Due to the longest and heavest snow fall in europe this winter for at least 20 years. The rivers are running at super high levels,unlike in previous years it would take a minimum of 3 good days of 30+ degrees heat to bring up the high alpine runs to a sporty level. The issue wIth this season is the fact that the runs are often to high.

But this is a refreshing change and is making us more proactive in the fact we are now having to venture further a field to new runs.

With the rafting season starting slowly we all have still plenty of time and energy.( but very little money)

the main focus has been in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland known as Tessin this is a european hotspot known for runs such as the Versazca,and Canobino, but armed with some local knowledge the tributries of the main runs offer some great granite bedrock slides and large clean runnable drops.

 After a nite in the bar dicussing the next trip we came to the conclusion that we would head to a river called the Averserheine on the San Bernadino pass,with only short write ups in any guidebook of the river we had no idea what to expect.  We set off ,on reaching the valley we were concerned that the whole river right bank was a sheer 800m sheer cliff so decesion was oh well. theres always the left to escape. Having been in this position before it was decided a first aid kit ,wrap kit and fire starting material would be a good idea not forgeting the tabac of course!

After a plesent run of 1km or so we hit the entry to the gorge the whole river sumped under a 500m wide lavina (an avalance accross the river) as we hike over  it.we relise there would be more, due to the fact the snow just could not hang on to the sheer wall to our right after  2 more lavina portages we set off from a small eddy Jarrod, first headed round what looked like a no sweat corner i followed to see jarrod franticly signaling me to join him in a small micro eddy as i did i grabbed the cockpit of his boat edging mine towards him to stay in the eddy. As i glanced over my sholder there was a large horizon line with yet another lavina 10m down stream as we where now both stuck and despately blowing on our whistles to gain dannys attention he was our only hope as he was still in a position to exit his boat l up stream,The last thing we needed to see was him venture round the corner(fuckin idiot) sorry danny.

So now all 3 of us where stuck with jarrod loosing his kiwi grip a decseion had to be made the phone was in the back of a kayak so calling the helecopter was not an option what seemed like hours passed in minutes and the the kiwi piped up im fuckin goin with out any disscussin jarrod head off the middle of the drop we waited in angst to see the outcome after a few seconds he appeared on the left side armed with a throw bag a signaling to make a boof in the middle i peeled out headed over the 7m verical cauldron drop followed by idiot number 3 after all having a large arrgument followed by silence we carry over the next snow bridge to be confronted with another tight canyon we make the descion  to call it a day after 2 hours of climbing we reach the road.

looking back it seems funny but this was one of mine, and all concerned "close call moments" all esculating from 1 small wrong decsion as all accidents/fatalaties do. With  perversrhein behind us we have now all been paddleing  pretty much fullltime for the last 6 weeks and are feeling physicly/mentaly/ and piss fit.  Here are some pics from off our outings isonere, upper canobino,medesbach & averserhiene

We have quite a lot of female kayakers in Ilanz/Versam area working for the Kanuschule Versam. This morning Yvonne, Anke, Carla and myself went to do 'the local run'  of the area: the Glenner.

When we drove up we saw three guys getting in just below the gallery, where the easyer bit starts. With wooden paddles and big long kayaks (lets say old school style), they were staring at us, for a moment and at our male schuttle bunny. You could here them think....mmmm paddling has changed since the 1960's....yes my friends this is newschool!

It's a great run, nice athmospere, eddy hopping down, sunny weather, lots of fun, taking our time, and running some parts twice, trying to style it more the second attempt.

Halfway we did some stuf to gain good karma: pulling trees out of the rapids which were stuck in places we wanted to paddle!!!

With this gained karma next time will be even better!!!

At the end of April we arrived in Switserland, no accomedation sorted yet, so the first week we went 'pikey style'  and slep on a pile of smelly matrasses in the rafting base. It feels goooood to be back!!

Just after arriving my kayak training started, I have to obtain the SOA Kayak level II (Swiss outdoor association) before I can start working at the Kanuschule Versam. Followed by a weekend of kayaking/rafting/party/BBQ. NICE.

Meanwile Louis was bored at our new appartement Ilanz. Luckely for him the weather went warm and the massive amounts of snow started melting and within no-time all rivers are on high flow! Becouse of the heavy snowfall many trees broke in combination with the high floods last autum,  most rivers are full of trees.

Pictures of Glenner & Medelsbach.

For some unnown reason Louis deleted all the pictures of the Cristalina. Alcohol and photo editing doesnt mix.

On saturday evening Louis and me arrived in Swissy land. That was the first big test of our Audi. We made it without problems. NICE. All the mountains are covered in a big pile of snow, it's unbelievable how much white stuff theres still around here. Burn baby burn, hopefully once melted it will give us a lot of fun this season.

Becouse we haven't find accomedation to live jet, so after a few Calanda beers, we slept the night in the rafting base, on a pile of matrasses in between the wetsuits and  booties.

On Sunday we have been 'checking' out the area. At the end of last season there were big floods here, which is still very noticeble at the river beds.

And there are lots of trees, all over the place. Due to the floods followd by heavy snow many trees hasnt survive and are now on the river banks and in the river.

That's something we should be carefull for this season.

Anyways, today my kayak instructor course for the Kanuscule Versam starts and louis is looking for accomedation to live,

will be continued.......

Last sunday I went to Dutch Water Dreams,

was a good experience to hook up with my friend Stefan Verhagen (a Dutch kayaker) and a guy kayaker called Harry.

The DWD whitewater course is based on the design being built for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The whitewater course is 300 metres in length, 20 metres wide and drops 5 metres top to bottom. There are five pumps, each of which has a pumping capacity of 4.25 m3 water per second. Depending on the activity 4.25 m3 (a single pump) up to 20.25 m3 (five pumps) per second can be pumped through the whitewater course.

IWe a great time and within two hours of paddling I was absolutely done (game-over).  Eddies are very turbulent, and there is quite a lot of pressure on the course. Just a great activity on a lazy sunday afternoon.

Since Sunday I can also add Holland on the list; were I have practised 'the art of swimming'.

I was happy to use 'Stefans' Dagger Mamba (M), it's always a good idea to test another kayak before you buy.  Although it's a confortable kayak, I didnt have the muscle power to paddle this kayak.

So this makes me extra excited to pick up my new Liquid Logic Chico at the Canoe & Kayak shop in Windermere.

jippy

I'm hoping for rain next week!