Spring in the Southeast

We got the gift of a few inches of rain to kick March off, and a couple of nice sunny days to follow. So of course that means you have to go kayaking. I am supposed to be competing in the TVF(total vertical feet) competition here in the southeast, but I had no team members to boat with. Instead I teamed up with a few of the local boy's who don't pass up the chance to go enjoy themselves.


We headed to the Overflow because it's a hard one to pass up when it's running. Five miles of big fun rapids. Here are a few of the good ones in the photo's you will notice Adam Hunter, WNC local pretty much stomping a few rapids.

We had a great crew, good water, and a sunny day. It does'nt get much better than that especially when you are enjoying it in a place like this.


Here is another Swain County boy, Joe Barkley looking into the Great Marginal Monster, deciding which way he is going to fire it up.


The next day we headed to the north along the TN-NC border for another southeast classic run.
The Watauga, with another great crew and plenty of people to share the occasion. The one downfall to the day were the 50mph wind gust.
Here's Scout trying not to get blown off line in Hydro.






Kevin Mitchell, enjoying himself on the Watauga.

Ecuador Revisited

Just returned home from another great trip to Ecuador. This years trip was not all for fun, Kara and I spent about 11 day's traveling around then I began working the first week of January. Although I must admit it's not too much of a drag showing up for a day of work, kayak guiding in Ecuador.

The trip was highlighted by a few new runs, great river levels, and lot's of fun surfing. Our first two trips were class IV river trips, followed by two river and beaches trips (http://www.smallworldadventures.com/news.html# . This was a great return to boating after a painfully boring recovery from shoulder surgery.
Kara and I went north to Otovalo, upon arriving to Ecuador. Otovalo is know for it's huge market, clothing, food, animals you can get it all there. The mountains are around Otovalo are spectacular(pictured above). The mountains and the market were not enough to keep us there too long though, we quickly left Otovalo to get to the Oriente to do some kayaking.

We arrived in Tena, a couple of day's before New Years. The water was high and it was hot so we spent a few days getting warmed up on some fun big water play runs. this was also a good chance for me to get to know my new kayak, the Pyrahna Ammo.
The boat is a flat hulled, short creek boat. It handled all types of water really well was not as playful as I had hoped, but proved to handle great on everything from big big water, to tight creeks. Most days I had 20-25lbs. of gear in the back, and it still performed well.
After a week or so of Tena Kara and I headed up to Borja, where we stayed at the Cabanas Tres Rios (small worlds lodge).
The lodge is right beside the Quijos river surrounded by the Andes. There are few places in the world that are as relaxing. Whether your relaxing after a hard day of paddling, hanging out on the river side deck, or browsing around the garden around the lodge. It's a great place.


After a week or so of relaxing and trips to the Hot Springs in Papallacta, It was time to start working. Our first week we had a III+ trip four guys from Colorado, and three from Texas. We had great flows and weather plus some great beat downs commercial kayak trips don't get much better than that. The next week was a week off. The other guides and myself went on a exloritory mission to run a river that is very seldomly paddled. We were fairly close to the Columbian border, in an area of Ecuador that does'nt have much to offer your normal tourist but it does have a few nice rivers. Our put-in was north of the equator and the take out was to the south, we put in on a rocky fast moving technical river and paddled into a gentle class III play paradise ( Darcy at the put-in bridge). After the scouting we tried to knock out some of the creek runs we would not be guiding on.





The next three weeks of trips were great one week of high water and creek boating. Then two rivers and beaches trips where we kayaked four days on the river then three days of surfing in the ocean. The first rivers and beaches started at the lodge, the after four days of paddling Memo our driver, Larry, and myself drove the van and all the kayaks to the beach. The drive took eleven hours, we lost 2.5 miles of elevation, and descended for two hours switchback after switchback.
Meanwhile Don and the guest flew to Manta where we picked them up and headed to the beach. We surfed a great point break and some beach break. The first three or four days were huge fun waves the last three days got a little smaller but gave twice the beatdown. Ocean surfing is some of the most fun you can have in a kayak, it is also so of the worst trashings you can get.

