Blue Sky + Warm Temps + Snowmelt = Sweet Boating!

Shayne running the falls

Blue sky, warm temps and snowmelt had me driving from Starthcona Park Lodge to Courtenay for another run down the Alpine section of the Browns River. I met Shayne and Joe at the base of Mt. Washington and we had for an afternoon run. 

With the warm temps we had higher flows which made the run even better. We put-in at but 5/6km up from the take out bridge and started down. 

The first major drop is pretty full-on with the river channelizing creating a 3m falls with a large cave on river right and a rock, at the base on river centre/right..... don't go right! We portaged this last weekend and took a better look at it this time and ran it left of centre. It was sweet! 

Shayne entering the Cave Rapid

Boofing the Cave Rapid

After the cave drop we had some boggy and come to the first double drop which is really fun. Starts with rolling right around a rock with a left boof landing and maybe 4 strokes and boofing the next drop in the centre... so fun! 

Then we floated down to the 7m waterfall! Man this drop is just so fun. The icing on the cake for me is after you boof the heck out of it you have continuous class 4+ 300m then it mellow's out to class3-4 for the rest of the run.

The first 60-100m after the falls

Joe about to boof the heck out of it

After taking some time for photo's at those 3 sections of rapids it was around 4pm and Shayne had to be in Nanaimo to pick up Carrie at Departure Bay Ferry Terminal at 7pm and Joe was suppose to be at the base of Mt. Washington to meet Gill at 5pm ish. So we bombed down the rest of the run, which is the balk of it, in about 20 minutes. When we got to the bottom all 3 of use said "Man we should have a steep creek race down this thing!" Maybe next Puntledge fest. Long story short we got to the base of Mt. Washington at 5:30pm, so not to bad, Shayne made it just in time to get Carrie and we all headed to Joe and Gill's for food and the hockey game....... yeah Canucks!!!

Thanks to Shayne and Joe for the sweet run and for Dave Prothero for scouting this classic a few years ago.

Van Island Boating and Other Adventures!

Shayne Vollmers running the 7m falls on the Alpine Browns

Sweet drop!!

Since climbing in Sinks Canyon I've been pretty busy doing an assortment of things, a few being: working another canoe course for NOLS on Desolation Canyon, attended the NOLS Faculty Summit, paddled the lower Owhyee River, drive to Vancouver Island, paddled the Cameron River, Ash River (both near Port Alberni), Pamela Creek (outside Gold River), Puntledge River (in Courntenay) and was part of the FD on the Alpine Section of Browns River (outside of Courntenay) and went to Horne Lake for a few days of climbing on steep limestone.

For those of you that haven't been to Vancouver Island to paddle you should it have numerous steep creeks of very high quality and when the play run on the Puntledge River is running it is a must do.

A few keys components to paddling on the island are: get a Vancouver Island Back Roads map book from a gas station, be prepared to bushwack a lot, drop into committing canyons and wood being in pretty much every river.

Areas of high quality are:
1.Gold River with numerous runs including Pamela Creek class 4-5, Quatchka Creek class 4, Ucona River class 4-5, Upana River class 4-5, the Upper 4+, Middle 3+ and Lower Heber River class 4-5 and the Gold has numerous sections from class 3 to 4+.
2.Port Renfrew having Harris Creek class 4-5, Lens Creek class 4-5, San Juan River class 4-5, Granite Creek class 4-5, Hemmingston Creek class 4+ and the Gordon River that has numerous section from class 3-4+. For more information of Vancouver Island Rivers check out www.bc-ww.com.
These are the 2 places your going to get the best bang for your buck.

A few classic's that are a bit off the beaten path are the Cameron River class 4, Upper Nanaimo River class 4-5, Kokish River class 4-5, Alpine Browns River class 4-5 and the classic Island multi-day run is the Bedwell River class 4-5.

For people looking at rivers that are less committing the Cowichan River in Duncan is a fun class 3 run, the Nimpkish River class 3+ in Woss, the play run on the Puntledge River class 4, the Lower Ash River class 3-4 as well as different section of the Gold and Gordon Rivers.


Hope this is helpful and see you on the river!

 Folks hanging out at the camp ground at the Puntledge River Festival

 Joe Box at the put-in for the Alpine Browns 

 Dave Prothero running the first drop on the Alpine Browns 

 Dave telling you how awesome it is! with Mac behind

 

 Shayne running a fun double drop with Joe watching

 Dave running the double drop

 Me running the double drop Photos by Mac Schafers

 Horne Lake from the parking lot

 A shot of the huge cave Horne Lake is known for. Eric is climbing in centre right of photo.

 Owhyee River.... so beautiful!

A little to serious..... 

Me running the 7m falls on Alpine Browns Photo by Shayne Vollmers

Climbing in Sinks

Nick Climbing, Syd belaying on More Funky then Gunky 5.9

Since getting off the river I have been doing a bit of skiing and climbing. From Vernal I ventured to Driggs Idaho to get some early spring turns and after a few days of heavy snow and not seeing the corn coming soon I headed to Lander Wyoming to do some climbing.

