Back in WV

Wet and Wild WV, its good to be back... I've been kayaking just about every day of the week since I've been back. Working 5 to 6 days a week on the water and boating when i have off its hard to find time for my hammock. I love being able to paddle every day of the week. I've also been shooting lots of photos with my free time.




















Last week the rain gods graced us with enough water to bring Mill Creek in. Mill creek is one of my favorite WV runs, its like the classic intro to creekin WV style with a sweet 20 footer on it. The rain also borough up the Gauley to about 7,ooo cfs. A few of us got to enjoy some good water on there too. OOOHHH YEEAAAHHHH!!!!






Sam England and I running the falls







Here's the falls at low water.





Headless Horseman is the next big drop right after the falls.



A few of us have been heading down to Canyon Doors at around 1,000cfs after work.






Looking down at double Z in the hart of the New River gorge from beautie mtn.













Its good to be back in beautiful wet and wild WV. I love every day of my life here, everything from the work to the mountains. I can't get enough of it and i never want to leave.

live from WV,
John McConville

North Shore Paddling Part 1

Once again I’ve fallen in love with a place where the whitewater is amazing and the locals talk a bit funny. That’s right, up dar in da North woods... For a few weeks every year these cold woods become home to some of the most amazing people/paddlers in the country. The snow starts to melt, rivers start to flood, and boaters start driving.

When a group of people like this join together something amazing happens. Something that can only be explained by taking that first step and going there and experiencing the journey yourself. That’s what it’s all about... "The journey" Meeting new people with the same interest and working together to enjoy what matters most. Living in the moment, enjoying life to the fullest, and don't forget, firing up that 30 footer downstream!!! Oh yeah :)



There’s nothing better after a long day of paddling than hanging out with all your friends at Paradise Beach and talking about all the thrills and spills of the day. My favorite part of hanging out on the shore was getting to sleep on the beach at night and watch the sun come up in the morning. Good stuff






This is a very common site to see on your way up the North Shore. There’s one road that goes up the entire shore line on up to Canada. This photo of the Beaver was taken from the road on my way up the first day.






Day 1 on the water... The Manitou

Chad, Tony, and I all put on at a really high level for a warm up run and find this monster to be our first rapid/waterfall. I don't think this has ever been run before and none of us did it but there is definitely a line there.

















Day 2 Encampment

The encampment is placed back in one of the few areas left of untouched forest on the North Shore. It’s also extremely private with no good way to take out. The river starts off pretty strait forward and then drops off a sweet 30 footer with a wild lead in.





Here is Ben running the lead in rapid to the 30 footer


Perfect 30 foot waterfall that everyone ran. Check out Chad firing it up















Just downstream of the waterfall Ben runs Tonys touchdown. From here on down you have 2 quick portages and some super fun slides just before dumping into the lake.

















Due to the privet property issues we paddled about 2 miles north on Lake Superior to the Crow River for a short hike to the car.



Day 3 Split Rock and Lester

The Split Rock River is one of the best rivers I’ve ever done. If you like big slides than this is the place for you. I don't think this river could ever be paddled to high; more water makes for fast sliding adrenalin pumping fun.





Check out Ryan running the last big one called Under the log.






Here I am running down the last part of Under the Log.


Slide after slide, the Split Rock is awesome.... After all that fast sliding fun we packed it up and headed south to Duluth for a quick bomb run on the Lester. That night we stayed at a hotel, got hot food and showers, and a bed to sleep in... A great thing to have before heading farther north the next day....

Check out part 2 soon

Live from WI
John McConville

John McConville

Here is the latest video I've put together.



Check it out here


Live from TN,
John McConville

Cow Pie Falls, Henderson Creek, Cain Creek

Just another epic weekend in TN. In the past 4 days I've gone from a 30 foot waterfall, to class 5 creekin, and then brave wave at a perfect 7,500cfs. I can honestly say I've been enjoying myself and all the rain here in TN.

It all started with a great rain storm that came through Thursday night. Clay Wright, Boyd Ruppelt, Samantha Brunner, and I headed over to Pine Creek to a flooded creek and a sweet 30 foot waterfall called Cow Pie Falls.



Perfect learning waterfall, here I am fully Tucked



Clay testing his new Hero out



Boyd set up for impact



Here I am spotting my landing









Got 5 runs in before we decided to head out. All the photos were shot by Samantha Brunner. Great job with the photos Sam. Waking up the next day Clay, EJ, Dane, and I met up with Keith Yell and Mark Travis for a run down Henderson Creek. Henderson flows into Richland creek and starts off like a micro creek but picks up a few tributary's and doubles in volume to make an awesome whitewater run.

HENDERSON





Fire Escape is one of the coolest rapids around. Here's Clay boofing the first drop to Fire Escape.


Looking back upstream is the bottom 3 drops of Fire Escape. Such a fun rapid with sweet boofs... I love it!



