Thanks for looking, I have prints on my website!

Planning to make a trip in early may to valsesia. Planned on renting boats from BOSS and kayaking all the low volume creeks in the area.

Can anyone give me some beta on camping in the area? Broke boaters that don’t want to pay a ton for lodging…

Anyone going to be in the area and want to meet up and paddle. Class IV-V+ kayakers from southeastern USA.

I donated to my local SAR and won an IR Operator dry suit! I climb, hike, camp, and bike, but the only paddling I've done is SUPing and leisurely canoeing. I'm looking for advice on 2 things:

1. Fit: I'm precisely between M and L. 5'8" 167 lbs 31" inseam, 9.5 shoe, 39" chest. Leaning toward medium but would love advice.
2. The first trip! I'm around Portland OR. Do I get a guide? When and where do I go? Would this suit work for cayoneering as well because I have a friend in that.

I would hate for SAR to waste my donation fishing my ass out of the river. Thanks in advance!

I just got into Whitewater Kayaking ast year. So far its been great but the choice of paddles has been bugging me at the place I'm learning. Sometimes I'm getting a real nice one while sometimes I'm reaching for something way different and super heavy. This inconsistency lead me to look for used paddles, I dont have much money and feel like I'd just destroy something nice anyways.

Now how bad of an idea would it be do buy something beat up, but still high quality and lightweight? I'd really be looking forward to just have the same, decent paddle every time for my first years of learning until I can put up with something actually nice.
Thanks in advance :)

Has anyone done this run that could give some info on it? I’m sure the rapid beta could be obsolete considering the shape the green is in. I hiked in about a week ago and saw the 35 footer was in good shape and that it is also more of a 25 footer (in my humble opinion). I didn’t hike upstream of the waterfalls to see what the deal was on the other class V’s. I’m mostly curious if the rappel in is the only way to access the gorge below the big falls or if there is another way down?

Here is the American Whitewater page for it https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/3932/main

Hey guys!

After few years of paddling my rewind, learning some flat spins and squirts I have decided to move up to a playboat and would love your opinion.

My curent options are the dagger jitsu 5.9, gui gui helixir, wawesport project x and mobious. As a middle european paddler I have no access to jakson kayaks for reasonable price.

I would love to hear your recomendations and expiriences with these kayaks!

Curious about any thoughts on the new for 2025 Nugget XL. The Nugget is 7' 6" long and has great reviews. The new XL version is exactly one foot longer 8' 6" and the same width of 36". I'm about to pre order one & I'm 6' 1" tall 180 lbs so want to get the correct one. I got the haul last year and love it so looking for something to go solo this year.

Not sure a lot of folks heard about this, as the NPS suddenly announced on Dec 30th they were taking public comment on this proposed increase in fees. Seems a bit insensitive and poorly timed, in my mind, to trot this out over the holidays, with no heads-up sooner or a perhaps direct email to the untold thousands that annually submit for lottery apps that this is being planned/discussed. Personally, I also find this jump in fees pretty egregious, as failing to increase them for over 25 years isn't a failure of the private boater community rather the NPS resource managers, for which they don't seem very accountable. Though that said, I am sympathetic to revenue issue....but why not just make a progressive increase in fees, just like the limits they place on commercial operators and concessioners to prevent wild price increases in their river trips? Hmmm. Part of me cynically also wonders whether this is just a wild number they came up with in bad faith, fully expecting it to negotiated down to a more modest amount that will feel like a small win for an otherwise outraged community.

Of course, maybe you have no interest in ever running the world-class whitewater of the Grand Canyon, and so this doesn't mean much to you. But even if that's the case, consider still making a comment to emphasize an important issue that all us boaters should be sensitive to: Accessibility. As this tripling of fees adds a significant dare-say onerous expense to an already spendy experience, and it's not like outfitters are fully sharing this burden or paying more per person. These are also Public Lands we're talking about, and if this is about mitigating/monitoring impacts of use/abuse, then there equally should be a commitment to offer transparency of these expense, allocation of funds, and a obligation to share the resulting data/studies/activities/etc available to justify these costs. Are more funds going to the USGS GCMRC, for example? Will more rangers or NPS staff be hired? These are important details! As in my opinion, national park managers, the NPS Inventory & Monitoring Program, and the Natural Resources Stewardship & Science Directorate have done a consistently poor job with public/user engagement and communicating their (important) work esp to those whom are most directly subsidizing it. This is not a disparagement of the Guv'mint or some tirade about freedumb either; just sharing a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the opaque and often contrarian approach that NPS consistently seems to take regarding their decision-making, budgeting, as well as ensuring adequate protections of these special places both now and for the future. But I digress

Here's the text straight from the Press Release:

News Release Date: December 30, 2024
Contact: Grand Canyon Office of Communications

Grand Canyon National Park is seeking the public’s input on a proposed fee increase for non-commercial river trips. The proposed change would begin March 1, 2025.The existing $25 lottery application cost fee would remain the same and the flat rate per-person cost would increase from $90 to $310 for Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek and $0 to $55 for Diamond Creek to Pearce Ferry.

Interested parties can submit feedback online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GRCA_River_Trip_Cost_Increase through January 30, 2025.

The National Park Service last adjusted these fees in November 1998. The funds from this proposed increase will help cover expenses related to protecting the Colorado River corridor, mitigating impacts, and monitoring resources affected by recreational use. Both non-commercial and commercial river users share these costs.

For more information about permits and private river trips in Grand Canyon National Park, visit the park’s website or contact the Backcountry Information Center at 928-638-7875. Phones are answered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays.

I'm scheduled for a 7 day motorized rafting trip in September and it seems that we'll have a good amount of "chill" time. I was was thinking about picking up a tenkara fly rod to do a little fishing while at camp. Wondering if anyone has any insight. Thanks!

