this fact before traveling to the Grand Canyon, but one of the best parts of our journey was the opportunity to explore all the side canyons. We were transported back to a time when rivers were the way to explore the world and new adventures greeted us around each bend. Of course whole books have been written about hiking in the Grand Canyon and I'd recommend two for a river trip: Grand Canyon River Hikes by Tyler Williams and Day Hikes From the River by Tom Martin. It's worth bringing a copy of each along. Tyler covers the classics and has a beta section for each hike that can be quickly scanned (very helpful when you're floating down the river and want to pull out the guide for a quick decision on where to stop for lunch). If you're really into exploring and what to go on some epic adventures, Tom's guide is more comprehensive covering both the classics and some more obscure routes.<br /><br />We spent several hours each day exploring and here are some images and memories of some of my favorite places.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">North Canyon</span> was our first introduction to hiking in the Grand Canyon and well worth a stop.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bRhoYjYjL8x8VYnTqFGfaqVvHKCia_AbrBALWU6JNPyYk_elhNqJIOSkdYHy6xbu4SZg4wF48RZ77c9Ie-7KkoNexiv2DE78BR0XU8UcKWMckRUujRehPFB6YMzfnPHkN8bN/s1600-h/03_north_canyon_hike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bRhoYjYjL8x8VYnTqFGfaqVvHKCia_AbrBALWU6JNPyYk_elhNqJIOSkdYHy6xbu4SZg4wF48RZ77c9Ie-7KkoNexiv2DE78BR0XU8UcKWMckRUujRehPFB6YMzfnPHkN8bN/s400/03_north_canyon_hike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183948255310650338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Climbing up into North Canyon.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rwt1YCSkHzJemaGkC7ayLbkxMpwHZ2gfqgb_CoUPgCOmwCggD-beWu6chq88PvCa9qT-8s2Gj6ncAy5Q4SFak5Y-kx3DjN1nP4gKd5nGWul10F3dEZAa5SWB_sNRF9TC1FIG/s1600-h/03_north_canyon_pool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rwt1YCSkHzJemaGkC7ayLbkxMpwHZ2gfqgb_CoUPgCOmwCggD-beWu6chq88PvCa9qT-8s2Gj6ncAy5Q4SFak5Y-kx3DjN1nP4gKd5nGWul10F3dEZAa5SWB_sNRF9TC1FIG/s400/03_north_canyon_pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183948263900584946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sliding into the pool in North Canyon.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes it's fun to just discover places on your own and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Silver Grotto</span> was one of those finds. Looking for a camp early in the trip we came across the thin sliver of a beach at Silver Grotto up against a massive bedrock wall. It was a cool camp and we got up the next morning to explore our surroundings. Some anchors and a bit of rope help you access the inner reaches of this intimate little side canyon. Coming back down at the end is a fun water slide.<br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT-LFA2XOPedTcZDq6KC0d5AHynj09c3uxrwCN8Utyy0Y6Pic7W3q4MHGiGabEDkcA7PgCFSOJl1aVutyvRWNZKGRff933xWTs8QclI505jYyziUdF_xZKrqEATuZkbmSMVi8/s1600-h/04_silver_grotto.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT-LFA2XOPedTcZDq6KC0d5AHynj09c3uxrwCN8Utyy0Y6Pic7W3q4MHGiGabEDkcA7PgCFSOJl1aVutyvRWNZKGRff933xWTs8QclI505jYyziUdF_xZKrqEATuZkbmSMVi8/s400/04_silver_grotto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183948268195552274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hilary sizing up the crux move to enter Silver Grotto.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZykjGJCR4mYTj6XprUc5C0Dse9dfCth7aFGSzxNEyMvMmWhIhAkAv6CrZyLPxbmELGIfZGitR3FpJEprTHIfWuOsn2sK1i-ZL0wFdjRFUM_aB_tD2KW-qzxgs1ZUS3ccvxc0D/s1600-h/04_silver_grotto_slide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZykjGJCR4mYTj6XprUc5C0Dse9dfCth7aFGSzxNEyMvMmWhIhAkAv6CrZyLPxbmELGIfZGitR3FpJEprTHIfWuOsn2sK1i-ZL0wFdjRFUM_aB_tD2KW-qzxgs1ZUS3ccvxc0D/s400/04_silver_grotto_slide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183948263900584962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Brian enjoys the slide at the exit of Silver Grotto.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span>There are a couple of different hikes that highlight the cultural history of the Canyon. One of my favorites was <span style="font-weight: bold;">Unkar Delta</span>. Pot shards and the foundations of ancient dwellings are found throughout the delta which is a fun place to explore.</span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsawjE-a_bbHdv66a1jgJ_U6APULTcUof01ISZ5nXYQiN6K06twOFi4hB-INhGVMKbaITOv0_i4FDTkPPhDhR2ThkBx_LXmDN7uHcgX7WZbXZWpo9PYxhsxq-jSz_1BYvqT-k/s1600-h/06_unkar_delta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsawjE-a_bbHdv66a1jgJ_U6APULTcUof01ISZ5nXYQiN6K06twOFi4hB-INhGVMKbaITOv0_i4FDTkPPhDhR2ThkBx_LXmDN7uHcgX7WZbXZWpo9PYxhsxq-jSz_1BYvqT-k/s400/06_unkar_delta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184140111499762738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Unkar Delta.</span><br /></div><br />One of my favorite sections of the whole trip was the Inner Gorge. Downstream of Hance Rapid the walls close in as the river carves a slot through dark Vishnu Schist. Powell wrote this well-known passage as he entered this section of the river:<br /><blockquote> <p style="font-style: italic;">We are three quarters of a mile in the depths of the earth, and the great river shrinks into insignificance as it dashes its angry waves against the walls and cliffs that rise to the world above; the waves are but puny ripples, and we but pigmies, running up and down the sands or lost among the boulders. </p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore. What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channel, we know not; what walls ride over the river, we know not. Ah, well! we may conjecture many things. The men talk as cheerfully as ever; but to me the cheer is somber and the jests are ghastly.</span> </p></blockquote>There is a great hike in this section up <span style="font-weight: bold;">Clear Creek</span> and we had a great afternoon exploring.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjwTqzvKT5HkwCm_d5pzCnr1vzQrITCFu3DMoQGgeQCoWFLdp7_Jf58GZlwURjaamO-EX5seZyTK5JJVqKKPgnkTlI2zfthYVQ2BgjaG1jTqzV9nh0F_YTuSjOj0KsKLk__5O/s1600-h/07_clear_creek_shower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjwTqzvKT5HkwCm_d5pzCnr1vzQrITCFu3DMoQGgeQCoWFLdp7_Jf58GZlwURjaamO-EX5seZyTK5JJVqKKPgnkTlI2zfthYVQ2BgjaG1jTqzV9nh0F_YTuSjOj0KsKLk__5O/s400/07_clear_creek_shower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183948268195552290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Amanda and Hilary taking a shower under the falls on Clear Creek</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPthivBonzHUNx5sip0QD_1nuamq9a611DrcERuCY4vQ_OYP65qsjRorQwcwx1q6b1jAsgmQSQgmX12sGozl-1kpyoWak6CR8TwHtss5LCG2_TRryvd8siMqN7fPZMU4Ofx0m/s1600-h/07_clear_creek_hike_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPthivBonzHUNx5sip0QD_1nuamq9a611DrcERuCY4vQ_OYP65qsjRorQwcwx1q6b1jAsgmQSQgmX12sGozl-1kpyoWak6CR8TwHtss5LCG2_TRryvd8siMqN7fPZMU4Ofx0m/s400/07_clear_creek_hike_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184140115794730050" border="0" /></a>Wandering up Clear Creek.