Friday, September 19, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
How to not run Rocket Launcher
I decided to "let the cat out of the bag" and write about what else happened in the Poudre. So it was our first full day in Colorado after 27 hrs of driving. We ran Joe Wright and Spencer Heights down to Poudre Falls. The last rapid is called Rocket Launcher which is a couple of 100 yards above the falls. After Chris got beat down and swam, we chased his boat down the road. Finally it had gotten hung right beside a bridge. We got his boat out in some what of 1 piece. Chris then realized that when he had swam his keys which was in his vest were ripped out. So already thinking it couldnt get anyworse a Black dude and a Hippy chick were on the side of the road and saw what happened. The offered give us a ride up to our truck in a mustang, we stashed Chris's boat in the woods and Andy's down a ditch. We get to the top and the guy not saying much, gets in his boxers and runs around in the woods. We were a little frightened at the time but being thankful for the ride we give him water and off he drove. We finally got a woman to call the police and give them my AAA information from a call box. About that time the yellow mustang was back, this time pulling the E-Brake comming into the parking lot. He got out and had a hammer in one hand and a big skinning knife in the other. He started to take his shirt off and say that we stole their purse. We calmy talked him down and simply told him that were stuck here and that we wouldnt steal anything from anyone. The guy finally leaves so we walked back up to the road to wait for AAA. About that time a truck drove by with Andy's green Nomad and all we could do was watch it drive away. AAA finally arrived and gave us a ride back into town where we stayed at a motel 8 for the night. The next morning AAA picked us back up and drove us back up the mountain. When we got there the black guy was there...AGAIN!! This time had our bed cover undone and digging through it. We got out mad as hell, shaking with adrenaline, and confronted him and repeatedly told him "WE DONT HAVE YOUR F$#KIN WALLET" he then appolgizes and leaves. About a hour later we get a key made in town and decided we werent goin home yet, so we proceeded to drive back up that mountain 1 more time. On the up we were just chit-chattin about the day when two moose ran across the road causing us to run off the road almost hitting a car! Needless to say one of us had some baddd JUJU and it was catching up with us. Here are some random pics of the scenery
AAA Guy
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Stuck in the poudre
The View was breathe taking
We ate some breakfast, got packed up, and decided going upstream and takin a look at Joe Wright. We tried to scout but could only see one rapid, but go figure every river in Colorado is "One Rapid".
This one is called Carnito, it is the 1st rapid and probably one of the more commiting drops. After this drop it doesnt really let up until the confluence with Big South. Joe Wright is a must hit if your in the area for a short 3 mile run. We finished the run in just under a hour of eddy hoppin down. The only pics we got of the river was from the pull off at Carnito.
Andy droppin in first getting pushed right.
Me droppin in behind andy (top right)
The river constricts to about 4 feet wide after this drop
This is the meadow where a trib. to Big South Put in
After putting on we ran into Mike Pagel who was kind enough to show us down. After running a few shallow junk rapids we arrived at the confluence. The first rapid is called Starter Fluid with a fun S-turn Entrance with a perfect 10 footer exit.
Here is Pagel running the next rapid in line taco bobs. This one was a little more technical with a reverse sunshine line.
Fantasy Flight ....piton ....flip ....roll ....procceed down the river. After watchin several line I decided to walk. The Next rapid was called Bar Room Brawl which was a fun one beside I petoned on the wall on the right(no pics). Still stunned by the scenery Cool world snuck up on us, but managed to grap the last eddy. Heres a pic of Pagel making Cool World look easy.
Me sayin F#@k it
Andy Firin it upHeres Evan boofing over the beast