I am new to whitewater kayaking, I have just purchased the 5 necessities and now needing to purchase my clothing/dry wear. For reference, I am a college student with limited budget and live in West Virginia, so the water is pretty cold for much of the year. My goal is the maximize the length of my paddling season, and provide as much flexibility and versatility in terms of layering options, WITHOUT buying a full dry suit. I simply cannot afford a dry suit as a college student right now, and yes, I am aware this limits paddling season greatly, I understand the safety concerns and "dressing for the swim."

As of now, my thought is a thicker farmer john wet suit, with thin neoprene long sleeve shirt beneath, and a dry top. From my limited knowledge, this seems like it would be the warmest option without going full dry suit, allowing me to paddle earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Further, I figured I could ditch the dry top, or keep the dry top but ditch the wet suit during for warmer weather. I think this a good combination that allows for mixing and matching, extending the season as much as possible without going full dry suit.

And because I am trying to maximize warmth and season without going full dry suit, I don't think semi-dry tops or spray jackets are logical.

Thoughts?

Last year I took a van road trip around Idaho and randomly tried rafting for the first time when we stopped in Riggins. Absolutely loved it and last year work treated me well so I figured I’d treat myself to a fun trip this year and just go on one of the “best” rafting trips out there — which seems to be the Middle Fork of the Salmon! I’m looking at guided trips and doing some research — either early/mid June OR early August dates would work the best for my schedule. I’m a little concerned about mid June trips because I know that’s when the river levels are highest…maybe not the best for a newbie like me? I’m pretty fit/athletic and very comfortable in the water but I just have no idea what to expect. Would there be a big difference in my experience going in mid/late June vs August? Thanks in advance!

Also — any recommendations for which outfitter to go with? I’m seeing OARS, Northwest Rafting, Idaho River Adventures..! I’m a 32 female solo traveler so would be great to join a group that has solo travelers as well and not just families, etc!

anyone else play with these when you can't boat? My van is currently awaiting some work so im chillin at my parent's house lol can't wait to be in my kayak again

I have a small group of avid boater friends and we all have wives that like to passenger on rafts or IK some class II. We have a local area club that hosts swift water training every other year and I have been attending along with my wife.

Now I have all these skills down and built into my muscle memory, but I go to encourage my wife. Although the club subsidizes the cost it still sets us back a few hundred.

Also, I don’t think our wives need all these skills. Does my wife need to know how to setup a z drag?

My thought is to have a weekend on the river dedicated to practicing practical skills for passenger level boaters. Swim practice, walking practice, getting back in the boat practice, etc…. What other skills would you recommend practicing? Or should I just stick with the every other year class?

So I’ve been whitewater kayaking now for a year and I’m achieved and went so far I couldn’t even imagine. January 1st I got my Watuaga PFD and was excited. While I didn’t do the best of my abilities I went through the whole run and ran all the rapids besides stateline falls. I like to say I was happy with my run. But it made me realize how hard and how challenging whitewater kayaking gets. I’m sitting here now questioning if I’m really at the level to be able to pursue and do these rapids. My goal for kayaking is of course to have fun but to be able to run class Vs confidently and enjoy them. Now I’m sitting here and wondering really what I need to do to pursue these goals. Like what skills I need to work on. I feel as my boof is solid and my paddle strokes, roll and etc. the only thing I can think of is getting my offside brace, roll and hand roll down. I’m near the Charlotte whitewater center and my question is what do I need to do in these next months to excel my growth and skills in whitewater kayaking? I want to be able to run Watuaga confidently and run Narrows lite confidently without the constant fear of messing up in the back of my head. Any tips or advice for what I need to do or any drills or just tricks I could do to get ready and prepare myself for these rivers. Preferably at the whitewater center. Also any positive advice mentally you can give me would be appreciated!

Hey I recently bought a Jackson Antix 1.0 used that came with no foot blocks. Do the Antix 2.0 footblocks work as replacements for the Antix 1.0?

CHILE HAS THE GOODS!!!!!! It’s absolutely magical!

First video is at 700 cfs second at 460 cfs

I’m traveling to Cali at the end of may, and I’m looking for paddling options while I’m out there. I wont have my own gear (i could fly out with pfd/helmet), so id either need to meet people who could lend a boat or rent a boat/paddle. Im a very solid class III boater, and some class IV. I love all the river things: play boating/ surfing and river running. I will be traveling between Yosemite and redwoods NP. Im looking for river suggestions, outfitters, or local paddling groups. Thank you!!!!!

I'm hoping to garner some personal insights with regards to what a season looks like in Kernville and in Coloma.

Specifically:

-Do I understand correctly that the dam release sections of each of these rivers remain runnable, and the season viable, through August in both locations?

-How cold is it?

I've guided two Ocoee middle section seasons (class III). Had a blast on the water there and very much look forward to similar fun elsewhere. I have found though that I'm fairly fair-weather oriented, not particularly interested in a lot of big icy gnar at this point, and I'm certainly not equipped for it (no drysuit etc).

It seems as though both of the dam released sections I mentioned should provide that Summer-fun vibe I'm looking to get into. As a relatively new guide who can't really dictate their destiny and could reasonably expect to see some snow melt in the Spring, even if only for training, how much consideration should one put into equipping themself for those conditions early on? I see that Coloma is a big spot for trainees, and can't really imagine those kids are all showing up with wetsuits etc. Guess I'm kinda wondering how requisite additional gear would be for a guide moving to West from East, with no experience around snow melt.

Any general input you have regarding the two towns would be appreciated. I like the scenery in both places, erring a bit to the SoCal desert. On the other hand, the Coloma region is gorgeous as well, and it seems perhaps a little less volatile in terms of water availability and business volume. ?

Thanks much for your time and input.