Stone Valley is Running!

Got back today from the home river of RBD, and i must say it was at a great level. Myself and a friend went out this morning for our first real creeking trip of the spring. Most of the ice was off and the level was real high (2000 cfs).

We ran the first drop on the far right side. Some call it a sneak line but i actually think it is harder than the middle line at normal flows. I just love those runs that have the hardest drops right out of the gates. The second drop we ran far to the right, even though the left line looked fun and runnable.

The third drop (Mushroom) was were things got interesting. A bad choice on our parts, we decided not to scout the drop. My buddy lead and i stayed in the eddie at the top, which proved to be a good decision. I waited after he went out of sight to see a paddle come up from below, and waited, and waited. Finally i decided to just go run it, because i had never boated with the kid, so i wasnt sure if this was just something some people did. Just before the lip of the drop, i immediately started back paddling. My buddy was upside down in the first of two large holes. I got myself turned around and paddled my ass off to make a huge ferry, right across the lip of the drop, and ran a scrapy run out down the drop. This kept me away from the holes, and i got a shot at getting down to help him out. When i came around the boulder that was in the drop, i saw my buddy. He was out of his boat and in mid swim. We got the boat alright, but it was a scary few moments for both of us.

The horseshoe drop was at a really fun level, which we ran the tride and true high on the right side line. Tubs looked like a monster and we walked it. Last but definately not least, two great boofs were in order at the island drop. This is a very fun, and very easy drop at the right levels. 200 Proof proved to be interesting, as the hole comeing from the left was big enough to be a factor. My buddy got fliped, and i almost did.

All in all, it was a great day. This was just the first of many great runs to be had on STONE!

later folks
mike