Swift Water Rescue Class

Over the last weekend my brother and I spent three days at Wet Planet in Husum, WA learning professional swiftwater rescue techniques. We spent our time in and out of the water understanding and practicing a variety of rescue techniques. I was already aware of and had used many of the rescue techniques, but methods such as the Z-Drag system and foot entrapment resolution were new to me. From learning how to tie proper knots for different situations to learning how to un-pin a raft or kayak I learned many skills at this course and feel confident to use each technique in real life situation. Instructors Jonathon Blum and Todd Collins not only knew the proper techniques for each situation but had executed almost every skill in their past experiences. I hope I don't have to be involved in too many rescue situations in the near future, but I know that with extreme kayaking comes these situations on a regular basis. Now I feel like I can resolve many dangerous whitewater situations safely and efficiently.

White Salmon and Little White Extreme Races

This weekend was the best competitive weekend of kayaking I've ever had. It started with the White Salmon Extreme race and Orletta sprint on Saturday. In the extreme race teams of three had to safely bring each member of the race from the Green Truss Bridge to the Orletta put-in. My brother and I teamed up with Tao Berman to paddle the raging class V section. The levels were higher than I'd ever seen (nearly 5' on the Husum gauge) but because the Truss was a local favorite for all three of us we were able to take first place with time to spare. The next race was the Orletta Sprint. With only 5 second intervals each racer had to paddle about a mile of class IV rapids from the Orletta to Wet Planet North. Behind Tao and Max, I was able to take 3rd place in this event. The races were all part of the White Salmon Symposium, which ended with a rockin party at the Trailhead B&B in Trout Lake.

Saturday night we heard rumor of there being a race on the Little White the next morning, so as soon as we woke up my brother and I drove to Drano Lake. There were only six competitors in the race, but four others were there to set safety. In the first heat Tao Berman, Ryan Scott and I raced head to head from the Gettin Busy to Boulder Sluice. Tao took off far in front, but throughout the race Ryan Scott and I battled closely for the 2nd place slot. I was still ahead of him at Boulder Sluice, but in the last couple class II rapids Ryan passed me and beat me by less than a boat length. Because his boat was leaking badly before the next heat Ryan let me move on to the next heat in his place. In the final heat Tao, Lizzy English, Dan, and I raced head to head from below S-Turn to below Wishbone. I was able to maintain my distance on Dan throughout the race until I went over Bowey Hotel upside down. After a sketchy recovery at Bowey's I raced the rest of the way down and finished in 3rd place overall. The rest of the paddle down was really relaxing and a smooth line over Spirit Falls topped off an amazing race. Two races on my two favorite rivers and a great party all in one weekend... Who can ask for anything more?

Layin Treats on Spirit Falls

Photos by Tate Taylor and Stiv Wilson of Wend Magazine

Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival

The Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival (May 16- 17) was an action packed weekend for paddlers of all ability. For me the fun began with the kayak mass start race. In this event 15-20 paddlers in playboats all sprinted through carter rapid and to the finish gate below. Throughout the race I was near the front of the group battling it out between 4 other paddlers for first place. I wasn't able to take first, but I was the third one to pass under the finish line. Shortly after this event was over my brother and I met up with two other paddlers who were interested in entering in the relay race. We took up the offer, and over the 4 part course our team took first place. To end the action packed day, my brother and I competed in the big air competition. This was hands down the most exciting event. Every athlete slide down a 30ft. ramp off a 5ft. jump in to the river below. I was able to throw down a variety of barrel roll tricks, and even attempted a few backflips. The highlight of this event was watching Steven Olsen fly down the ramp twice as fast as anyone else with a skateboard attached to the bottom of his kayak and throw huge tricks. Unfortunately I wasn't able to place in this event, but Todd Baker threw numerous stylish barrel roll tricks to take first and Steven Olsen came in a close second. I couldn't find many pictures of the event but these photos were shot by David Brigg.

Steven Olsen throws a huge kickflip for second place

Junior World Record: 82' Metlako Falls

Christie Glissmeyer sets the new female record waterfall

For a while now, I've had it in my mind that it would be very possible to break Pat Keller's 75ft. Junior World Record Waterfall. And on Sunday that thought turned into a reality. Evan Garcia called me and said that Christie Glissmeyer and himself were itching to run 85ft. Metlako and that the flows were good to go. I knew this would be a great accomplishment in my kayaking and joined the two on their trip to Metlako. At the trailhead Christie, Evan, Erik Boomer, and some other buddies hiked the beautiful 2 miles to Metlako. We scouted the stout from each angle, and decided the flow was as perfect as it gets. Shortly after getting in our boats and boofing the 10ft. Lower Punchbowl as a warm up, we arrived at the lip of the beast. Evan and Christie were first to roll off the lip, and after excited shouts from below I knew it was my turn. I paddled toward the drop in total control and as I rolled over the lip I kissed my deck, let go of my paddle, and waited for impact. After 3 solid seconds of freefall, I penetrated the deep pool below with little force of impact. Surfacing in the massive boils, I hand paddled to a cove on the right, and got my first look back up at the 85ft. stout. Christie and I shared the excitement of having just broken the Female and Junior Record Waterfall with Evan. The photos of myself are still on hold, but before too long I'll have pictures to go along with this story. Also make sure to check out Christie Glissmeyer's interview with Paddling Life Magazine.

