Trinity (Pigeon Point, III) with my son

Trinity trip in Labor Day weekend is an annual event of Guttenburgs. I have joined them before with my family (2007), but only my son and I joined their trip in 2009. Alan's three sons live in southern California, as all of them graduated or are still going to UCLA. They made long driving and brought their friends to Trinity river and the camping was so big having over 25 people. Alan and his wife Lauren kindly provided us all food, but I played a Shushi Chef to entertain people. I made over 60 pieces of white tuna and salmon Nigiri Sushi. Off course, all pieces were quickly done by hungry young people. They let Kenya join their games, so Kenya spent good time. It was great camping trip. We did one paddling trip for each day from Saterday to Monday. Flow was ~470 cfs made by dam release.

Put in. We had 10 double IKs and some single Kayaks and hardshell.


First classIII rapid. I requested Kenya to enter the hole. Beginner's route is in more right.


His face says "I made it".


Kenya running at classIII rapid. Double IK finishing the first 2-foot drop.


Kenya entering the upper part of Hell Hole rapids. Other 17 consecutive photos as follows.























Kenya entering Hell Hole.













Yeah! He made it!!


Kenya at the small boof.


In the Labor day weekend, Kenya tried Hell Hole rapid three times and ran it twice without roll, by which some breakthrough appeared to happen within Kenya technically and mentally. After this trip, we went to The Gorge run of SF American river. Kenya came to feel comfortable in running Satan's Cesspool, the hardest rapid of the run, although he had not felt happy to run it before our Trinity trip. Following are the serial pictures there at 1,550 cfs. Photos by www.vitaboating.com ($25 for all).

Kenya entering from the eddy on river right.





















Kenya watching another photographer from whom we can buy photos if we like them




Kenya finished the Gorge run without flips. He appeared to run it easily. I think he is ready to enter classIV world in next year. I am excited when I imagine about paddling with him at classIV runs.

Upper Tuolumne (Cherry Creek: V) part 2

Since my first run at Cherry creek in 2007, I have run it for ten times by the end of the season in 2009. In the beginning of my first 4 times' run, it was scary run and I felt nervous a lot. However, as I have come to get familiar with the run, I have come to feel comfortable at Cherry. On the day of my last run at Cherry creek in 2009, there was Cherry creek race held (photos by Ion Berkley). In that night, many paddlers got together at the Lumsden falls campground for the party. Although I brought some food (Teriyaki Chiken), I think I ate and drank more than that. That was a great and fun night. Thank you very much for organizers of the party.

Someone running in the upper half of Mushroom rapid (V)


Cherry creek racer running in the lower half of the Mushroom rapid (V) 1of4


Cherry creek racer running in the lower half of the Mushroom rapid 2of4


Cherry creek racer running in the lower half of the Mushroom rapid 3of4


Cherry creek racer running in the lower half of the Mushroom rapid 4of4


Another racer running at the last part of Mushroom rapid. In 2009, I also ran the entire part of Mushroom rapid, though I had portaged the upper part and re-putin at the middle before that.


Me running at Toadstool (IV+). Photo by Lynn Myers.


Me at a boof between Flat rock and Lumsden falls rapids. Photo by Lynn Myers.


Me at a boof between Flat rock and Lumsden falls rapids. Photo by Lynn Myers.


Do I look like having run Lumsden Falls rapid (V+)?


Re-putin after the portage of Lumsden falls rapid.