Fraser Valley Whitewater

Whistler, August 2010

Ryan Bayes — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:03:50 +0000

The flows this year on Whistler’s classic creek runs started off big and juicy then dropped off the charts within a couple of weeks. There was a short window to catch some of the classics like Callaghan and the Soo, although some local hucksters got many laps in at ridiculously high flows. We mortals only had a couple week’s window to bag the classics. This August I did make it up for 2 weekends and did manage to get on most of the classic runs I had hoped to. I finally bagged the elusive triple crown running the Upper Cheakamus, Callaghan and the Soo all in a day, something I had been trying to do for years. On my second trip we ran some stuff, lower than I ever care to again, but also made the trip out to Pemberton for the lesser known classic, the Burkenhead. The Burkenhead is by far one of my favorite runs in the area, being just that little bit steeper than the other big 3. Running a little later than the Whistler runs it’s a great choice for when stuff has started to dry up back in Whistler.

I also dropped the Upper Cheak falls for the first time, something else I had been itching to do for the last year. My line went okay but I ended up further right than planned but still managed to scrape out a boof off the nugget in the middle of the drop.

Unfortunately, I think without some much needed rains for flows and to put a damper on the some 200+ wildfires burning in BC right now, I think my Whistler Season may be over.

Here are some pics of the Upper Cheak falls and a short video from the 2 weekends, still learning how to use the Go-Pro cam so bare with me.

Dave Moroles, Upper Cheakamus

Upper Cheak Falls at 2.5 Meters

Coquhihalla Canyon and Hayes Creek Video

Ryan Bayes — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:00:46 +0000

Some video we shot this spring on what we are pretty sure was the first descent by a raft of the Coquihalla Canyon below Othello Tunnels into Hope. If you haven’t checked this run out it’s scenic and well worth it. Here is the trip report and pictures from the trip. Also some video from what we thought was a first D but turned out to be a second descent of Hayes Creek by Princeton, that trip report is here.

Site Maintenance

Curtis McHale — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:02:50 +0000

I’ll be working on the site and moving it on September 1. There is a longer post in the forum about what exactly this means for the site and forum. If you have any questions ask them in the form and I’ll work to answer them.

http://fraservalleywhitewater.com/forum/topic/site-maintenance

CBC Paddling Club Needs Gear

Sustut River, Northern British Columbia

Ryan Bayes — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:12 +0000

In July 13 friends and I met in Smithers in Northern British Columbia to do a 5 day self supported trip. We flew into Johanson Lake to run Johanson Creek into the Sustut River and finished on the Skeena River. It took 2 float plane trips to shuttle all 14 paddlers into Johanson Lake. The trip is packed full of awesome whitewater and equally amazing scenery. The trip started off with super low volume Johanson Creek, I think my bathtub faucet flows about the same CMS as this creek right out of the lake. It was so small we actually got lost on the lake trying to find the river mouth. From there it continued to grow until we reached our take out 5 days later on the Skeena River. Out of the lake I’m guessing there was around 3 CMS, and the take out on the Skeena was close to 700 CMS. The wide variety of whitewater and absolutely amazing scenery as we paddled in and out of canyons was unlike any trip I’d ever been on before.

On day 2 of this trip I got a little trigger happy and ended up running a somewhat sketchy line in a canyon that only 6 paddlers of our 14 crew decided to venture into. I ended up cracking some ribs witch made the remaining 3 days of white and flat water a lot more interesting. After crappy lines by both Sam and myself the rest of the crew that ventured into the canyon opted for the portage route or the center line that actually turned out to be a pretty straight forward boof with a super cool kicker to launch over the hole. I learned a good lesson about when and where pushing your limits is a good idea, and it turns out that day 2 of a 5 day self supported trip isn’t the best place for that.

This trip is as much about being out in the middle of nowhere and enjoying good company and classic BC scenery as it is about epic whitewater. The trip does have a few hours of flat water every day but I feel the pay off of great whitewater is well worth the flat water slogs.

Thanks again to Shayne Vollmers for putting together such a classic trip and taking care of logistics, and to Gord for taking care of the dinner plans.

The crew getting ready at Johanson Lake.

The best rapid of day 1, the volume had already doubled since the mouth of the river. Photo: Shayne Vollmers

Some more BC scenery.

Some of the first whitewater once we hit The Sustut River.

The crew having a scout of the first big rapid in the canyon on day 2. There are only 2 rapids in this canyon but if you decide to portage this one you had to portage the entire canyon.

Me in the thick of the canyon on day 2. Photo: Shayne Vollmers

Shayne Vollmers airing out his new Prijon Pure on the second rapid in the Canyon.

After running the canyon we went back to help the others portage and found this view of the first rapid, truely a beautiful place.

Some more great white water on the Sustut.

Shayne with one of the many fish he caught on this trip, it was a welcome break from dehydrated food.

One of the crux rapids on day 3, there is a portage on river left and a big eddy.

Sam Ricketts enjoying a little surf at our campsite's private water park on day 4.

I was surprised that we could find good campsites the entire trip for a 14 paddler crew.

