TR Richland, Sunday

[canoe]

Bunch of yakers, plus Ryan Viser(OC-1) me oaring the new Super Puma, Stewart and Ross Noland, R2ing Super Puma, at a fat level(4.5), we get to Roadblock and find that Cole(OC-1) is having a bad day. Long story short, Stewart and Ross load up Cole's boat on the back of their raft crossways, I load up Cole and we get everthing down the creek. Pretty impressive watching Stewart and Ross run Upper and Lower Screwup in the 1st ever R2-OC-1 by 2 paddlers on UR. Now Pam has to let me row her down UR. Dale

[Boofaholic]

We had 2 laps w/5- 6 inches air space on 1st run and a long devils huck session.2nd lap put in 4 in, rode a boost and took out at 0-1 inch!Sweet Day!

[canoe]

So, that was ya'll. We saw a yak parked across the creek when we broke for awhile at the confluence. Did the huck go good? dale

[jjones03]

aghh i missed out on the twin falls running... i wish i could have got on richland today. i had to work this evening, luckily galla was going..

ill be on richland tomorrow and probably tuesday too... hope to see some folks out there!

[Boofaholic]

Yep that was us! All huckin went well Doc. It was on the lower end but still good lines were had by all. I wish we would have stopped the 2nd round the devils' were crankin by then!Man what a sweet weekend, big water Beech creek sat.(Amy's 1st beech run) and a classic day on Richland sunday. CLASSIC, I couldnt have planned a better weekend if I'd tried. GO CANOE SCHOOL, way to bring tha rain!!

[JBradley]

Joe and I shredder-ized UR as well. we put on with 3" air space and as we said our goodbyes to Joe C and the rest of the gang we noticed 0"

i was impressed by the shredder's ability to SHRED the shiznite. all rapids were cleaned. This thing surfed lunch counter, it fit through crack with no problems, ran green rock like it didn't even care, boofed the falls, made it through the hole @ cindy's, ran the good route on US, door #1 at LS, and the line on the left @ maytag.

I talked to pam at the takeout, she said you managed to fit your shredder frame on the new raft. I need to make time to get out there. I'm off until thursday.

JB

[bmartin]

Here are a few random observations from our group. I will allow others to elaborate. I got to see Cole's boat do a 20 minute unmanned side surf, I found out why no one else was running it a play boat - I got surfed in holes and had my most disorienting roles ever and there were several, got to see a raft rigged with an open boat hit the meat, got to witness John Barton style another river and chase down boats. It was a nerve racking first run for me and I think I was not the only one relieved to see the take out. Thanks to Johna, John, Robin, and Bob for getting us down.

[Lucas]

Let me second Brad's thanks to John, Bob, Johna, and Robin. After getting pushed into the sieve at Green Rock and sucked into the hole at Apple Pie, I was definitely ready to see the car! The color is just now coming back into my knuckles and I think I've used up my adrenaline supply for a while.

Take away from the trip...Richland in the high 4's is a LOT different than Richland at below 4. Much pushier, eddies are scarce, and holes are nasty.

Johna - I owe you a powerbar and owe John the drinks of his choice for chasing down my boat at Green Rock. Thanks to all for a memorable experience.

[JohnB]

You guys did fine. Lucas, I hope you took Robin's advice and worked on your helmet fit! Brad, I've paddled Richland many times in a playboat and only a couple of times in a creeker. The PB definitely requires full attention.

Robin and I have decided upon a "no eye contact at the put-in" policy! No more boating with people we meet at the put-in! Somewhat seriously, the last few times that we've met up with Bob and Jonna, it seems that we've had to chase boats and/or make the uncomfortable descision to tell someone to walk out for their own safety. We've told two kayakers in recent memory to pick it up and start walkng. I am always glad to help someone with a maiden run, but please be honest with yourself and us about your capabilities. Richland can be unforgiving for both swimmer and rescuer and the drama can make for a long day for all involved. It is often mentioned in the same breath as the Cossatot as a step up from the Piney, etc., but it is a different critter.

One "heads up" that I haven't seen mentioned regards the First Crack, left "cheat" route. I usually take the little boof on the far right edge of the left channel when skipping Crack. It now has a good sized limb in it that can be seen from above. What can't be seen is that it extends out into the drop at about chest height. There's a lot of wood laying around up there and there's no telling where it will show up!

[Boofaholic]

Ben rodda and jake, your pics I took of long devils are located on my updated blog here. http://teamgreensboatingblog.blogspot.com/ Enjoyed huckin w/ ya!

[Greg Parker]

Good advice from John that's why i wussed out at hailstone Sunday saw the level and wasn't sure about our ability rather than be a burden on everyone else and possibly put one of our group in danger we opted to go to an easier creek and still had a good time.

[JohnB]

I sure don't want to offend or put anyone off, as it is very rewarding to help someone step up and it's also very hard to say "no" when someone asks at the put-in if they can tag along. Sometimes circumstances prevail and that's just the way things come together but, if possible, plan that step up with some folks that you know you can count on and go for it!

[tomcat]

Ben rodda and jake, your pics I took of long devils are located on my updated blog here. http://teamgreensboatingblog.blogspot.com/ Enjoyed huckin w/ ya!

Ben Rodda.....good to see that you got to huck the Twin Devils (Long) Falls. You seem to have picked a good "wet" spring to get your introduction to our part of the world. Hope you're getting to test the other creeks we have.

[Ben Rodda]

Tomcat,

Hey man. I think I was just in the right place at the right time. I was hoping to see you out there on Sunday. I am hoping to to get out sometime later this week. We will see.

John B,

I love the tension you are in. The Arkansas scene here is really good and healthy. All of you are so helpful and friendly. If this kind of thing happens too often it will jeopardize this sense of hospitality. Hearing a persons resume of river experience at the put in is often skewed. Heck I have been paddling for 17 years and right now I am no where near where I used to be. I think it might be good for us to talk through other ways to handle these awkward situations. Here is something I have said to people at the put in in the past that might be helpful, "Our group is going to be keeping a really fast pace today if you feel like you can keep up we would love to have you along." This was said to me one time when I showed up a put in of the green. It backed me off as I knew I was going to need the time to scout rapids etc.

The other thing I would say, and maybe this is already happening is that this kind of "instruction" should be a part of the whitewater schools sponsored by ACC. Both on the end of teaching people how to guage their own progress and as how they can be a liability to other people on the river.

Boof,

I sent you some love man... check your email. Thanks again.

[bmartin]

"but, if possible, plan that step up with some folks that you know you can count on and go for it!"

Thats why I called you (JB) before heading up....I knew I would be in good hands for a first run. Thanks!!