Vermont is the Shit

Just got back to my appartment in C Square from the best weekend in Vermont. If you haven't been to Vermont boating, I suggest you go immediately (the water should still be up tomorrow!!!) Jim and I took a chance on levels and headed out Friday night. We drove in to Bennington, ate some pub grub and hit up a little roadside motel. The next morning we headed up to meet Jeff Sharp. Jeff was a great guide all weekend. We owe alot of our success this weekend to Jeff....thanks a lot man (if you ever read this...).

Anyways we meet up with him at the Clarindon Gorge section of the Mill River. There are two distinct gorges on this run, with some really good IV ish stuff in them (and one nasty V+ that we didn't touch, but did run the V portage/seal launch....another time...) It is a beautiful gorge, and I guess holds water really well. I would strongly recommend this run if you are in the area.

We got off and decided that we would try to get a run on the Big Branch, which is a classic VT run. We had to hike up the 1.5 miles to the put in, and although we were a sweaty mess at the top, it was totally worth it. Oh, did I mention on Saturday, March 28, 2009 when we ran this shit it was like 70+ degrees!!!! Anyways the Big Branch definately lives up to the hype. There must be like a thousand boofs on this 2? mile stretch of bolder gardens. When we put on, the level was right at the first line on the gauge rock. This river seems to respond well to snow melt, because by the time we got off it was up to the second mark. Of the big rapids on the run, we ran Cave Drop, and walked Mushroom and BLT. Jim and I both plan on getting back up to run Boof Left Twice, because it looks sick and mildly runable, but we just weren't ready to run it that low. I think with a little more flow it would make the rapid more of a go.

After some fine $2 margarettas Saturday night, and a bunch of rain, we headed down to the West Branch of the Deerfield. I really didn't know what to expect from this run, as I hadn't heard much about it, but it definately is awesome. It is a lot of flow on a tight river, which makes for some pretty defined, yet padded rapids. Lots of boofs and big holes to be reconed with. We walked around Tunnel Vision but everything else, we styled. I don't think I could have paddled any better today, which made for a great end to a great weekend. I have to say that the only disapointments to the weekend were that not only did Andy not come with us, but they had a bummer day in NY, and that we didn't get to see a moose....

Who the hell cares, I can go to the zoo and see a moose! Vermont definately is a creeking paradise. I will be back.

Cheers....and thanks again Jeff & Jim for an awesome weekend.

Train Wreck....

I can't remember the last time I rolled 3 times in one day on a pool drop run.  But I managed it today on the South Grasse.  Although I did have great lines at Iron Bridge and the next one...what ever it's called but the one with the tough to catch boof in the middle.  But I flipped on the eddy line right after a great line down Adrenaline, the second time down Twin (at the bottom) and on the last rapid of course.  It was pretty disappointing but I still had a lot of fun.

Big kudos to Uncle Jim for taking the bull by the horns on Iron Bridge.  He knew his line was going south, so he put his head down and paddled like a man (for once) and punch the meat of the hole at the bottom like it was his bitch....way to go man!

Cheers

It snowed....wtf....

So after two weeks of awesome weather, I came to the realization this morning that it is only the middle of March.  It looks like we have about 2" of fresh snow out there.  Yesterday I spent most of the day at Northwoods Outfitters in Potsdam getting set up with a new bow.  It's a great bow and they gave me a pretty good deal on the package.  I'm really excited to get out and stick some deer with it.

Anyways, I got up this morning a little early to get some laundry done before I meet Jim and Ron to go and check out the Oswegatchie/Grasse/whatevers ice free, and I just happened to look out the window at the pile of shit mother nature left for us overnight.  Just great.  I'm still pretty excited though, if we go it will most likely be on Section III of the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie.  I have only run this section once, but other than the near death of Paul Twist, it was a pretty sick run.  There is some really big stuff on this one.  I have a real case of that nervous yet excited feeling in the pit of your stomach.  And now that it appears that there will be snow in there, it will be looking more and more appealing to just run the big dog on this one rather than rope our boats and ourselves down into the gorge.

Cheers!

ICE = ICS

Got home on Friday from a long week on the road.  Nothing exciting to report on that.  Yesterday I got up and started the tour of  Northern NY to see where the ice was out.  I headed over to the South Grasse, which appears to be about a week of nice weather away from being ice free and open for business.  Then I went down to the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie, which was in a similar state.  However, I did find the gate on the other side of Bryant's Bridge to be open, which is promising for a chance to get on Section III this spring without having to hike in.  It looks like they are doing some logging up in there so we will see how long it lasts.  Then I went down to Lowville and meet up with Sally, Ron and Jim.  Mill Creek was ice free, and also water free.  The good news is there is still a lot of snow to be melted in that area, so it may run again.  They we went over to the Independence, which still had just enough ice on "Elbow Breaker" to look kinda sketchy.  Also, the level was only about 300, so the whole run wasn't a good option.  So, the creek boat stayed dry, and we went to Inner City.  Wave was pretty trashy yesterday.  I took about 4 rides and then decided it would be more fun to sit on shore and drink Labbatt's Ice in honor of all the GD ice that kept me out of my creek boat yesterday.  

Today is supposed to be much warmer, high fourtees.  That just means that shit is going to run again on Monday/Tuesday when I am at work.  Frustrating.

LaFlair

Spring Ride

Meaghan and I went up to Whiteface yesterday to enjoy a little 40+ degree riding.  Most everything still had pretty good coverage, and it didn't get real choppy until after lunch.  They have lost a lot of snow.  I am wondering just how good of a run off we are going to have this spring, as a lot of the snow is gone, yet everything is still really iced up.  I wasn't the only kayaker up there enjoying the snow while it lasted.  We ran into Matt Young, fresh off his trip in the Grand Canyon.

On another note, it looks like I may be headed South with FLOW on their annual Southern Trip.  Jim has promised to take me to my two favorite watering holes in WV, so I guess I'm in.  I have a few things to get done today, and watch the race then it's back down to Syracuse for the week.

Uncle Teddy

I just got home from Syracuse, and finished watching "Sprit of the Wild", which is a hunting show featuring Ted Nugent.  I love that show.  Although some times he sounds like a complete idiot with his patriotism comments, but the guy friggin loves to hunt.  I am going to make my own show about hunting/kayaking/etc that is going to be called "Not the Couch".  It would be great.  It would be the gayest show ever but it would be funny....

That is all, minions.

LaFlair