Alright, a couple more things...

First, Gauley a few weeks back was amazing. I had the opportunity to paddle with a couple boaters whose legacys I can only dream to imitate. Gnary Edgeworth has quite the reputation to uphold, but I'll let you all in on a little secret - he's one of the kindest people I've ever met. I bet you re-read that sentence twice! But more importantly, the pic of him on Zoot Chute in WSR (Whitewater of the Southern Rockies for you non-locals) is the definition of stomp in a thousand words or less.

Leland Davis has a well deserved reputation as one of the most respected people in whitewater. What more is there to say, except he stuffed the Initiation hole in a squirt boat?

That there was quite the party on an enchanting East Coast river. A huge thanks goes out to Booth and Marty for motivating the monster Colorado Contingent.

Second, Robe canyon motherbitches! Shortly following the Gauley chapter, I had an extended weekend so I flew up to Seattle to meet up with TG, Schertl and the PacNW crew. They introduced me to their fall classic. People compare Robe to Gore in CO. Not a terrible comparison, but Robe is more like Tunnel and Gore rapid repeated 10-20 times in a gorge that would be much more difficult to escape without the easy in-between class IV. It definitely gave me a couple slaps to the face. Thanks to Ryan for the lodging and my first ever Widespread Panic show. Twisted.

Finally, back at home Lower South Boulder came in, kinda. Melrose motivated me while I was on the graveyard via the Buzz to hit it sans sleep in the am. We had a great fall day and I got personal first Ds of Moist Slot and the Bridge rapid, which is a hoot. We managed to complete the hike out before noon to get Melrose on his way - that's my boy, way to motivate.

Just as importantly, Evan Stafford called to get an LSB trip report and mentioned a little Ecuador trip he was embarking on. He says that he's being accompanied by an all-star cast including Dr. Brad, Pete, and Randy (how's the moustache coming along) Ramirez. Asks if I would like to come along? So I sez to myself, "There's no way I want to go on the trip of a lifetime with a bunch of rockstars." And then I informed the hospital that I would be out of the country from the 6th-20th of December. I bought a ticket and now I'll figure out the details as they roll in. I hate shots, so I wasn't excited when Pete called today and casually mentioned that I'd need to get three ASAP (yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A) plus a personal stock of malaria pills. And I was thinking this would be similar to Costa Rica. Psyched - stay tuned for more.
Duck

It’s been way too long since I rapped at ya, but we have been busy, busy, busy in the Rocker. This season has been an excellent one for me personally as I have run all around the Rocky Mountains boating every creek I can find with water. At most every put-in this spring, there has been at least one other Rocker or Mega – she’s a huge hit out West.

The year started out with early season desert classics – the Embudo in Mew Mexico and Escalante Creek near the Utah border. I also managed many laps on my backyard Bear Creek while competing in the Eddyflower.com Total Vertical Feet competition. We placed 4th in the Open division as a team of three against teams of five.

As the season began in earnest, I was jonesin hard for some straight vert. So, on to the North Fork of the Crystal we rolled. This run combines a great afternoon of 4x4 driving up the most scenic drainage in the State with steep slides and crystal clear waterfalls. We camped out, ate steaks cooked over the campfire and hucked repeatedly. The picture of the hot pink Rocker is drop #4. Speaking of the pink Rocker, Scott Young (long time Riot sick bird) confided to EJ and I at the Lyons Outdoor Games that he too wished he had a pink boat, but wasn’t sure that he was worthy. Maybe one day Scott!

The Lyons Outdoor Games provided an Oskar Blues party, top-notch playboaters, and a hotly contested creek race down local favorite, South Saint Vrain. Dane, Emily, Nick, Ben, Clay and EJ all made the festivities along with local Jackson paddlers Lawrence Simpson, Marty Cronin and myself. The following day Lawrence, Clay and I managed to sneak away and hit up a quick Bailey run. Also, huge thanks to Rocker paddler and new dad, Matt Booth, for organizing the event.

Following the LOG, a run that I had missed in previous seasons became my primary goal – Vallecito. The drive south is a haul from about anywhere in CO, but well worth the time for even one lap. The entrance to the inescapable gorge is an 18’ falls into a sticky hole that feeds into a cave. The Rocker did me well as we stomped that boof each lap. The run provides a tight gorge and unreal boofing pleasure down to the takeout/campsite. I’ll add my unneeded agreement that Valle is one of the best runs in the States.

