So I went for my first real swims, Yes I am a kayaking gomer

[Squirrel99]

Okay, figured you'd experienced people enjoy this (I'm only sharing the two parts where I really messed up- the other parts of the river I'd say I did okay with- but well have to leave that embarrasing discussion about my lack of skillz up to BakerBoy...)

Feeling really confident after the Kayak class sessions on the Green River-WA (Class 2) plus all the lake and pool sessions. Had done a bunch of combat rolls through the smaller rapids last week and felt good about it. Instructors say, 'yeah, you could probably try the Wenatchee next if you're up for a thrill.' I say, great! So I called our local pro-bro BakerBoy. He's game to guide me through this stretch of the Wenatchee. It's a beautiful day- mid 80's and sunny. I get on the river and things start out on the wrong foot. Did a quick roll in the edy- no problem.

First rapid stretch coming up quickly- RocknRoll. This is a 200 yard rapid / wave train - whatever you want to call it. I ask BB what line looks good- he points me to the center right. From the start it looks great and was the 'easiest' line- then- oh crap- the river performs a hard S type of twist with wave-trains and some holes on both sides (or at least from what I could see) River is maching. I take the first 25 yards and then freeze up when I see the carnage ahead- hit a huge wave, crest- miss the low brace, and go for a tumble. Oh crap. This sucks. I'm spinning in the water getting pummelled and worked. I try once and want to roll, but kind of freeze up in terror. These waves are big and I really didn't get much of a glimpse of them other than the first two. Not sure how long I have before I can breathe next- this tumbling is all new to me- so I decide to err on the safe side?? and pull out for a swim. River shifts left. I'm stuck in the middle. Luckily BB is right there- grab on to his yak for bit and start swimming to shore- oops- problem- he gets spun into a hole. I have to let go and once again I am pounding through the waves, sucking down water, trying to keep my feet up. One wild ride. I'm game for round two, but it's going to have to wait until the confidence builds up again.

Made some progress- got back in the river and tackled some similar shorter rapids, building confidence, things started to fall into place- getting comfortable in the rapids. BB leads me on a nice crosspattern ferry through different channels- yeah, feeling better...took another good swim later, but the Wenatchee is supposedly known as a 'forgiving river' so we'll have to give it another go later this summer when flow drops again.

BB- thanks for all your patience and tips. Felt pretty cool getting the shout outs for when I was kicking tail in the rapids and not getting turned upside down!.

Next time I'm going to rock. But for now, need to lick my wounds (physical and mental), while improving my confidence and skill set.

So there you have it- my first two 'scary swims'. I am happy to get back to the Green and Snoqualmie for a few weeks to get the confidence back. I'm going to let the Wenatchee flow drop before I try that beeyatch again in another month or so.

[Squirrel99]

How did you all react the first time you got taken to the woodshed?

[girlski0912]

Nice Squirrel- You are really selling the whole "learn how to kayak" thing. Think I will stick to skis and bikes for now! Glad that you ahd a good time, even more happy to hear that you weren't hungover and trying to deal with near death.

[Squirrel99]

Originally posted by girlski0912
Nice Squirrel- You are really selling the whole "learn how to kayak" thing. Think I will stick to skis and bikes for now! Glad that you ahd a good time, even more happy to hear that you weren't hungover and trying to deal with near death.

Okay, so I talked it up a bit. The Wenatchee is running pretty good right now, but I was assured by many of the expert paddlers including those from NWOC that the rapids aren't too bad and they're good about spitting you out (except suffocator, but I didn't run that section).

I'm sure everyone feels like WTF when they take their first big swim. Curious to know what anyone else's first swim experience was like....

[tibaher]

Hey sounds like a rough one dood. Don't let the sixe of those waves freak you out. They're big, but tend to be pretty straightforward. Boulder Bend is a great wave train, you'll be stoke when you nail it next time!

remember, follow the green water~

[Foggy_Goggles]

Originally posted by Squirrel99
How did you all react the first time you got taken to the woodshed?

1995 Yampa town run - 3K CFS

I'd "learned" to roll in the pool so I was ready to go right? Having recently moved to CO words like run off and flood stage meant very little to me. My buddies aren't the type to tell you your in over your head and everyone one learned the same way. You put in...and see what happens. After a couple of easy swims - "what's an edddy","lean which way" - we rounded a corner ahead of an island. At least what would usually be an island except the river was running over it. I couldn't get to either side of the river and was swept into the willows. I got wedged in that dreadfull half way upside down position. When I tried to swim, one of my legs got semi-pinned in the teany cockpit of the Dancer. It took me a while to get out. I lost my paddle. I quit and walked down the road to the bar.

