It’s just $6 to get in ($5 if you’re a student), and we’ll have beer ($3 with ID), snacks from Bandito’s Burritos (free!), and tons of outdoor and paddling gear to raffle off, including a shiny new Lendal paddle! All proceeds from the event will be donated to American Whitewater to help them promote river access and stewardship.

We’ll be opening the doors at 6, and the film will start at 7. Thanks to our sponsors: Yeagers, Backcountry Essentials, Small World Adventures, Johnson Outdoors, Western Washington University, and REI. Check out the poster below, and click here for more event details, maps to the venue, and a trailer. We hope to see you there!

First, a sweet double feature will be playing April 10 at WWU. The Doof and the Outdoor Center will be hosting LVM 25 along with Cascadia, a flick by BWW’s very own Chris Tretwold. This film is great- tons of footage of spectacular BC and Washington runs, including Tatlow and Big Silver, and featuring local boaters. Here’s the poster:

Second, the RPP will hosting its fourth annual film/AW fundraiser/raffle event on April 24th at Broadway Hall in Bellingham. We’re still getting the details ironed out, but we’ve already got some terrific prizes lined up, so we’re on track for another great event. This year, we’ll be showing the latest Hotel Charley film: The Lost World. 2007 National Geographic Adventurers of the Year and all around good guys Ben Stookesberry and Jesse Coombs will be on hand to present their film. These films have always been amazing, and this years’ edition promises to be no different, with footage from first descents in Newfoundland, Brazil, Colombia, and India. Check here for more info about the event.

Chris Korbulic going big in Newfoundland during the filming of
Hotel Charley 3: The Lost World. Photo by Darin McQuoid.

Third, Backcountry Essentials, Kavu, and us here at BWW will be teaming up to present Oil + Water on May 22 at BE’s shop on Holly Street. This film chronicles the journey of Seth Warren and Tyler Bradt as they travel the length of North and South America in Baby, an old fire truck that they converted to run on vegetable oil, kayaking along the way and promoting freedom from reliance on petroleum products. This film has won tons of awards, and promises to be both educational and entertaining. It’ll also be a fundraiser for American Whitewater, and just happens to feature some top-notch kayaking. Here’s the trailer:

Finally, don’t forget about the second annual Trifecta, coming up on April 19th. Hopefully we’ll have some snow on the mountain, some water in the river, and a dry course for some good disc (those three things sound mutually exclusive, but that’s exactly what happened last year. Here’s to a repeat!).

Stay tuned for more info as these events get closer. Spring is here!

“A few years ago I heard the story of a trio of friends accomplishing the Trifecta, a monumental occurrence that has only been done one time. One of these individuals sparked many epic days for all of us, and in the spirit of Brent R. Bradley (Bert), it’s time to commemorate this event and never forget to live in the moment!” - Hale Hanaway

Brent (r) and Ryan thumbing a shuttle ride

Trifecta: A one day marathon combining three of our favorite activities; Mt. Baker in the morning, boating The Bend in the afternoon, and finishing with disc golf in Glacier!!!

All who are interested are invited to attend, and the only requirement is to enjoy this day to the fullest, however you can. Either participate in all three events or what ever you care to take on! Last year we all ended up skinning up Mt Herman together, and then rallied down to the Bend (mile marker 37) at 12:30 for both kayaking and rafting. Feel free to join the skin or just take some turns at the mountain! Disc golf after boating, 18 or 36 holes for the manliest or womanliest of frolfers!!! Parking at the ranger station for frolf might be a good idea depending on the numbers we have. We’ll finish the day with a BBQ, or beer and pizza at the North Fork.

Last years’ Trifecta was a blast! We hope that you’ll be able to join us for this years’ event. Feel free to comment here if you have any questions, and we’ll post more details as we get closer to the 19th.

Here’s a few pics from the Inaugural Trifecta:

Round 1: Skinning up Mt Herman

The group on top of Mt Herman

Round 2: The group at the Bend put-in

Jenni boofing at Bench

The group below Bench

Rafting the Canyon

Round 3: Disc golf in Glacier

See you there!

Boofing at Bench

Again, the closure is voluntary, but we’d like to see kayakers respect it, as this is a critical time of year for Chinook. In previous years, the river closure lasted from August through May, and the Forest Service has relaxed this closure in response to hard work by several local boaters.