EJ with a big smile after running one of the great rapids on Henderson





All in all, its been a epic weekend that hasn't ended yet. Its now Tuesday and Brave Wave is still kickin at an epic level and that's right where I'll be tomorrow. So I'm off to bed to rest up for the surf tomorrow... C you on the water!!!



Live from TN,
John McConville

West Prong / Raven Fork

The past few days of boating were epic!!! Great Falls, West Prong, Raven Fork, Brave Wave.... I'm still coming out of shock after running the Raven Fork for the first time. It all started after a perfect storm on Wednesday. Rock island started spilling Wednesday morning so we got to huck the falls and play in the hole at about 7,500 cfs. Great fun but it was only the start to my epic weekend...

Waking up Thursday Clay and I decided to head over to the West Prong to meet up with Horward Tidwell. The West Prong is the Smokies classic steep creekin fun run. Its so continues that the entire river feels like one long rapid that drops off the mountain.


Howard is like a West Prong legend, chances are if you've paddled the Prong then you've paddled with him.



I'm not sure what or if this rapid had a name but much of the run looks simler to this.
















Making our way down to the lower I ran into an open boater that I knew from WI. Its funny how you run into the same people all the time just in different places.















Had a great day on the West Prong with every one there. Spent the night at Horwards in Knoxville which was super cool. Thanks so much Horward for the great hospitality and the place to stay. :) After breakfast Clay and I loaded up and headed for the Raven Fork, THE MOST AMAZING RIVER EVER!!!



RAVEN FORK

Let me start off with saying the Raven Fork is a total adrenalin junkie run. Its a SUPER steep pool drop river with HUGE slides that will leave you screaming for your mommy and wanting more!!! Pictures and video can give you an idea of what this run is like but will do no justice for what its like to drop over the lip and be totally committed to whats down stream.

Depending how far you hike up, Anaconda may be your first rapid. Not much time for a warm up for one of the hardest rapids on the run.















Eddy out fast after Anaconda or you might drop into Headless Horseman without a scout. Bill Clipper starts off with a great boof to get through the first hole before the slide down past the Headless part of the rapid.


Razorback is the next rapid. Really fun slide but don't mess it up, stay far right and avoid EVERYTHING on the left.















Clay, Pat, Drew, Will, and myself all ran Big Boy, a 35 foot water fall about half way down the run. Clay had a perfect line off the falls but anything can happen when running a waterfall, even breaking your paddle. Pat was nice enough to loan his paddle to Clay for the rest of the run so he could work on his class 5+ hand paddling skills.















Caveman is by far the sweetest boof ever. If you miss the most amazing boof on the planet you may end up finding out why this rapid is called Caveman. So stay away from the cave on the right and enjoy the sweet boof.

The Mangler marks the end of the steepest part of the river. Don't worry, the run out is extremely fun just not as steep as everything upstream.

This river and the people that paddled it with me left an imprint on my soul that will never be forgotten. The people that you paddle rivers with become instant friends for life. Knowing that everyone there is willing to risk everything to insure the safety of a fellow paddler builds a bound that is unbreakable. That is what makes life long friends. We couldn't have asked for a better good Friday, clean lines, warm weather, and big smiles all around. A huge thanks to everyone that made this epic week happen. I can't wait to do it again....



Live from TN,
John McConville


I also took lots of video so I'll be putting together a short movie here in the near future...

Suck Creek

I finally got down to Chattanooga to get on whats considered the "creek boating arena" Suck Creek. Forgetting my paddle at home wasn't the best way start off the day but thanks to Taylor Martin I was ably brow his and still get in 6 laps. Paddlers never seas to amaze me with how far they are willing go to help out a fellow paddler in need. Thanks Taylor.



Suck Creek is like 2 miles of pure creek boating fun. This is the main drop in Road Construction



Knucklehead is a drop that doesn't get ran much but is totally do able if you need a bit more excitement.















Welcome to the THUNDER DOME!!! Check out Will Pruett wave wheeling the final drop in a playboat.

















We all had a lot of fun out on the water this weekend. Meet some really cool people and got to see a few good old friends. I can't wait to go back!!!!




Live from TN,
John McConville

Cane Creek TN

Did Cane Creek the other day and shot some amazing video. Had a great day on one of Tennessee's most beautiful rivers I've ever paddled.



Check it out here


Live From TN,
John McConville

Caney Fork TN

Got the TVF team together today for a cold run down the Caney Fork. Our team this year consists of Brad, Goat, Jase, Owen, Tom, and myself. This was the first run we all did together this year for TVF. (Total Vertical Feet)



I've always said it never to cold to paddle unless the water is frozen. I never said anything about frozen gear.



The hike in was beautifully and a nice way to warm up before getting in the water.















Great level today, about 2.2 on the Hwy 70 bridge which would make for a medium to high flow. Here I am running the entrance to Devils Kitchen.















The kitchen has two huge holes stacked right on top of each other making for a very intimidating rapid but totally good to go. All in all great day, it was good to get back on the water with most of the good old TVF team... We miss you D Mark!!

Live from TN,
John McConville