<br /></div><br />As you pass Phantom Ranch you get a great whitewater section that includes Horn Creek Rapid, Granite, Hermit, and Crystal followed by the Gems. We turned our attention to the whitewater for a couple days but then came upon Elves Chasm, a fabulous lunch stop.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W1xkiIImKawNvwzrOca6K85JF1gVtjdikxjp8SFnsmAPgGGSPUGOx6gHTqGBD6iOcQ6yg14IAhj_EPM4Qv47ATEXaYvI8zHM3LkcclgS5EyDN4yrAStvptITUtZVb0UzxCms/s1600-h/10_elves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W1xkiIImKawNvwzrOca6K85JF1gVtjdikxjp8SFnsmAPgGGSPUGOx6gHTqGBD6iOcQ6yg14IAhj_EPM4Qv47ATEXaYvI8zHM3LkcclgS5EyDN4yrAStvptITUtZVb0UzxCms/s400/10_elves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183238232792111810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Laura takes the plunge at Elves Chasm<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Following Elves you come into one of the best sections of the river for hikes with several classics. It's good to slow down and savor this section and plan a layover day or two. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tapeats Creek to Thunder River</span> is a great hike where you can see the Thunder River as it explodes from the canyon wall. The canyon walls are draped with beautiful hanging gardens that harbor a diversity of plant and animal life--an oasis in the canyon. River guides told us of more places to explore in the area and it would be fun to return for an extended stay. </span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvPQquBz6-ctJunXvXP-RSn-r2-mq8gOI-xVf3S22o7-0TXxdrinx0uNLcN3oLCNcAY6MWms9lhfDtzOSJ9QvPEpA3mn0POUT9FSOrKLR2E74hGCGJRDKbMzzCMUenPXh37cd/s1600-h/11_tapeats_hike_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvPQquBz6-ctJunXvXP-RSn-r2-mq8gOI-xVf3S22o7-0TXxdrinx0uNLcN3oLCNcAY6MWms9lhfDtzOSJ9QvPEpA3mn0POUT9FSOrKLR2E74hGCGJRDKbMzzCMUenPXh37cd/s400/11_tapeats_hike_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184140120089697362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hiking up Tapeats Creek with the view back towards the Colorado River.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR5LgVQjsus_b_NXX123sqxVzFrqOb125L1-Hr0v9bvXqE6-z0eolHKvNW0LhRXDlP2Kaw7epoDSU0xzP17DmByIDBpcIiue_StSpwM0MRVVlMYLnLqDnBaB9Ghxl7byXp7BC/s1600-h/11_thunder_river.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR5LgVQjsus_b_NXX123sqxVzFrqOb125L1-Hr0v9bvXqE6-z0eolHKvNW0LhRXDlP2Kaw7epoDSU0xzP17DmByIDBpcIiue_StSpwM0MRVVlMYLnLqDnBaB9Ghxl7byXp7BC/s400/11_thunder_river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184140124384664674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Thunder River emerges from the canyon wall.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Many groups split up to hike between Thunder River and and Deer Creek and exchange boats but logistics were a little complicated with only 3 rafts and several kayaks so we all paddled down river and hiked up <span style="font-weight: bold;">Deer Creek</span>. Deer Creek carves an amazingly beautiful serpentine canyon before plunging over a falls adjacent to the Colorado River. There are several camps here on river left across the river from the falls.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGiaQQ9aEV0sbn_4LFoe0-0FbQZ-BSTbYumTzHkDROHD6emPsv0aft9BVl_n7r4lkbigJL4yvLReukaTFw9roJ3Hi3cyY7vuqg7I1C7kDcBDl59Wcx4Bvr2FVDwjfQXT_uy6P/s1600-h/12_deer_creek_falls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGiaQQ9aEV0sbn_4LFoe0-0FbQZ-BSTbYumTzHkDROHD6emPsv0aft9BVl_n7r4lkbigJL4yvLReukaTFw9roJ3Hi3cyY7vuqg7I1C7kDcBDl59Wcx4Bvr2FVDwjfQXT_uy6P/s400/12_deer_creek_falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184140128679631986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Deer Creek Falls.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvHsAnQIxzaFW3iYjIkt4K8tP0ep7Dj85zB0934TB9ZeN3b9jHSc7mYo9W8S6hlV_pc-ihxgeldVmANrtJhLFaar6b9jvck7UmIwU2RxB8nC4WEl9PHisM7mPXa2DlHPWtE4Z/s1600-h/deer_creek.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvHsAnQIxzaFW3iYjIkt4K8tP0ep7Dj85zB0934TB9ZeN3b9jHSc7mYo9W8S6hlV_pc-ihxgeldVmANrtJhLFaar6b9jvck7UmIwU2RxB8nC4WEl9PHisM7mPXa2DlHPWtE4Z/s400/deer_creek.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183587916144450418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Deer Creek Narrows.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After a day at Deer Creek we pulled into camp just downstream of <span>Matkatamiba Canyon or "Matkat". With our plans set on Havasu just downstream we nearly passed up on Matkat until some rafters told us it was a great spot to check out. It turned out to be one of our most enjoyable stops on the trip and it was such a wonderful spot that we chose it as our layover day.</span><br /></div><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzl-iB9vrvhE9e9zL2pUcf5uq67NIIooaR5Ms5MfP6-d8uK-6gMOlixBDlA-PYQ8MDxhNGXMJ9sXVgBFH4YTlZZRwbd4Bhbr6Qc4nwgvhxAXv2oht0x1FmygMqrRkbC73yJvH/s1600-h/matkat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzl-iB9vrvhE9e9zL2pUcf5uq67NIIooaR5Ms5MfP6-d8uK-6gMOlixBDlA-PYQ8MDxhNGXMJ9sXVgBFH4YTlZZRwbd4Bhbr6Qc4nwgvhxAXv2oht0x1FmygMqrRkbC73yJvH/s400/matkat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183587864604842834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Krista showing off chimney moves at Matkatamiba Canyon ("Matkat")<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span>After a day and two nights at Matkat we set off downstream for Havasu. We should have planned more time for this stop but we did enjoy a full afternoon and made it up to the first set of waterfalls. It's definitely one of the classic canyon hikes and a pretty magical place.<br /></span></div><span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P6BYdJhDVqhTRaIwpI2lrc18O8A5EInOY1PafYd7QG3yiTWKpt4ElVIs4oRzzEcXJocvkvLxrpSPNVhFqqKydpMNOIWH4YnMCnXPUv5DmyBuO6cMQsRBQFXSvl0yYh4zoENY/s1600-h/14_havasu_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P6BYdJhDVqhTRaIwpI2lrc18O8A5EInOY1PafYd7QG3yiTWKpt4ElVIs4oRzzEcXJocvkvLxrpSPNVhFqqKydpMNOIWH4YnMCnXPUv5DmyBuO6cMQsRBQFXSvl0yYh4zoENY/s400/14_havasu_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184141253961063554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The beauty of Havasu.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iVMrmKs2XaWoWIWcbM2ptJ2whiONGTcvBP7Vl3VZHlj6zYP0v_61D1OB2RWcWwdu91ziBOoa1_cqwW-ZZQ61pKf_AF_FeHHk_IJXX2T3R21yF5R1S1fy2C53MlbeQcYVbE65/s1600-h/14_havasu_falls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iVMrmKs2XaWoWIWcbM2ptJ2whiONGTcvBP7Vl3VZHlj6zYP0v_61D1OB2RWcWwdu91ziBOoa1_cqwW-ZZQ61pKf_AF_FeHHk_IJXX2T3R21yF5R1S1fy2C53MlbeQcYVbE65/s400/14_havasu_falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184141258256030866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The first waterfall on Havasu.