Playak News Flash 2009-01-13

Playak News Flash - January 13, 2009

News Watch Headlines

Jackson Kayak: Stinging Fork Falls Update The rain has hardly let up in Tennessee... and I'm not complaining. Brave Wave has been running for weeks, lower drainages have been runnable more days than not, and a big rain event has settled in about every other week.

Small World Adventures: New Year's Kayaking WELL, YOU KNOW YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT WHEN YOU PADDLE THE LAST DAY OF THE OLD YEAR AND THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR! (Or, at least you know you have a kayaking problem) Here is Chuck styling "Bobsled" on the Upper Misahualli. This is how Chuck spent his last day of 2008, boofing his way down a crystal clear river in Ecuador. Not bad Chuck.

Jackson Kayak: Great Falls/cane Creek/great Falls Sandwhich, With Brave Wave Condiments After a major two year drought in the Southeast that meant rare trips to the free flowing creeks of the area, we are officially out! Over 9" of rain in December compared to the historical average of 5.77", and already having 4.7" as of January 10, while the monthly average is only 5.7" the water table is full, the creeks are flowing, the Great Falls Dam at Rock Island is spilling, and has been for over a month straight already! 20,000+ CFS at Rock Island only two days ago, and a steady 5,700 cfs now.

WaveDog Blog: Middle Fork Salmon The following is a photo journal of a self support trip on Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The Middle Fork was one of the original eight rivers in the Nation designated as Wild and Scenic on October 2, 1968. It originates 20 miles northwest of Stanley with the merging of Bear Valley and Marsh Creeks.

Total WW Fun: Review; Astral Green Jacket Right before the holidays i found myself on a two week warm water winter waterfall hucking trip. i also found myself with an early Christmas present, the Astral Green Jacket. It was about time i retired my very faded and very used four year old Astral 300R. I have to admit i was a bit skeptical about switching life jackets.

Hans Heupink: Sailing On Ice... This morning in Nieuwkoop: ice skating and ice sailing. Some beautiful crafted DN - ice yachts were on the Noorderplas (DN: Designed in 1936 in a competition run by the Detroit News paper). With a good southerly wind (3-4 Bft.) they reached spectacular speed.

Rapid Transit: The Lower Chauga After the Deadman in the Darkroom gig at the 2008 Gauley Fest, I was approached, by an old friend of mine, to help in producing a short film. The goal of this project was to aid in acquiring funds to purchase a two mile stretch banking the Lower Chauga in the upstate of South Carolina. These two miles are located within the runout of the often paddled class IV Chauga section.

SeaKayakPhoto.com: Five Canada Geese, Four Sleek Kayaks, Three Lofty Mountains, Two Light Houses And A ..... Fiart! After a calorific luncheon of Christmas cake we reluctantly left Eilean nan Gamhna and we were soon heading south towards the Sound of Mull. A skein of Canada geese flew overhead with whooshing wing beats. Our progress was not so rapid and it was obvious we would be returning in darkness again. In...

Paddle Press: Jackson Kayak Has Sunny Outlook Despite Gloomy Economic Forecasts Strong sales trends and new product releases give rise to Eric "EJ" Jackson's sunny outlook for 2009 despite a marketplace saturated with gloomy news.

Indigenous Boats: Indonesian Canoe Outriggers -- Pretty Clever The outriggers of Indonesian double-outrigger canoes ( jukungs ) are as sophisticated in their design as they are rudimentary in the technology of their construction. Many Balinese canoes have distinctive upward-curving outrigger booms, giving a graceful gull-wing appearance.

Perception: Tribute 12.0 SL Wins National Geographic Award Perception is proud to be selected by National Geographic Adventure in their 2009 Best of Adventure Gear contest.

Creek WV: Red Run Red Run is a small creek that drains the southern backside of Canaan Valley. It sports the same tannic acid stained water as the other Canaan creeks. I think Red Run is the most difficult of the regularly run Canaan Valley creeks, and offers a fine collection of unique boulder gardens with a few bedrock slides for variety. A big group of us met up in Hendricks back in May to decide on a plan.

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