I love the north woods paddling!!!!

Last week was awesome... everything from the rivers to the people that were there that enjoyed running these hidden secrets of the north. The group of people that I found up there was unlike any other, they were by far the best group I've ever paddled with. Darning the time in the U.P. i ran the Presque, Black, and the Silver. The black beat me up the most but it was worth it, ever drop on that run is fun and 2 of them are BIG. Rainbow Falls was one intense ride and I'm looking forward to going back for another run. I've heard you have to take the Good with the Bad. If Rainbow was the Good than the Birth Canal was defiantly the Bad. I got worked, and beat, then decided going for a swim would be a good afternoon activity. That hole was the wost beating I've every had and i want revenge. Next time i go back I'm going to run that rapid again and beat it down. Other than that it was a great weekend with sunny sky's and 70 degree days. I'm Glad everyone made it off the river safely without serious injury to come back and paddle another day. I've also got lots of footage and I'm in the proses of putting together a video from the week, so stay tuned for some more great kayak porn.

Island Creek and Little Clear Creek Today

Today started off with a lot of discussion about where to go and what would be running. This took about 3 hr. until Owen, Mark, Liz, Brad and I decided to head to Island Creek. The level was about 3 inches which was a little on the low side but still fun. This Creek is beautiful, one of the most scenic river I've ever seen.





After completing a run on Island we headed out to Little Clear Creek. Only Mark, Brand and I were able to make it out to this run due to car troubles. When we got there Clear Creek was HUGE and muddy. Mark had read there was a trail alongside Little Clear that ended right at the top of the good stuff. So we started to hike up and found ourselves bushwhacking our way up the hill side along a rock cliff. This was horrible and after about 45min of overgrowth we found ourselves right at the top of Triple Drop, the first big rapid. From this point on everything went great. This run has one amazing drop after another. I can't wait to go back to this fantastic river in the future.





The boaters propsective of Tripel Drop





All in all it turned out to be a great day with two new runs. I'm now about to pack up and head up to WI to hang with family and friend before making my way up to the North Shore. Spring Creekin Bonanza is going on next weekend and I plan on being there. I'm also looking forward to do the Black in the Upper Peninsula. So I'm outta here. Laterz

March Madness Kayaking

Mark has been putting together a video from the month of march. This is just what Owen and I have been doing on the side of TVF.

Big drops, sick tricks, you know how it goes. lol

Check it out here

The TVF video will be comeing out soon to a blog near you!!!

Easter Weekend

The last 4 days have been great with Easter Sunday ending up with a run down Tallulah!!! Thursday morning Mark and I got up early to meet Margaret at Daddy's Creek. This run is a southeast classic and if Catoosa in open and theres water in the river its a must do. Rattle Snake was the best part of the whole run. This run was explained to me like a creeky version of the Gauley River. The Hart of the Gorge comes with house sized rock bolder garden drops with a sweet boof off the FANG. This was a great way to start off my day before we had to be to work at 2pm.

Friday was Good Friday and the shop had off of work. Rock Island was only realising till 10am so I woke up early and headed to the hole hoping to run into someone else. Lucky me, just as I was about to put on the Jackson's pull up with a full car load. This was the first time I had paddled with EJ, Nick, Emily, and Dane since they had left for Africa and was one of the best surf sessions I'd had in awhile. After watching EJ and Nick surf without a paddle I just had to do it myself. I had aways wanted to hand paddle to hole but never did due to never having a combat hand roll. EJ put it best " the only way to get a combat roll was be in combat situation " so i tossed the paddle aside and worked my way out and you know what happened. I had thee best time ever!! I felt like I paddled better without my paddle than with it. Paddles are like crutches, take them away and you start to walk. Later that day we had BBQ at the Jackson's house and played football and bags. We also watched Hotel Charley 2 which was awesome and must be watched as soon as you get the chance to. It was a fantastic day and i had a great time from start to finish.
Saturday was the mighty Ocoee and the award party at the NOC. This was the 3rd time I was on the Ocoee and the 1st time I was sown all the play spots other tan hell hole. It was a bit cold and had a nasty head wind but still enjoyable. I never new that the Ocoee had so many different loop spots. Also, to my surprise I say almost all of the Juganuts there and Stanly whom worked at the shop for a few weeks. By the time hell hole was packed full of boaters I was glade to get off the rive and back in dry WARM cloths to head up to the NOC. The good music, pizza, and the showing of LVM 22 made for an entertaining night. The first place team in the sick birds (Stanley Steamers) cleaned house with most of the awards and prizes but THE JACKSON 5 still came out on top with 1st place in the young lions. We descended 35,059 feet in 8 days thought out the month of March. Good stuff





look close, Jim is dancing





the put in for Tallulah
Sunday was my first day on the Tallulah Gorge and I think i fell in love!!! The put in starts with about a 300 foot drop down like 600 steeps but that run is worth ever last one of those steeps. The main attraction is Oceana Falls which is a rocket ride that i can't wait to get back on. I ran the center line and took the THING head on. As soon as you hit the THING everything goes into a whiteout and you can't see another thing till resurface after the hole at the bottom. What a rush, that slide had ever nerve in my body tingling with a huge adrenalin rush like none other. Every rapid on that river is packed full of fun for a whopping mile and a quarter with a 2 mile lake paddle out. We did have one swimmer in our group with a lost paddle under the water but was lucky to find it right were they had left it. All in all, even though this Easter wasn't spent with family it was spent with good friends enjoying the things we love most, feeling alive.

