BV - Denver

Well the last two weeks have been hectic with paddling, catching up with friends, partying and travelling around. Since my last post I spent some more time in Buena Vista where I watched a kayak rodeo, went to the following party, paddled Lake Creek with Lawrance Simpson and paddled Granite, Pine Creek and Numbers sections of the Arkansas with Lawrance and Arthur. Lake Creek was at a meaty flow of around 650cfs. We both paddled The Brains and Paralyzer, Lawrance and I both opted to walk Kiss me and Lawrance ran The Cauldron. I have some video that I will put up when I get a chance. The Pine Creek section of the Arkansas is more like a single rapid about 1/4mile long or more. Big waves and holes is the character and Arthur was unfortunate to end up in ‘Pine Creek Hole’. He managed to get himself out but used all his air doing so and eventually swam. Numbers is great class IV run which Arthur and I also ran again before we left BV.

In between water on Lake Creek

Summer scenery

Pizza Hutt $5 Dinner's

Alex Kilyk gave me a call and said he was free to do some boating for a few days before the Lyon River Festival so we decided to head back to the Denver/Alex’s house for a few days. 8am the next morning Alex wakes me up with these words, “I think we are going to Durango”. Two hours later two punk kids, Tom and Christian pull up to Alex’s house and we are on our way to Durango, 6-7 hours driving and we are travelling past BV from we had travelled the day before. Arthur and Tessa decided to hang around the Denver/Boulder area until I get back. Ten minutes into the journey a water fight (Christian and only Christian) breaks out in the car, no need to explain how the trip was. We decided to break up the driving by paddling the South Fork of the Rio Grande. Alex paddling the top drop first, my camera dies and I have no way to charge it until get we get back to Denver, so no photos. Tom who was running the drop last ended up in a nasty hole and eventually swims after going over the crux upside down. Fortunately a sieve caught his boat, we found his paddle and things worked out ok. Next day we decide to paddle Vallecito Creek, one of the best runs in Colorado. It’s a mile long, gorged in, limited scouting, almost no portaging options and a swim in there would be disastrous. Christian had paddled it twice before so he would be our guide. Entrance falls is a 18footer that you cannot scout properly and one person has to run without safety or anyone there I make sure they don’t end up in the cave. Christian was the probe, then Tom, then Myself then Alex. We all ran it well and it was a real relief. Just as Christian and Alex were about to run Trash-can Nate Klema came of Entrance Falls, he was running it solo between groups of friends. Nate told us the lines through Trash-can, Fuzzy Little Bunny, Boofont and Paddle Bitch. In Boofant I tried to ride a wall buffer which flipped me over, rolling up quickly I scrambled to an eddy above Paddle Bitch… very scary. At no way out Nate gave a brief description and took off to catch his mates who were walking up to the get in. No Way out and Exit Falls went well and we had survived Vallecito. The next day Alex, Tom and Christian paddled Vallecito again at a higher flow, I opted out as I was happy with one run, and they were all relieved when they got back to the campsite as it was ‘Juicy’. After scouting the Cascade Slot, had wood in it, we decided to paddle the 3^rd Gorge of Lime and the run out section on the Upper Animas. After the first rapid, where we all portaged the entrance, we Blue Angled (follow the leader) the rest of the run not really stopping at all. We drove through most the night back towards the South Fork of the Arkansas. In the morning we decided it was too low to run so headed back to Denver.

My only photo from the Durango trip

(trying to get more)

This is where things get crazy. Alex had to go to a wedding dinner, Arther and Tessa were in Boulder so I decided I would go see Drew for a night and then try get to Lyons for the Festival the following day. Jo came and got me from Alex’s house and took me over to Drews. After catching up and some dinner we went over to Drews mates house from a few drinks and to catch up with my mate Brad. From here we went to a little house party around the road where I ran into Peter Senglemen(???) and played some beer pong. Next day Drew HAPPENED to be moving so I gave him a hand to move the big stuff during the morning, three deck loads of shit. After realising I could not actually get to Lyons I went and looked at the shops and went to a HUGE outdoor store, it was HUGE. That evening I got invited out to dinner, for Simmseys birthday, with all of Drew’s mates in downtown Denver. After the great pizza, Denver’s best according to the menu, we headed to a bar where we were ushered in as VIPs and had bottle service. That pretty much means we got bottles of spirits and beer brought to our booth all night. After some drinking and dancing we got in a limo and got a ride home. It was an awesome night. Next day we I meet back up with Arthur and Tessa and we decided to head towards Glenwood Springs.

Drew, Jo and Myself looking very good

Peter and Myself

Birthday Boy and Myself