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Just downstream are a couple more great canyons to explore--National Canyon and Fern Glen. National Canyon features a great slot canyon with some tricky moves to gain entry. Fern Glen provides a fun challenge of trying to work your way along the wall above a pool.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtShag3tY_nkw9l_r2IoL3LzaGUJlAU67pm8alB8vQ5OocSsjd2RfRF3-kC8_dM-HzS6uqXeqvxGKSqganya_-RilVnX6Ph9cXvBQgLre-ut8sIw8UoMNB3ouTAcPTieQYe1lE/s1600-h/national.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtShag3tY_nkw9l_r2IoL3LzaGUJlAU67pm8alB8vQ5OocSsjd2RfRF3-kC8_dM-HzS6uqXeqvxGKSqganya_-RilVnX6Ph9cXvBQgLre-ut8sIw8UoMNB3ouTAcPTieQYe1lE/s400/national.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183587873194777442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tom in National Canyon.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oB74InetAtgNDtWh68lBAGteOvO9Y_EMKK-odavt4CeyDSX5936EECwDnAZtp5M6qGOjqmwfiT8RLUAW4Q4oje_2mNECH3E5kWKFveUKmDFsdBXYxJuQdg4S1hqSqI6QxI9P/s1600-h/15_fern_climb_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oB74InetAtgNDtWh68lBAGteOvO9Y_EMKK-odavt4CeyDSX5936EECwDnAZtp5M6qGOjqmwfiT8RLUAW4Q4oje_2mNECH3E5kWKFveUKmDFsdBXYxJuQdg4S1hqSqI6QxI9P/s400/15_fern_climb_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184141262550998178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Laurianne reaching for a hand hold above the pool in Fern Glen.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Downstream of Lava Falls we found another interesting cultural site. I've always been fascinated by rock art and enjoyed this short hike up to some pictographs on the canyon wall.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB2Zr2OByA_B0Dowb0tUOyqav9KpbwDkah1KDSxcOAqAsi1rgEe1JqtYjAXFbOPjAAhwmRg4lBMfOkUFVyQXHFaucR3viwftGcvIQ6QBdCYul0unjMPMfiKYjUGLtCdMSqeK7/s1600-h/00_pictographs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB2Zr2OByA_B0Dowb0tUOyqav9KpbwDkah1KDSxcOAqAsi1rgEe1JqtYjAXFbOPjAAhwmRg4lBMfOkUFVyQXHFaucR3viwftGcvIQ6QBdCYul0unjMPMfiKYjUGLtCdMSqeK7/s400/00_pictographs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183587856014908226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rock art in the Grand Canyon.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">As you near the end of the trip there are still some fun places left to explore. Pumpkin spring is a neat spot and a great camp. As much as a love the beaches it was nice to have a camp with nice flat rocks and no sand.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcsRorj7y1hyphenhyphenOV48XgUteL5ZyWLxqeVWhOpHd5JAPrhDOILzwdan4CccoXE-GDVTDWdzQ1Ab4DtMSn_dli0tNBRFpzdlS_7jUbhpzSpYr5zpTxX0dmV-O_iHYrsgNhHu9FRnJ/s1600-h/17_pumpkin_spring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcsRorj7y1hyphenhyphenOV48XgUteL5ZyWLxqeVWhOpHd5JAPrhDOILzwdan4CccoXE-GDVTDWdzQ1Ab4DtMSn_dli0tNBRFpzdlS_7jUbhpzSpYr5zpTxX0dmV-O_iHYrsgNhHu9FRnJ/s400/17_pumpkin_spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184141284025834674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pumpkin Springs.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">We went all the way down to Mead which provided an opportunity to enjoy Columbine Falls one of the last features of the Canyon before it opens up and comes to an end.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInzsOHKYEAHPVkcf67eI_dCb8clYo6qnuHQ7qVISq5TeQ_XN-iNoLX0EkoJaTJFPEvox-OWQjAr1DdOOAt1BxTW-V3iYVzhyphenhyphentZehsnG-8k2RuiJoHS8ACRHdvUBxgr_slWyo6/s1600-h/20_columbine_falls_shower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInzsOHKYEAHPVkcf67eI_dCb8clYo6qnuHQ7qVISq5TeQ_XN-iNoLX0EkoJaTJFPEvox-OWQjAr1DdOOAt1BxTW-V3iYVzhyphenhyphentZehsnG-8k2RuiJoHS8ACRHdvUBxgr_slWyo6/s400/20_columbine_falls_shower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184141284025834690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Laurianne stands under Columbine Falls.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">We had a great trip and I hope to get back someday to explore more hidden corners of this wonderful place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tips for Hikes<br /></span><ul><li>Keep a day bag handy with your shorts, hiking shoes, and a way to carry your lunch (the kitchen supplies our outfitter provided did not include anything to carry lunches).</li><li>You may also want waterproof bags to hold gear inside your day pack--especially for your nice camera--as you will likely find yourself in places where you need to swim across a pool of water.<br /></li><li>Remember you will be out for 21 days so don't bring an old pair of shoes that will fall apart--if you hike like we did, footwear takes massive abuse on this trip. I like the Keen Newport H2 or the Montrail Vitesse.</li><li>Consider bringing 10 m of 8 mm rope and a couple of webbing slings. They can be helpful for getting in and out of a couple of the side canyons. </li><li>Climbers might enjoy having their shoes and a bag of chalk. Just keep in mind that you're a long way from help and the majority of injuries on the Canyon happen off the river.</li></ul><br /><br /></div></div></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-34401774089135600602008-03-29T10:27:00.000-07:002008-04-01T12:54:52.413-07:00Grand Canyon: Preparing for the TripIn April of 2007 and I had the honor of joining Midwest paddling legend Harry House on a trip down the Grand Canyon. We ran the river in a C2 (a tandem canoe with a hard deck) on a trip that also included 3 rafts and 7 kayaks. We took 21 days to travel from Lee's Ferry down to Mead. Someday I may get around to posting the full trip report but in the meantime I wanted to post my packing list and thoughts on trip preparation to share with others.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqXaY2yxItV7386tzP3BlO0932VUPrKT8oZkSiLb2f_OlRPqiu0_tSaQ6gF2eYjSkShSMenVVE-PpR2QSPmvCYmnsY8781NpmHoThtbbpCXx4-a6L9iHjrYPIV93bOsE9TVyC/s1600-h/09_hermit_c2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqXaY2yxItV7386tzP3BlO0932VUPrKT8oZkSiLb2f_OlRPqiu0_tSaQ6gF2eYjSkShSMenVVE-PpR2QSPmvCYmnsY8781NpmHoThtbbpCXx4-a6L9iHjrYPIV93bOsE9TVyC/s400/09_hermit_c2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183238207022308002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Enjoying the ride through the waves at Hermit</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts on the time of year.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've only done the river once so I can't really say I'm an expert on the subject but April was pretty wonderful and I would definitely make it a point to try and do it again in the spring. The wild flowers were spectacular (don't forget the macro lens for some great shots). The nights were cool offering comfortable sleeping conditions and most days were hot without being uncomfortably so.