Callaghan Race July 24 2010

Ryan Bayes — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:00:19 +0000

On July 24 the first of what I hope becomes an annual race on Callaghan Creek in Whistler took place. It has been several years since there were any races held on the awesome creeks in Whistler British Columbia. With a delayed snow melt this year in most of South Western BC the level was well into the high side, despite that 8 teams of 2 came out to compete and dozens of other paddlers got laps in as well that weekend. As per usual when you have that many paddlers in one place a great party ensued Saturday night at the take out. Big thanks to the Cal-Cheak Forest Service Recreation Site for letting us hold this event at the sigte, as well as to Steve Arns for organizing the race.

The race drew paddlers from as far away as Alberta down to Washington State, the Washington boys came up in full strength and were able to take the belt home with them, for this year. To see the race results and more great pictures check out the Liquid Lore site.

Pictures and video:

Steve Arns giving the run down on the course before the race.

The first falls

Between the two falls.

The second falls.

Kurt Braunlich and Fred Norquist took the belt down to Washington this year.

Watching some kayak vids at the Western Canoe Kayak tent.

It looks like there is a good chance this event will grow and take place next year, keep an eye on FVWW’s forum for news on next years race, see you there.

East Boulder Creek, Smithers

Ryan Bayes — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:00:45 +0000

While killing some time in Smithers before our flight into the Sustut River System Steve Hunt and myself met up with Corey Box for a run on East Boulder Creek. East Boulder is a classic run just out side of town. The run is short, gorgeous, and vertical. The run starts with a 20 footer with a technical lead in and ramps up from there. The highlight of the run are the two 15ish foot falls separated by a short pool. Just above the double falls is a sketchy double ledge with a cave that’s a little hard to set safety for. There’s also a triple set of small falls at the exit right under the main highway at the take out.

All though it had been around 7 years since Corey had been on this run and he didn’t remember much he was always willing to probe. This was especially handy because it’s almost impossible to scout the landing of either of the double falls in the middle.

The run is just west of Smithers and takes out at the highway bridge over the creek. The put in is a short way up a steep gravel road on your left just before you cross the creek if you’re heading from Smithers. There is a pull out a short ways up and a trail down to your left to the put in. The put in is steep but there are ropes in place to lower your boat down.

The exit falls can and should be scouted before the run as it’s easier to look down on them from the parking area by the bridge than to scout during the run. The exit falls claimed 2 swimmers on different runs before our crew headed south again. The other set of double falls is best run right of center off the top one and left of center off the bottom one.

This creek definitely ranks amongst my favorite runs.

Corey Box dropping the First Falls 10 feet below the put in. - Photo Annie Lagueux

The double falls with the top of the double ledge in the far back ground. - Photo: Ryan Bayes

Steve Correy and myself enjoying the pools after the last drop. The take out trail is just down stream on the left. - Photo Matt Lettau

Boston Bar Creek

Ryan Bayes — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:54:56 +0000

With most of the Chilliwack River Rafting crew back in town one of our first missions to kick off the spring melt was a double header on Silver Hope Creek and a mini exploratory run on Boston Bar Creek. We drove north out of the town of Hope up the Coquihalla Hwy and stopped just before the tunnel. There are several park and huck sections on Boston Bar Creek including a super clean 10 foot ramp into a 10 foot vertical drop. There are also some far more beefy drops and some sections of unrunnable mank. We tried to paddle a short section of the creek below the falls. After some good fun class 4 boulder gardens we got wooded out by several land slides that deposited a ton of logs into the narrow creek.

Sean and Sam had run a nice section down to exit 202 and took out at the Old Coquihalla Rd where the bridge crosses the creek. There is a pullout a couple kilometers up and I’m told it’s easy class 4ish creeking down to there. There’s an optional 15 footer at the put in that is said to be clean.

The Chilliwack crew refueling after Silver Hope Creek.

Sean Boz was the only one to fire off the beefy slide and upper falls at our put in.

Sean Boz dropping the second falls just downstream of the burly drop above.

Me falling off the left side of the second falls, I was glad the pool was deep as I screwed this drop up pretty good.

There are lots of creeks left to explore and even a short section of the Upper Coquihalla River, hopefully I will get a chance to check out a few more this summer.

Tamihi Creek

Ryan Bayes — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:59:15 +0000

Tamihi Creek is the crown jewel of the Chilliwack River Valley. It has two main sections on it, the Lower Canyon which is mostly class 4 with some optional 4+, and the Upper run which is a solid 4+ or 5 with lots of water.

Accessing Tamihi Creek along with many other classics up the Chilliwack River Valley has become a lot harder because Canada’s own Department of National Defense has added new gates to many access roads. The new gates in the River Valley are quite unfortunate because the Valley is promoted heavily as an outdoor recreation area and aside from keeping paddlers off the creeks some of these gates are blocking excellent hiking, backpacking, and skiing areas. Add the gate to some major flooding two years ago that washed out the road up Tamihi in several spots and it becomes a major production to get yourself onto Tamihi Creek.

We ran the lower section this June for the first time in 2 years and I was reminded of how great even the lower less popular run is, even with the 30-40 minute hike in. We had a good medium-high flow that added to the great whitewater in the lower canyon.

