Kayakers

[Roussel]

CASCADA from NRS Films on Vimeo.

[SBruce]

Thanks for sharing Jason. That was a feast for the eyes. I kayak but nothing like that!

[FightingForAir]

I just saw this.

Wow.

I've been in class IV and class V in an I.K. (and have swam every time) but nothing like this. That's major cajones.

I've watched my buddy (who got me into whitewater a few years ago) do about a 20 ft. waterfall drop and I thought he was whacko. The recirc at the bottom of most of those that I've seen is so fierce you could be in deep trouble if it doesn't decide to spit you out eventually.

However ... even knarlier than this waterfall drop ... check out this vid from Tumwater Canyon on the Wenatchee. I've been on the Snake in big water but have never seen anything like this. I would never try to run anything like this in a kayak and would prolly piss myself even in a big cat through this nastiness. This makes lava and crystal in the grand canyon look like child's play. The only thing I've seen worse is the slide rapid on the lower salmon at high water.

[graeme]

Have been upto grade 5 several times in the uk and europe, whitewater yakking is prob the only thing that genuinely scared me at times. Use to really love waterfalls, paddled a spud and they where perfect for pool and drop. This was back in the 90's, wouldnt recognise yaks these days. Has anyone paddled a squirt boat, damn they where fun, more time hand rolling than upright

[FightingForAir]

I've been in both I.K.s and hard shells. I've also been in the newer, shorter, stubby-nosed creeking yaks. I prefer I.K.s. The only downside is that there is no recovery if you dump. Go over and it's swimming time. I got maytagged in a nasty recircing hole a couple years ago after dumping in a 4 on the Snake. Had I been in a hard shell, it probably would have spit me out and I likely could have just rolled back up and kept going. Instead, I had a nice long swim and had be reunited with my boat in the flat water about 80 yards downriver.