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1O4vsL44UZ5-sp94yK5j5RJXmzsT8h17ESmvOyiXYnUT3tu7vSm2_rc9_Z83pRxaVFRrODHDiH5WuhBcoGd0_f7lPVNZi-dbQWOposplaFfZyet0Ci_MM_QclsJFsFOqIPr9/s1600-h/10_cactus_bloom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1O4vsL44UZ5-sp94yK5j5RJXmzsT8h17ESmvOyiXYnUT3tu7vSm2_rc9_Z83pRxaVFRrODHDiH5WuhBcoGd0_f7lPVNZi-dbQWOposplaFfZyet0Ci_MM_QclsJFsFOqIPr9/s400/10_cactus_bloom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183238224202177202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Cactus in bloom</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts on Hikes</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm a river runner and have been my whole life and although people had told me about the hikes on the Grand Canyon before I left I can't say I thought much about that aspect of the trip before I went. What I had not appreciated was the quality and diversity of hiking opportunities that involve lots of scrambling up side canyons, swimming through pools in side canyon gorges, and chimney moves up narrow slots. After our first journey up North Canyon we started spending at least 4 hours a day exploring the side canyons. Grand Canyon River Hikes by Tyler Williams covers the classics and has a format that's easy to scan quickly when you are in your boat moving down the river (i.e. you can see characteristics of the hike without reading the whole description). Tom Martin's Day Hikes From the River is more comprehensive and has a hike for just about every section along the river. You really need to sit down and read the full descriptions and for that reason it's a great for camp when you are planning out the next day. One important note for the hikes is make sure you have good amphibious shoes. Remember you will be out for 21 days so don't bring an old pair of shoes that will fall apart. I like the Keen Newport H2 or the Montrail Vitesse for trips like this. Chacos are nice for camp but you often want something with a little bit more protection and support for climbing up the side canyons. The one downside with the Newport H2 is that you will be walking up stream beds and small pebbles get lodged inside your shoes. The Montrail Vitesse avoids this problem but doesn't drain as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WEcOl9tbKe4fm0uK8vdZhs5IegGuBLFP79BVG9C1nAw_VPx7eveTyP-T5pzCAB56BPs4TUUU9Dwi_L8lcFcaN02D4bVOXG26tu5az-vmmr2y9HMDExzsK5jQm4oGLpgOKx4F/s1600-h/13_matkat_narrows_climb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WEcOl9tbKe4fm0uK8vdZhs5IegGuBLFP79BVG9C1nAw_VPx7eveTyP-T5pzCAB56BPs4TUUU9Dwi_L8lcFcaN02D4bVOXG26tu5az-vmmr2y9HMDExzsK5jQm4oGLpgOKx4F/s400/13_matkat_narrows_climb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183237227769764498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Chimney Moves in Matkatamiba Canyon (Matkat)</span><br /></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W1xkiIImKawNvwzrOca6K85JF1gVtjdikxjp8SFnsmAPgGGSPUGOx6gHTqGBD6iOcQ6yg14IAhj_EPM4Qv47ATEXaYvI8zHM3LkcclgS5EyDN4yrAStvptITUtZVb0UzxCms/s1600-h/10_elves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8W1xkiIImKawNvwzrOca6K85JF1gVtjdikxjp8SFnsmAPgGGSPUGOx6gHTqGBD6iOcQ6yg14IAhj_EPM4Qv47ATEXaYvI8zHM3LkcclgS5EyDN4yrAStvptITUtZVb0UzxCms/s400/10_elves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183238232792111810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One of my favorite spots: Elves Chasm.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts on Climbing<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Several of the hikes involve short climbs or bouldering moves. A couple lengths of rope--a full climbing rope would be overkill but something like 10 m of 8 mm rope works well--and some webbing slings will be useful. Climbers might enjoy having their shoes and a bag of chalk. Just keep in mind that you're a long way from help and the majority of injuries on the Canyon happen off the river.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpRZsn41veZkfazpyOYB8m2mQ6tf8ELPhypdHCKZoGtF8pkCyoPPu7VnyUuU1Q0JQZ0AoVk25PadvuaVmpZxvoZKMhG2prHc3Qn18tivbvki4vDxdtFpaOimPeYhpFM4gmkA5/s1600-h/04_silver_grotto_climb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpRZsn41veZkfazpyOYB8m2mQ6tf8ELPhypdHCKZoGtF8pkCyoPPu7VnyUuU1Q0JQZ0AoVk25PadvuaVmpZxvoZKMhG2prHc3Qn18tivbvki4vDxdtFpaOimPeYhpFM4gmkA5/s400/04_silver_grotto_climb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183233048766585458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Climbing up a short pitch at Silver Grotto</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts on Hand and Foot Care</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I come from the Pacific Northwest and although I've done some trips to the desert southwest I can't say I've done anything that approaches 21 days. It's a hot, dry climate and you need to take care of your hands and feet. Everyone has their favorite hand cream. I like to use Burt's Bees and I was religious about using it every night and every morning on my hands and feet. A bottle of hand sanitizer is useful too. I never had any skin cracking or open sores. I also went through 4 tubes of lip balm. Being susceptible to sun burn I had a 16 oz. bottle of sun block. It's a good idea to make sure others on your trip are prepared with hand cream, lip balm, and sun block or there will be demand for yours. Sunglasses are essential for long days on the water and it's a good idea to bring a second pair. Under my helmet I wore a nylon cap with visor and sun flaps that covered my neck.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46YJRhnN9gC1uS7w33ekFE_Hbwz8jeYOfZBUrJGLTqbamjLt6rEK7XUKN60mFf2sKVQQp22TuSh0bNxXs7MZljw7osSU2n9JNsmYxOIrC1TugNSxVC2y2vf47z8VBLId-rqq2/s1600-h/hands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46YJRhnN9gC1uS7w33ekFE_Hbwz8jeYOfZBUrJGLTqbamjLt6rEK7XUKN60mFf2sKVQQp22TuSh0bNxXs7MZljw7osSU2n9JNsmYxOIrC1TugNSxVC2y2vf47z8VBLId-rqq2/s400/hands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183232056629140066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hands were looking pretty worn. The key is using the hand cream before they start looking like this.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts on Outfitting</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">We used Moenkopi Riverworks for our gear and food. Brady was a pleasure to work with. He and his staff seemed as excited about the trip as we were and they helped us get all the gear rigged at the put-in. They stayed with us overnight at the put-in, cooked our first meal, showed us all the kitchen gear, and helped us load the rafts. For a group of kayakers with rookie rafters they were great to work with. Other outfitters include Professional River Outfitters (PRO) and Canyon River Equipment Outfitters (Canyon REO). In addition to an outfitter you will also want a staging area in Flagstaff. We got the whole group in a couple rooms with bunk beds at the DeBeau Hostel. Everyone was able to fly or drive in two days before our launch and we cooked group meals together at the hostel while we got gear packed and boats rigged out in the parking lot.