Well its been pretty much all quiet on the activity front for me since that last Scottish trip. I managed to rupture a calf muscle whilst running the day after I got back and have been hobbling since. Gradually mobilty has started to return and the fells were acheivable again...
Last week brought a splash of rain and a reminder why it so handy living near some rivers. That instant accesibility led to an evening trip on teh Upper Duddon at a good level, followed by a cheeky afternnoon run on the same stetch at a lower flow (pictured). Happy days.
So now we are back to dry conditions I need a garden challenge - speed lawnmowing offers limited sporty appeal, so I think I shall play slacklining instead...
I had a couple of days over easter where I had no reason not to go out and play. I'd been pouring over the maps again and stumbled across a canyon in the Cairngorms that looked very intruiging. After I'd seen it became the only thing to fill the time with. The internet also revealed that that the canyon was formed by huge flows glacial outbreak waters that had created a scar in the landscape 7km long and 300ft deep. The river was easily large enough to paddle in terms of catchment (over 30 square km) and the gradient was significant, but hopefully manageable.
We arrived to find low water levels and hopes of getting it done dimmed somewhat. When we arrived, our quick inspection of the lower section showed that we may actually be thankful of those low levels! Losing the light we only scouted the lower 2 or 3 km and this revealed a beautiful canyon unlike anything we'd seen in the UK before. Most of the water looked straightforward, but the gorge was walled out in a few sections and there were glimpses of some ugly slots and potential siphons.
As we headed back to the car we made the decision to go. We would walk in from the bottom, on the river right bank which would give the best views of the canyon. This would mean a 7km hack, uphill, through heather to reach the entry to the canyon named 'The Castle'. The pictures can cover the details...
( final pic by Dave B)
11 hours, 1 big portage, 1 big decision and 5000 calories later, we were done. We didnt find a single 'nice rapid' all day, but kayaking is about so much more than that. It's also about fixing goals, overcoming barriers, beautiful landscapes, testing yourself and forging friendships. This day had all of these in abundance, so it really was a truly great days boating - with no good rapids.
A big shout is due to Ando and Dave. If anyone wants the beta just drop us a mail (ned 'at rainchasers.com) - we think it would go at at least slightly higher levels.
Today one of the guys who works at the Glen Nevis Estate camp site and holiday park came by talking about the mentioned Gyrodactylus Salaris and how it is affecting many of the Fish when it is in the water around the area. If you have come back from somewhere where it is active in the water like Norway or any of the other popular destinations around Europe/the rest of the world and have it on your kit or in your boat and paddle in the river in the UK within a week it can infect the waters and wipe out lots of the fish.
Luckily the guys at the Glen Nevis estates now have the equipment and chemicals to clean our gear and help preserve the natural Fish stocks of our rivers, this chemical will not harm any kayaks, kit or anything else that you use or own but it will kill the Gyrodactylus Salaris and keep our rivers and fish stocks clean and healthy. If anyone is up in the area, pop by and ask to speak to Dave or Eoghain and they will happily spray your kit and boats with the chemical, they do it for free and it takes no time at all and is in every river users best interest. Dave-the main guy who is also a paddler and has paddled in Norway and Scotland and is always a super friendly to paddlers and love people hucking the Nevis at high flows- will happily disinfect your boat for you, you just need to ask.
When the WWPF is on please stop by if you have just returned from a summers hucking somewhere abroard and get your kit cleaned free of charge. Think of it like this as well-this parasit has a similar affect on the enjoyment of river use to Fishermen as building Dams has to paddlers, at the end of the day we are all enjoying the same enviroment and thanks to guys like Dave and Eoghain we can help keep everyone who uses the rivers that bit happier-it will help relations between paddlers and fishermen, and help our rivers and keeps all the river users as happy as can be......shabba!
At last paddlers have something they can do about this parasite instead of the normal of seeing signs telling us not to paddle if we've been abroard and giving us no way of doing anything about it! Lets all make the most of it and keep our river and fish and fisherfolk happy:-). Gyrodactylus Salaris Cheers.
My kayaking has been theortical recently. Its been dry for ages, I got a good fix in Scotland and so I have been happy not to chase it for a while. However Doug Ammons talk, as anybody who saw him will know, was food for thought. I've been going through his 'Whitewater philosophy' book (which is well worth reading) and also the death of Lars Holbeck though disease is another cause for reflection. I was also interested to note a change of tone of kayak session recently to really take on issues like Hydro power.
All of which basically has encouraged me that kayaking may actually be 'growing up'. Sure, in its whitewater river running incarnation the modern form has only been around for maybe 40 years, but thats enough to start to form a history. Doug used this to theme his lecture, Holbeck's death will serve as a punctuation mark in that process, Kayak session are seeking to extend it. A generation of boaters have now done the 'young punks' to 'old hands' transition while the game of river running has remained fundamentally unchanged. I know boats are different and standards have pushed on, but, as the saying goes "the more stuff changes the more it stays the same". That means that lessons can be learned, themes can be teased out and we dont have to stay routed in the immediate. "Someone hucked this", "somebody else ran that", "another hit this move". - all that is largely sterile. We've had 40 odd years of it.
