About a year ago I was flipping through an Outside magazine when I saw an article about Brad Ludden and his non-profit organization called “First Descents” http://www.firstdescents.org/ .  First Descents is committed to curing young adults of the emotional effects of cancer and empowering them to regain control of their lives by experiencing outdoor adventure therapy through kayaking, rock climbing and other outdoor adventure sports.  Having lost several loved ones myself to cancer I felt inclined to contact FD and see what I could do to help.  Little did I know that minutes after I emailed the company Brad Ludden responded and we made arrangements for Jason Fasick and I to come join him in Vail for a week of camp.   Lots of planning and a 28 hr drive later we arrived at the 7W lodge in Dotsero Colorado.  

Jason and I set up hammocks in a grove of aspens around 11000 ft elevation.  Our mornings consisted of waking up to either the coyotes or the sun peaking over the beautiful rocky mountains.  The scene was breath taking.  We would put on the Colorado river around 10am , paddle for a few hours, eat lunch, paddle some more, make an eddy flower with about 20 people, and then come back to camp for dinner and a campfire.  There were activities abound with volleyball, hot tub, horseballs, horseback riding, and hiking.

The stories are endless, but all to the same conclusion.  This was and will forever be one of the most amazing weeks of my life.  From AJ, the personal chef, who made a vegan, vegitarian, and “normal” meal at every meal of the day, to the two massueses that were on staff to relieve the sore muscles of the campers and staff throughout the day, this was Heaven!  Many bonds were made on this trip and I think the FD mission’s success showed in the 16 smiling faces of the campers at the end of journey. 

On the 28 hr drive back home Jason and I brainstormed ideas to start a branch of FD back to PA.  With tons of support from local boaters and FD, hopefully this will happen in the near future.  I’ll keep you posted.

With all the rain us NY boyz have been getting after it ( see previous post from rest of the RLP team)

Demshitz and Demjoez coming together to get her done.

CHECK OUT THE EDIT!

Fast Tube by Casper

Peace out!

-Chris Morelli

Tommy Hagg Open Boating Panther Falls

The only thing better than paddling in the Adirondacks is paddling in the Adirondacks in the Summertime.  I made two trips to the Daks this summer after two major rain events.  The target for the lastest trip was the Middle Branch of the Osweghatchie and the Grasse River.  The rivers of this region are noted for there big pool-big drop character, big slides and falls, and an absence of boulders.  The rivers came up big after nearly 5 inches of rain had fallen on the Adirondacks early in the week, unfortunately I had just started back to work and couldn’t get out until Friday.  I met my buddy Eric Sorenson in the Poconos and headed North driving through the Night.  We met up at 9 am with Wayne, Tommy Hagg, two Vermonters, and 4 Georgia Boys.  We had quite a crew including an open canoe, but wmoved with surprising speed down the river.

Alan from Vermont enters the Sluice - M. Br. Oswegatchie

So last week, I got to come down to visit Brenton and stay at the pyranha depot. Everyone down there was awesome host and the green river is a absolutly fun river, so many boofs and alot of quality in such a short time. Here is an edit from the trip, Check it out!

Fast Tube by Casper

peace out for now.

chris mo

Some freezing cold kayaking to cool everyone off in the midst of this summer heat . . .

Produced by Sovanna Mam.

-Jason

Hey Y’all,

So the Kayak Depot has been a pretty big success so far and I’m pretty stoked to be getting in all of the great class V
paddling on the Green Narrows. Met up with Chan and Casey Jones the other weekend from Team Pyranha at a midnight session near Eternity Hole. Check out Casey’s blog update to look at some of the sick pictures -http://fortheloveofwater.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/4th-of-july-weekend/

After that I met up with Big D from the Paddle Billyz and some of his good friends and made a sweet video from the Upper Green, you should check it out -

Peace,

-BTRILL

Scott Anderson and I had been hashing out an ambitious plan to paddle all of the Youghiogheny’s Whitewater in one day. This means we would tackle the Tippy-top, Top, Upper, Middle, and Lower Yough in one day. Our journey came together last Saturday; we crossed through 2 states, paddled 38.8 miles, and descended 1128′ of gradient.  Levels were Top – 380, Upper 1.9, Lower 3 ft.

Scott approaching National Falls on the Upper Yough

We began our Journey at a fisherman’s access at Miller’s Run about 5 miles upstream of Swallow falls. The trail to the river took us right through someones campsite where they were still sleeping. Im sure we gave them quite a scare as we seal launched into the water.

Scott at the put in about 3.5 miles above the start of the Tippy Top

After 3.5 miles of very flat water we arrived at our first rapid on the Tippy-Top.

Scott boofing the first drop on the Tippy Top

We blasted down the Tippy Top and the Top Yough stopping only for a short photo. Then we had 6 more miles of flat water to Gap Falls.

Scott boofs a sticky hole on the Top Yough just upstream of Muddy Creek Falls

At Wait Rock we met up with Margo and Dave to give Margo a crash course course on the lines of the Yough. She had a great First time run.

Scott and Margo at Wait Rock, Upper Yough

Dave and Margo running Tripple Drop, Upper Yough

In Friendsville we loaded boats and shuttled around the Lake to Confluence were we put on the Middle Yough. This was my first trip down the middle, the scenery was nice.

Scott finishing up the Middle Yough

We portaged around the Falls  and put on the Lower for the last leg around 4:30 Pm.

Scott on the last leg of the Yough-a-thon

The last leg was lots of fun, the lower was at three feet making for some spectacular boofs at camel and walrus and at Bottle of wine.  We finished up around six and finished the day out with some brews and a pub burger at Falls City Pub.

Well since mid April I’ve been doing some freestyle events around the country. First was the New England Triple Crown, I finished third behind EJ, Dane, but ahead of Nick T.  Next was the NOC shootout where I finished 10th in the pro division.  Moving onto Reno, NV where I’m not sure where I placed but I know it was lower than 6th because that was the cut.  Now I am currently in Buena Vista, CO and I did compete this past friday and just missed the cut by getting 9th.  Now I move onto Vail, CO from here to the TEVA Mountain Games.  On another note I am a proud new Team Paddler for Pyranha Kayaks so check out the updates on the Pyranha Team Blog.  http://www.teampyranha.com/    Stay tuned for a photo update to follow.