No matter what anyone says, you're alway in between swims. The only differnence is that with more experience the swims become less frequent but the beatdown more serious.

[Squirrel99]

Originally posted by Foggy_Goggles
1995 Yampa town run - 3K CFS
It took me a while to get out. I lost my paddle. I quit and walked down the road to the bar.

Yep- Had a beer later on and felt much better

As for beatdowns in H20, yeah- it's gonna take a while to get comfortable with all that water. Seems more at home to be tumbling down some chute with exposure than taking a ride in river.

Thanks for the advice- looking forward to a much better run next time!

[FreakofSnow]

First swim was on the Poudre Filter plant run in 97, flood stage and I was scared shitless. Swam somewhere around Maddog rapid and didn't end up getting all that worked. Like Foggy said, you are always in between swims when kayaking.

Take each swim as a learning experience, there is a lot to learn from each of them. They will become more infrequent and your will increase with that.

As far as the comfort level, ie. snow vs. water, i know what you mean. The river is a whole different beast. You are moving and the water is around you is moving, not like being on snow.

There is something about being without air that just isn't cool.

[Squirrel99]

Yeah, here's what got me good. Looks mild prolly to the vet kayakers, but I didn't stay far enough river right and caught a current into a wave above the center pillar. Flipped me good and I just had a feeling to pull out right away. I know, I got lucky and a good tongue lashing was deserving upon getting to shore.
Still learning, but damn I should have known better. I saw another kayaker sitting above a rapid toward the center and assumed it was a runnable line to escape a hole I thought I saw on far river right.

Damn, This rapid is still in my fucking head. Did not like the way all currents seem to lead from either side of the river straight toward the two waves/holes at center of the pillars or the way I handled it. Got to try this one again later this summer (with hesitation).

[Storm11]

This wasn't my first swim, but it was one of my first six or seven. I just started boating this season. Learned in a pool last fall and then demoed boats until late May when I bought a Big EZ. First day out in my new boat and I hadn't flipped almost the entire day. We were on the Durango town run and I was paddling with some fairly seasoned friends of mine as well as another friend who was a newbie. So get to the last rapid, called Sawmill (or Kahuna depending on who you ask) and I eddy out a ways above the wave. I peel out and start into the small wave train above the big wave. At this point I see Matt, the most experienced kid there, just below the wave pointing frantically river right. , but I 'm on far river left. So I start paddling as hard as I could, which wasn't very since I hadn't learned to power stroke yet. Right as I get to the crest of the wave right before the big one, Matt screams "LOG!". I drop over the crest and see I'm about 2 feet from a log that was pinned against the rock next to the wave. My bow hits ontop of the log. I was just a littlebit sideways, so the current caught my stern and window shadded me. I went right under the log. Luckily where I went under was just deep enough so I didn't get pinned, but it felt like I was so I just bailed. One of the scariest moments of my life.

[Squirrel99]

Originally posted by Storm11
One of the scariest moments of my life.

FKNA, glad you are okay. Yeah we've been paddling on a few of the local rivers near Seattle and the confidence level is definitely moving up. Rolls have been solid the past couple of days paddling. Hoping to get some more experience the next two weekends as we step up to the plate again! Oh yeah, and I also picked up a Big EZ. She rides really nice- and has been nicknamed "Big Emma" (an homage to the ol' home mountain's notorius 'beginner' trail at da 'Bird)

Hoping to put up a TR after the next couple of rivers.

[fattwins]

My buddy got pinned in a cave last year. We hiked back up the river to get a good photo but he decided the hike was to hard jumped in his boat and the current pinnd him in 5 secs. We learned that day to think more before we do something. Im a rookie too 2 years. Rolling is not the problem it is the fear after im dumped that is. When ever I go for a swim (which has been twice this year) I kick myself for giving into that fear. Im slowly understanding that in your boat is 300 times safer than out of your boat.

[satori]

Yeah, Im looking forward to tomorrow Fattwins. Cheers for taking me out tomorrow. See ya at 9! (Y.P.)

P.S. There arent any caves where were going tomorrow right?!

[BakerBoy]

So, what river are you guys hitting up?

[Squirrel99]

Originally posted by BakerBoy
So, what river are you guys hitting up?

