Kris

 

I finally recovered my normal energy level after waking up this morning, 36 hours or so later. Yup. I think I stated it in the T.R. "Bad Mambe Jamba" is a worthy name. I just spell it like they sing it in the song "She's a Bad Mamba Jamba" . Although my experience was more like Death Metal than funk.

 

Brian swam ABOVE "Bobbing For Butler"

 

High Five, Pernick! You and I managed to swim the majority of the whole run as members of the Newly Fomed "S. Frk Skokomish Swim Team"-- Let's disband the team now, o.k.?

 

 

 

 

 

Great trip report. Thanks for being so self effacing and allowing us to read through it, including the mistakes. It takes a big person to admit mistakes... Which brings me to two, one of which was mine on another trip:

 

But first, about your trip: Sounds like a couple of breakdown paddles would have been appropriate for this trip. As a gentle reminder to all: When paddling (harder) rivers away from roads, take a breakdown.

 

Now, for my "I know better than that!" moment: A few weeks ago I was on the Middle Middle... Yeah, I know, the MM. I was putting on with a strong crew of four and decided to wear my play vest instead of my rescue vest. I didn't take a throw bag either. I figured, with this crew, if anyone was going to get in trouble it was going to be me! As it turns out, another group joined us, a group that included some boaters that were just gettting their MM chops up to speed. One of them swam in the lead in drops to House Rock. She and her boat both ended up on the right side but I chased her paddle down HR 1 and ended up on the left side between the HR drops. I was in a play boat, no tether on my pfd, and no rope/webbing of any kind to make one. I tried to ferry across using both paddles and flipped. I rolled up and eddied out again on RL but realized I probably couldn't get across the current with both paddles. I got the attention of one to the boaters on RR (where swimmer and boat were) who had a tether and they ferried over and got the paddle, clipped it on and returned it to the swimmer. All ended well and no one was in that much danger but it did remind me: If you have safety gear and you know how to use it, BRING IT! From now on my play vest is for road side runs and park'n'play only.

 

Again, thanks for the great TR! You rock, mister!

I posted it in all it's excruciating detail because I figured it would be entertaining, informative, or both. I also want it to stand on its own a s awork of writing. Hopefully it does.

 

But -yeah, I didn't even include the lack of a breakdown as an oversite, but you are right about that. I don't own onw and would love to scrape up the cash for one. It's somehting I've been thinking about but postponing. I DO have a pair of hand paddles now. And I think I'm goig to cultivate some skill with them. They are much lighter and less bulky and people run all sorts of crazy sh*t in them.

 

I don't care if people percieve my skill level as less than it really is in this case. I've been at this game long enough to know where I stand. My relationship with the river is what it is. Therefore I'm not insecure about admitting my faults-character flaws, or mistakes in my actions. I'm such a geek about paddling these days that I really got a lot of enjoyment out of analying the events after the fact!

 

It's a thin membrane we opperate in and we often don't fully understand how vulnerable it is to being ruptured until it happens. That's why seemingly trivial details like the ones I wrote about and the ones you mentioned from your trip, really could shift the nature of a trip, and flip reality upside down.

 

What i'm most stoked about though, was my discovery about using my whole body as a kayak, once I was reunited with my paddle. It became a really playful moment. I'm really encouraged now to become less dependent on a paddle or a boat. To be able to do without either one.

 

Next summer when we get warm temps and medium low flows on the Sky, I intend to do some more "boatless" kayaking, "swimming" down the Sky with a kayak paddle. Sooner, I intend to get more practice with my handpaddles-took them to the pool the other night and had a blast!

 

 

 

breakdowns are always a good idea. 

 

once however, we decided that since two of the three of us didn't have a paddle and the 3rd had a breakdown, that we would share the breakdown and c-1 our IK's out!  1/2 a carlisle breakdown with its big ass blade and short shaft is no way to paddle a kayak!!!

 

we next did a piggy back type deal where two would paddle to an eddy and get out.  while one went upstream with one of the paddles and a throw bag, the other scouted and looked for a paddle downstream.  the guy upstream would then paddle down to the eddy and on we would go like this.  this worked much better than the c1. we eventually found my paddle and all was good....

 

the skok is a great place for EPIC!!!!

 

I would really like to get back in there someday.....

 

On Day Crk we had My spectra (50'?) rope, which now is somewhere on the Skok, and Ben's two rope bags: His 40' green bag and his 70' (?) raft guide bag.

 

I'm gonna replace the spectra bag. I like the way it throws and I like that it doesn't stretch as much. Yeah, it's smaller but it's usually adequate for most applications.

 

I agree, most of us don't practice throwin' the rope nearly enough, if ever, especially once it's been deployed. It's hard. This makes me realize I need to do some practice. Looks like Liquid Logic is going to market a wide mouth throw bag, with the idea that it can be stuffed in a hurry. I still think the loop method will be quicker in an emergency but I do like the idea. Check it out here...

 

http://shanesliquidlogic.blogspot.com/2009/12/speedloader-challenge.html - http://shanesliquidlogic.blogspot.com/2009/12/speedloader-challenge.html

 

However, when I approached the top of an obvious rapid that I'd at least want to scout (I ended up walking around it), I turned my toes upstream and ferried across to the eddy just like I was in a kayak. Really, you should try it.

 

I mean I'm not gonna want to volunteer to run Icicle Creek this way or anything, but if you're in reasonably flat (I.E. less steep, low gradient) class III it should work for getting about.