It's not that everything has been done, not by any means, but just talking about the physical feat of making a boat do this or that is limiting. Psychology, context, location, relationships, environment and even policy are what carry a lecture, book, magazine, film or blog post.
My theory session has been invigorating, but as ever, thinking raises more questions than answers. Hopefully my new questions will get aired, reworked and possibly even resolved as things go on. A history is always an unfinished work, but I think its now clear that we have one.
I've been playing with my new camera, which is a real leap on from the last. I've decided agianst the waterproof route again as it too big a compromise in image quality. I also stayed away from SLR's, not because they are not good, as obviously they are, but they are bulky, expensive and constantly demand the next pricey upgrade to get a better image.
With a good quality compact im hoping the image quality will be easily good enough, it is easy to take everywhere and functional enough to be fully flexible. Basically it should take away all the excuses and leave me nothing but inablity to defend myself with!
One day last week we had a scattering of snow and I snapped these pics...(sorry - obviously that should be "captured these images" !)
Well the last week has seen the return to normality. Ive been tired after what was apretty physically hard week up north. Every day saw at least one hike in, and sometimes two! I made a stumbling attempt to get up a climbing wall and go for a run with the dogs, but the energy levels have not recovered yet. I dont suppose a social weekend will have helped much either!
the hard work;
The secret weapon -
we have been working with a local firm to design and make this kayak carrier system that will fit any creek boat. The one I used was the final prototype and the first units are now being made. I was really happy with it. Light, adjustable whilst on and really well made. Hopefully we will be able to get them out there and available to buy (should be around £40).
The Scotland mission became the focus for a while, so now thats done it raises the old issue of 'whats next'? For me It's best to fill that gap pretty quickly to get the motivation back and the activity flowing. I have a few ideas knocking around so something will come good. I also need to clear some of the rainchasers 'inbox'. The film comp needs engaging with now, and the calibration issue with the gauges and graphics is overdue!
Spent a few days up in the north of Scotland again this week. After pouring over the maps for an unhealthy amount of time, I had some ideas about what might work. We got lucky with the water levels as the melt hit as we arrived, with some light rain topping things up after those high water levels on Monday.
Its a good landscape to go at...
The game is find a line on the map that may work, get sensible water levels, and then hike. As I get more experienced with this, I am fully coming round to the opinion that 'going to look and see' without the boats is a bad idea. It just makes you tired, and gives your head chance to find reasons not to do the walk with the boats. Whatever you find at the end in terms of whitewater is secondary. Just do it, and then use the kayak as transport out. If there are no sweet 20 footers but just a heap of portages, then so be it.
but you may just find that sweet whitewater....
Cheers to Rob and Iain (rock rat robinson) for the enthusiasm (especially rob who put up with miles of heather and bog bashing with no carry system!). We found everything from bouncy grade three, full on retreats back the way we came to sweet, river wide, 20ft ledges. Its all out there, and hopefully it will be left for those who want to explore for themselves, rather than seeking the opinions of others.
My favourite shot to finish, though web res does not really cut it...
One of the best qualities of the lakes is its ability to dish out little pint sized, mini adventures. The recent cold snap may have locked up the rivers and dried them to near drought levels, but the on the flip side, that has created some of the best and most stable snow and ice conditions for years. Hard packed neve snow is now accessible in only a short time window!
One day last week I got to work in the morning and worked through till lunchtime, then grabbed some time off in the afternoon and get onto the hills by 1. Crampons and axes came out around 1.30 and a couple of hours of chipping away later, having remembered how nice moving on hard snow is, I was heading down. Back to the car by 4.30. There I bumped into a mate who had been on the same agenda. Family tea at 5, then the pub at 9 for the obligatory swapping of stories.
A classic lakes living day.
Pics and video from my phone sorry but the new camera is 'in the post' :-)!
Last weekend the rainfall radar suggested that the central and North Lakes had got the most rainfall, so I checked my passport and went up to the North lakes for a bash on Aira Beck. I'd wanted to get back as it was a good little adventure the first time I did it, but it could have done with more water then. this time we got a decent level and there was no scraping, but it wasnt high enough for the upper section. Another good trip followed, a few portages, two rapids that require some thought and generate 'the fear'. Along with lots of steady away class 3/4 drops and shoots, all in a nice setting.
Thanks to andy for the pics;
Sunday saw the runoff subside, so it was time to hit the Leven for another high water run. The bridge was 'splashy' but the last couple of times I've fired it up at high levels I haven't got my head wet! Unfortunatley, that doesn't really translate into confidence for next time...
!)
