Big Kimshew

For years I have heard that Big Kimshew is one of the biggest days in California. After getting the Yuba Gap, South Branch and Upper Middle Consumes, and a quick trip up to Oregon for the Little White and NF of the Clackamus, the stars aligned... flows were right, our boy Keith joined the A-Team and it was on! With fantastic beta for the shuttle from Taylor Cavin we found the river and oh what a river. Big Kimshew was big... and we liked it.


- Charles on the first 20 footer


- Barny entering Kimshew


- Me on Kimshew... yes!!!


- The drop below Kimshew... boof centre?


- Keith weighing up Frenchies


- Charles firing off Frenchies


- Keith... money shot!!!


- Me of Frenchies


- Just another stout drop... so good

This run is truely fantastic, drop everything and go. Between 400 and 800 on the middle feather guage means calling in sick, cancelling a date or what ever... Everything goes if you want it to and add secret stash to the bottom if you want to avoid a terrible walk out.

South Branch of the Middle Feather

Being kayakers we all have dreams of the perfect run. Clean granite drops between 10-50 foot, drive to access and of course beautiful weather. Well that is South Branch. If you get beta that this might be running get in your car and chance your arm because if and when you get it... its oh so worth it.


- Barny getting into the SB groove (P. Jordy)


- Barny entering the pre-goods gorge (P. Jordy)


- Boon on the first big sick clean drop... of many (P. Jordy)


- Me running the same drop (P. Barny)


- Boon stomping the 'Tony Hawk' drop (P. Jordy)


- Barny getting flat (P. Jordy)


- Yeah boy! (P. Barny)


- Barny entering the sweet double drop (P. Jordy)


- Me exiting the double drop... amazing! (P. Barny)


- Boon liking what he sees (P. Barny)


- Barny on pressure 20 (P. Jordy)


- Barny rolling in (P. Jordy)


- Boon casual as (P. Jordy)


- Disconnecting way up there (P. Barny)

This is such an amazing run that I cannot say enough about, just get there and get it done! Oh... and there is a brutal hike out...


- done (P. Barny)

Yuba Gap

What a run! After hearing reviews like 'the hardest run in cali' and 'some of the stoutest white-water you'll ever see' we were always interested in trying to bag this seldom run gem, but with dubious flows and little beta we didnt actually think it would come into fruition... we were wrong. While enjoying some whisky at the plush accomodation of 'The Ranch', Barny and I were getting onto logistics for the Summit Run section of the South Yuba. Phones calls, txts and checking flows... things were coming together. Out of the blue someone suggested we think about Yuba Gap and after calling around we got the put-in and take-out information but still had an issue with shuttle and there was only two of us. Fortunately Shannon Carrol's name arose, who was eager to get ANOTHER run down this season. So the plan was set, 10am meeting at the Route 20 and Washington Road corner... it would of probably been smarter to slow down on the Whisky... nah! Here are some photos of this stout run.



- Barny on the first drop of the day (P. Jordy)


- Shannon on the 'hour glass slide' (P. Jordy)


- Barny firing the big one (P. Jordy)


- The view of me running the monster from the bottom (P. Barny)


- Lining up the next drop below the slide (P. Barny)


- Me running a seldom run double drop (P. Barny)


- Shannon boofing off a clean drop (P. Jordy)


- Barny running a clean 15 footer (P. Jordy)

All this and a LOT more was before lunch, also during this time we noticed there was an increasing amount of water in the river. We later found out that the 230cfs we put on at rose to almost 600! After some well needed snacks, stretching and relaxing in the sun we put back on for some more solid white-water at a much higher level.


- Shannon soaking it in (P. Jordy)


- Barny preparing for the next four hours (P. Jordy)


- Barny running the slide after lunch... high water (P. Jordy)


- Shannon firing it up (P. Jordy)


- Me coming through the bottom (P. Barny)


- Me boofing clear (P. Barny)


- Shannon and Barny routing a big slide (P. Jordy)


- Barny running a sick 25 footer (P. Jordy)


- Barny's perspective of me running the 25 footer (P. Barny)

This was a sick mission with so much white-water that it blurs the memory. It was a long day even though we had Shannon who knows the run well and without a 'guide' I would think it would take a minimum of 8 hours. We are hoping to get on this again but for today we'll have a rest. Chur.

Devil's Canyon - Middle Branch of the Feather

In preparation for some of the more full-on multi day Califonia river trips we decided to check out the Middle Feather. A two or three day river trip that boasts continual white-water in the class IV+ - V realm and unparalleled scenery, this was sure to be a good time. With plenty of time in hand, and some severe hang-overs from a Kiwi bender at the Caloma Club, we elected for a 3 day mission. After a lazy morning, midday and afternoon we made our way to the put in at 6pm! Charging through about the first 8 miles in the evening twilight, we were doubting we would meet our other three more organised counterparts waiting at the camp sight. Fortunately just before nightfall we found the others, fire already lit and smiles were all around. Day two and three packed plenty of read and run white-water, a few bigger drops, another amazing camp site and of course a few hairy moments... with Sanga winning the involuntary rodeo competition closely followed by Jamie and Rach Moore. Here are some photos of this must-do classic californian multi-day trip.



- Camp 1 on the second morning (P. Barny)


- Me running Franklin Falls (P. Barny)


- Chilling out (for like 6 hours in the sun) at camp 2 (P. Barny)


- Rach Moore dropping in


- Me rolling the dice on a big hole, thankfully coming through clean


- Me coming into the final drop before the portage (P. Barny)


- Rach Moore loving life

This trip was very worthwhile and I will try get on it before I leave Cali. It was three short days for our crew but would be a good river for some class IV - IV+ boaters to take their time and test there skills... make sure you have a good forecast, it makes the trip SO much better!