I thought I knew how to paddle until I saw this guy....

[yarnellboat]

I guess you see what you get in the videos, too "dodgey" for me for sure, but I'd echo Jan's comment on classifications around here in BC. I'm only familiar with the low end of these runs - not that I've paddled any of them yet - but in my world, I consider runs like the Elaho, Calcheak, Nahatlatch, etc. to be pretty significant class 3 waters.

Also, what's "upper" and what's "lower" is relative, depending on the circles you paddle with - my "upper Chilliwack" (i.e., Sleese to Tamihi) is probably Jan's "lower Chilliwack", because he paddles the canyon run higher up than most open boats, and novices paddle an easy class II "lower Chilliwack" farther down. Same on the Cheakamus, I paddle another "lower Chekamus" run (i.e., Paradise Valley right into the Squamish) that's a class II(III).

So, if you're coming here to paddle class IV and don't know your way around, double-check the details of which "upper" or "lower" runs people are directing you to.

Pat.

[Dooleyoc-1]

Bathtuboy,

What was the dumping situation like on the Soo and Callaghan? I watched the video of the Soo on the link you posted and it looked like there were very few eddys. Did you have a hand pump in the boat or did you have to find eddys and get out to dump?

Also, what were your two favorite run besides Callaghan and the Soo? I will probably have about 4 days to boat if I make it out there this August. Thanks again for the info.

[bathtuboy]

My main memory of the Soo was the microclimate surrounding it. It was a nice hot day, but the 10' above the river was a freezing cold mist and you could not see more than about 15 yards (I did it on a different day to the video). I seem to remember it was very continuous and the eddy's were reasonably small, but they were there.
If you are only going to have 4 days i would have a look at the sections on the Cheakamus (At least 3 different sections), possibly the Elaho and the Ashlu (I did not do this but it is meant to be good). Runs that I enjoyed like the Chilco, Quesnel, Nahatlach etc would probably be too much travelling.

Jon

[NZMatt]

Hiya Btahtubboy
Are you ever in Switzerland? It'd be neat to hook up and run some of the things around here with another OC1.
When are you going to Turkey?
Cheers,
Matt

[bathtuboy]

Hoping to go to Turkey in July, should be sorting out the details this weekend. One of the main problems with paddling OC is getting the things on planes.
Matt, that is the second invite I've had to Switzerland this week. Do you know James Weir from the UK who I think works out there as a raft guide? he is a top OC paddler, and it would be good to get out and run some stuff as a group of OC's. I think however work may not be happy with me taking that much time off.

[NZMatt]

Hiya
No, I don't think I've met James. Do you know what river/company he's working with? As to boats, you can rent a WW OC1 in Switzerland. I know 3 shops you can get them from, 1 in Bern (Siesta Oppi), 1 in Luzern (Kempf Sport) and Kanuschule Versam on the Vorderrhein. Now, I'm not saying they'd be the best boats in the world and they might get a bit grumpy about high grade abuse, but they might be worth chatting to...
To be honest I've never tried to fly with an OC1, when I moved from the US to here, the company paid for me to ship stuff over...I didn't bother with the furnitute, but made sure all the boats made it

Cheers,
Matt