Lander is a small town of about 6000 people, has a large concentration of climbing within an hours drive and is the home of the NOLS International Headquarters. Lander's most popular climbing areas are Sinks Canyon, Sweetwater, Wild Iris, the Wind River Range a mecca for alpine granite, as well as numerous other climbing areas. There is a reason Todd Skinner called Lander home.

So I arrived in Lander on April 3rd, checked into the Noble (The NOLS Hotel) and have been staying here climbing since!

 

 Sydney on Harvest Moon 5.11a

Sydney on Harvest Moon 

  

Climbing in Sinks Canyon is awesome! It is south facing steep pocketed/overhanging limestone with a short approach and you can climb year round! I was quick to get ahold of friends so we could get out climbing.  Sunday night it snowed so we, Zac Berman, Sydney Hartsock and I, waited until about 11am and then headed up the canyon. Things where dry and I had my first introduction to the steep pockets of the Sinks Canyon limestone. We climbed at the Scud area and left of the Killer Cave (which is home to some of the hardest routes in the canyon). It is common practise to, after having a good day of climbing, go down to the Gannite Grill & Lander Bar for happy hour and a burger. The burgers are sourced from a local farm and pitchers are $7.00. It's hard to bet!

 Sydney on Elmo's Fish 5.10d

Syd climbing Nick belaying Elmo's Fish 

The following days saw Zac Berman sent Bush Doctor a overhanging 12a in the Killer Cave, lots of trying to onsight things, falling off things and another climbing partner getting into town, Nick Storm.

Nick and I had made plans before I went on the river in March to climb. We had thoughts of going to Indian Creek or Devils Tower or even Cody to ice climb, those thoughts feel through due to inconsistent weather and having Sinks Canyon 10 minutes away.

 Nick climbing a 5.10a

Zac had to head out of town so Storm, Sydney and I climbed pretty much everyday! Now I'm sitting in the Noble trying to focus on resting my body, so far it is working. Sydney starts a contract today and Storm is heading to California to visit family. So I'm going relax, find another partner and get right back at it tomorrow and until I head to Vernal for my next work contract on monday April 18th.

 Max on Duck Soup 5.9 Photo by Sydney Hartsock

Max on Duck Soup Photo by Sydney Hartsock

If you ever find yourself in Lander Sinks Canyon is an amazing area to climb, get strong and push for limits sport climbing. Grades range from a few 5.9s to 5.14 and 15 draws will get you up pretty much everything. A few routes I recommend are Duck Soup 5.9, Sandman 5.10c, Elmo's Fish 5.10d, Harvest Moon 5.11a, Stud Alert 5.10c and there are many more!

 Syd climbing, Max belaying on Stud Alert 5.10c Photo by Nick Storm

Nick and Syd chillin'

Canoeing in March.... a Little Cold!

Desolation Canyon!

Paddling Desolation Canyon on the Green River is generally floating down warm water in the desert sun.... that is what it was like when I paddled last fall in September, this time it was much different.

Working for NOLS is a pretty fantastic gig! I get to travel to numerous wonderful places in Canada, the USA and potentially around the world. NOLS offers semesters in a number of locations in Canada, USA, Mexico, NZ, Australia, India, Norway, Tanzania, Chile and Brazil. NOLS runs a variety of 30 day courses, Semesters and Outdoor Educator courses in these locations.

The course I'm going to tell you a bit about is the first Outdoor Educator River Section of the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Educator Semester.

Our students had just finished there winter section and where ready for a new and warmer experience. After issuing them there gear and loading the boatings and dry bags into the truck we headed to the Ouray, Utah to put on the river.

Our first few days involved traveling on ice because the river hadn't fully thawed. On our second day on the river we decided to look for camp early due to the ice actively breaking up and moving down stream. It was an impressive sight to say the least. Fortunately the ice had fully broken up that day and we where able to continue moving down stream. After 4 days of nice weather, flat water, teaching strokes and basic maneuvers we entered Desolation Canyon.

Students paddling through the ice

Walker and Emily loving the ice

As you enter Deso the sandstone canyon walls grow higher and higher to just above 5000ft which is deeper then the Grand Canyon.

Sand Wash the put-in for most Desolation trips by public... this was day 5 for us.

Deso offers a great white water canoe progression. It starts with small riffles and rapids that gradually build throughout your travels. The action picks up as you get further downstream where long class 2-3 rapids become a common occurience.

As we moved down the canyon we got hammered with winds, rain, hail and snow. While getting this weather both instructors and students taught classes on Environmental Studies (Fauna and Flora, Geology, Oil and Gas and Cryptobiotic Soil), Leadership, Communication, First Nations of the Area, Hydrology, Risk Management, River Management and Rescue, and Canoeing Skills.

Scouting class by Emily at Little Rock House Rapid

Kristin paddling on day 6 and first day in Deso

The students were put in teams of 3 and designated to lead for 2 days each. An instructor would coach the designated leadership team and help them to come up with safe risk management and river travel plans.

