THE HURDLES

Over the past two years we have raised nearly $50,000 from individual donors, our key sponsors, and a generous grant from National Geographic Expeditions Council. For all those out there wondering why we need so much money to pull off a trip like this, herein lies the crux: beyond the $13,000 in flights just to get to Kamchatka, we’re easily looking at another $25,000 minimum to get to just two rivers via helicopter and truck once we’re there. At $3,500 an hour, helicopter rates in Kamchatka are amongst the most expensive in the world; and unfortunately, no alternative forms of transportation (with the exception of hiking or treading across the landscape in a tank) exist to get us into the remote rivers we’re after.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours poring over maps, navigating Google Earth, and talking with people familiar with Kamchatka’s geography in a search for the best collection of rivers that will make for a well rounded and relevant expedition within the constraints of our budget. Since our team is amongst the first groups of whitewater kayakers ever to explore Kamchatka’s remote steep rivers and creeks, very few of the people we’ve talked with have good sense of what we’re even looking for! There are no guidebooks, no super-knowledgeable sources, and no documented ‘pinnacles’ to achieve. Instead, we’ve grown accustomed to following half-baked leads from disparate sources and filling in the information gaps where we can.

On top of these information gaps come the inherent planning challenges presented by a foreign language, a wild-west culture, and the unpredictability associated with any remote and sparsely populated region – especially Kamchatka. We’re expecting the unexpected, whether it presents via multi-day helicopter delays, intensive customs interrogations, uncooperative permitting officials, or any other combination of factors.

THE DETAILS

Our broad objective goals of kayaking exciting whitewater, making exploratory first descents, learning about the world’s most productive salmonid ecosystems, helping film a television show, and collecting relevant scientific data have loosely pointed us towards many interesting destinations; and although no single ‘perfect’ location has stood out that captures all these elements in one affordable package, our team has assembled an itinerary that we believe presents the best opportunities to meet these objectives and help tell Kamchatka’s important story.

We depart for Kamchatka from Seattle on June 30th and return on July 30th. Even though Kamchatka is relatively close to the Pacific Northwest, we will be flying around almost the entire world to get there (read related post): Seattle to New York, New York to Moscow and then Moscow to Petropavlovsk. Just getting to Kamchatka is a feat unto its own, and will involve over 22 hours of flight time in addition to layovers.

Once we land we will take a couple of hours to knock off the jet lag and then head immediately to the Kol River: one of salmon ecologist Dr. Jack Stanford’s key study locations and home to over 8 million spawning wild salmon each year. Our goals will be to see and understand how a healthy salmon-based ecosystem works (the Kol is listed amongst the healthiest in the world), investigate how some of the Kamchatkan government’s anti-poaching efforts are working on the Kol, and highlight the significance of the ecology research that has been conducted on the Kol over the past two decades.

Upon returning to Petropavlovsk from the Kol biostation we will fly in an old MI-8 20-person helicopter north to the Storzch River or Shamanka River (depending on weather and conditions), where we will spend just under a week on an expedition to explore and document one of these remote and uncharted pristine drainages. What we know about these rivers is based largely on heresay and speculation; and to say the least, we’re excited for the unknown.

After this expedition we’ll hook up with National Geographic Television and renowned fly fishing guide Ryan Peterson to float the Zhuphanova River, known amongst fly fishermen worldwide as a mecca for bull trout and salmon fishing. In addition to navigating the film crew down the lower Zhuphanova, we’ll be looking at flow, discharge, temperatures, and river bottom substrates in the main channel and side streams, checking out nitrogen levels in plant biomass from various parts of the valley, and documenting ecological characteristics of the entire aquatic floodplain. We hope to be able to show how the nutrients salmonid bring from the sea to their native rivers provide the base of a lush food web that goes well beyond the river itself.

From here the team will split up: Jeff and Bryan will stay on with the National Geographic crew while Ethan, Rob, Shane, and Jay will explore several other rivers within driving and hiking distance of Petropavovsk. Bryan will be second camera unit and Jeff will act as a scientific liaison for the National Geographic show as it meets with several Russian and American scientists and travels to Kuril Lake and several other key salmon hotspots. The details for the latter end of the trip will continue to be flushed out more and more in the coming weeks, but as we’ve learned from past experiences and been told by countless advisors, this adventure will be marked by countless unexpected variables, and much of our actual schedule is sure to be determined on the fly once we’re in Kamchatka.

