Bad stories

[JohnB]

Man, I need to go back and read all of these. I fear I'll be tempted to add to them, as in the heyday of the Doobie Brothers, we had some fairly wild adventures with Franklin R Bursk and Don "LA" Brookings (aka: Doobie Daddy). I could compose an entire chapter of stories about Franklin's famous "Lucky Shorts"(they were women's terry short-shorts that he inherited from a former girlfriend, yet another story). At one point, I had him convinced to allow me to dispose of them buy soaking them in a flammable liquid, lighting them up and launching them from the New River Bridge. Kind of a Viking Funeral for a garment that would cover Franklin's butt or his privates, but not at the same time, resulting in a constant display. When the time came, Franklin claimed to have thrown the shorts away They reappeared in their full glory a couple of weeks later, much to the disgust of everyone.
JB

[prophet]

#2- dislocated shoulder half way thru Hailstone run in December. got it back in and paddled out. still hurts many years later.

#1-East Fork of Illinois Bayou in borrowed 17' canoe w/ keel at high water. highlights included losing a shoe and having to navigate the bank or creekbed barefooted chasing the boat after each of MANY swims. lots of stickers, strainers, and rocks.

wilderness runs can be rough

[KAYAKN]

1st. My first time down the Nanty, swam every rapid and almost all the flat water. Came to the undercut rock everyone had warned me about. I had no idea what to look for or what to do when i came to it. Well i hit the thing perfect, leaned into it then i leaned away. Bad move, got sucked under and had to work my way out from underneath the rock and finally came up still in my boat. I guess staying in my boat may have helped me get out from underneath it. I still have the boat, looks like it was tied to a truck and drug down the road.

2nd. Took some friends down the Ocoee in a raft to show them its a fun river. Ran everthing nice and clean. Got to Double Suck and thats where things started to suck. We had a good line but was a little slow, the raft tacoed and out the back i went in the upper hole. Done a nice back flip into the water and got pushed into the secound hole on the bottom of the river bed. I was pinned against a rock with the force of the water holding me down. I started clawing my way off the rock and finally moved just enough so that the down stream water grabbed me and out i went. My friends had no idea i was gone. I came up, looked down stream and swam like hell to make the big eddie. My leg got beat up pretty good from getting slamed to the bottom. Had kankles for almost two weeks.

Adam

[canoe]

Blackwater stories. Motor Sims and I were trying to find a way to run Lower Blackwater, found putin, driving dirt road(backway) to takeout with plan to find our landmarks, drive to putin and hike back to putin after running the river. Suddenly, see this kayak come crashing out of the woods, nearly taking out the windsheild. These strange looking folks with what appeared to be condems on their heads come out of the woods dragging kayaks except for the gal who had lost her boat and almost killed us. Turns out to be a group of boaters from Boston and Ontario, who had already run their shuttle but weren't sure about the putin. We asked if we could hook up. They looked at my Encore and said"Don't know about the open boat". Moter says , if he can't make it, I'll bet no one here can make it." Get to the river, and the 1st rapid is this long, complicated, Class5(then) suddenly a shredder floats into view, and cleans the rapid(my 1st time to see a shredder--had to have one) Motor and I are fired up, jump on and clean the rapid, except I have to roll at the bottom. Everyone else runs, and decide that I can come along. Turned into a great friendship, stll hear from those folks. 1st time upper Blackwater. Me and one of the guys from Boston, and the guy from Ontario, decide to run Upper B. Can't figure out the putin until ranger at the Park shows us. It took 6 hours to run 1.5 mi., dragged boats out. There is video of the 3 of us, beat up, worn, and claiming that we had done it and never had to do it again. A few years later, David Wilbanks and I run it again, this time, it taks 8 hours to run 1.5 miles. For several years the W.Va Park service would open up the Blackwater Lodge a week earlier than the were officially open , just for us. It always seemed to snow. Dale

[canoe]

