A new year, a new river log
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10352
Printed Date: 04 May 2025 at 10:06pm
Topic: A new year, a new river log
Posted By: Jed Hawkes
Subject: A new year, a new river log
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2011 at 6:20pm
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.
------------- The line will become apparent
978-273-7723
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Replies:
Posted By: Wiggins
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2011 at 9:25pm
But I normally win the boobie measuring contests!
I had a pretty good year. I don't keep a river log, but I added a lot of helmet camera footage to the collection. I led my first multiday trip, took up OC1ing, had a couple of personal first descents, approached competency in the OC1, and made it down to the Green River a few times (something that did not happen in 2009).
I will kick off 2011 by going to the Tamihi Slalom course tomorrow and manipulating Leif into reading this post.
Oh yea, and I bought a new crapper for overnight trips last night for $25. So I am doing my part to keep the industry alive!
Kyle
------------- I smell bacon
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Posted By: Jed Hawkes
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2011 at 10:28pm
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.
------------- The line will become apparent
978-273-7723
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Posted By: JoesKayak
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 7:46am
I wish I had the data to share. I started logging all my river trips on my computer around 1994, but got lazy the last two years and stopped.
So far for 2011:
1 trip - Cedar River
Got that much committed to memory. Better jot that down. 
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Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 8:09am
Cool Jed...
My personal tally was 125 days on river... 60 of those on the Sky. And 7 pfd's...
Don't worry about the whole pecker contest... I know this guy who lives across the river that boats almost every day, and mostly classV, but he doesn't keep track of #'s. He's probably got 300 plus days or so....
ya di ya
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Posted By: 1150lbsofaire
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 11:38am
jed dont forget takin first place in the toughest raft race in the entire north west
------------- lookin for a bow cap for a storm
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Posted By: mokelumnekid
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 12:10pm
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.
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Posted By: Jed Hawkes
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 12:34pm
Thanks for reminding me Hans. That is certainly something worth noting.
------------- The line will become apparent
978-273-7723
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Posted By: franzhorner
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 1:04pm
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!
------------- MORE RAIN PLEASE
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Posted By: James
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 1:13pm
Hey there buddy you did an overnighter on the Sauk... that should still count right?
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Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 2:12pm
I completly forgot about the north fork payette trip on my own list. What day was that? Do you remember what level was Hans?
------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616
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Posted By: franzhorner
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 4:02pm
Originally posted by James
Hey there buddy you did an overnighter on the Sauk... that should still count right?
I got a couple of overnighters but usually don't consider a trip a "multi-day" until it requires 2 or more nights on the river. I would never forget that trip though. It has an asterisk in my anal river log for most shots fired on an island in my life, and believe it or not that really does say something!!!
My river log is nothing more than a calendar for each year. Every Monday morning I retrospectively fill in the calendar with what I did. I list the river, the level, put-in, take out, craft I was in, who was on the trip with me, what craft they were in and any special notes like if I swam or if someone else swam or any other things like "lots of shots fired" ,or saw 30 elk ,or rapids portaged......
I've got quite a stack of calendars that I tell myself I will use to make a spreadsheet someday. All these spread sheets I work on in the lab somehow discourage me from doing that though so for now I just have the calendars....
------------- MORE RAIN PLEASE
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Posted By: franzhorner
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2011 at 4:03pm
NF Payette was the weekend of Sep 4-6, Labor day weekend. Both days gave us about 1500cfs....
------------- MORE RAIN PLEASE
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Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 11:37am
I stopped keeping track years ago too, but I know that Leif has boated over 123 days this year at least that is what he told me...
------------- Nomad
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Posted By: jella
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 12:06pm
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.
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Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 12:23pm
Where did you get those levels? I didn't feel a 500 Cfs difference between the first and the last day... I remember jacob's felt less pushy on the last day but nowhere near 500cfs lower. Hmmmmmm
------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616
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Posted By: jella
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 12:29pm
those levels were from that gentelman who owned the kayaking/rafting company that we were camping by.
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Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 3:44pm
Ahhh, I remember that dude. I don't know though. Did it feel that different to you?
------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616
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Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 3:47pm
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.
------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋
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Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 3:51pm
I got a few days in on the river this year, but two trips stand out in my mind. The Grand Canyon of the Elwha "adventure" and the Chelan Gorge trip. Both were of immense quality, not as much in the boating manner, but as an experience in of itself. There are some pretty cool rivers and some pretty cool people here in Washington. Keep charging peeps:)
------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616
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Posted By: jella
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 4:17pm
Yes, I felt the difference.
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Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 5:46pm
Originally posted by jellaYes, I felt the difference.
That's what she said! 
------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616
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Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 6:22pm
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...
------------- "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman
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Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2011 at 6:30pm
1450, 1400 and 1350 labor day weekend nf payette trip - from the dreamflows gauge. yeah, i heard the same thing from that dude... but got those #s from the net...
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Posted By: jella
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2011 at 9:15am
unfortunate for you, she was talking about the river
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Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2011 at 11:22am
cool to see you so fired up for such a sustained period- bret. Not surprised either. You are a devoted disciple of the hydro kinesis.
happy new year, dude.
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Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2011 at 11:30am
oh hey, btw- according to the "New Beta" alert I got it looks like you got into Deer Creek. When was that trip, how did it go and what did you think? How was that riverwide ledge for ya (flows?). any new wood? just curious. Got some rafter friends who are interested in the pain and suffering required to get a raft to the river's edge.--yeah that crazy mofo w/ the green raft... (good to go from my memory, buddy! )
------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋
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Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2011 at 3:11pm
BTW concerning the new Year and "river Logs":
just a reminder that you guys all generate the content for this site. A lot of you have your own kayaking blogs and whatever, but still there are some cool underutilized features on this site that James worked hard to install. Let's use them!
Got a favorite local run? why not proof read the river description and update any alerts- remove or add as needed, or flesh out the details on the River Description page. I don't wanna hear you self described "newbies" (I prefer the old school term novice, 'cause I'm old school.) act as though you aren't qualified to use these features. You are. Do you have a little play spot on the Middle Middle that you dig that has no beta on it? Devise a clever name for the feature and add it to the river description page (try to ask around and see if the feature already has a name).
ANY PP member with a log-on can do this.
Trip reports: if you're bored in front of the computer why not tell us some whitewater tales of terror, or a funny story with a lesson to it, or something fun to read with some pics...
just reminding you all these features exist and they are hungry for your creative input. I'm backing away from this site a little cause I got other sh*t goin on. We need a greater variety of people to interact with these aspects of the site anyway, IMO.
Besides, the forums are kinda weak sometimes. Then you got those irritable bastards who occassionally lob flaming 1's and 0's around at the stuntmen of the world...
I'd love to be able to read more river lies on this site in the form of Trip Reports...
Just an idea.
------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋
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Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2011 at 8:51pm
I missed Deer Creek today, I am sad to say. Looking at the day I run this sun-uv-uh-gun. It just sounds so good. Don't tell me about it. i can wait...
------------- "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman
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