After completing a random pit stop and potential first descent of the Umnas River, our next stop was Lake R�ssvatn and take-out for the Krutaa River. Our camp location turned out to be the most epic camp location I have seen in a long while. The perfect place to spend July 1^st Canada Day! We were surrounded by snow-covered mountains, an endless rock pebbled shoreline on a massive lake, a large supply of dry drift wood for a campfire, and presented with continuous 24 hours of daylight. Epic and not a place we wanted to leave! We woke to another day of sunshine and a perfect water level for the Krutaa River. This river is one that I have spoken about with the Suomi (Finland) paddlers a number of times and I was going to add another river to my ever-growing list of personal descents. As we were sliding into the river for an amazing section of boofs, slides, and monster holes to plug, I couldn�t help but take a moment to reflect on the fact that there is nothing else in the world I would rather be doing than living the life that I am!  The water was clean and clear and every rapid a masterpiece. It is one of the rivers that required you to continually take a look back upstream after running a rapid and check it out, smile, and record the memory.  We could paddle ourselves all the way into the lake to finish the river and start taking about how sick the river was and what we would paddle next.

Scott Shipley surfing at the old Snap Dragon Hole back in the ’80’s. Picture coutesy of John Wasson.

June 11-12, While this festival provides an opportunity for the local paddling community to get together and enjoy the river, it has also reached out to the community to raise awareness of river conservation, access and safety issues in the Pacific Northwest. FRIDAY JUNE 11, 2010

All afternoon events are held at Rodeo Hole.

• Boogie Board Surf Event
• Raft Surf Event
• Head to Head Ferry Madness – Kayak Event

Then, head on over to the WENATCHEE RIVER FESTIVAL Kick-off Fundraiser at Crossfit Gym in Cashmere

SATURDAY JUNE 12, 2010

There will a number of events going on throughout the day on the river. As you share the river, please remember to root your fellow paddlers and rafters on!

Join us for the FIRST Annual Raft Games hosted by River Booty Photography

• Timed Rigging Competition
• Timed event from dam to Rodeo Hole
• Throw bag Competition (Accuracy and Distance)
• Timed Down River Raft Race (Snowblind to bottom of Granny Rapids)
• Cataraft Race Rodeo to Takeout (part of the Western Whitewater Championship Series)

And don’t forget the kayak events

• Play Clinic hosted by World Kayak. Instructors include Marco Colella, Jean-Luc Robichaux, and Chris Otha. Open for all levels!
• Down River Race hosted by Washington Kayak Club
• Rodeo at Rodeo Hole hosted by Leavenworth Mountain Sports

Join us for

SAVE the Wenatchee River Festival Group Paddle

http://www.wenatcheeriver.com/

The race will have two start times:

There will be a mandatory pre-race meeting at 10:45 am with an  11:30 am start for the following divisions:

Sea Kayak, Outrigger, SUP

There will be a mandatory pre-race meeting at 11:45 am with a  12:30 am start for the following divisions:

Surfskis, OC2s, OC6s, All Rowers

Gear Requirements: Each participant is required to have in their possession a PFD, have an accessible whistle or other sounding device as well as a bilge pump (decked boats) or bailing device (OCs) and it is highly recommended that you wear a wetsuit or drysuit and carry a VHF radio.  We’ll have wetsuits, booties and other gear available for rent at the ORK shop.  Note:  We highly recommend that you WEAR a PFD at all times while racing.

All racers acknowledge that they understand the serious health and safety risks of open water racing, that they are competent in unassisted self-rescue in open water conditions, and that they will self-assess conditions on race day and withdraw from competition if their inability to handle the conditions may put other paddlers and rescue teams at risk.  All race participants will be required to sign a release form.

Registration Details: $50 per person (discounts for boats with three+ paddlers).  This includes race entry fee, event tee shirt (if registered by May 31st) and free BBQ meal on Friday night.  Sorry, no refunds and you must be present to claim shirts and bag of schwag.

Details and registration at

Inaugural deFuca Downwind Paddle Race

Freshwater Bay to Port Angeles, WA — June 12, 2010 — 11:30am

See Rodrigo’s adventures at http://kayakpucon.blogspot.com/

I am back from my incredible trip to the USA, I paddled with the Garcias brothers and the Demshitz boys for one month and it was awesome.

You have to see the new Kayaking video that Even Garcia will produce this summer in Pucon Chile it is incredibly good.

We paddled in Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada, it was perfect, I love USA. I love California…

Now I am back in Europe ready to Paddle in some Teva Tours and Kober Paddle Team Very fun summer in the Alps.