From there, boating every day became a blur until the access gate opened and Big South-aplooza was upon us. Every season right after the gate opens, creekers from far and wide convene for the festivities. This year, I was feeling the flow and rocked some of the heaviest drops with solid water. Not many feelings compare to styling a big rapid exactly how you envisioned it – whether it be your first IV or another V+. The Rocker sure can boof – I have included pictures of Fantasy Flight, Cool World and Double Trouble as proof.

Just recently, as the water has started to drain out from the hills, the Crystal Gorge became low enough to run. We were to first group in after high water this year, which is always nerve wracking because the walls are containing and the gorge had 1500cfs flushing through it earlier. Hence, the wood placement can make things interesting. Luckily, not much changed this year, but we were able to move a log out of Pine Tree Falls and start running this signature drop again.

A highlight of the year for me was dropping into the Inner Crystal Gorge. A five-foot falls commits you 40’ Zoot Chute, which leads directly into the rest of the gorge. On my first run, I boofed Zoot flat because there were rumors of pitons to be had. I tucked up real tight and relied on the soft displacement hull of the Rocker to get me through. I landed in control and moved directly into the gorge. On the second lap I took a different line and 45ed it. Thankfully the boat resurfaces very predictably and I managed to stay upright and in control as I routed into the next drop. The 2007 Rocker is a dream to paddle and we’ve had quite the season together.

I know this post is lame because it's got no pics, but I'll throw them up shortly.
Da Duckie

It broke my heart to hear about Adam Barron passing away on Vallecito Creek this summer. I met him once, when he absolutely styled Whiteline and I snapped this picture. Thanks Adam for the magical day. We'll meet again soon enough...
















And you drink one for your fallen homies...




















Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bakken Kickstarting da Source!



And here's Big Country goin' the other way.

Brian over-boofs the icy Clear Creek of the Ark.













Author/run guru/sicko Cutch runs it out through the Wall rapid - SSV.

Road trip!

It started off with some of the best video footage I've ever seen. Eight lemmings Blue Angel off Big Wood behind a guide with only one previous run. Paul booty shoots it up after the drop.















Fortunately, I had a better day keeping my cool and my head on a personal first D of Rip Your Head Off











Can it be possible to puff more than the Dupe Crew?

Bring it back to the front range. A psychedellic shot of Rigomortis.

And Pachanga takes 5 after multiple beat downs in Grandpa's Gorge.

This brings us up to date on a few of the Mank Crew exploits through Mid-Summer. Next installment coming soon, but first I would like to refer you to runtheshit.blogspot.com for some sic helmet cam footie of Pat Keller busting out the Green, race-style. Out.

From the left - Paul, Ben, Tracy, Hunter and KC get into and out of the Rockwood box.

Alright...After long consideration of this blog and some life changes, I've decided to start bringing the world the goods. We're gonna start with a recap of this summer's expedition. Hold on tight...

The season started off with a bang on Willow creek. One guide, a continuous creek, eight boaters, and a must make move through a willow tunnel to avoid a river wide strainer equals CARNAGE! Justin, Joel and Marky Mark from Winter Park recouperate after chasing gear.

Ever wanted a piece of the Osterizer at 8,000 cfs? Front Range Fred gitt'in some!

B fresh off his sic first D of Fish Creek Falls. "White chedder popcorn anyone?"

The Mank Crew is all about getting the business done. Cheers to Fremont and his pet mutant beavers for dropping that log out of Bailey. What did you clean this year?

The log shown above was in Mr. Bill's Hole on Clear Creek. I'm pretty sure that it had been there for a few years while we boofed over it unaware. Here's to Zach and the rafting crew for finially removing it after our efforts failed. Also, B cutting the wood out of da Source!

Finally, the flows started coming and we got some front range V, simultaneously.

Here's one of my favorite pics from this summer. I've since heard that a better line is left up against the boulder. Maybe I'll give that one next year. Whitelining.

I think this catches us up to mid-May. I'd also like to give a shout to all rafters out there willing to take a leech on their surreal overnight adventures down monolithic desert canyons. -da duckie

Huckin Duckie

Welcome aboard the train...