Hey!
My name is Ben and my wife and i just moved to bellingham.
We want to go boating.  We're both kayakers.  She likes class 3 and i like class 4.
We are from northern west virginia.  We were down in Olympia for the last 3 months and are interested in anything anyone could tell us about the local runs.  We're also looking for people to boat with and run shuttle / carpool with (gas prices - ouch) from Bellingham.
I have the Bennett book and i think that we may go check out the middle fork of the nooksack this afternoon.
As far as local runs y'all may know i've run Canyon creek (fly creek to Lake Merwin) and Stabler to highbridge on the Wind, the Tilton, west fork of the hood down to punchbowl falls, etc....that's the kind of things i like
She liked the Middle Middle Snoqualamie, and the upper upper wind at low water.
Send me and email or better yet call me and let's go boat something
Ben 724-880-5156

What up Ben.  Good boating community in The Ham.  You should have no problem hooking up with paddlers in the area.  We were talking about some boating this afternoon, but nothing has come together yet.  I'll give you a call when I know the what/when/where's.

The Upper MF Nooksack is pretty full-on class V, and kinda manky.  The Canyon Section is IV/V and quite scenic.  It would be a much better experience if you went with someone who knew it.  We might be paddling that this afternoon.  It's pretty short, but very committing (read - a few must run rapids in a deep boxed in gorge).

The NF Nooksack is the classic go-to around here.  The Bend section.  It starts out class II, and goes III, IV, then V.

We'll be in touch.  Good to have another paddler in the mix.

Also, check out...

www.bellinghamwhitewater.org

~Erik
(425) 591-3220

Looks like James beat me to the punch.


Edited by Erik - 24 Jun 2008 at 1:44pm

Yo,

Ben,

Welcome to the 'ham.

There are a lot of great boaters in B'ham and by now you've probably paddled with quite a few of them.  As for Class III boaters, they're a little harder to find, but they do exist.  Let me know if you're putting together any Class III trips w/ your wife.  I know several solid III boaters (myself included) who'd like to get out more often on local runs... especially now that the Nooksack is dropping down to easier levels.

Thanks,
John  756-2292

We're heading over to do the wenatchee on saturday and probably the Skykomish on sunday.
Call me if you're interested
ben 724-880-5156