In further news, check out an article that appeared in Britain this month.

http://www.wideworldmag.co.uk/features/heroes-tao-berman-extreme-kayaker

 What is Tao doing in June?

June 1-13, racing in CO
June 15-16, Red Bull project in the Cascade Mountains
June 18-21, Seattle
June 25-29 CO

Tao will be busy:

June 1-13, racing in CO
June 15-16, Red Bull project in the Cascade Mountains
June 18-21, Seattle
June 25-29 CO

The First four days in Germany-five training sessions, one hotel, one campground, one car wreck, and a holiday. Emery and I arrived to Germany with no problems until we pulled into the parking lot of the Eiskanal, only to find our car being backed into, a great way to start our trip. The next morning we met up with Kat Levitt.  We were excited after our two sessions in washing machine on the Eiskanal. It is a super fast hole with crazy eddies. We decided to head to Platlting, so we could train there without a crowd.  While driving  there people would fly past you.  We were going about 140km but it seemed that we were the slow pokes.

We thank Peter and Nina from Slovakia, for giving us directions to the hole as I do not think we would have found it without them. The hole in Platttling is so nice, and the eddy is even better. You can do almost every move in the hole. EJ was doing some awesome combos, and everyone was going HUGE. It was great to be able to train with EJ and Dane and have the hole basically all to ourselves.  We are heading back to the Washing Machine hole and the “ washing machine” eddies.

Next day
     We will finally be able to go grocery shopping.  The stores are closed on Sunday and Monday was a holiday.  We did find an awesome coffee shop.  As long as I have coffee all is well.  Lenka from CZ arrives  tomorrow.    Yoko is here from Japan and the rest of Team Japan arrives today.  We are camping between Marsha from Russia and Chris from the UK. I enjoy meeting everyone from around the world at these international events and being reunited with my  friends.  Truly, the best part.

Cheers,

Devon Barker, Emery Tillman, and Kat Levitt ( Emery is not driving this time)

The Adventurers:

Jesse Coombs
Jesse travels the world in pursuit of Class V whitewater. When not extreme kayaking, he skis, plays hockey and participates in search and rescues. In 2006, he was named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. Read more about Jesse at http://www.eddiebauer.com/FIRST-ASCENT/Team/Jesse-Coombs

Darin McQuoid
Darin is one of the world’s most accomplished extreme kayakers and one of the sport’s best professional photographers. Read more about Jesse at http://www.eddiebauer.com/FIRST-ASCENT/Team/Darin-McQuoid

Ben Stookesberry
Ben was named National Geographic Adventure Hero of the Year in 2007. He’s one of the world’s leading expedition kayakers with first descents in Mexico, India, Brazil and beyond. http://www.eddiebauer.com/FIRST-ASCENT/Team/Ben-Stookesberry

Hotel Charley V Tour Schedule:

• Thursday, May 27, 2010 at Jagged Edge, Telluride, CO
• Friday, June 04, 2010 at Teva Mountain Games, Vail, CO
• Saturday, June 05, 2010 at Teva Mountain Games, Vail, CO
• Sunday, June 06, 2010 at Teva Mountain Games, Vail, CO
• Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at Rocky Mountain Adventures, Ft Collins, CO
• Friday, June 11, 2010 at Rendezvous River Sports, Jackson Hole, WY
• Saturday, June 12, 2010 at Alpenglowidaho at O’Michaels Pub, Boise, ID
• Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at Outdoor Adventure Center, Redmond, WA
• Thursday, June 17, 2010 at Alder Creek, Roots Organic Brewery, Portland, OR
• Friday, June 18, 2010 at The Shed & The River City Saloon, Hood River, OR

http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/05/11/first-ascent-adventurers-featured-in-new-expedition-kayak-film-hotel-charley-v/

As a result Snap Dragon has custom cockpit sizing for the boats shown below.

If there is a boat not mentioned please let us know the cockpit dimension by measuring the length and width of the cockpit at the maximum points from the outer edge of the coaming.

TideRace Excite = TR

TideRace Excite  S= TRS

TideRace Explorer = TR

TideRace Explorer S= TR

TideRace Explorer X = ML

Mega Bullitt  = SL

Mega Bullitt S = SL

Mega Boost = SL

Mega Cyclone = SL

Mega Jester = SL

Mega Marauder PE = ML

Mega Megatron = SL

Mega Nuetron = SL

Mega Predator = SL

MegaProwler = SL

Mega Revenge = XS

Mega Scarab = SL