Gauley. Too many stories to tell, 1st time was at below release, about 1500 cfs, boat pinned in middle of Insignificant, long complicated rope rescue. 1st time at release level. At the time, we were living in Galax Va, and the only other paddler in town was Tom Peddy(Nickname, Tom Peddy and the Boat Breakers). He was not a great paddler. I agree to run Gauley with him and some friends of his. We make it down Upper G., with some difficulty(not me), get to Panther Creek, I start to carry boat out, when I discover that that the plan is to takeout at Swiss(26 river miles). I don't see any of the boaters I was with the rest of the day, run Lower G by myself, figuring out lines by watching others. Luckily, Pam is at take out when I pull in after dark. Did not paddle with the boat breakers any more. Probably, not many on the board have run G at low levels, but was fortunate to get several runs at levels between 500cfs and 1500cfs. The most difficult level I found on upper was about 800 cfs, when the river becomes this steep creek with lots of undercuts Pillow is especially hard. The only time I haven't run Iron Ring, is at 500 cfs, when I saw only 1 guy run it(local whitewater shop owner). Lower G is fun up to 5000 cfs, although a friend 's son says he had a wonderful time running the whole river at 20,000 cfs.

[Lazer]

All the stories got me thinking about my first creek run in a kayak. Boss Hollow circa 1995. It was the first known decent of the Boss and it dealt out it's fair share of carnage to boaters starting with this run. On the second or third run, a boater hiked out when thier boat cracked in the first 1/2 mile.

Here is the story.

Some of what is missing from the story is that we finished in the dark, my left shoulder was tweaked during my incident on a log and has never been the same.

My first creek experience was a double header on Big Devil's and Long Devil's Forks in a Dagger Genesis canoe earlier in the year. This was also my first time on Richland, which was big water when entering from the Devil's forks! :shock: That day was long and had it's share of adventure among the participants. My introduction to Cowpercapades!

I've tried to my best to continue his antics on my trips that Cowper was absent, which some on this board have labeled Lancecapades. Although mine have provided some interesting moments, I still have much to learn from Cowper.

Sure would be a less interesting sport without the stories from the folks who have been around a while and share their experiences with the rest of us. Thanks to all for sharing.

[canoe]

Good stories. Went to a wilderness medical conference in Aspen, stayed in a 5 star hotel, met these folks at Slaughterhouse putin that refused to paddle with me because of the bathtub I was paddling. Next group were more open, ended up paddling Slaughterhouse 2 times every day for 5 days, except when we went over to Crystal for a couple of runs. Met another open boater that lived in Aspen, but hadn't run Slaughter or the Numbers, got to show him down both. Another wilderness med. conference, this time on Middle Fork Salmon, Shelle and I show up in ME, the top end is real low, so I solo. The day before we put in, having lunch we run in to Johnie Bench and his 6ft. tall blonde wife. They put in at Boundry Creek with us, I end up pulling Johnie Bench out of the river multiple times over the next few days. Shelle and I clean the river tandem, once we pick them up 1 day down the river. 1st time down the Big Ditch(Grand Canyon). We booked a trip with MOKI MAC, took my dad and Pam. I showed up with my ME, they tell me no way. After much talk, I'm allowed to take my boat. By the time the trip is over Clair Quist(owner of the raft company) is trying to buy my boat from me. Dale

[canoe]

Costa Rica. Shelle and I go down as part of Project Raft along with a bunch of folks from Ok. and Mo. Some of our friends from Russia fly into Nicaruaga, and end up hiking from Manuaga to the border, sneak past the boader guards, Make it to Turriblia, then to the Reventazon. 500 people camped out in a cut over cane field, drenching rain. I come down with the 1st case of tourista, several others follow. We end up leaving. Rios Tropicalis lets us have use of sea kayaks, we go to Manuel Antonio on the west coast, spend almost 2 weeks. The highlights were Shelle getting seasick, paddling out to and Island, and having to run a whirlpool that looked like it was 1000 yards across, surfing a wave around the Island almost completely around, while having SOMETHING, take a swipe at one of the girl's paddle. Shelle and Kent Davidson surfing a wave into the beach. The biggist ender I've ever seen, Kent 18 foot up in the air, Shelle buried in the waves. They must have been perpendicular for 15 seconds. Dale