The next group flew into Manta and started their week surfing then once again Larry, memo and I drove back to the mountains. when we got back the weather was hot and dry, great for valcano veiwing but terrible for the rivers. On our drive from Quito thto the lodge we saw Cotopaxi, Cayambe, and Antisana all three valcanos at the same time. It was a nice welcome to the highlands.

So after four more short days of boating, and water dropping it was time to head out. Now back in the Southeast again waiting for the rain.

A Tribute to Bailey the Dawg

Scout and Bailey taking advantage of the relaxed lifestyle at Trai-la-soul. Trai-la-soul is a legendary place for those who like to get their chill on. Scout and Bailey are no exception.









Bailey loves to go on road trips. He also loves food, female dogs, and anyone who will scratch his ass. Bailey is smarter than the average dog and he always knows where the camera is. We love you Bailey!

Settling into Oregon

Beautiful skies ahead as Jay and I travel from North Carolina to Bend, Oregon. The skyline here in Oregon is awesome and Oregon has some awesome sunrises and sunsets.









Here is a photo of our snowy hide-a-way for the winter. Jay and I are enjoying this log cabin. Did I mention it has a hot tub? The compound has one main cabin and another cabin that is similiar to a studio apartment. We also have a little wood working area that we use for storage and a big wood shed. The national forest boundary is only about 50ft away from the cabin.









A snow hut that Jay and I made. Jay had the design idea and now all we need is more snow. We built this thing when we first got here thinking we would have lots of snow. Mt Bachelor has gotten a good amount of snow however the "snow" hut could use another dump or two.






We have a wood burning stove and have been chopping lots of firewood. It is better than a gym membership. Jay and I have found out that if you have a wood burning stove you will stay in shape. We chop wood a couple of afternoons a week.






One of the many snowy days at Mt Bachelor. We had lots of early season snow but recently we have been having blue bird days.
















Two of our new friends from Brazil who are living here for the winter.











Hannah waiting to shred the slopes at Mt Bachelor on a blue bird day.

The Miracle Mile

The North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette, a.k.a The Miracle Mile, is known to be one of Eugene's closest quality creek runs. Recently Jay and I relocated to Oregon and we are excited to sample some of the country's best whitewater. At the moment water is limited so we chose to paddle the Miracle Mile because we heard rumors that it is almost always running. The Miracle Mile is located near Westfir, OR and has some amazing scenery along with some fun, continuous whitewater. Being from North Carolina this run reminded of Big Creek without Action Alley.

Oregon is known for its lumber and gigantic trees. Oregon's creeks and rivers are no exception! The water is cold but the weather is beautiful and we were blessed with a seldom seen bluebird sunny day in the valley.




Jay gave the Thunder a test drive today. Here he is boofing one of the many ledges. The river was steep but the largest drop was probably four feet.





Yours truly boofing the Riot Magnum on the NFMF of the Willamette. The river was full of chutes and little channels with cool boofs like this one.








Happy Winter Time Paddling.

Nantahala Cascades

Not much to say about this one except it is the creeking training grounds for the lucky folks that live in Wesser, NC. It is roadside fairly safe and can be swam (I have proven this). If you cared to know I am in the yeller boat (el hefe). I stomp this run, only cause it has painfully stomped me in the past.

Sometimes just getting there is a bitch!

Ok so here's the rundown. It started with a sidewall blowout at 10PM the night before. I had to meet Kevin in Asheville at 9 am so it was an early start to buy a tire the next morning. Changing a flat in 20 degree weather that night was pretty sweet. Finally replaced the tire the next morning by 8am and was just a little behind schedule. Then at a gas station in Hampton, TN, I rear-ended a little 16 year old redneck kids new truck. Kinda reminded me of myself. Anyway talked him into dealing with it the good ole boy way. Just shelled out about $550 on that one and that's all I really want to say about that.

