Get Wet Wednesday: Old Run New

Finding new moves and skills no matter how old the run By Haven Livingston Seeing your route from a new angle definitely lends fresh perspective. After logging a whopping 115 days of kayaking last year, it’s disappointing to admit I’ve only reached 27 days so far this year. Work, other sports, life; there is so much to do and so few hours of daylight. The adventurous runs are so far away … or so I thought. Instead of traveling to kayak new runs I’m finding myself on my neighborhood run, Chili Bar, on the South Fork American River more often than I thought tolerable. You know the feeling; you’re tying your laces up and hitting the same after-work trail run you’ve done every Wednesday night that you can remember. You’re thinking, “This, again?” How mind numbing. But after more than 50 times on the run I’ve discovered there are still...

Get Wet Wednesday: Letting it fly

Team Jackson paddler Phil Boyer boofs off Gunsight rock in Trouble-maker rapid on the South Fork American River. Photo: Haven Livingston Check out Haven Livingston’s whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com....

Get Wet Wednesday: Bad line, great shot

It’s good to know that if your buddy is going to give you bad beta on a line, they’ll at least be there to give you a hand when you botch it. Horseshoe Falls on the Tuolumne River Photo: Phil Boyer Check out Haven Livingston’s whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com....

Get Wet Wednesday: River scenes

Photo by Haven Livingston. There’s more than one way to surf a river wave. Tyler Lausten shreds Barking Dog on the South Fork American on his own TL designed boards (tlsurf.com). Photo of Phil Boyer by Haven Livingston.  … And this is why we scout. South fork Silver Creek below Icehouse Dam presented all kinds of new wood jams during the one day water release. It’s just what happens. Always worth it to get out and look before running a drop. Check out Haven Livingston’s whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com....

Get Wet Wednesday: Whitewater safety

This river safety tip will keep both you and your board safe By Haven Livingston Before you strap a leash on your riverboard or SUP and head to the nearest whitewater, hook yourself up with a river specific quick release waist belt. Leashes open the door to dangerous entanglement hazards on a river. When you become separated from your board leashes can catch on rocks. Surf style leashes leave you dangling by the ankle and unable to reach down to release it with the current pushing you underwater. Ankle release straps are a no-no in rivers; currents are stronger than you think! Check out NRS waist belts for a better option. Check out Haven Livingston’s whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com.  ...

Get Wet Wednesday: River in a Tube

This is what a dam release looks like – river in a tube! Thanks to American Whitewater for announcing the one day release on the South Fork of Silver Creek below Icehouse dam. Some nice whitewater to be had and sweet Sierra scenery. Haven Livingston enjoys sweet Sierra whitewater. (Phil Boyer) Check out Haven Livingston’s whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com.  ...

Get Wet Wednesday: Shuttle Bunnies

As the saying goes … anyone can kayak, but it takes a smart kayaker to figure out the shuttle By Haven Livingston Ride with us, we can take at least 3 more boats! Downriver boating is a point to point activity. You start upstream and end downstream, but somehow you have to get back to your vehicle at the top. This usually involves two cars, a bike, a motorcycle or hitch-hiking. For runs that have more than an hour or so drive between start to finish it’s time to consider a shuttle driver. Ideally you have someone who loves you, loves to drive but doesn’t want to boat, so they can drop you off at put in and pick you up at take out. We affectionately call these people “Shuttle Bunnies” and we LOVE them! Injured buddies or someone who forgot their spray skirt or pfd and can’t get in...

Get Wet Wednesday: Yosemite opens Merced to paddling

Paddlers revel in lift of four decade ban Photo: Dave Steindorf   Three cheers for Yosemite National Park for opening the Merced River to paddling after a 40 year ban! Last week the Park hosted an inaugural paddle for a test run. Haven Livingston will report more about this in our upcoming June/July 2015 issue, so stay tuned for that! In the meantime, get more info on the paddling the Merced at AmericanWhitewater.org. Read Haven Livingston’s account of her epic year of whitewater kayaking in our April / May 2015 issue: Goal 100 – what one hundred days of whitewater taught me. Plus, check out her whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com....

Get Wet Wednesday: Huge hydraulics and steep drops on the Middle Fork American

Photo by Haven Livingston. With its Tunnel Chute rapid, the Middle Fork American River is a summertime classic adventure not for the faint of heart. Being dam controlled with scheduled releases means that you can plan ahead and sign up for your fun now. The Middle Fork of the American River is located 45 minutes east of Sacramento (off I-80 about halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe) in the heart of Gold Country. With an intermediate level of difficult (Class III-IV), the Middle Fork American boasts eight Class IV rapids, numerous Class II and III rapids, and of course, its renowned Tunnel Chute. Learn more at Rafting.com. Read Haven Livingston’s account of her epic year of whitewater kayaking in our April / May 2015 issue: Goal 100 – what one hundred days of whitewater taught me. Plus, check out her whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com....

Get Wet Wednesday: Free Falling

Pit Falls. Photo by Haven Livingston. The little known gem Pit River in Nor Cal has been releasing water all month. It’s not to be missed in a drought year like this. Pit Falls on Pit 1 run is a great “beginner” waterfall to initiate kayakers into the wonderful world of free fall. If you’re new to free fall, be sure to go with someone who knows it well, because even as a beginner falls, it still requires careful scouting and technical skills. Make connections on the Nor Cal Paddlers Facebook group; join here. Check out Haven Livingston’s whitewater blog Wavehaven Adventures at wavehaven.wordpress.com....