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