On it, Off it, report from California

The mix has defintely been a mixture during my first three weeks back in California. Weve had the good and the not so good.
A NZ team comprised of Dave Ritchie, Ben Jackson, Graham Charles, Deter King our US companion and myself spent two fantastic days in the Middle fork of the Feather River on the "Devils Canyon" section, a huge thunderstorm pelted down on us as we broke camp on day two and paddled 20 miles of continuos class 4+ in 6 hours.




Lots of snow means high river flows, the days are baking hot, fast food comes fast and if you want it whitewater is everywhere.
Local play wave, "Barking dog" paddler, Ben Jackson




Ben Jackson, gets amongst a high
flow on South Silver








Carrying our kayaks for hours uphill(about seven)in 100F heat out of the
South Merced through poison oak.(simular trip experienced in 2005, slow learner)
Two team members took swims early from nasty recirculations, due to a high river level we collectively descided to walk out rather than try to survive the remaining 16 miles of class 4-5. Dehydrated and exhausted we climbed 2500ft with fully loaded kayaks to the canyon rim and escaped to a road nearby.
















Get me to the river, shuttle american style!


More to come, stay tuned
zak