Trip reports on this page



Other Updates







Lochsa Trip Report



11,000 CFS of Big Water on the Lochsa

I received some pictures from Tom Fullum that he took of Sean and I while we were out in Idaho this spring. Here are some sweet pictures he took on the Lochsa. The level was 11,000 CFS when the pictures were taken. And let me tell you, Pipeline on the Lochsa is one fun, if not a little frustrating big wave.

Pipeline is a wave near the end of the standard Lochsa run. It is a 7 foot tall wave that is super fast and pretty bouncy once you get the hang of it. The wave was constantly breaking creating large explosions on the left side. Surfers stayed to the right where it was more manageable to surf. If you ventured too far left you were sure to get eaten up in the break. There is an impressive clip in Gravity of Sean falling into an air pocket at the top of the left side of the wave and going deep, a complete mystery move.

I still have to go through the photos of the North Fork Payette at 4,000 CFS and South Fork Payette (Staircase section) at 15,000 CFS...So look for those soon, enjoy.

-Chris


Lochsa will be included in the ABP Paddling film called



Lochsa River, Idaho


Chris shows you the size of the water.



Sean surfing one of many big waves



Lincoln Punching Lochsa Falls



Chris Punching Lochsa Falls



Sean on Pipeline as it breaks



One of many awesome shots from Tom Fullum



Explosion!



Sean going for the blunt



Chris winding up for a blunt



Chris getting lost in the abyss











Chris Floating on down



Sean and Chris hiking up for another run on pipeline





Lochsa will be included in the ABP Paddling film called





Go To Top









The South Fork of the Payette was raging this spring. We paddled it around 14,000 CFS. Needless to say it was big water.

This was my first run in Idaho and still one of my favorites. The run consisted of huge waves, more huge waves and a couple holes. The best part about SF Payette at this level was that there were maybe 5 bad holes to avoid and there was so much space in between them that it was easy to miss them

In between the holes were massive waves, waves so big that they would never be seen in the southeast except during a 100 year flood.

I discovered something I never thought possible. Some of the waves were so large that when you attempted to crest them if you did not paddle and lean forward you would be back surfed…remember this is a green wave, not a hole! Ever hear of punching waves? Well I have.

This run had 3 major rapids. Bronco Billies , Staircase, and Slalom. Each of these rapids were easily 1/3 miles in length


Bronco Billies



Bronco Billies what about a mile long and started at the putin. It consisted of a lot of large waves.



Staircase was the crux of the run. There were several holes to avoid but the main move was the first. I couldn’t really see the line through it. But it was there, it just consisted of punching a massive sideways wave hole that looked like it would eat you. and this it does.


Sean Punching the entrance to Staircase





Getting Eaten in Staircase


Punching through

Every time I ran it I was sent completely underwater and when I emerged I had to regain my senses and paddle hard. Paddle hard and hope that I did not get washed into a hole. After the entry move the plan was to paddle down the middle and punch some waves.


Chris just cleared the entrance hole and now is figuring out where he is


Sean on the Bottom drop


Sean entering Slalom


Sean in Slalom


Sean in Slalom


Chris Entering Slalom

The last major rapid was slalom. And Yes, I swam at this rapid; I am man enough to admit it. As the Photographer explained it, “you flipped so fast I didn’t even realize what happened. And then you attempted about 8 rolls before you finally pulled.”


Trying to roll


Getting sucked into wierd currents



I hit the side of a large wave which was rather squirrelly which flipped me. I tried to roll numerous times in the weird currents, each time I attempted I was being sucked down into another weird current that seemed to not want me to succeed in my roll. So I eventually swam.

I knew I would loose my gear if I didn’t think straight so I grabbed my paddle and got on top of my capsized kayak. I rode the upside down kayak until the rapid got less intense and then swam it to the shore. I made it to shore about a mile downstream and finished out the run.

I ran the river again and had no problems. Stuff happens, what can you do?

Well that is my trip report. I want to thank Tom Fullum for the photos.

Enjoy


Go To Top






colorado trip report

Idaho Part One


Idaho Part Two


Gallatin Whitewater Festival Trip Report


Go To Top

[ Home ] [ About ABP ] [ Buy Gravity ] [ Paddler Bios ] [ Videos ] [ Sponsors ]