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nrmEtil2o-zqGOlvK1KBxR-arbEGzfccUy-ZESbJ3LfCkmzWUmmMUULaBs0yo2L7UXuPAcosIX-wVzOuL6CD5kqG3i6dwSJylibZn99azoTzgl2T46SQzWXSfW2nI53bz9AW/s1600-h/outfitter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nrmEtil2o-zqGOlvK1KBxR-arbEGzfccUy-ZESbJ3LfCkmzWUmmMUULaBs0yo2L7UXuPAcosIX-wVzOuL6CD5kqG3i6dwSJylibZn99azoTzgl2T46SQzWXSfW2nI53bz9AW/s400/outfitter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183261537284659922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting all the gear ready at Moenkopi Riverworks.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts on the Whitewater</span><br /></div><br />For experienced whitewater boaters the Canyon is not a hard run. Most of the rapids have a straight forward line so for the most part you position yourself at the top, ride the waves, and then hang on for the dynamic eddy lines and boils at the bottom. The run-out will be the most challenging part of the rapids for those who have not done much big water. The good news is the run is all pool drop and there are good recovery stretches at the bottom of nearly every rapid (Crystal being a notable exception). We had kayakers who were intermediates and oarsmen with limited rafting experience on our trip. Everyone did fine--we had no raft flips and no swims. For kayakers the most important skill is having a solid roll. As for boats you want something that's comfortable. This is really a river cruisers run so a longer boat with a bit of volume is a good choice. You can have great fun in a play boat too and if you go that route I'd recommend something that's good for surfing big waves. For paddling clothing I went with a drysuit which was overkill most days--it was nice on a couple of our cooler days. For a spring trip on the Canyon I'd go with a shorty wet suit, paddle jacket, and board shorts but if your roll is a little rusty or you think there's any chance you'll be spending time out of your boat then a drysuit is a good idea. As for the rapids, everyone knows the big rapids that include Hance, Horn, Crystal, and Lava Falls but there are a few others that are worth checking out.<br /><ul><li>House Rock Rapid: This is the first significant rapid on the run. It's not a difficult move but it's the first rapid where everyone will get to experience the power of the river and the first test for the rafters who need to make a hard pull to avoid the hole at bottom left.</li><li>Sockdolager and Zoroaster: These rapids come after you enter the Upper Granite Gorge following a run of Hance. The canyon walls are tight and the waves and holes can be punched but it's chaotic.</li><li>Bedrock: It's worth scouting this one to make sure you avoid the left side. It's not a hard move to get right but it's helpful to take a look especially for the rafts.</li><li>Deubendorff: This is not a hard rapid but it is helpful to see the move you need to make to the right about midway down.</li><li>135 Mile Rapid (Helicopter Eddy): This rapid is just below Tapeats Creek and although the rapid is not hard you do need to make the move to avoid ending up in Helicopter Eddy.</li><li>Upset Rapid: This is just above Havasu and rafts will want to avoid the hole. The name gives you can idea of what happens if you don't.<br /></li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnIa6un2_P_inmPAMaLgsjglE5jJFgHWq1LHxOLiixiPalWUSVpncomrDmESJBPJvRNXxZNBJ75P6QGWM2Udwq0VNPS7Nt00sDPBumRCrbEEVorO7kRf5hCxAf9Do250LA5lN/s1600-h/day_02_house_rock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnIa6un2_P_inmPAMaLgsjglE5jJFgHWq1LHxOLiixiPalWUSVpncomrDmESJBPJvRNXxZNBJ75P6QGWM2Udwq0VNPS7Nt00sDPBumRCrbEEVorO7kRf5hCxAf9Do250LA5lN/s400/day_02_house_rock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183262482177465058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The first test of the trip: making the cut to the right at House Rock</span><br /></div><br /></div></div></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Complete Grand Canyon Gear List</span><br />This was my gear list for a 21 day trip on the Grand Canyon. For the most part it represents what I took with a couple minor modifications.<br /><br />Sleeping<br />Sleeping Bag: REI Nooksack PrimaLoft® MXL<br />Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3 Sleeping Pad with chair kit<br />Bivy: Outdoor Research Advanced Bivy<br /><br />Clothing (camp and river)<br />Sunglasses: Smith (x2)<br />Hat: Nylon cap with sun flaps<br />Patagonia Rain Shadow Pants<br />Patagonia Rain Shadow Jacket<br />Patagonia R4 Polyester Jacket<br />Patagonia Stand Up Nylon Pants<br />Down Vest<br />Capilene 1 T-Shirt (x2)<br />Capilene 1 Long Sleeve<br />Capilene 1 Bottoms<br />Capilene 4 Long Sleeve<br />Capilene 4 Bottoms<br />Patagonia Baggies Shorts<br />Polyester Boxers (x2)<br />Wool Hat<br />Polyester/Spandex Gloves<br />Wool Socks (x 2 pair)<br />Keen Newport H2 shoes<br />Cotton Sarong<br />Eagle Creek Day Pack<br />Ultimate Fanny Pack<br /><br />Camp<br />Nalgene Water Bottle (x2)<br />Bandanna<br />Princeton Tec 3 LED Headlamp<br /><br />Electronics<br />Palm Tungsten T2 with keyboard (journal)<br />Nikon D80 (w/ 8 GB flash memory cards)<br />Pentax Optio WP (w/ 4 GB flash memory cards)<br /><span class="asinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle">Bogen - Manfrotto 3009 Table Top Tripod with Micro Ball Head</span></span><br />Sony Handycam DCR-TRV27<br />Pelican Waterproof Case (x2)<br />Brunton Solar Roll<br />iGo 12v Charger and Tips<br />4 extra NiMH AA batteries<br /><br />Toiletries/Safety<br />Burt's Bees Hand Cream (x2)<br />Burt's Bees Lip Balm (x4)<br />Doctor Bronner's Liquid Soap<br />Sun Lotion<br />3 Single Blade Razors<br />Toothbrush<br />Toothpaste<br />Dental Floss<br />2 oz. Hand Sanatizer (x2)<br />1 qt. Ziplock Bags (x 5)<br />Leatherman<br />lighter<br />matches<br />candle<br />personal first aid (band aids, waterproof tape, poison ivy soap, etc.)<br />photo id, credit card, $20 cash<br /><br />Paddling<br />Kokatat Gore-Tex Meridian Drysuit<br />Kokatat Rescue PFD<br />Keen Neoprene Booties<br />Paddle: Werner Bandit<br />Helmet: Seda Fiberglass<br />Boat: Hydra Duet (C2)<br />Snapdragon Skirt<br />1" tubular webbing slings (x3)<br />70' spectra throw rope<br />50' cord<br />carabiners (x6)<br />Whistle<br />Waterproof Watch<br />River Knife<br />Watershed ZipDry Duffle<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIYV8Qclqf_TGEgWcvStWgHC8W5fQ1k6_Sd0PB6lk2Y3gRqAKZuk0CDe_x3r3_nMVjspJkUOfjMQQ4T2tbA4UloUQFDA4fWm9eEkoKFwWntPLltG6pynOT8zZL__hR_FFNLap/s1600-h/08_horn_c2_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIYV8Qclqf_TGEgWcvStWgHC8W5fQ1k6_Sd0PB6lk2Y3gRqAKZuk0CDe_x3r3_nMVjspJkUOfjMQQ4T2tbA4UloUQFDA4fWm9eEkoKFwWntPLltG6pynOT8zZL__hR_FFNLap/s400/08_horn_c2_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183233568457628290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tom and Harry enter Horn</span><br /></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-49043366122017133372007-07-25T12:19:00.000-07:002007-07-25T12:50:10.352-07:00With a Boom! Marmot Dam Removal BeginsYesterday was a great day for rivers--we witnessed the beginning of the end for Marmot Dam on the Sandy River just 40 miles from downtown Portland. While the dam and powerplant originally provided electricity for the trolley system in Portland, it had lived its useful life. Later this year fish and paddlers will have access to a restored river.