Scouting Steer Ridge Rapid

Audi watching friends paddle a rapid

There is a tremendous amount of history in Deso! This is part of what is left at Rock Creek Ranch

A pair of boots at the Ranch

Students made decisions on running, portaging, lining rapids, choosing campsite locations, meeting times, class times and making sure all our gear was organized and tied down as well as managing themselves. It is easy to say all these things and not as easy to do. I'm sure if you ask all the students they would agree managing 13 people and themselves is a tough task. Everyone had many learnings and did extremely well.

Top: Matt and others lining Threefords Rapid
Bottom: Audi and Kristin running Range Creek Rapid

On March 25th we made it to our take out. During the trip we had 5 boats flip and people swim, 4 fully swamped boats and still make it to shore and ran, lined and portage numerous rapids. We traveled down river in true canoe tripping fashion!

Thanks to Janie and Emily, my co-instructors, and our students Eric, Miller, Matt, Walker, Beebs, Kristin, Audi, Will, Kevin, PJ and TC it was a great course!

The top of Swasey Rapid just above the takeout

Dubois Wyoming Ice

Looking west in the Northern Wind River Range Photo by Max Fisher

Today was a good day!

I have been visiting family and doing first aid for the past 10ish days, which has been great..... it is rare for me to go 2 days without getting outside and doing something so I've been itching since the first aid course finished Saturday.

Fortunately my good buddy Nick Storm was getting into Lander and we had tentatively made plans to do something today. Storm called me and we planned to meet at 7am and head to Dubois WY to climb Lake Louise Gully a classic WI3 150m.

Dubois is a small town that is 70miles or 112km from the closest town so pretty remote for the Lower 48. Dubois is in a rain shadow and supposedly gets 300days of sun a year. Lake Louise Gully is set back in the Northern Wind River Range located in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area. There is also another classic route beside LLG that is called Golden Tears but hasn't formed to the ground this year.... it goes at WI4+ 150m.

So as planned Nick picked me up and we headed for some ice. The weather wasn't suppose to be great and on the drive the roads weren't great. Once we pulled into the parking lot the sun can out, 300days of sun a year! and we where on our way. After a bit of route finding do to recent snow we found our way to Louise Lake and our route.

We swapped leads and made good time climbing this beautiful route!

Nick hiking in Photo by Max Fisher

Nick walking to the base of the route Photo by Max Fisher

Max heading up Photo by Nick Storm

Nick rapping off the top Photo by Max Fisher

View from the top Photo by Max Fisher

If anyone gets to this area to climb it is well worth it! Also you are a few hrs from Jackson Hole WY which has great backcountry skiing, Cody WY a North American ice climbing destination and if you want to venture a little out of the way you could get to Hyalite Canyon in Montana in about 8 hrs.

SW Climbing

February was a pretty great month all in all. I spent 8 days in Cochise Stronghold doing a NOLS climbing seminar, 7 days in Red Rocks getting on some great routes and got to meet a number of great new people.

So after I left the Tetons I ventured to Vernal Utah to watch the Superbowl with friends and drop my paddling gear of at the NOLS branch. Got up the next day and drove down to Tucson for the seminar.

The seminar consisted of 12 NOLS instructors wanting to get more experience climbing, with the motivation to become a climbing instructor for the school. There where 3 senior climbing instructors teaching us the curriculum.

View from "Mystery of the Desert" on Mutton Head

Nick Cross climbing pitch 2 on "Mystery of the Desert"

Nick on pitch 2

Over the 8 days we did lots of cragging at numerous areas we would take NOLS students, went over the climbing curriculum and progression, multi-pitch climbing considerations and had discussions on risk management issues with students. I had a wonderful seminar and look forward to working NOLS climbing courses.

Thanks Nick, Jared and Lauren and all fellow instructors!

After the seminar, a few of us headed up to Red Rocks for the NOLS climbing symposium. There was about 20-30 people that came to the event and a lot of great climbing was accomplished!
We arrived Saturday night and it rained that night so Sunday involved getting groceries, computer time and looking at the guide book.

Day 1 Jared, Sydney, Anna and I headed for the Eagle Wall to climbing Eagles Dance. It was sunny with cold winds so we all climbed in our puffy coats.

Day 2 Mark, Chris, Mark Spain, Daren and I went to the Brass Wall for some trad cragging. Got on some classic like Straight Shooter and Mushroom People to name a few. The cragging was nice and warm t-shirt weather.

Day 3 Charlie, Joe, Chris and I went in to the Eagle Wall and climbed Levitation 29. What a great route! Joe and Charlie climbed both Eagles Dance and Levitation 29 on that day which was pretty impressive.

Day 4 Chris and I climbed Cat in a Hat

Day 5 Went cragging with the whole crew at Panty Wall.

Day 6 It rained so I said good bye and headed for Salt Lake City.

Slacked of on the pictures, sorry friends

Overall climbing has been great! Now I'm in Salt Lake visiting with some family before heading to Lander for a first aid course and then off to Vernal for some white water canoeing.