Not to be beaten we headed over to Crosby Gill, another Duddon Ditch, that I had also neglected until this point. A quick look at Mega Rapid Z made this seem like a much more interesting, but still fairly full on paddle. As we were on a photo hunting mission (a kayaking / photographer friend of a friend was visiting from lands afar), we just ran this rapid a few times, before heading back to Logan Beck in the hope of lower levels. In the space of an hour or so, levels had dropped a couple of feet, the water was still fast and brown, but far more appealing, and we sessioned the fall until darkness set in, before heading for hot drinks with good friends. The only snag being that we are yet to see the photos. Sunday led me to the Troutbeck, one of the best grade 4 runs in the Lakes, with a beautiful gorge and continuous but spaced interest.

EDIT: SEE http://www.rainchasers.com/rainchasing-blog/crosby-stills-and-cash.html FOR PHOTOS OF DUDDON CREEKING

Then for this weekend, the plan was to go exploring in Swaledale – if the main river was tanking we’d head off to some unrecorded things that we’d looked at for the guidebook. When we got there the river was rising, but was by no means high, so we headed up Whistundale Beck, which is the perfect start to the Swale. At Wainwath, it was obvious the river had risen but we carried on to Rainby anyway. The line was similar to normal flows, only a bit bolder and with more room for error. Jonny jumped in his boat, went off the lip ever so slightly too far left, and got munched. Looking down into the bowl below, there was little we could do. Luckily the lad flushed out nicely, with boat not far behind, and paddle on the wrong side of the river. At this point an executive decision was made to walk away, for the second time in two weeks, and follow the original plan of exploring down the valley.

Walking up Gunnerside Gill. Photo: Matt Bibbings

This led us to Gunnerside Gill, a continuous boulder strewn ditch we had looked at, but doubted would ever find with adequate water. Sundays’ downpour provided more than enough, and we walked up the path, which was flowing itself. The river had few eddies, the odd tree, continuous gradient and the occasional rumble as rocks moved downstream. Further upstream there is a gorge, but when we scouted six months ago, this was tree infested and we didn’t bother walking that high up for this reason. When clear, this will be a lovely spate option for an experienced boater.

See here for a short video.

Finally we headed to Gayle Beck, which flows through Hawes. This was typically Yorkshiresque, with ledge drops aplenty considering it’s short length. Sadly the rain had stopped, and we had clearly missed the highest levels of the day. All was good, although I ended up with a split, and had the levels been as high as earlier, could have been tempted into Aisgill Force, a 10m fall upstream that awaits a known descent.

Lead in to Mill Falls, Gayle Beck. Photo: Frith Wood

This, in a very round about way, leads me to the theme of this post, ‘Walking Away’. I feel pretty lucky to paddle with friends who I am happy to discuss lines and consequences with, and would have no hesitation or feel embarrassment in saying “not today thanks” to. On the way home, a conversation with a friend who I have only done a limited amount of paddling with highlighted that this was something new to him. I cannot imagine paddling within a group where the dynamic pressured me into taking risks or paddling water that I was not happy with. There is a big difference between friendly banter and gentle persuasion, and feeling forced into doing things you’d rather not. Water and kayaking have many risks, which is one of the draws for many of us, but I’d hate to think people feel they have to run things just to get one up on their friends, tell others they have done X, Y or Z, grade 5 or a drop bigger than that one that you did. Boating rocks, ego sucks. Walk away if it’s not worth it, but friendly persuasion is definitely ok!

Mill Falls, Gayle Beck. Photo: Frith Wood

I’ve had two weekends of really good boating, but walked away twice.

This was how Jonny and I arranged our recent trip to the Pyrenees. We had been looking for someone to join us on a trip to Italy, to share costs etc, but to no avail. We did however find Mike, who was looking for one or two extra people to share driving and eddies on a trip to the Pyrenees, where he was meeting up with a couple of friends who recently embarked on a European paddling /travelling road trip. The promise of crystal blue grade 4-5 waters was almost too much to resist, but the addition of a company estate car and European fuel card reeled us in. If levels were too low / high, we could always move over to Italy anyway, as it wasn’t going to cost us anything.

We first met Mike 15 minutes before jumping in his car and heading to Dover. 20 hours later, we met Adam and Mark, parked in a layby drinking beers. Very random, the power of the internet should not be underestimated!

The Pyrenees are a beautiful place, very different to the usual mecca of the Alps. The hills are greener, quieter and less-developed. If you are prepared to put up with more driving, wild camping, river permits, erratic water levels and the need to be flexible, you will be rewarded with crystal waters, deep canyons and culture. There is definitely something here for all paddlers, from the boxed in canyons of the Veral, to bimbling along below the Murrilos de Gallegos. Sadly, a week in I managed to break a finger and, unable to hold a paddle, spent more time exploring the mountain towns and villages, taking photos and being philosophical.