One more item worthy of mention. My lights would not turn off, so dead battery at the take-out. Knew this was coming. Being in a spastic frenzy trying to focus on the run to come, I left my camera in the car along with all of my safety equipment. Sorry pics are gonna be light, thanks Kevin for pulling thru again.

On to the Watauga river, which really kicks some ass. Arguably one of the best runs in the Southeast. Its about 5 miles of class IV with not much flat water. Kinda reminds me of some stuff in Ecuador. Below is knuckles one of the more consequential rapids on the run, pin potential high if found off-line.

Scout approaching Nuckles, By Kevin Mitchell Scout gettin his lean on, Stateline Falls by Kevin

The photo above is stateline falls, climax/highlight of the run. This is how you get to "Tennessee the Hard way". -Watauga Phil from kevin

Over & out - scout

3 SE Classics

Due to a lack of posting I've decided to spotlight some of our local run of the mill classics. They are not necessarily destination creeks, they are destination rivers. One of the closet members of team swain has just rehabilitated one of his shoulders and is back in the game. Having started Team Unknown, which is broken into pieces ranging from Malibu to who knows whatever other awful places. He is who I started to kayak with back in the Ozarks which is... well, it is what it is, lets leave it at that. He showed me the promise land and I haven't looked back. His name, Jason "The Freaky Stick" McClure.

After a period of disciplined physical therapy "the stick" was ready to get back back out there and feel the flow. Off to my personal low water descent of Section IV of the Chatooga River. Below, Stick executing a rock pivot off the left bank where apparently there is an eddy at more normal levels (Corkscrew Rapid).Next up Soc-em-dog rapid. This is one of my faves on the run. It is the conclusion as well.Upper 2 photo credits, Kevin Mitchell

Next up the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Driving into the Park this late in the year is often a gamble. A gamble we have lost before and will lose again, and lost this day. It was snowing when we crossed Newfound Gap which makes people from Florida absolutely flip out behind the wheel. They close the road, it really does get quite dangerous, and added at least an hour onto our trip home.Sometimes the put-in for the Little resembles a circus as tourist falls is just downstream. If you can take a gander while boofing about 50 cell phones can be seen pointed directly at you. The energy is weird on this one, but the action is chill and super scenic. Tourist falls is also known as the sinks. The next photo is of me punishing the sinks, without remorse.Upper credit, Jason McClure

And lastly the Tellico River. No river strikes fear into the imagination of open boaters as does the Tellico. The river is super scenic and a classic for making the progression of running rivers to dropping the steeps. We left this river after a day of some pretty brutal stomping of the rapids. I bet she hadn't been treated like that in a while Stick said. The next photo is of me at baby falls.Upper credit, Kara Miller

This is the rapid where my nickname was born. I was new to paddling, nervous, and out in front on this thing I had never seen or really knew anything about. Except, that there was a 14 footer on the run. When I was above the drop I jumped out as my buddies where yelling just go. I was informed 'you don't scout baby falls' so the name scout was hatched. That's all for now.

-scout

The Source.....

Sometimes...a few quick breathes is all it takes to restoke ones inner fire. And it is those same bursts of air that keep the fire burning hot all year...

The Green River runs all year, and for many, offers a constant theatre to perform a few acts of fluid aggression. The green is not necessarily a destination....but the Source.

Therefore, we at Team Swain will continue to contribute visual tributes to that little furnace down in Hendersonville..... we refer to as the Source.


Pictures: (above) Nick, executing a proper entrance_Bride of Frankenstein (below. top-bottom) Eric, floating toward the sun. "Hey nick heads up.....yeah, i know.... it gets steep down there."_ Jason, making his way through the flats. Nick and Jason sharring prawn recipes. Jason heading for powerslide. Nick, collecting nuts for winter_ flying squirrel line. the factor.