Pasture Horses.

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away I updated this blog. This semester was really rough and I participated in almost zero kayaking trips, school comes first than kayaking. However, now that i'm back in Clemson i've been able to paddle a little more often. This was the first time paddling since I broke my eardrum and it was great to finally out get again. Chan, Robbie, Adam, Mark, and I managed to get out for a little summertime horsepasture. The last time I ran the horsepasture was 3 years ago and I believe now that if I run it every 3 years i'll fine. Here are the pictures from our escapade....

Chan chillin' at the puttin

Robbie at beginning of Ugly Stuff

Adam part way through Ugly Stuff

Mark sliding out of Ugly Stuff

Robbie bowing down on Slab Falls

Mark boogie sliding

Robbie on the first drop of Stair Step Falls

Adam on the second drop of Stair Step Falls

Mark ducking a log

Robbie Cranking a boof

Chan on Thrasher Pike A

Adam finishing Thrasher Pike A

Robbie finishing Thrasher Pike B...

Robbie watching Chan finish Thrasher Pike B

Chan on a Highway to Heaven...

Awesome ending to the day with a sick view at Windy Falls.

Peace and good lines to all....

Mac

Team Pyranha

Reservation Raven.

I hadn't realized how much I missed the Raven Fork until I got the chance to run it this weekend (and I was itching to try my new Burn) for the first time in about 6 months, and it was awesome to be back. This was also a special weekend because I got to take three first timers (Clay, Colin, and Jay) through this amazing gorge,I had a clean line on Big Boy, and it was 55 degrees and sunny. PERFECT DAY. Here is the photo evidence....and one poor quality video...

Hiking in.

Clay on Headless Horseman

Jay on Headless horseman

Paddle Spin on Razor Back

Colin on Razor Back

Jay on Mortal Combat

Me scouting Big Boy

Me on the lip of Big Boy...

Tucking it up...

Big Boy....

A Small poor quality video of Clay and I running Anaconda

All in all this was one of the best days of paddling I have ever had. Oh yea, more thing, the new Burns are totally awesome, they paddle incredibly well.

peace and good lines,

Mac

Team Pyranha

Elk River...

Seeing that class was canceled on this chilly December day with good water Edgar, Kevin, Clay, Matt and I were looking for something to boat, we heard that the Twisting Falls section of the elk was holding and we decided to give it a try. We arrived to find the flow on the low side but still runnable (to low for the big falls). We encountered some fun rapids in the gorge, mostly slides with a few small vertical drops with the exception of highlight drops of the run compression falls and the drop just above it, we also learned that the twisting falls portage sucks pretty bad...all in all it was a good day (I am currently boatless other than my longboat so I forced to take the ole' piroutte S but it made the run interesting) here are a few shots from the day...

Edgar on the first rapid

Clay on one of the many mediumish sized slides of the day

Me longboatn' on a random slide (photo by: Clay Lucas)

Yet another slide

Slide to boof

The lovely and invigorating Twisting Fall portage

After several miles of solid class 4 and crappy portage we arrived at the highlight of the run compression falls...

Huck and Tuck (photo by: Edgar)

Kevin Firing it up (photo by: Edgar)

Clay with a nice tuck into the curtain (photo by: Edgar)

Matt giving it with a soon to be perfect plug (photo by: Edgar)

Kevin and I taking it in (photo by: Edgar

Clay finishing the run off with a sweet boof

Overall great day on the river everyone had good lines, cool run but kinda a long shuttle. Thanks for the great photos of the Falls Edgar...

Peace and good lines,

Mac

Team Pyranha

Laurel Forked...

After a late afternoon Boone Fork run Wednesday Clay Lucas and I were hoping Laurel Fork of the Doe would hold for a run thursday because neither of us had ever run Laurel and we hadn't heard much about it. We awoke to find the Doe and Watauga still above 1000 cfs, we went to our morning classes and rolled out from Boone around 12:30. We pulled up to Laurel Fork to what looked like (and ended up being) the perfect level, so we set shuttle and put on. Laurel Fork is pretty much one of the coolest rivers ever and it's now one of my favorite runs...A combination of: Overflow, Chattooga, some colorado stuff, and the West Prong with totally incredible scenery. Here are some pictures from the trip...I'm not sure if grabbed a first 'D' on Laurel Fork Fall or not, but I saw I line and ended up giving it a go...

Me running "Getting Warmer"

(Photo: Clay Lucas)

Clay Running "Getting Warmer"

Entrance to "Darwin's Hole"

"Darwin's Hole"

Clay at "Darwin's Hole

Looking back up at "Quadruple Drop"

"Hit The Deck"

The top 3/4 of Laurel Fork Falls

Taking peeksie...

Givin' er

-Huck-

Clay on the paddle out

Over all the Laurel Fork is pretty much one of the coolest rivers ever, and I highly recommend a trip out there if you have the time and the water. good hucking everyone...

Peace and good lines,

Mac

Team Pyranha