06.09.09
The beginner’s get a chilly weekend yet again
Each June chicago whitewater offers a final beginner’s trip to Wisconsin as a sort of finale. As the years have gone by i’ve taken on a larger role and am helping now instead of being the one needing the help. Since most of my friends are the instructors or are also aiding over the weekend, we normally try to go up a day early and do some paddling for ourselves.
Section IV – a gusty day!
This year we drove up early Friday morning to paddle Section IV of the Wolf. We got there early to set up our tents and we almost had a replay of Astrid’s tent rolling across the field (June 2005?) – luckily we kept a good hold on them, but that might have been an indication of the wind for the day! Tents prepared we were off to the river.
We had our usual suspects joining us…. Diana, Kris, Bob, Jack, Mel, Cody, Greg, and Susan. Steve was supposed to join us but he pulled his “meningitis” card to get out of getting the thong (and that’s another story). We happened upon Dennis Clark and Randy Dana at the takeout who also ended up joining us to go down the river. We should have known the day would be entertaining when after putting all of our boats, gear and ourselves in the back of the truck for the shuttle and we ended up sitting there for over 5 minutes… at some point we realize we don’t have a driver and we’re not leaving. Finally Susan decided to go check on it, which was a good thing because they were waiting on us to come get them. Oops, thanks Susan!
We finally get on the river and start enjoying a beautiful day – sunny and 70 with an occasional gust of wind. We had a nice paddle up to Sullivan’s Falls – mostly just fighting the wind gusts but enjoying the beautiful views. We played a long time with many of us running the falls multiple times and enjoying the surf waves at the bottom of the cascade. Diana started the idea of running it backwards, and I have to admit it was really fun! Nothing like getting to the edge of a fall and turning around to enjoy the thrill of not knowing when you will be landing – even if it is a cushy pillow of froth 
We continued our way down the river enjoying Upper and lower Duck’s Nest. Dave’s wave at lower Duck’s nest was very popular, with just about everyone getting good surfs. It took a while for me to get in and i had a few quick surfs. On my last attempt i totally missed it but Cody let me jump back on right away… and that was my best ride of the day – which was very cool. We had our obligatory swimmer here but it was all good (nothing like getting your 1 swim of the year out of the way right?!)
We continued on to lunch rock (i’m not entirely sure if this is actually a rapid or not). But either way we got out to rest a bit and enjoy a snack. I dug out the “good” camera, leaving my dry bags on my boat, and wandered off into the woods. Partially to use my gizmo and relieve myself but also because i’d seem some pretty flowers that i wanted to try to get some pictures of. I am fairly certain they were Trillium and ended up getting a few shots that i liked even tho i didn’t have my macro with me.
I came back to the group and got an idea about taking a photo that i’d been wanting to try for some time – the circle of heads with blue sky. I didn’t have my big flash and probably should have shot in manual mode but hey i was playing right?! (sorry di for cutting your head off in this one- but i liked the blue sky- next time i’ll get it right!)
So as I’m taking this picture a gust of wind blows – and this was one big gust i swear! It happened very quickly but i know both of my dry bags flew into the river and possibly some other stuff. Mostly i remember Randy doing this quick running jump and dive into the river to save one of them. It was quite impressive actually – it wasn’t super deep and I’m surprised he didn’t hurt himself. Everyone helped collect my things (as it seems i’m the only one who didn’t stash their loose items darn it! Note to self- when distracted by flowers make sure to tuck away all items!) and i started trying to dry my now wet dry bags to put my camera back into. After a few minutes i look at someone – i think Cody- and say “My car fob was in that dry bag”. He looks at me and laughs at my joke. Except then i tell him its not a joke. And people start asking if i have any other car keys – which i did so we weren’t totally screwed thankfully. But those fobs aren’t cheap so i was kind of hoping to keep the ones i had. So Cody wanders back into the water and within a few seconds finds it in 2 feet of water. The real test would be later back at the car!
Kris offers to shuttle my camera for me in his dry drybag along with his keys and i tell him he better not do anything really crazy or else he’ll be in be in big trouble for hurting my camera! He even trusted me later to hold that drybag with both of our keys within so i could get some good pics of him at Big Smokey (yes that’s him going down backwards and sideways). I’m not sure if it was his, bob’s or cody’s ideas to try to hit that rooster tail… but thanks to them i dont think i’m nearly as scared of it anymore – as long as i’m right side up
The energizer bunnies ran it multiple times while the rest of us enjoyed the show (taking pics, video or just watching over and over again). We finally decide we’re done for the day and head back to the cars. It is then that i remember that i get to test my fob to see if it will work. I walk up and try the unlock button – it worked! I jumped up and down in joy, yay!! Next test I get in to see if it will start- and it does! More joy! I don’t plan on testing that again but man that’s good to know! We finish the night with a pizza dinner and an early bedtime – a few of us were tired from the 4:30 wake up time….
A chilly beginner’s weekend
Saturday morning we wake up to clouds and wind and much lower temperature. The high was supposed to be in the low 60s and i think they had that right. We all met up in the morning to determine where everyone was going. We had 2 beginner groups – 1 going on section 3 of the wolf with Diana and another going on the Red with Pat. A few social groups took off in different directions – some to the Peshtigo, others to Wausau, and a few more also went on section 3.
It sounds like there may be a writeup from the beginner’s so i’ll just say that our group on section 3 had a good day and give a few highlights.
We were a little cold as the day went on probably due to the rain that eventually kicked in, but that didn’t stop us from doing a little surfing and picking our lines down the rapids. We saw what we think was a Golden Eagle not far from the putin. We were picking our way down boy scout when i realized we had a boat over at the big eddy near the elevator. We got beth up safely but somehow her paddle went missing. A few folks saw it nearby but then it disappeared never to be seen again that day. Luckily Dave had his hand paddles so we were able to continue down the river, but we’re still hoping that it pops up and gets returned to her. We had a few more uneventful swims at Hansons and Gilmore’s and everyone seemed to enjoy getting on a harder river and working their skills.
Most everyone met back up at the campground for the group dinner and cwa meeting. With all the rain and chilly temps most were huddled near a campfire or around the still warm grill, or possibly using Urzula’s rum and tea to stay warm A few of us retired early to our dry tents while some party folk stayed up until the wee hours.
Sunday morning I awoke to a bright tent and no sound of rain… i thought excellent, a warmer sunny day!! Ha! nope, i got out of the tent and it was drizzling and still pretty darn cold. I got that feeling that i probably wouldn’t be paddling that day (i’m not quite as addicted as some people) but didn’t feel too bad as i was going to try to get some pics of the students in some rapids.
So after some mass confusion and lack of communication we finally determine that we need to get some of the students to the putin of section 3 (all instructors that were running it had left and few of the ones left knew where it was). So our group that was going to gilmore’s offered to help by running a car shuttle for them (you’re welcome!) and we finally make it to Gilmore’s by around 11… its a whopping 56 degrees and i feel fairly confident i made the right decision to play photographer! I think they all had fun surfing at the top wave. I got some great pics, but some of my favorites were of Sarah and Diana – they had the best faces!
I hope everyone else had a great weekend despite the cold and rain – i know i did! Wish a few folks could have joined us, but as always – there’s always next year!
Full galleries of images from the weekend can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/heidi.haas
Next up: Bela’s Emergency Landing experience coming back from Memphis