Looking at the flows with the main Wenatchee below the recommended gauge- we will probably be near your pad in Index and hitting up the lower sky from the railroad bridge to big eddy.

trying to convince the guys for a 2p/3p start on Saturday (I think you were guiding in the am?)

[Blurred]

I loved your story dude! We've all been there, for sure. Kayaking is the most humbling sport I've tried! We're all definitely in between swims...

[Squirrel99]

Originally posted by BlurredElevens
I loved your story dude! We've all been there, for sure. Kayaking is the most humbling sport I've tried! We're all definitely in between swims...

Too bad you didn't get to read the unedited portion before Fear of the family/friends lurking into the thread- not too stoked on me taking up kayaking a few thousand miles away! But defintely getting better after the last couple of rivers.

[Blurred]

I actually had a break-through weekend this past week....I finally got to the point where I was totally stoked to get in the washing machine and enjoy the ride without too much death grip on the paddle involved...Zoom Flume in Browns Canyon has been a nemesis in my mind ever since I got worked in it a few years ago....Scouted it this year, took it down the middle and stayed on top of the food chain....It was very satisfying for me.

Let's have the un-edited post!!

[Squirrel99]

Originally posted by BlurredElevens
Let's have the un-edited post!!

HA! In a nutshell- two very scary swims. First one happened on the second wave of RockNRoll- just didn't know what I was in for.
River takes a good left hand S turn- and there's an enormous hole (Satan's eyeball, I think)- well I skirted on the left side but was heading straight for it- was like a large set of 3 gigantic surfing waves. I froze. Got caught staring as I saw the river turn left and open up into an overintimidating collection of large wave trains and holes- I plunked over to the right a bit too far and pretty much got munched. Had no idea where I was- I panicked so I ditched the boat- started feeling large gasps for air get filled with H20. I was struggling for every breath. Couldn't see where I was or what was ahead. I was beyond relief to see BakerBoy's boat next to me and was able to hitch a ride through the next wave train- he got sucked into a hole so I had to ride out the last 3 waves. Basically I started swimming in the bottom of the S and didn't pop up with a chance to swim to shore until I reached the top of the S. But shit happens. I knew I'd be okay- just a bit of a scare.

Now the really scary one occurred when I didn't like the line to the far 'skier's right' of the river- and noticed last second a bunch of kayakers huddled in front of a wave- little did I realize the scope of the wave and it sucked me straight out of my wave train into the pillar. I flipped immediatly and knew I was in some serious shit- so I didn't even try to roll. I knew to swim toward the bottom of the hole to try and flush out- and flush out I did. Banged my head pretty good too.

Other than that- I did a pretty good job in the other rapid sections (for just starting this year). Ran the Sky three times last weekend and my swims are getting less frequent Did have one really bad one though in Fishermans when I got knocked over into some shallow water- broke my paddle and couldn't roll. Amazingly enough, I was 'rather calm' about it- but the rocks were almost up to my shoulders and I got serious beating. My knees/shins/ankles and head all took good whacks- I'm okay now- but my right ankle is a bit bruised and swollen. Probably take another day or so to get rid of the sprain.

The Arkansas is a sweet river. I wish I would have gotten into Kayaking when I lived in Vail a few years ago. Nice work on Brown's. I did the same thing with the SKy and just got right back at it.

[Squirrel99]

Originally posted by Beaver
A swim does not make one a kayak JONG.
There are 2 types of Kayakers; those who swim and those who will swim.

After looking back on this thread from late June / early July, I can say that I'm feeling much better in the river. I called myself a JONG 'cause I just started this year and have taken plenty of good rides, etc... - even had a broken paddle once. Still have a bruised up ankle from the last swim I took on the Sky in July. Strained ligaments- bad high ankle sprain. Sucks.

But this past weekend was up on the Skagit River (WA) and ran the S-Bends, a rather pushy set of hydrolics and holes with three distinct wave trains (the 2nd one spits you toward a ton of rock exposure on river right with a nasty hole that stretches across the center right below it. Made the first S-Bend without problem, but getting into the river left eddy was a thrill. Took the 2nd S-Bend and pulled out my first "Rock Solid" combat roll through impending carnage. Then worked my way toward the next eddie line and got scooped again- only to knock out another sweet roll. But set myself up too far on river left to avoid the massive hole so I remembered this technical sneak route that pinched between a large rock and the hole and rode it through the left side of the hold and successive wave train. Pretty fucking sweet. I couldn't be any happier or more stoked this weekend- almost more stoked than nailing that perfect line in the snow! Nailed the whole section clean No drinking from the booty!