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dKRJroucwOozrdPcrfMQAmEOXsBm6GOzOeN0nkzuL0t3d7hVT7HLxG6WNaBuW7J44xzVZQhBXS7QDeyiYXulpOFneQVjqZawY5kzf61ONpdDdsauBwb6TIinj6DHwAWCMrwz/s1600-h/dam_pre_blast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dKRJroucwOozrdPcrfMQAmEOXsBm6GOzOeN0nkzuL0t3d7hVT7HLxG6WNaBuW7J44xzVZQhBXS7QDeyiYXulpOFneQVjqZawY5kzf61ONpdDdsauBwb6TIinj6DHwAWCMrwz/s400/dam_pre_blast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091221627678842402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">While the river runs at low summer flows it is diverted around the dam site. This is the view just before demolition began. Photo by Thomas O'Keefe.</span><br /></div><br />I came down from Seattle for the show and brought along Rebecca Sherman, former coordinator for the <a href="http://www.hydroreform.org">Hydropower Reform Coalition</a>; Rich Bowers, former Executive Director of American Whitewater and our new coordinator for the Hydropower Reform Coalition; Sam Drevo from eNRG Kayaking, and Matty Moreland, a local American Whitewater volunteer who lives near the Sandy River. A few more paddlers found their way to the show including Nick Jacobs from Alder Creek, Ben Liotta from eNRG kayaking, Dave Hoffman from eNRG kayaking, and Ferdinand Steinvorth, manufacturer of Blue Pool Paddles, from Costa Rica. It was great to see all the paddlers out who managed to pull the appropriate strings for a seat at the invitation-only event. All our friends from the Hydropower Reform Coalition who worked on this project were out too including folks from American Rivers, Oregon Trout, Trout Unlimited, and WateWatch of Oregon. It seemed every other group who does river advocacy work was there too along with many of our agency partners.<br /><br />As we arrived, PGE staff led tours of the dam site. One of the most striking images of the day was the Chinook salmon leaping into the air at the base of the dam. It was clear that paddlers weren't the only ones waiting in anticipation for a dam-free river.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQcAtWvaK8qhcxN5XoA4ozs48nh1bW594EeVZ1dzDXtPwVzz0QWwv87wDMMF-qjcmpxXbAVcDxutYtID0c_N2QSme4ARvWo7rxUpGSHw2C49y4fqtoCRZAhTQbwcpejgpY3O0/s1600-h/salmon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQcAtWvaK8qhcxN5XoA4ozs48nh1bW594EeVZ1dzDXtPwVzz0QWwv87wDMMF-qjcmpxXbAVcDxutYtID0c_N2QSme4ARvWo7rxUpGSHw2C49y4fqtoCRZAhTQbwcpejgpY3O0/s400/salmon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091216907509784050" border="0" /></a> <!-- INSERT CAPTION BELOW --><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo by Steven Nehl/<a href="http://www.oregonian.com/">The Oregonian</a>. A salmon jumps at the falls where the Sandy River was diverted around Marmot Dam.</span><br /></div><br />After short remarks by Portland General Electric CEO Peggy Fowler, she waited for the "all clear" and then pushed the plunger to detonate the charge that blasted off the top few feet of the dam.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy0YHGOemxaItdg9TIIXRq1QfwHN_7QKLMb3Lf13AnxVrMiQ9kuR5f0m_wkJDWM2_gmLA10xO0qT7zmOidtz_yVTR32x1FyyVJiOd74O9fuU2QtoXlxA-6YrFREo36OwzGvXQ/s1600-h/dam5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy0YHGOemxaItdg9TIIXRq1QfwHN_7QKLMb3Lf13AnxVrMiQ9kuR5f0m_wkJDWM2_gmLA10xO0qT7zmOidtz_yVTR32x1FyyVJiOd74O9fuU2QtoXlxA-6YrFREo36OwzGvXQ/s400/dam5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091218947619249666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From 1000' away Peggy Fowler pushes the plunger that sets off the explosive charge. Photo by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.destonnokes.com/">Deston Nokes</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> (see the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://marmotdam.com/video5_files/plunger_video.html">video</a><span style="font-style: italic;">)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEQVBgh_-Dur3ExILYWFtmxM031pd4a2xImSJBWaPtNStjh94uWuVO0DM2g3WVrPGWCBVNadsiuw6xXcC8dxm2Y-FSqZZ81kGM6E-z9zXinrtgdrtWy8kRgMm7kj96OesL_fY/s1600-h/dam6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEQVBgh_-Dur3ExILYWFtmxM031pd4a2xImSJBWaPtNStjh94uWuVO0DM2g3WVrPGWCBVNadsiuw6xXcC8dxm2Y-FSqZZ81kGM6E-z9zXinrtgdrtWy8kRgMm7kj96OesL_fY/s400/dam6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091219046403497490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">With a loud boom, dam removal was officially underway. Photo by </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.destonnokes.com/">Deston Nokes</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /></div><br />Cheers went up and the champagne came out--enough for a quick round before security confiscated the bottle--and then we all hustled up to witness the carnage. Within a few moments a line of trackhoes moved into position and began scooping up the rubble and loading it into a truck.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5wls-43tT5LH1lOgbFYz1kN6rJPPKR-WXdbHEHQMQvVX_dt8qJEmri9xvhc7IMKZdGasA2INWzn4jBmOK9ndAjufcakooPJ7DfNheOPnrOXUJaCBprtviIMykDhtGzYYhEho/s1600-h/dam_post_blast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5wls-43tT5LH1lOgbFYz1kN6rJPPKR-WXdbHEHQMQvVX_dt8qJEmri9xvhc7IMKZdGasA2INWzn4jBmOK9ndAjufcakooPJ7DfNheOPnrOXUJaCBprtviIMykDhtGzYYhEho/s400/dam_post_blast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091221636268777010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The heavy equipment moved into position and began scooping up the rubble. Over the next few weeks the material will be removed and by fall we will have a chance to experience a free-flowing river. Photo by Thomas O'Keefe.</span><br /></div><br />Paddlers owe a debt of gratitude to Keith Jensen who as former owner of Alder Creek and American Whitewater Regional Coordinator, represented paddling interest throughout the negotiations on this project. We also need to thank PGE, a utility that understands that rivers are a public resource and came to a decision that balances our need for power with the values that free-flowing rivers provide.<br /><br />Our next project will be to work with the Bureau of Land Management on developing a vision for the future of the Sandy River that preserves the resource value of lands along the river while providing opportunities for river-based recreation.<br /><br />For more information, links to web pages for all the stakeholders, and to follow the progress of Marmot Dam removal check out <a href="http://www.marmotdam.com/">MarmotDam.com</a>.Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173683.post-35181888527029194502007-07-08T18:25:00.000-07:002007-07-10T07:32:45.175-07:00Paddling the Salish SeaSalish Sea is the aboriginal name for the inland waters from Puget Sound to Johnstone Strait, a great inland waterway that includes Puget Sound, Strait of Georgia, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Since the retreat of the glaciers approximately 10,000 years ago native people have used the waters of the Salish Sea as the regional transportation network. I spend much of my time on the rivers that drain into the Salish Sea but every once in a while it's good to get out and explore the marine waters where all these rivers come together. Paddling is a means of reconnecting with our historical, cultural, and spiritual relationship to the waters that have nourished the body and soul of the people who called this place home for centuries. The Salish people mastered the art of efficient travel on the great inland sea through ocean-going canoes that were used for centuries.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWhmWDp68N04fTXly2v1s1x3G6uQW8jjh-2NosWZYFtfKYf9VfSHuhpPfdWQv_3E2VqeysGhMJ1gJxHCfNBW9sijy4T_egeAb9uZ1WlhTblJIcsN28uJCir69PvgGVZNJ3KDB/s1600-h/salish_sea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWhmWDp68N04fTXly2v1s1x3G6uQW8jjh-2NosWZYFtfKYf9VfSHuhpPfdWQv_3E2VqeysGhMJ1gJxHCfNBW9sijy4T_egeAb9uZ1WlhTblJIcsN28uJCir69PvgGVZNJ3KDB/s400/salish_sea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085069973796340002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Looking down on the Salish Sea (NASA image).</span><br /></div><br />Actually getting out in one of these canoes can be a challenge as they are not easy to rent or borrow and you need to get a crew together who wants to paddle one. Two years ago my friend Omar sent an email to a group of us that went something like this:<br /><br /><span><span style="font-style: italic;">I have been doing some thinking and have the start of a vision that I would like your help shaping. I have often pondered what it would be like to go on a group trip with everyone in one craft, working as a team. It should allow good opportunity for discussions, problem solving, and teamwork. I think I have found the craft for this trip--a Northern Dancer Canoe designed for groups of 5-10 paddlers in the tradition of a native dugout canoe. The canoe does not come with paddles, as each tribal member has a personal paddle that does not get rented. In the spirit of the trip, we will each make our own cedar northwest coast paddle.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdimC-ZK1RqFgEZ7pU62iT6mxfef_Sa2yz_bj7Jj-I50PVywjwXsZC-jaxrgrXsPkfzPcpTKowAj8tbRooD12f1IggJU5wWu6Ty_7ONqKhhoNE7zcGfL59qf4oMxwTOthnFf9A/s1600-h/pullers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdimC-ZK1RqFgEZ7pU62iT6mxfef_Sa2yz_bj7Jj-I50PVywjwXsZC-jaxrgrXsPkfzPcpTKowAj8tbRooD12f1IggJU5wWu6Ty_7ONqKhhoNE7zcGfL59qf4oMxwTOthnFf9A/s400/pullers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085031284730937586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The "pullers" (paddlers) on the 2007 trip.</span><br /></div><br />With the seed planted, Omar<span> began to organize the trip. After calling Clipper Canoes, makers of the Northern Dancer, Omar tracked down different tribes who had purchased the boat over the past few years. Several of us went out to the Olympic Peninsula where we met with Benny from the </span><span><a href="http://www.squaxinisland.org/">Squaxin Island Tribe</a></span><span>. Benny took us out one morning and shared his paddling knowledge--we were hooked and we immediately set about the task of finding wood for our paddles. Through the spring of 2005 we searched the beaches on different trips for yellow or red cedar and soon everyone had ripped a board from a piece of driftwood. Ed took a course from noted carver </span><span>Ray Arcand and after a few more trips to museums and conversations with experts we were on our way.</span><br /><span><br />I missed the first trip in June 2005 as I was off in Alaska doing field work but I had started my paddle and in 2007 everyone decided it was time to do another trip. Actually getting a boat to use had been tricky. While a few tribes offer guided trips it's another matter to get one of the boats for your own journey. After many phone calls and long discussions, Omar tracked down </span><span class="describe">Aaron Reith with</span><span> <a href="http://www.takayatours.com/">Takaya Adventures</a>. Aaron helped us make special arrangements for a canoe in 2005 and after moving to </span><span><a href="http://www.tseycumtours.com/">Tseycum Canoe Tours</a>, Aaron once again helped us get boats for our trip out of Sidney in 2007.</span><span> As we launched he made a point of saying that we had special permission to take the boats out on our own and we felt honored to have the respect of the tribe and the privilege to experience this way of traveling the inland sea.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6B8xYB_tNyJ7A9O1wCwcH-fjGC63jKrZJG33tg5DRn8NJr9tQvQI5NuvoT3Q-Vfgag3Q7zSAux-VGYX1RE1G59f1JRYKDjEHys_IpSoaYsQohS7g9n1irHXVg8RQBCRrErvZ/s1600-h/launch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6B8xYB_tNyJ7A9O1wCwcH-fjGC63jKrZJG33tg5DRn8NJr9tQvQI5NuvoT3Q-Vfgag3Q7zSAux-VGYX1RE1G59f1JRYKDjEHys_IpSoaYsQohS7g9n1irHXVg8RQBCRrErvZ/s400/launch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085029502319509618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We prepare to head out from the beach adjacent to the ferry terminal as one of the tribal members comes to send us on our way with a song.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QYLTXPaEZjDVSXGo77NIf61-zP-pXIAcJpSBREzB8dli59PkcZNlnOmWs7YZUW2l4TtIt2hYyZ82FUS8tZCAkZFQLGObTyA-OgNXcW9QL1Q9jC41hPxFmOmtxz7ne0v3Ymy_/s1600-h/canoe_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QYLTXPaEZjDVSXGo77NIf61-zP-pXIAcJpSBREzB8dli59PkcZNlnOmWs7YZUW2l4TtIt2hYyZ82FUS8tZCAkZFQLGObTyA-OgNXcW9QL1Q9jC41hPxFmOmtxz7ne0v3Ymy_/s400/canoe_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085029493729574978" border="0" /></a><span>Out on the water. Ed guides one of our canoes.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinX-hMyHkZKXWhT8w_BMnv_ic9gAj-Ljuv6Lvl3ciRM6h3wM5WSrQbzAEWVgnGGxKpkkyXjKB5ypDEgyqx_RWS6N5-MbgEP6OUu8KoUbAGUl7yFsvUWfrbNN6serNqfmJpiOSi/s1600-h/canoe_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinX-hMyHkZKXWhT8w_BMnv_ic9gAj-Ljuv6Lvl3ciRM6h3wM5WSrQbzAEWVgnGGxKpkkyXjKB5ypDEgyqx_RWS6N5-MbgEP6OUu8KoUbAGUl7yFsvUWfrbNN6serNqfmJpiOSi/s400/canoe_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085029498024542290" border="0" /></a><span>Our second canoe guided by Web.