The Upper section is short and sweet, it’s steep non stop boulder gardens from start to finish with an optional class 5 finish for those feeling on it after the run. The problem with this run now is the hike in. You have to hike the upper half of the lower canyon and the entire upper run. This also means you would have to run both sections, it makes a long day but is well worth it.

The Prijon Pure and Salamander Backpack system worked awesome.

Some typical boogie above the portage.

Annie dropping into Zig-Zag, this is one of the biggest rapids above the portage and likes to collect wood so have a look.

Denny Lunge running the bottom part of Zig Zag

This was the first of two portages this run. This rapid is a fun ledge but it has had wood in it for the last three years making it a no go.

There were two portages that day, the log pictured above and Horseshoe Canyon. The canyon looks runnable but needs to be scouted well, and may require some rope work to get a look at the bend. There are two runnable looking falls for an exit move from Horseshoe Canyon. The portage is on river left and requires lowering your boats with a rope down to river level. There are some class 4/4+ rapids right below the portage that can also be walked river left but it’s a bit nasty with devils club and muddy slippery logs.

Some boogie below the first portage

Sheldon Lee running one of the first rapids below the second portage (Horseshoe Canyon).

Dan Bentley running my favorite rapid on the creek a little way downstream of Horseshoe Canyon.

With the new hike in and the two portages even the lower section is now a good day long mission, give yourself a couple hours to run this short stretch. Hiking out of Tamihi Creek at any point during the run would be a major undertaking.

July 24th Callaghan Creek Race and Festival

Ryan Bayes — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:00:29 +0000

July 24 will be the first Callaghan Creek Festival and the first race on it in a long time. Callaghan is the staple classic creek run in Whistler. It’s got amazing rapids and some nice fluffy waterfalls as well. There will be a live band and a great party from the sounds of it.

Rumor has it that the finish line will be at the bottom of the 25 foot waterfall which is easily accessible for spectators to watch the glory and carnage unfold.

The event is aiming to raise awareness about the threat of micro hydro projects that are popping up all over Whistler and Squamish at an unprecedented rate. Hopefully the band, party and spectatoring will also bring out the local non-paddlers to see what a valuable resource creeks like Callaghan can be.

Here are more details on the event: http://www.brushymountainpublishing.com/rivergypsies/callaghanfest/festival.html

and some pics from last year on Callaghan.

Dan Bentley lower falls, Callaghan Creek

Dan Bentley on the upper Falls, Callaghan Creek

James Chandler between the 2 falls, Callaghan Creek.

WCK is proud to sponsor this great event for a great cause. See you there.

Alberta Road Trip May 2010

Ryan Bayes — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:00:13 +0000

This year May ended for me with a road trip through the Rockies and into Alberta to do a little work and a little boating. Between playing delivery driver and rep for Clipper Canoes at The Valhala Red Deer demo I managed to hook up with local boaters Patch Bennet and Jeff Germaine. The weather in Alberta can be quite unpredictable, just like it was on this trip. With June only 2 days away the last couple days in Alberta were spent boating in the snow and doing my first snow canoe demo at the lake. Snow or not Alberta has an endless supply of great creeking and play boating, as well as some decent flat water trips as well.

The Brierley’s is a great little park and play spot on the North Saskatchewan River. The first wave was pretty chill and the hole was nice and sticky, there was even eddy service. Look here for details on the Brierley’s Festival.

My first stop to boat after dropping some canoes was The Brierley's on the North Saskatchewan River just out side Rocky Mountain House.

After the Brierley’s I packed up and drove south to Calgary where I caught Patch and Jeff just in time for an after work surf at the newly built play spot in the middle of town. The park isn’t finished yet so if you go to check it out before it is go after the construction crews have left as rumor has it you’re not supposed to use it just yet. There are 3 features built so far and two more to be built down stream. The 3 that are finished are all rather large holes, far from beginner friendly but it’s hard to say what it will look like with more or less water. I hope at least one of the unfinished features is a juicy wave.

Patch Bennett throwing some ends in the new Calgary play spot.

Me trying to throw some ends in one of the holes. The hole top right was the easiest to surf.

On Saturday the PK I had scheduled for Red Deer was canceled due to snow and crappy roads. While I would have liked to do a product knowledge session with the staff in Red Deer the extra time to paddle wasn’t that bad either. On Saturday Jeff and Patch found the motivation to go for a paddle despite the far from ideal conditions and late night at the pub. The Elbow’s short nature and quality of whitewater even if there are really only 3 drops made for a good choice. We didn’t run the second drop because the low water really exposes a cave at the bottom of the rapid that looks fairly nasty, and it was far to cold to go cave diving this day.

Big thanks to Jeff and Patch who rallied even in the snow to take the out of towner down a run in the snow and low water.

Jeff Germaine running the entrance falls to the Elbow River.

Me on the entrance falls of the Elbow River.

Jeff and Patch on the upper piece of the slide.

Patch and Jeff on the bottom end of the slide.

I have many more work trips planned toAlberta this year and I’m looking forward to crossing off a few more classics while I’m there.