Happy Kayaking 2011_My Dream Came True_

I have been lazy in updating blogger, because uploading photos to Facebook and sharing it with friends are easier than those with bloggers. For people who are not connected with me through Facebook, I extracted some impressive photos of 2011 kayaking with my son.

Jan 23 Giant Gap_NF American River (IV+~V-) at low flow (estimated to be 500~700 cfs). We ran it in July as well. Kenya running Locomotive falls


Kenya finishing the last drop of Dominator rapid (V- to V) of Giant Gap run


March 27 Kyburz, SF American (IV to IV+) is one of Kenya's favorite local runs


While Brian and I were driving back to the putin, Bill and Kenya made a snowman.


Apr 24 Pauley creek (Lower, IV to IV+) Pauley is our favorite run, but unfortunately we could have only one day to paddle it in 2011.


May 1st, Double header at Wild Plum, NF Yuba (IV to V-) and Lavezolla Creek (IV) Kenya paddling at Wild Plum run.


Wild Plum run. Kenya ran it last year for the first time.


Kenya's first paddling at Lavezolla creek, Kenya running at Double Drop (IV)


May 21-22, Kenya's first trip at Deer Creek (Lower, IV+) One overnight.


Happy Camp Fire!



Right-to-Left Falls (III+) of Deer Creek


Kenya entering the first big drop of Ishi Falls rapid (V-)


Kenya entering the second big drop of Ishi Falls rapid (V-)


May 28th, Board Xing to McKays Point, NF Stanislaus river (IV then IV+ to V-) Kenya running at Goalposts (IV+). He ran it last year for the first time.


May 30th, Devils Nose, NF Mokelumne river (III+ to V) Kenya running at Pre-Falls (IV+ to V). Photo by Tom Saffell


Mokelumne Falls (V) Roaring. Photo by Tom Saffell


Kenya entering Mokelumne Falls. Photo by Tom Saffell


June 11th, Our House Dam, MF Yuba (IV to IV+ with 1 class V) Kenya and I were both first timers


June 12th/18th Artic Mine, Canyon Creek, (South Yuba Tributary) (IV+ to V-) It was new for both Kenya and myself. 25-30 min easy uphill hike to the put-in.


Canyon Creek is a pretty run!


Lots of scouting at Canyon Creek run. A big (Bill) and a little (Kenya).


Kenya boofing at the third drop of the Triple Drop rapids (V). Photo by Bill Riedle.


Kenya boofing at the minor drop after the major part of Triple Drop rapids.


Kenya dropping at the Slide of Canyon Creek. He took the far left chute.


Bill and Kenya scouting at Zigzag (IV+) of Canyon Creek.


Kenya running at Lead In to Final Gorge (IV) of Canyon creek. There were nasty logs in the river left.


Successful Kenya's first run at the Button Rapid (V-) of Canyon Creek


Kenya's line not enough left in his second run. He was stuck in the bottom hole and swam. He was trapped in the behind the waterfall, but found a place to stand for breathing. Bill and I extracted him from behind the waterfall.


July 23 South Silver (IV-V) South Fork American Tributary Kenya's first trip. He felt relaxed after running Autobahn (V-).


Kenya running Triple Slide (IV+)


Kenya entering Boof Boof Slide (V-)


Boof Boof Slide (V-)


Kenya running Tea Cup #2 (V-)


Kenya at the bottom of Tea Cup #2


Kenya boofing at Tea Cup #6 (IV).


Aug 20th/21th, Sep 4th/5th Cherry Creek, Upper Tuolumne (V- to V) Since my son started whitewater kayaking, my dream has been paddling with him at Cherry Creek. It came true this year. Kenya was 14.5 years old. Photo by Lynn Myers.


Kenya running at Mushroom (V) On only his first day, he half-portaged the upper half of Mushroom rapid and re-putin at the left eddy in the middle


Kenya finishing Mushroom. He made it successfully for three times of three trials.


Kenya boofing at the lower half of Toadstool (IV+) Photo by Lynn Myers


Lunch spot at ~mile 5 of Cherry creek run.


Sep 23th/24th North Feather Festival. Kenya participated in the Tobin Race held at Tobin (V-). It was his first paddling day in the Tobin run. Photo by Eric Holden.


Kenya racing. Photo by Eric Holden.


Oct 1st Little Grass Valley, SF Yuba(IV to V) It was the first run for Kenya. Both Kenya and I swam at the Left Over Postage (IV+). Perhaps my boat stuck in the hole led his swimming. We took out at the Post creek. Hiking up by 400 feet elevation gain was so hard after paddling, scouting, portaging.


Oct 8th/9th Electa, Mokelumne River (II) Kenya and I participated in MOKE Race
Kenya in the downriver race.


Kenya Slalom racing.


Kenya Slalom racing


Kenya was awarded the first prize for the Junior division of the slalom races (Blue) and the second prize for the short boat division (all ages combined) of the downriver race. I got the second prize for the Novice division of the slalom race (Red).

Tuolumne, Lower (IV) overnight trip

"T" is popular summer classIV run. In summer, there are constantly 1100 cfs release from Holm Powerhouse and 100 cfs from Hetch Hetchy reservoir. People run 20 miles stretch in a day ~ three days. In Sep 2010, my son and I ran it over the course of three days with Melody and Will. It was Kenya's first overnight kayak trip. He loved overnight trip.

These gears are all put in our kayaks (Little Hero and classic Salto). I invested for down sleeping bags since they can be compressed to small size.


Day 1. Right after put-in. Although Melody and Will rafted in this trip, Kenya and I carried all our gears and food by our kayaks.




Our camp spot for the first night was at the confluence with Clavy river. We enjoyed Hiking along this river and swimming. The water was not so cold.










Kenya playing on the slide. Many kayakers and rafters come and do the same thing.








Before dinner, Kenya tried to fish. Unfortunately, he could not get anything.


Portable stove. One piece of soild fuel can boil 2.5 cups of water.

Day 2. Kenya and Will went fishing in the morning. They got 5 fishes. Kenya got the biggest one in the middle. He was so excited.


Kenya and Will.


We ate all, but it was a little much.


In most pools, Will was attempting to fish. In very high frequency, he got hits.

























Water Purifier. After filtering water, add five drops of sodium hypochlorite per liter. We needed two ~ three liter water per day per person.


A camp spot for the second night. It was very nice sandy beach!


Day 3, Powerhouse release begins at 7 am and ends at 11 pm. If we want 1200 cfs flow, we need to wait till 2-3 pm due to >20 miles distance from the powerhouse. It's pain to wait, so we started paddling in the morning. There was enough flow just to paddle kayaks.
Confluence with North Fork of Tuolumne was a few mile lower than our camp spot.


We hiked up. Other people were rafters who camped at the confluence.






In this pool, I got the crawl dad.


Takeout bridge. In the last a mile or so, it was nearly flat water.