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq0QTGCoky4U6WTfA-S7MrNltiBuINx27908s2pIZnUutfBsUtP32Za0n-9ie5CIn2nIVldWZ4U5a21Vg78zydrmCgInW_NF7zTS3tPdeFUOV-SG86dQQqhGaufAaxBGQxC73/s1600-h/paddle_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjq0QTGCoky4U6WTfA-S7MrNltiBuINx27908s2pIZnUutfBsUtP32Za0n-9ie5CIn2nIVldWZ4U5a21Vg78zydrmCgInW_NF7zTS3tPdeFUOV-SG86dQQqhGaufAaxBGQxC73/s400/paddle_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085030344133099650" border="0" /></a><span>On our journey we shared knowledge of carving techniques and soon after setting camp a couple guys found a nice cedar log that was quickly split into boards. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3zs6K02ZxjS1EOqv3zx9Q9s5fR4bQ-00KsBL_KSDg6J2Mu9AaXJ49JF_UqoY_8Di8zKyLcrmBbm5WNQxIHfqWHVSEG4zKFtCE-3kx8hBIyAvfsIYoIY0EQazoa1Q0iWlejy6/s1600-h/paddle_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3zs6K02ZxjS1EOqv3zx9Q9s5fR4bQ-00KsBL_KSDg6J2Mu9AaXJ49JF_UqoY_8Di8zKyLcrmBbm5WNQxIHfqWHVSEG4zKFtCE-3kx8hBIyAvfsIYoIY0EQazoa1Q0iWlejy6/s400/paddle_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085030348428066962" border="0" /></a><span>Ed eyes up one of the cedar boards determining what sort of paddle might emerge. The board itself guides the carving process as you scan the grain.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tQa90cfJcjNfcwCBs7CDF0zhkOsWOCaztWosIVm3IQG7T6jtRETF0htVaiUhU0rU1SD30JdLL3hQpR1pPXs8okjDlElo94pIGjXH3xH1zTVfgwqRa8uvroypNLrVzxMuTUCE/s1600-h/paddle_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tQa90cfJcjNfcwCBs7CDF0zhkOsWOCaztWosIVm3IQG7T6jtRETF0htVaiUhU0rU1SD30JdLL3hQpR1pPXs8okjDlElo94pIGjXH3xH1zTVfgwqRa8uvroypNLrVzxMuTUCE/s400/paddle_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085030348428066978" border="0" /></a><span>Web goes to work a new paddle after a group consultation. The next series of photos show the development of the paddle over the course of the weekend.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9FnLK1gDRmlRMTEVpJGrFoXXcWv3fwaXGftxKecw3q0Nq3Wxl9tDTut_0G0S7OrgDIJefFMSw1MLiA8G6htX8z77ebvl_WRjZxZTlQ3bm_gDagp4rz8Yft_v8Ia_m6JxZ_2k/s1600-h/paddle_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9FnLK1gDRmlRMTEVpJGrFoXXcWv3fwaXGftxKecw3q0Nq3Wxl9tDTut_0G0S7OrgDIJefFMSw1MLiA8G6htX8z77ebvl_WRjZxZTlQ3bm_gDagp4rz8Yft_v8Ia_m6JxZ_2k/s400/paddle_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085030352723034290" border="0" /></a><span>The paddle starts to take on a basic shape with a hatchet that we use to rough out the basic form.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7aPdmbaBeXJWJjnYi1UA1Yb70zUdwIQhl_Grp2MraujzOBNRDOAACCDGRVLV6O7yIZfEQSLpywYsORDNI-cphldCheLz2M9-HxwPTWxixyA5nyuSpF0en6vTSxbCZFotDt_X/s1600-h/paddle_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7aPdmbaBeXJWJjnYi1UA1Yb70zUdwIQhl_Grp2MraujzOBNRDOAACCDGRVLV6O7yIZfEQSLpywYsORDNI-cphldCheLz2M9-HxwPTWxixyA5nyuSpF0en6vTSxbCZFotDt_X/s400/paddle_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085030357018001602" border="0" /></a><span>A draw knife can then be used to start shaping the paddle.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFW63qPi1XGmieQUtuogd6O5Bu2E-6_PHU7QicFUp0iv_OGLkGDc0JTuxj1XIJy46kIwawBeVkwA_Vqoo5uIo0DiJM5nBU-MdcVjImkfOxDb3sUD1qVr_OZUeLU5QmQfYtNxT/s1600-h/paddle_6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFW63qPi1XGmieQUtuogd6O5Bu2E-6_PHU7QicFUp0iv_OGLkGDc0JTuxj1XIJy46kIwawBeVkwA_Vqoo5uIo0DiJM5nBU-MdcVjImkfOxDb3sUD1qVr_OZUeLU5QmQfYtNxT/s400/paddle_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085031276141002962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">More work with the draw knife as you can start to recognize the clear form of the paddle.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclDREeaAWEMab1fRFGqUxTyHle4o9iB_3A2aCZn5-cNNVlUufVbLiABPhAi5U1oFJbBHQ9pn-xy8MZ1QkhgBKcm1tFN9WcE2afND-csw8CPzDSy7dYuXUIRm0HwH8g3VR0Fst/s1600-h/paddle_7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclDREeaAWEMab1fRFGqUxTyHle4o9iB_3A2aCZn5-cNNVlUufVbLiABPhAi5U1oFJbBHQ9pn-xy8MZ1QkhgBKcm1tFN9WcE2afND-csw8CPzDSy7dYuXUIRm0HwH8g3VR0Fst/s400/paddle_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085031280435970274" border="0" /></a><span><span style="font-style: italic;">More detailed blade shaping with a crooked knife.</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ayZEyz6AJa93aIAum2ReFabkDi59HaOPniNizYnRYF9dT57gezO6BA-jtAZKeCLD1ivl11TZ-2UKmX6aNl1PXoHT2UpUksdKLed7rnbbE7ahgWeBnlljOWdazsBXb7jm1Fe_/s1600-h/carving.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ayZEyz6AJa93aIAum2ReFabkDi59HaOPniNizYnRYF9dT57gezO6BA-jtAZKeCLD1ivl11TZ-2UKmX6aNl1PXoHT2UpUksdKLed7rnbbE7ahgWeBnlljOWdazsBXb7jm1Fe_/s400/carving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085029502319509602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">As some worked on paddles others took the scraps to work on spoons, spatulas, and a gaff hook handle. Others just read or relaxed.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI3MFgMgZCi-mYQ-5LEPycaUuyT1pFifMESg0XbKXtiOjJ3HQGmH9d03ZhM4Sz5XyIUqOg8xxF0kHR_bf8Uv0yClhTD1hWcUwSFNI1pMVHv-MN2-hMQa1AJMyW5AFKHMI6w2u/s1600-h/breakfast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI3MFgMgZCi-mYQ-5LEPycaUuyT1pFifMESg0XbKXtiOjJ3HQGmH9d03ZhM4Sz5XyIUqOg8xxF0kHR_bf8Uv0yClhTD1hWcUwSFNI1pMVHv-MN2-hMQa1AJMyW5AFKHMI6w2u/s400/breakfast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085029489434607666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A break from the carving--hanging out for a meal together.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocvG0kjYl8RSpIVQ9mcNi9kpMLbQ0hsbcqdChnrEwj0Hx-ICAEE935vwS1Ko4Nb7cgTrlK8lssnqDH3jjXXAMjggpl22fJFMOJl2L6vqgnsqw0NWQi6ZrL1ipzishFBuso5G5/s1600-h/sunset_carving.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocvG0kjYl8RSpIVQ9mcNi9kpMLbQ0hsbcqdChnrEwj0Hx-ICAEE935vwS1Ko4Nb7cgTrlK8lssnqDH3jjXXAMjggpl22fJFMOJl2L6vqgnsqw0NWQi6ZrL1ipzishFBuso5G5/s400/sunset_carving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085031284730937602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mark carving as the sun sets.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOX8WmATsAemnq2VzPEA5uTClCiFL885w3dY60S8jefS8gCV0y9BE7qj9SUv2n0F68ydp2sgCmHPvsyI4gRw8L7UATIX8PFhq1y89Gud2FVOF6sa3sEWZ9vSDNonfIukp7YNc/s1600-h/sunset_paddle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOX8WmATsAemnq2VzPEA5uTClCiFL885w3dY60S8jefS8gCV0y9BE7qj9SUv2n0F68ydp2sgCmHPvsyI4gRw8L7UATIX8PFhq1y89Gud2FVOF6sa3sEWZ9vSDNonfIukp7YNc/s400/sunset_paddle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085031289025904914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lyle guides a group out around the island at sunset.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was a great trip and a real joy to work together as team to experience the Salish Sea as it was traveled for centuries. I'm sure we will all be back out on the water sometime soon and a big thanks to the people of the Tseycum First Nation for sharing their boat with us for the weekend and making our trip possible.<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Thomas O'Keefehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05602728680865236417noreply@blogger.com