So 2010 is behind us and were are into a new year of whitewater recreation. In the past there has been a forum post asking the community "how many days have you paddled this year" or something to that affect, which can also mean "how many days have you not paddled" or "who wants to see how core I am" etc. So I want to present the question "how was everybody's river year?

I am a person that geeks out on his river log and am currently compiling the data from last years exploits (days, trips, avg. gradient, total gradient, river miles, different river classes, personal first decents etc.) and am curious about how every one else's year went, as well as if anyone else (other than JP) has as much fun compiling their personal river data as I do.

This could quickly spiral out of control into a Dick/Boobie measuring contests, but since I can't sneak into all of your houses and look at your river logs I figured that I'd inquire on this lovely resource we've all come to loath and admire.

So make a post, and help us all remember that the paddling industry is not dying but rather is strong and vibrant, and the people who do paddle are still getting out on the river as much as ever.

This year was my most productive whitewater year to date. I paddled with many new people, as well as solidified my relationship with some of my closer boating partners. Many personal first descents, crossed rivers off the wish list, had fun, got scared, and of course, swam.

Here is the data...

Private boating

60 days on the water

18 Personal First Descents

395.25 River Miles

15,179 Total feet descended

61.85 Average gradient per trip

2 Swims

Paddled my...

Burn 26 days
outburst 17 days
playboat 8 days
OC-1 6 days
rafted 1 day
other 3

Commercial Rafting

54 paid trips

2 Deschutes
3 Wenatchee
49 White Salmon
2 Swimmers

23 Runs over Husum Falls
7 swimmers @ Husum Falls
11 swimmers bagged at Husum Falls

261 Guests
5.43 average raft load

All-in-all a good year, looking forward to my first day of 2011.

Cool Jed...

How about if a noob weighs in? This was my first year of boating, got in 33 days (not all full days). This year: 20 swims, 34 combat rolls (many on the Rogue), bought a boat and a drysuit, had some great days and some bad ones.  Got an okay roll, still can't brace (hey I'm 58, I'll pick it up some day.)

But most importantly I met amazing, supportive people wherever I went (with one exception). Including here. I hope next year's report has even more +++ going-on.

This was a tough year for me having had to travel to Indiana throughout the Spring and Summer.  I got only 51 river days and no multiday trips.  This is the lowest amount of river days I've got since I started boating out here.  I got 4 PFDs : middle 6 on the NF Payette, Entiat, EF Lewis falls run, and the mighty Methow....

I ran the Sky 19 times....

Another tally I do yearly is Phish shows.  I got 6 this year which is pretty good considering they didn't play anywhere near Washington.  It was my traveling for work that allowed me to see most of those shows so at least I got a trade off there...and...I already got one show in for 2011!!!  My ticket was seat 1 in row b in section 111 on 1.1.11!!

Here's to a great year with elevens and ones throughout!

I completly forgot about the north fork payette trip on my own list. What day was that? Do you remember what level was Hans?

NF Payette was the weekend of Sep 4-6, Labor day weekend.  Both days gave us about 1500cfs....

Hey Dan -in regaurds to the NF of the Payette, the first day it was running at 1500 cfs, second day was 1100 cfs, and the third day was 950 cfs.

 

This year was been a wonderful year of kayaking, and thanks to everyone who have  helped and incouraged me to get where I am today. 

those levels were from that gentelman who owned the kayaking/rafting company that we were camping by.

1220 river miles
201 trips in 161 days
3 Wet Exits (not to be confused with swims, because I swim intentially in rapids a lot.), 3 booty beers: S.Frk Skok, LW, Fitwah (HighH2O @ Fisherman's)

Here's my ratio of runs based loosely on their class:
Class V trips:    79
Class  IV trips:  34
Class III trips:   85
Class II trips:     3

of those:
9 pfd's
63 commercial whitewater trips

Raced in three races, and did reasonably well in each:
Cedar River Race: actually I didn't do so good in that one those WKC boaters soundly kicked  my ass with their slalom skills!
E. Frk Lewis Race: 3rd place in the Greenboat race
Robe Race: 4th place- I'm proud of that considering how weak and out of shape I continually seem to be. I think I need to take up cycling a little more again.

So mike, this ain't no "Pecker Contest" whatever that means.
A few of us (granted, a tiny minority) keep river logs instead of shooting video or taking photos. So what's the difference? Rob doesn't keep a log, shoot vid, snap pics, or any of that bullsh*t. Nor does he waste his time here. Good on him. But you are not him. So why are you speaking for him?

Just because some of us choose a different way to share our adventures on this forum besides video and pics shouldn't devalidate it. After all, this online community depends as much on the written word as it does those other forms of media.

Franz, bro- 50 days ain't shabby.
Niether is 33, great that you weighed in and participated in the fun, Molelumnekid!

We all know its about quality and not quantity.
On that note I bet I've only had about 4 of those 161 days that were'nt "quality". Almost any day on the river is a good day so long as no one gets injured or worse.

I don't know, I think the end of year stats are a fun thing that can invite participation. But like so many other attempts, most people just miss the point.

Nice try, Jed.

Yes, I felt the difference. 

Nice one, Dan! Sorry, Jessie.

Yeah, that NF Payette is some sweet biznass. Chelan and Jefferson rank high. Runnin the Top Tye when it was screamin up with Rob, Darrin and Fish. Then hitting the Foss the same day. Always a good day on the Little White Salmon. Always. All the O.P/Ohane trips this year. Me and JP an' the SOP'er on the Sitkum 2 days, an' in that nasty motel room one night. Never go in together to pay for a room.

Canyon Creek Lewis portage. The Cangejal river in Honduras. All 15 miles of it. A sick 2 weeks could be spent boating and diving there. I spent a month. Almost nailing a perfect Helix at Trinity (missed it by ~ that much). Lots of Back Pan Am's and Blunts. Skook. Ran the whoooole Icicle. Robe Canyon is a sexy girl who just gets better every time.

Jeez what else. The Lower Canyon of the Muddy Fork Cowlitz is stunning.
        o.p...
Chelan pt 2. When I got hammered BOTH days at the bottom of Entrance Exam only to be followed by running the right line at Double Slide both days straight into the Meat Locker. BABOOM!!!! The helmet cam even stayed on. Matheny Creek. Baker Creek. Vance Creek.
        OP.
LOTS of days on the Wenatchee play run and Tumwater. Stretch those shoulders. High water Peshastin Creek with Totten. Rodeo at 13,500!! That 30 footer on Rainbow Creek?
      O.P.
Little White with Jeff, JD, Totten, JP, an' da SOP'er, oh yeah, and Ron Blanchette! Helping those guys pull their boat out from under that tree right below Boulder Sluice. Come to think of it, there was a lot of action that day. Cool scouting missions I'm not mentioning.
        OP!
Skate Creek, Yellowjacket Creek, Stevens Canyon, Upper Johnson Creek. And some amazing trips to come...
     O!! P!!!

I don't know how many days or trips, but I put the good stuff on a blog
                         www.creeksides.blogspot.com   

Boating is where it's at...   

unfortunate for you, she was talking about the river