Wilson's Creek 40 laps total

Five Jackson boats and paddlers entered TVF and all five survived. We were almost ready to give it all up going into this weekend but we had come to far. Wilson creek was our only chance at having a shot at winning this so we loaded up Thursday night a headed out. Friday was a three man team with Mark, Owen and I running 19 laps. We had arrived to the river only to see that the Juggernauts were already there and had a 1 lap lead on us already. Going into this weekend it was a three way battle for first between The Juggernauts, Team Sherpard, and us the Jackson 5.
Wilson's was at -4 and dropping when we checked Friday. It made for an interesting day to say the least. Owen and I had tandem pins in this on rapid at the same time. We also later found ourselves tandem surfing a hole at the bottom of a slide and found myself laughing at what was going on. Owen bumped me out and he stayed in fighting the BEAST. lol Mine and Owen's last last run of TVF turned into a bumper boat side surfing intentional carnage lap. It was great, Owen even lost his paddle at one time. Lap 19 Mark and I did our last lap in the moonlight, I love being on the river with a full moon.



Saturday March 31st was the LAST day of TVF and we had everyone on the team there. Brad and Goat arrived in town after we got off the river Friday. Jackson 5 started their first lap Sat. around 7am. This weekend was Brad, Goat, and Owen's first time on Wilson's Creek. We were surprised to see that the only other TVF team to show up was Team Sexy Kayaking Beast. Goat and Brad ran every other lap which made things easier for Mark, Owen and I which were still tired from the day before. In the end we put everything we had into this hoping for the best as of right now it looks good for the Jackson 5. This month has been a true test of friendship and physical ability and I wouldn't trade it for anything. This month was a great time and will never be forgotten.

Little River in the Smokeys 20 laps total for the weekend

When we arrived Sat morning we found that team Juggernauts were already there and putting there gear on. I really didn't think anyone else would want to run the little at such low levels but that's what TVF does for you. We could have gone to WV where the water was which i really wanted to do but the rest of the team couldn't justify all that driving for paddling for two day. When i lived in WI the closest whitewater was about 3 hr. away and it wasn't unheard of to drive 5 hr one way in one day to paddle Piers Gorge. But in any case we ended up at the little.
Warning!!! there is wood in the sinks and its nasty. It looks like a spear sticking back up out of the water. Sun morning we tyred to ex track it with a pulley system but the only thing we were able to do was hurt ourselves in the proses. Goat took a hit to the leg when the rope snapped back and i fell in trying to laso the log. A few of us still did run the drop but it wasn't worth the danger factor.


Our best part of the weekend was watching two locals trying to run the river on sit on top kayaks. They were swimming everywhere. I'm glad they didn't run the elbow, cuz someone would have gotten hurt for sure. I did have a really bad line my last run through the elbow. I caught this really heady eddy just above the last drop that was hard to peal out of and ended upside down for the last part of the drop. It reminded me of the Birthday Eddy above the Notch on the Green but on a class 4 level. We got it on film and it looks alot worse than how it felt. Carnage is always fun to watch. I really looking forward to the end of TVF, I'm getting sick of LOW water runs just to get points. On our way out Sunday we looked at Treemont and can't wait to come back when there's good water to run it. It looks very continuous with a couple of good drops.






NOTE: I still need to work on correct paddle placement and timing, I feel better but it still needs work. I need to take strokes to get me somewhere not just to keep me moving.

Just another day at the office...

OK.

Mark H. lended me his camcorder, and I set it up on the bank.
Only myself and one other person were out there today.

So this isn't my best and i have alot i want to work on.


EJ has me beat for sure!!

But this is what I enjoy.

In between TVF weekends, I squeeze in all the Rock Island I can. I've been paddling 5 day a week for the past 3 weekes.


Enjoy the video here!

The BIG weekend 12,444 feet 16 laps Citico 31 laps Tellico

Mar 16, 10:10pm
Tomorrow is going to be a day that will never be forgotten. We are currently heading to the tellico river to do what no Kayaker has done before, 40 to 50 laps in one day. Mark and I worked till 9am, so the rest of the crew got an early start and is probably arriving there now. The anticipation is Killing me, I can't wait to put on the rive. The rain gods are in our favor, the stars are out and the river is thumping from last nights rain. It spiked somewhere around 4.40 feet today at around 3 pm. By the time we put on a 12:01am it should be down to about 3 feet. I have a good feeling about this and feel prepared. Went to Wall Mart today and sent 31$ on waterproof lights and glowsticks. We also have spotlights and lanterns that will be used to light up the river. Everyone is pumped and ready to stomp the competition. I know this wont be easy but wining never is. It takes hart and the will to do whatever it takes to reach your goal. Brad told me at work this week that he hasn't been in a comp since High school and wants this more than anything. I remember back in school the Kids would wear t-shirts that said "Pain is temporary, Pride is Forever." I can't think of anything that is more true for wining or being the best at anything. Tomorrow is going to be painful and I know it, and can't wait to fell the burn. "Pain without love, Pain can't get enough" A song from Three Days Grace. Anyways I’m going to try to get some sleep on the ride out. I'll need to put in 200% to make this work.