Summit Creek First Descent

Earlier this year I had visited Summit Creek in hopes of big drops and good whitewater; when I arrived at the lower gorge I knew I had found just what I was looking for. As soon as I found the goods I called Cody Howard and the next Saturday my brother, Cody, Brett Adams and I left for the first descent. Highlights of this run were running some super smooth slides for the first time, and scouting the massive Skate Park Drop.
I was really satisfied with the First D of the lower canyon, but I also knew that there was an upper canyon likely to have drops of similar magnitude and style. After hearing Cody's positive report about the upper gorge Erik Boomer, Evan Garcia, my brother and I went out to get some for ourselves. The upper gorge started out with some gnarly log portages, but slowly turned into the most amazing 10-30ft. slides.

Sliding a smooth 20 footer
After boat scouting and running a number of these smooth drops, we came to what seemed to be the start of the first gorge. A quick scout revealed a sweet triple-tier slide as well as a stout 60 foot waterfall all within a beautiful deep gorge. Third in line to run the triple-tier drop I ended up running the last section backwards but was able to correct before landing in the pool below. We took out below the triple tier and spent about half an hour scouting the 60 foot Summit Falls. The waterfall had a pretty smooth lead-in but also a small landing zone and questionable runout into two 20-30ft slides. After much speculation, Boomer decided to give'er. He landed flat after a sweet boof, but with his imploded skirt was forced to run the two slides following with a boat full of water. After Boomer's sweet First Descent of Summit Falls I knew the stout was good to go and decided to give 'er. Instead of taking a boof at the end of the drop, I went for the plugger line and ended up resurfacing against a rock below with an imploded skirt and boat full of water. Luckily I was able to swim to shore before the slides, and my boat got caught in a nearby eddy below the slides. Stoked as hell, I got up on the shore to watch Evan huck a huge boof, and again end with an imploded skirt.

Scouting the Upper Gorge

Flying off Summit Falls

Summit Falls was the end of the first gorge, but before too many log lams we arrived at the second gorge. Already knowing our lines, we were able to run this section much quicker. Our only stop was at the 50 foot Skate Park Drop, where we all went big and stomped some huge autoboofs. With a 40 foot vertical drop leading into a smooth 15 foot horizontal kicker, this drop is like no other, and is one of the most unique I've ever run. After a couple more smooth slides we ended the run with huge smiles across our faces. With two of the most beautiful gorges in the Northwest and with its amazing whitewater, Summit creek has become one of my favorites.

Erik Boomer drops into the Skate Park

Photos- Erik Boomer

A Week with World Class

Last week my brother and I were lucky enough to have the World Class Kayak Academy stop by for a week of paddling in The Gorge. The entire crew, staff and students, were very enjoyable to be around. I rarely get to paddle with kids my age, except for my brother, so this was a treat. Most the time I spent with World Class was on the White Salmon, and by the looks of their paddling I could tell they'd been instructed by the best. Paddling with World Class was a great experience, and I look forward to paddling with them again.

Two 50 footers in Two Hours

My brother and I had been eying down Bridal Veil Falls (55ft.) and Money Drop on Rock Creek (58ft.) for quite some time, but it wasn't until this weekend that we finally fired up both drops. On Saturday Tate Taylor, my dad, my brother and I all piled in my dad's car to celebrate the warmest day of the year with an all out huckfest. Our first stop was Bridal Veil, and as soon as we decided the flow was good my brother and I started setting up safety and checking our lines. I was first off the stout and after a smooth line right down the middle, I punched through the soft hole at the bottom. As I resurfaced, I was able to look up at the drop in a state of euphoria and take in the feeling of a new personal record. My brother was also able to clean the drop with a smooth line, and paddle safely to the shore.

A short video of my run (filmed by spectator Larry Ellis)


Within an hour of having launched Bridal Veil we arrived at Money Drop only to hear the ecstatic yelling of boaters below. When I arrived at the lip I saw a couple paddlers in the pool below, and got to evaluate the lines of two more. My brother and I decided, that because this drop ------------------------------------------------------------------ had such a fast lead in Disconnecting from Money Drop ------------------- the key was to kiss the deck before even reaching the lip. After a quick evaluation we grabbed our boats and set up for our own runs. My brother was first to go and had a super clean line, airing out into the huge boils below. He was quick to roll up and give me "the go-ahead." As I flew off the lip in the perfect tuck I truly felt I was flying , until of course I smacked the bottom and felt my paddle snap in half. In the pool, I rolled up with my single bladed paddle and eddied out with my brother. We admired the 7 ft. boils for a while, then I C1ed my way through some class II rapids to the take out eddy. Overall it was an incredible day; I was glad my brother and I cleaned each drop, and again Tate Taylor came out with amazing photos.

Standing below my biggest drop-- Stoked