PNW is FUN

How to spell (P)acific (N)orth (W)est : FUN.

Just another sunny week up here. Enjoying the Creek Jacket!
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Fun Times in BC, Canada

By: Christina Russell and Josh Mckeown
September 2008

This September, Josh and I packed up and made the 13 hour migration North to British Colombia, Canada. We spent two weeks in Canada paddling the classic runs- Cheakamas, Callaghan, Ashlu, and of course- Skookumchuck. Despite the fact that our lucky third paddler never showed, we made the best of it and got to paddle with some of the friendliest and most welcoming paddlers we've ever met.

On the road to Whistler, our first destination, we discovered the construction for the Olympic games. Ugh, can you say delays?! The pic below shows the sheer rock wall that the construction crews are blasting their way through to make a 4 lane highway....

We arrived at the Cheakamas River campground at 10:30 pm to find some locals spending the night as well. This is where we met Danny and Annie of Vancouver, BC. Great people. They offered to paddle with us the next day on the Cheakamas as our third paddler was missing......here's what we woke up to see....the beautiful Cheakamas River.


While our newfound paddling buds got ready to go, we took a hike along the river. Check out the HUGE slugs they have up there!!!! Ya know, this is pic is almost to scale.... We didnt get any pictures on the Cheakamas but we DID get a bunch on the Callaghan. The Callaghan is about ten minutes away and is glacier fed. The run is about 4 miles long of steep boulder gardens and ledge drops.........

(Below) Josh firin up the log drop...this drop is pretty manky in person

(Below) Me followin Josh on the same drop

(Below) the beautiful view downstream

(Below) Me on the clean thirty footer

(Below) the nasty lookin portage
After a couple hours on the Callaghan, we headed to dinner with our friends from Whistler and had quite possibly the best burgers EVER. I cant remember the name of the restaurant but let me just say their veggie burger was fantabulous. Dont forget to get the fries while you are there......

On the way back to our "campsite" (which has actually been donated to the kayakers by whistler) we contemplated the next day on the Ashlu, 1.5 hours away. Come back soon for pics and stories from the Ashlu!

Happy Paddling,

Christina :)

Takilma Gorge

By: Christina Russell

Date: September 14, 2008


This is an ultra short post as it is almost 10 pm and Josh and I drove home from BC today- a 13 hour drive. We cant believe we are home! I thought I would post a quick blog just before I give you all an update on our Canada trip this September so hang in there.... :)

These pics came from one of our few weekends away from Bend in august. As some of you may experience, August is a month of craziness....we decided to book it away from it all and head to the Upper NF of the Rogue. The section we ran is also known as the Takilma Gorge section- a fantastic gorge with five prominent rapids. The entry rapid is in the background of the pic below.... it's called Therapy Falls. It may not look like it's a toughy but it packs a punch.


Below Therapy Falls, the river winds through a narrow gorge formed of steep volcanic ash. It's absolutely beautiful. We didnt get any pics of the drops because there are no safe eddies to pull out the Nikon but the pic below is of the portage on drop 3.


So there you have it, a very quick post before the good stuff......now on to BC!!!!! Team Peak UK was BUSY.....

Stay tuned,
Christina

2nd Descent of the Upper NF Tumalo

By: Christina Russell and Josh Mckeown

AKA Team WOO HOO! :D

Late this summer, Josh and myself headed up a long, winding forest road to the Upper North Fork of the Tumalo. It was first run a week earlier by Josh and Scotty Baker but as I was working during the first D, I requested we head back for the 2nd D- 1st female descent! YEAH! One for the gals! :) On the ride up, Josh filled me in on the drops....

"OK first drop is a ten footer that cascades onto a slab rock so make sure you dont go too far left..."

"2nd drop is a shallow eight footer that you have to boof...."

"3rd drop is a 30+foot slide....Im not sure exactly how high but we can measure it out"

"4th drop is a shallow ten foot boof followed by a ledge hole backed up by an undercut wall"

By the time we were done discussing the drops, we had arrived at the put-in.....somewhere in the Deschutes National Forest. The weather was B E A utiful and about 80 degrees. However, we werent alone....there were way too many mosquitos more than willing to keep each and every one of us company.

Photo: Christina Russell

Drops 1 and 2

The first drop still had a log in it so we decided to be adventurous and live dangerously....remove the log! Somehow I ended up n the pool below as the designated "log retriever".....wait a minute.... how did I end up with that job? Im the smallest of the group! anywho, I DID get the log out with assistance from mister Drew Oldfield. Good ol' Drew.

Following the log extraction the crew fired off the first drop without incident. The second drop is directly below the first and while the others portaged, Josh and I ran the second boof. Below, here is Josh's run.......

(Below) Photo- Josh Mckeown

Paddler- Christina Russell on the 3rd Drop

(Below)Photo: Christina Russell

Paddler: Josh Mckeown

(Below) Photo: Josh Mckeown

Paddler: John Cramp below the 3rd Drop

(Below) Photo: Josh Mckeown

Paddler: Christina Russell on the 4th drop...sideways boof

(Below) Photo: Josh McKeown

Paddler: Christina Russell

(Below) Photo: josh Mckeown

The crew scouting the last drop and watching Kirk fire it up...

By the end of the day, we had successfully navigated the quarter mile section and proven that central Oregon has some great creekin to be had...you just have to wait patiently! :) Josh and I are off on another adventure this Friday.....Skookumchuck, Tatlow....good ol' BC! Gone for two weeks, will return with photos and video! :) If anyone wants to join us, we will be at Skook on the 11th of September. See you there!

Happy Paddling,

Christina and Josh