Devin Representing

In addition to following the closure guidelines, kayakers can practice good river stewardship by avoiding disturbance to areas where Chinook may be spawning (areas with grapefruit sized or smaller gravel). This includes walking through these areas as well as paddling through shallow spots. If you see any Chinook while you paddle, give them a wide berth, as they use the last of their energy to migrate upstream from the open ocean to spawn. After spawning, the adult Chinook die, and their carcasses supply important nutrients to the river and the surrounding riparian zone. Even after the closure period ends, continue to avoid disturbing spawning stretches, because Chinook eggs can take up to 150 days to develop before fry emerge.

For information on the closure, access, points, or Chinook salmon, check with the USFS Glacier Public Service Center (360 599-2714), or take a look at the signs at the Horseshoe Bend put-in. Currently the sign is in the wrong location, one gravel pull-off downstream of where most folks put in. There also should be a sign on the message board at the Douglas Fir campground bridge.

Please do your part to be a good steward of the river.

Here’s few pictures from last week on the Bend, taken by Bob Wilkerson, visiting from California. Also, stay tuned for some upcoming trip reports from BC and elsewhere!

David from CA boofing center at Bench on his 6th lap in two days

Eddied out

Heather running right

Mid-SAT on a sunny August day

Eric and David, lower SAT

Finishing it out

A couple of local paddlers see these rivers a bit differently.

Mike Baker and Rich Roehner, both of Bellingham, have been training hard over the last several months to compete in wildwater C-2 races. In wildwater, eddies and rocks- features normally seen as refuges of safety and fun spots for boofs and rockspins- become things to avoid, adding precious seconds to a race that might last all of two minutes. Where most kayaks that you see on the river are stable, have lots of rocker (making them easy to turn), and are made of durable plastic, wildwater boats are made for pure downriver speed. They are long, narrow, and tippy, and require precise technique to maneuver down often technical courses. These boats are made of fiberglass, carbon fiber, and Kevlar, making them less impact-resistant than plastic boats. Add to this the difficulty of coordinating with a canoe partner, and you can begin to see the challenges faced by Mike and Rich.

Bellinghamsters Rich Roehner and Mike Baker at the U.S. Wildwater Team Trials, Lower Youghiogheny River, PA. Photo by Clay Roehner

Hours of time spent training on local rivers and lakes paid off in April, when Mike and Rich qualified for the U.S. Wildwater Team at the United States Canoe and Kayak Team Trials, held on the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania. They leave today to travel to Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy, where they will represent the U.S. in the 2007 World Cup of Wildwater. They are the first US C-2 team to qualify and compete in a World Competition in five years. Washington is well represented on the team this year: Tom Wier of Snohomish will represent the U.S. in wildwater C-1, and Seattlites Doug Ritchie and Jennie Goldberg qualified for the team in K-1.

Rich and Mike about to punch a big hole at Cucumber Rapid on the Lower Yough. Photo by Clay Roehner.

A lot of us probably don’t know a whole lot about wildwater racing. Popular in Europe, and building in popularity in the U.S., wildwater typically involves a couple of different types of races. Sprint races typically last two minutes, and as the name implies, are an all-out sprint down the course. Classic races usually last about 25 minutes, and require excellent river-reading skills to find fast lines. Wildwater race courses are held on class II to IV rivers, and competitors say that being in a wildwater boat generally adds a class to whatever rapid is being paddled. I would tend to agree- I hopped in Mike’s C-1 training boat in the pool, and I spent far more time upside down than right side up. Mike and Rich have the goal of growing the sport in Western Washington, and at spring flows, the Nooksack Canyon is one of the best wildwater training courses in the state.

Rich and Mike looking intense. Photo by Clay Roehner.

Here’s a quick video of Mike and Rich on a training run down the Green River that will let you get a feel for a wildwater sprint race:

As paddlers, we should all be extremely proud of of Mike and Rich as they represent the ‘Ham and the U.S. in competitions this month in Europe. The United States Canoe and Kayak Wildwater team is asking for tax-deductible financial support to help cover travel and race expenses, including plane tickets, auto rental, lodging, and meals, and a new C-2 for competition. Any amount of support we can offer these guys would be extremely helpful and appreciated- racing in Europe is super cool, but it ain’t cheap!

As Mike and Rich compete in various races, they’ll be taking some photos and writing race reports as time allows. I hope to be able to post some updates here so that we can follow their progress.

Rich and Mike in a sea of boats at the Team Trials. Tom Wier of Snohomish is in front of them, wearing a red helmet. Photo by Clay Roehner.

Source: The Idaho Statesman