Mar 17 sometime around 3am Eastern time.
I just crawled into bed. How depressing :( When we arrived no one wanted to run the river at the level it was at. Yeah it was high and someone would have probably been beaten down at baby falls, but I wanted to get on anyways. Oh well. Sounds like Citico is in mind for tomorrow and then back to tellico Sunday at 12:01 to start the Big day. I'm really tired and have to get up at 6:00am tomorrow so I’m out.

Mar 17 8:31am Eastern
THIS SUCKS!!! Woke up this morning thinking we were going to run citico. Well most of the guys went into town to get Hardies. How fun. Mark and I disappointed with how the day is starting discussed to go look at a low and scrappy citico. Now what. I guess suck it up to discussion making and start running laps on the tellico. Oh and by the way, there’s a another TVF team already on the river at tellico. Great way to start off what could have been a great weekend. Tellico is now somewhere around 2.5 feet and dropping. It will be interesting to see what the rest of the team wants to do... Surprising enough we just passed each other on the road and gave the Great news to Brad and Owen. Owen is wanting to do it True TVF style and bang down at a low level today at Citico and bang down tellico tomorrow at a level we all know by hart, LOW!!! Well the discussion was just made. Citico it is. Mark and I will be making the first lap with Brad as shuttle while Owen goes back to camp to get his boat and gear which he left for some reason. Also he will be waking up our only team member still asleep, Goat. Its now 8:54am and were driving back to the put in for Citico. I knew this weekend was going to be interesting but nothing like this. I need to get my gear on so see ya at the bottom. later.






Mar 17 3:42pm Eastern
Mark and I just did lap 11. The river isn't as low as I thought it was when we started, but I would consider it a minimal. Its has been dropping fast, I’d say its about 3 to 4 inches lower than when we started. Were averaging about 30 min a lap with shuttle. Adam Kamptner is running shuttle for us. I feel that this was the right discussion coming here for the most feet this weekend. Tonight is going to be the big night and everyone can't wait to get back to tellico. Owen and I are up next for lap 13 so gotta go and get back in the water.
P.S. Owen forgot the food back at camp so were all a bit hungry.

Mar 18, sometime around 5am Eastern
Tonight started at 11:20 when the alarm went off. Goat, Adam and I got up and started to get ready to start the night off. We had decided that dividing the morning into 2 shifts would be best. 12:30am, Goat and I finally pushed off hoping that all our equipment would work. With glowsticks on our boats and helmets and waterproof headlamps on our heads we started to paddle into the darkness. After about 5 mins on the river I was having doubts about what we were doing but pushed on anyways. We had a goal and nothing would stop us. That first lap was by far my run ever done on tellico. We hit more rocks than I thought was possible. Adam lit up Baby falls with a spotlight and the water proof lights were put to the test and passed. Without that spotlight I don't think this would have been possible to see what was going on at most of the major drops. Our 2nd run went much better and we started to learn the lines again real fast. By the 5th lap fatigue started to set in, lack of sleep and a poor diet was not helping. Between lap 5 and 6 we woke up Brad, Owen, and Mark to start getting ready. Running this river at night was something else and not easy. Things happened quick and bad lines costed time and energy. This is something I never want to have to do again but it will be remembered. Well I tired and falling asleep writhing this so I out. This day has just started and isn't going to be easy by any means.

Mar 19, Monday 12:34pm Central
I 'm sore everywhere and feel like a bus ran me over yesterday. All the Redbull is gone and I and I have to be to work soon. I was too tired to enter anything into my log yesterday after paddling so I’m doing it now. We had about 9 laps in before the sun ever came up. I remember what Brad and Mark said after completing there first lap in the dark, "This is stupid and I’ll never do it again after tonight" with a very disappointed look on there face. This really tested all of our friendships with one another. I know Owen blew up on at least everyone once thought out the day, But we worked thought it and pushed to reach a goal that look like it would never be reached. By about lap 27 most everyone looked like they had been beaten up by Mike Tyson. Goats face was wind burned, Brad had huge bags under his eyes, and Owen went back to bed and was start to act delirious. Mark was this fire tender trying keep everyone warm and I yelling at people to get back on the river. Thinking back now I remember looking a the temp in the car around 4am and it read ICE, about 32 degrees. Standing around outside even during the day was the worst part of the day. I looked forward to paddling to stay warm. All in all we didn't get our 40 laps like we wanted but we did put in a lot of work to end up with 31 laps. Which is a new record for tellico so I guess I can't complain.