First impressions count, and are hard to change once made. My first impressions of the Pyrenees were ones of beauty, awe and magic. My first impressions of my internet buddy were somewhat different, as it was clear that their personality, morals and motivations were very different to my own. Luckily, friendships with Mark and Adam were easily forged, and the location made any differnces bewteen individuals insigificant.

Lessons learnt include :- it is absolutely impossible to judge a person over the phone or internet, first impressions count, there really is such a thing as all the gear no idea (in more ways than one), friendships can be made and broken in the strangest of situations, good river shoes are as important as a boat.

I would like to thank Jarvis for making the trip possible, Mike for introducing me to new friends, sat navs for taking us on the most scenic (but never the quickest) routes, and Doug for showing us the light. I look forward to seeing new friends again, and intend to return to the Pyrenees to fully explore the rivers they have to offer.

For the last few weeks the sun has been shining and I’ve wanted the rain, the River Leven is the lowest I’ve seen it since moving to the Lakes and I’ve even resorted to a trip to Teesside. However, I’ve also managed lots of climbing with some trips to Dow Crag, some local single pitch stuff and two trips back to Yorkshire to climb in God’s own county at some of my old haunts including Eastby, Rylstone and Simon’s Seat.

Tom Woodstone boudering the start of and She was, E3 6a **, Simon's Seat. Pic NW.

Jonny Briggs on a tough unknown boulder problem, Simon's Seat. Pic NW

Andrew Bancroft, The Struggler, VS 5a, Eastby Crag. Pic NW.

Tom Woodstone leading the superb Arete Direct, VS 4c ***, Simon's Seat. Pic NW

 

Link to Video

To access this beck, we parked near the village green and a small unrunnable fall, walked a short way up a path and then paddled accross a manmade lake to the bottom of the beck. It was very excitng as an impressive four tiered fall cascades down almost into the lake itself.

Tom Woodstone kayaking the main falls. Pic: JB.

Above the four main falls lies a small gorge containing a number of other falls / slides which we also ran, but there was an annoying tree portage that meant the whole run could not be done quite as one. However, I’m sure we will go back to sort this out at lower levels as it would be a good little project to further experiment with zip wire filming.

The question however is this: Wezzit? The clues:

• It lies very near the borders of Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire (although I am not exactly sure where) and is within the remit of our guidebook
• You are meant to pay to get to the lake which provides the access, although there is a path above the gorge on river right
• It is easily accessed from the A65 and is roughly halfway between Kendal and Skipton

Answers on a postcard…!

JB on the lead in (left); and then styling the final fall (right) before rolling up on the lip. Pics: TW

In life, some things are bound to happen – there is nothing you, me, or even sheer belief in some higher being that will ever be able to change that. If we worry too much about these things, as well as an infinite amount of others, we can never really enjoy life. Life is there to be lived. I am so glad that a passion for the outdoors remains constant in me, and enriches my life with so much joy and friendship. I am so sad that something so tragic has happened to make me fully realise this.

In February I was lucky enough to get away skiing in France for a week, where I also tried snowboarding for the first time. I think if you understand the concepts of flatspinning a kayak and have average balance boarding is quite easy to grasp, and I really look forward to going again.

A lack of real rain in the area has led me onto the waters of Windermere for some gentle canoeing with friends. In January I also did some easy intro rivers with Nic, Andy, Jonny and his girlfriend, Ness, who hadn’t really been boating before. I’ve discovered sometimes it’s really nice to slow right down and appreciate your surroundings from a new perspective, although seeing as the floodgates on the Leven were also open we had to head out for a play too. Afterall, it would have been rude not to… If you’ve not been on them, they are well worth a visit when open. I’ve been told they are much like the top gate at HPP, but as I do my best to avoid anything down south, especially concrete ditches, I can’t confirm this.

Yesterday we were lucky enough to find a splash of water in the River Doe, Ingleton, where we set up a zip wire in an attempt to get some interesting dynamic video footage. Jonny then went for a quick look at another beck which looks promising, and lies within the remit of the recently announced Yorkshire Kayaking guidebook we’ve secretly been working on for a while. 

Myself on Beezely Falls, River Doe, Ingleton. (Pic: JB) Note the zip wire above the drop – you can just make out Andy filming behind the trees!

Well, hopefully I will get the opportunity to update this page more frequently than previously. If not, see you in four months or so.

