50 minutes documentary from the 80's-ish for free on the internet.

Wild Stuff

I have been to that area of Siberia... I don't think you can appreciate the word remote until you have been there.  I give this four stars out of 10

I will explain why the low rating. We start with 0 stars.
+1 for the fact that it is wickedly remote
+1 for the quality of whitewater
+1 for the passion
+1 for running wickedly remote technically whitewater in your cotton underoos
+2 for making your own PFD's and Outer layers (except for the dude in his undies)
So at this point were at 6 stars if your counting.
+1 for anyone who chops down small trees to make the raft/cat frames
+3 for the fact that they make the rafts out of recycled scrap around town
+5 for any trip leader that counts daily vodka rations per person in liters
We just hit Ten Stars but we continue
+5 for any trip that packs materials for building sauna/steam rooms on a class V multiday
+10 for any trip that is about to fall apart but is re-grouped by a night of vodka in the steam room
At this point were at 25 stars
+ 15 more for anyone that makes the analogy of running technical Big Rapids with Meeting, Courting and Bedding a beautiful woman....

So we just hit 40 Stars out of 10... How is that possible, and how did we get back to 4 stars? oh yea -36 stars for anyone that can watch that, visit the area or live there and continue to claim that communism is the way to go. Mafias, Filthy Rich upper class and a complete and utterly lost lower class.... Well for the one guy that did really get stoked on Communism I could see how he would rather die by whitewater instead of die by vodka, which is a pretty common way to go... Ok really that is all just nonsense even including all that I would give this 10 of 10. In fact I plan on watching that a couple more times with some friends that are here from Siberia right now!


Edited by James - 21 Feb 2012 at 2:41pm

Watch your tongue boy:
"Creature Craft" ain't the terminology. These predate creature crafts by a decade and a half or more.

"Bublik" is the name for the dual inner tubes lashed together.
I forget the name of the other craft they predominantly used.

But these predate Creature Crafts and this deserves to be noted. Way more hardcore and way less "gimme" than Creatures Crafts. They CHOPPED DOWN THE LUMBER FOR THEIR RIGGING, for Christ's sake (litterally: they also felled and milled the timbers for the massive cross errected for their fallen comrade in the wilderness.) Yes Creature Crafts are more modern and more sophisticated (guess which craft I would choose for the sh*t they ran-- way more gnarly in many cases than what your average class V boater is running today I might add).


James, if you haven't seen "A Glorious Way To Die" yet, you MUST DO SO ASAP. The same goes for any other rafters reading this.

JP... as an "older school" paddler myself (wavesport Y) I give you props for your usual opinions, but I have to ask... when you said:



Would you honestly choose logs strapped to truck inner tubes over: (Sunset Falls... WOW!!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGyrNqZTxb0

I'd gladly swap to new gear (including a new creeker) if I found something superior.  When it comes to (my) life or death, I'll generally take whatever advantage I can get.  I know it makes me less "old school" but I'd swap logs that break for breath any day

Sorry to hijack this thread a bit with a modern video, and HUGE props to the guys in that video.  WOW!!!  I'd love to paddle with them just to meet them!  Alas, as many here know huge water like that makes me wet my drysuit!






Edited by Travisimo - 21 Feb 2012 at 10:30pm

Unfortunately Youtube is starting a new policy much like Vimeo that prevents embedding into other sites unless you use an iframe. Reason, they can't run ads and execute scripts unless they have a full embedded window. Some videos work others don't,  We don't allow it for the same reason, then anyone could start running scripts and crap through embedded windows. I might come up with a fix but until I do it is trial and error. I can't even get this one to embed unless I use an Iframe which is not allowed per the forum security levels.

http://www.canoekayak.com/mantle/bashkaus-expedition-signs-book-of-legends/  also another great  vid about siberia whitewater

BTW, we're all gettin NAKED at the next PP BALL and whipping each other's asses with eucalyptus leaves.


Cricket cricket


Yup James, I think you're right: no ball this year for sure now.

This is an absolutely amazing film, for so many reasons.  A minor one being that the fact that I have a life jacket that is Coast Guard -approved makes me feel like Paris Hilton.  Those guys are just incredible.

Great film. whitewater is not a sport. whitewater is a martial art.