Virtual Richland?

[T Yamashita]

So I see from my previous post on the Richland Lost Paddler thread that most thought this idea was not a good one as Richland should remain a pristine wilderness experience. I don’t want to start a flame war, but I’m curious about the pros and cons of doing such a thing. When it’s a cold day like today, I like nothing better than sitting by the fire in my chair looking at maps or going over pictures of rapids thinking about what lines to take. So here are some questions:

How would it markedly detract from paddlers if I were to post video of the entire upper run with notes and a map? What if instead I make overhead maps/illustrations of the major rapids with no comments but just flow patterns and directions? Would it ruin someone’s experience or help those who are undecided about the creek, not familiar with this area, or don’t have the skills but would like to experience the creek anyway?

I’ve toyed with sketching out the major rapids as I like to analyze what I’ve run to get better acquainted with what I did and/or should have done. I’ve done a few sketches but would like to do more to get even better with the lines. I bet there’re plenty of images online in people’s photo archives that I could create a pretty thorough guide w/o really taking any shots myself.

It seems that the major problem with posting information is that unprepared paddlers get in over their heads. But, is that risk any different than someone who’s paddled Richland a few times in good conditions, then gets on in gray, 40 degree weather at higher water? I personally have experienced the negatives of posting “glowing” creek info when I wrote up a trip report about a great time on Hurricane creek. It got a number of people pumped up who got on too late in the day and had to spend the night out. I got calls from some parents that night, and I was concerned about the paddlers’ well being. I re-read the trip report to see if I had put any misleading information in it, and I still like what I wrote.

I think the internet does open lots of Pandora’s boxes, but I still firmly believe PERSONAL responsibly is a Paddler’s fundamental. When I first started, I would get annoyed that some of the more experienced boaters did not shepherd me like I wanted. I quickly realized that I was the main one responsible for me. I can see how easy it would be for a new boater to get caught up with an attitude that places dependence more on others because of the great shepherding skills in our local boaters and events like the cossatot first timer’s trip.

Sorry for the long rant. I think this is a good topic for thought as the paddling season starts up. Again, I’m doing this for discussion only. Any comments I wrote are not directed to flame anyone. Hope all is well! ty

[scoutdad]

Ty,
I'm still much a newbe paddler and this and any information avalible about a river is very helpful in determining what to prepare for and if running it is within our skilll level. imho the "lost paddler" and other good threads on this board will prevent more problems in the future.

[okieboater]

as of one o'clock sat, it is finally up to 32 degrees outside but feels like 23 according to accuweather. A time for a good heater and sweater even inside the house - while looking at boating video / photos.

I spent some time looking at the videos and photos from Little Mill Creek and really enjoyed. Been able to run Little Mill and hope to run it again. It was great to "virtually" run those drops.

Same thing from a post about creek boats that included a blog URL covering the awesome gnar and beauty of CA Creeks. Some of the most beautiful and challenging scenery and creeks I have ever seen. Unless I get lucky, I will never see most of these creeks in person and for sure do not have the skills to run them. But, I got a ton of enjoyment looking at the videos and photos and trip reports.

"T'" for my part I would love to see your photos and ideas on rapids and especially the Richland Creek area. Same goes for others willing to share their thoughts.

[JTarver]

I think it's a great idea. More information is always nice to have..in most any case. I thoroughly enjoy the videos and pics people put up. I had been wondering about what Mill creek was like, as I haven't had the chance to run it yet...and it looks like alot of fun. I hope people keep their pics and vids of runs coming. I would love to see the pics of hot springs creek someone posted one day after myself, coogan, scroach, and some others had run it one foggy winter day. I remember the pics being really beautiful, and I never got to save them like I wanted.

So yea, keep em coming. This is the heart of out sport, in sharing it with our loved ones and others.

Joe

[hellbender]

i wouldn't mind seeing an overhead map with details of the rapids.i've paddled richland many times and don't remember all of the rapids and the order in which they fall.so more power to ya!
you shouldn't have to worry about "glowing" creek reports unless your writting for a childrens book. jodie b

[Fish]

I don't think there's any problem with putting more info out about a paddling run. My policy on posting info that I and others wrote for the OWP has always been to err on the conservative side - to make runs sound a bit harder than they might appear to a very experienced paddler - and to include a bit of information about the paddling skills needed to handle the run (such as "need to be confident in pushy class 3 water" or "should have experience with negotiating lots of trees and strainers in fast water", etc.). As far as "ruining the experience" for someone... they don't HAVE to read or watch anything. If someone prefers a more pioneering approach, that person can just not buy Kennon's book, not look at the OWP online, not watch T's video tour of Richland, etc. and just go for it. Or, better yet, they can do what several folks have done in the past three decades in Arkansas - check out the guidebooks, run the runs there, then seek out more adventure that isn't in the guides and tell the rest of us about it later.

It seems there's always more/different things to do when it comes to whitewater, which is one reason I love the sport so much. Bored running the guidebook streams? Some small steep run is out there that no one has had the skill/persistence/luck to ever get on. Bored with Richland Cr. at 4.5 feet? Just wait until a big rain pushes it to 6.5 feet and your boredom is solved. Bored running the Cossatot? Try it in a smaller boat. Try running the lines no one runs. Try running lines backwards. Try getting an open boat down it. Try leading a group of novices down it on the first timer's trip. Bored running the Hailstone? Then you are the luckiest SOB on the planet because no one ever gets to run the Hailstone enough to get bored with it! :-)

Sorry, must have slipped into essay mode this morning. Got up early to contemplate the meaning of life while recovering from a cold and missing some of the best water the SE US has seen in a long time...