Tom

Even better, my new Jefe Grande shell arrived from America just in time for me to kit it it out ready. This one is in a weird custard yellow colour, which at first I didn’t like but’s actually quite photogenic, and certainly better than white (although I miss the flowers)! I had only used the Grande in the Alps before I split it, so had a good feel of it on fast and big, but no idea of how it would handle on steeper stuff… I came away very impressed, with its secret auto-boof button, likening it to a QE2 tank like beast with the temperament of a beautiful woman. It’s very comfy too!

After some shoddy road sign reading, a MacDonalds coffee and sightseeing tour of Glasgow at night, Thursday evening saw us falling to sleep in the car park of Paddys Irish Bar in Tyndrum. Bacon sandwiches and a large tea took us to the Orchy, which was at a good level. I ran every drop on the river, which I hadn’t managed before. Both the ‘grade 5′s felt a lot easier than they should of done. Easan Dubha was a nice boof of the shelf in the middle. Tom Wayte had to pluck up that extra bit of courage, as an off line last year led to a munching and swollen head! Eas a Chathadh had some really nice moves down the left, and I am waiting to be emailed some excellent photos of it. The afternoon took us to the Etive valley, which was already busy with the ‘English on Tour’. It felt nice to be on a familiar river, boofing some drops. Perhaps it was this complacency that led to my downfall… Right Angle Falls, thought by some to be ‘the easiest drop on the river’, is not such a nice place to be if you happen to go exploring behind the fall.

Coming off the lip I over rotated, losing any advantage the rocker of my boat would have given me. The water was violent and I tried rolling, coming up against the wall of the deep pool. A quick change to my offside and I was up, in the far river left corner behind the fall. A monstorous veil of water came crashing down before me, and although I didn’t see him, JB had already come down the fall seconds behind me. I looked for something to hold whilst I figured out what to do, but all I found wassmooth and slippy rock. Before I knew it I was rolling again and again and again. The conscious desicion came to quit, and I pulled my deck. The force of the water stole my paddle from me and I went deep to where the faint rumble above me seemed a long way away, as I came back towards the surface I thought I was going back in and the cycle was to start again, in some wet and cold version of Groundhog Day, but then I appeared downstream, gasping for air. Friends fished me and my paddle out, whislt the Grande continued to get a pasting for a wee while. Some other boaters came over to me to congratulate me for sticking to it for so long. Apparently they’d seen some others get a psting already that day…! A quick walk up the hill took us to Allt a’ Chaoruinn which had a fast and speedy descent.

The Friday night at Kinlochleven was a bit of a let down on previous years, due to the lack talks and presentations, plus majorly overpriced beer! But still, it was nice to be surrounded by so many smiling boaters, sharing stories and experiences.

Saturday took us to the Garry, a river I’d not done before. It’s always nice to do something new, but it wasn’t that great (shallow and busy), and it was a good river for Nic to do. We then headed to the Spean Gorge which was low. As far as I’m aware, people do it even lower, but I’m not sure I’d like to. It was a very different place to last year. I had to have a quick word with myself before I did the Witches Cauldron.

The Glen Nevis Inn was a beatutiful place for the Saturday party, and some people had made a real effort with the superhero theme, including an almost naked Superman and two girls dressed as Cauliflowe Colin. Reams of raffle tickets won me nothing, but the money went to a good cause! Plus, i managed to swap a free t-shirt that was thrown into the crowd for some roof pads so all was not lost!

Sunday took us down the Etive once again, via a cooked breakfast and the most flustered waiter in the world. Right Angle really was the easiest drop down the river, until Andy managed to pin himself above the drop in some crazy kamikaze move. This took a lot of effort and the collective brain power of 9 people to acheive. Still, I did tell him it’d be reet!

A big thank you to the SCA and all the individuals who put in the effort (again) to organise another fantastic event. It is nice to see it grow year on year – roll on 2009!

• Firstly, we have moved from the creeking mecca of Yorkshire to the banks of the River Leven in Cumbria;
• secondly, I had an article on boating in Slovenia in the last issue of CKUK.

I will post up more news and ‘proper’ boating related thoughts as soon as I have a regular internet connection. For now feast your eyes on the following snaps which highlight my last couple of months, which I will add to once I get hold of some more recent photos.

Tom

Jonny Briggs on the very balancey Harris Slab (6a), Swastika Stones.

Myself finally linking the moves of Harris Slab eliminate, also 6a, Swastika Stones. Photo: Jonny Briggs

Andy Bancroft onsighting the really nice arete (5) just left of Harris Slab. Climbing the arete on its left hand side with a sit down start was steep and also really good, at 5+.

Shaun Lewis on problem 12, Grapenut Area, Earl Crag. Sit down start – V5 6b.

On a positive note, my final year grades were released today and I think I may have got a 2:1 - which is nice! Having said that, I’m not 100% sure how they work it all out and it might be a 2:2, which is also good seeing as I tried to do as little work as possible. At least I know I passed!

Tom