Have a good one,
Fish

[Trismegistus]

I don't think most paddlers would oppose a "virtual walk/paddle through" -- if it doesn't mar, undermine or impair the wilderness ethic and esthetics -- those who want to "run it blind" can still do simply by not availing themselves to the book, guide, web site, whatever. But I think you'd have a number of "wilderness proponents" who would impose such endeavors if it further entails use of markers, blazes, cairnes, trails, etc. within the Richland Creek Wilderness area.

We need to realize that there are a lot of paddlers and backpackers that do enjoy experiencing the wilderness "blindly" -- I certainly fall within that camp and with one or two exceptions every stream I have paddled in this state has been done so "blindly" and without an entourage of friends and/or guides. Perhaps since the ACC is a social organization that tends to paddle in larger groups its easier to overlook the paddler or backpacker that doesn't "run with a pack" but there is a lot of people out there that simply will not paddle/backpack unless it is a solo venture -- something that is greatly discouraged and frowned upon by many of our peers. And obviously this lack of organizational oversight runs counter to the philosophy established by most recreational organizations.

I certainly offer no voice in opposition to a "virtual walk/paddle through" but I also strongly agree with your ascertion: I still firmly believe PERSONAL responsibly is a Paddler’s fundamental (obligation?). AMEN!! So let's do our best not to supplant, replace and denigrate this responsibility.

[jjones03]

dooo ittttt. i sit on the computer for hours looking at maps/rapid descriptions.

[Fish]

What we really need are road-signs with names of rapids and diagrams on the approved way to run them posted at the top of major drops on the creek. Plus some scary put-in signage indicating how many people died, wished they had died, or even just sh** their pants on the creek in the preceding decades. Also, on the signs, one full class should be added to all rapids to make regular paddlers of the creek feel much better about themselves. We should also prevent people from paddling upper Richland at all, under penalty of fines and jail time, for their own good and because we all know boaters are bad for the fragile river environment. And besides they scare away those tasty fish!

Then we could rename the creek "Chattooga".

...Fish

[okieboater]

hey Fish,

most first timers on Upper Richland, myself included, could not sh** in their pants if they wanted to. Reason being ***hole way too tight!

dave

[RandyJ]

Check out this video river guide for inspiration. Entertaining, informative, and an outstanding quality look a magical place.

http://playak.tv/search_result.php?sear ... e=detailed

[T Yamashita]

When I have time, I may actually do it. I was looking around on webshots the other night and there's about a hundred richland shots from various people. It's pretty complete. The upper section before Lunch Counter is not well represented, but the major drops have been done multiple times. All I need is to get permission from the picture's owners and go to it.

I have a pretty busy year, but when I was searching and looking at the shots and putting them together with the info on Lance's topo, I got pretty jazzed. I might have to make time for it.

p.s. I think I'm going to print out and laminate a copy of lance's map. It'd be pretty good to have in a "richland walk out kit."

ty

[knu2xs]

William Nealy made a fortune off of it.

[Trismegistus]

But of course that story didn't end very well:

In the summer of 2001, William sat down with his journal and cataloged the contents of his medicine cabinet: Pepsid, Aleve, Benedryl, children's Afrin, Viagra, Zocor, aspirin. Next he listed his "complaints": chronic bronchitis, backache, thumb/wrist pain, chronic depression. Then, five pages later, Holly says William made a list of hurricanes, ending with notes about the damage Hurricane Fran did in Clarksville, Va. That's where William and Holly kept their houseboat at a marina on Kerr Lake. It's also where Holly rushed on the night of July 18, 2001. Her brother Daniel had called, telling her about a strange message William had left on his answering machine around 5 p.m.

By 8:30 that evening, Holly was at the houseboat. Four Budweiser tallboy cans sat empty in the kitchen sink, but William was nowhere to be found. Holly figured he'd slipped off the wagon, so she drove to Clarksville's only two bars. Maybe he was getting loaded, telling stories. If so, Holly swore to herself she wouldn't be mad. He'd be amazed at how cool she was.

But William wasn't at the bars, so Holly paced around the marina until 3 a.m., when she returned to the houseboat and drifted off into a nervous sleep. At sunrise, Holly walked back outside. In the slanting morning light she could see into William's van. On the dash, there was a note. It read, "I'm in the woods behind the repair shop. Contact my brother-in-law, Daniel Wallace."

"It's an ugly woods," she explains. "You know, a repair shop. It's got Styrofoam(r) and it's a nasty, scrubby woods. And then there's this beautiful little spot. It's a nasty woods except for this little bitty glade and it's free of bushes. And just as I see it, the sunlight breaks through the treetops and a beam shines, like a movie. The lights come on and there are his feet. And there's nothing frantic about this scene: It's very William." Holly backs away, leaving her husband's body and the gun alone in the grass.

(Excerpt from The Life and Times of Cult Sports Hero William Nealy by David Madison)

Don't do it T!! Fame and fortune aren't worth it!

P.S. Actually put me down for three copies. And willing to pay a little more if autographed by the author/artist.

[Crane]

T,
It's a very good idea & should not be limited to Richland... In fact, if you had the time & inclination, it would be a very good project for many of our "beginner" streams... Piney, Cadron, Mulberry, Frog, etc... Not that folks who want to try Richland won't benefit, but I lean to the "try it with someone who has been there"... and highly recommend Cowper's Super High Intensity Training as an alternative to running either blind or virtually!!