Upper Browns River

At the beginning of January I had the opportunity to get out on the Upper Browns river with Joe and Gillian Box. This is a seldom paddled river up in the Comox Valley.
This is a bit of a mission depending on the water level and good to do once and awhile. On this day we had a nice flow of 12-14cms.
We met up and stopped off at Kevin Lewis's place on the Browns River. The nice thing is you can take creek boats from the top and then switch to play boats for the last little bit down to the Puntledge river for big water play.
The drive to the put in is paved till you get to the base of forbidden ski hill, from there it is a bit more convoluted. Some washed out spots here and there. Though my Honda accord did make it up with only a few bumps.
We put in at the base of the Medicine Bowls, there is a portage shortly after this around a nasty slot. In January when we paddled there was a tree in the middle of this drop. It is basically the first corner you come to. Essentially 150m after putting on.
There are three drops near the top and then 6kms of fairly continuous class 3 - 3+. After switching to play boats we headed on down stream running the small falls on the Browns before meeting up with the high water puntledge.
Something interesting about going from 14cms to 350cms. The Puntledge was charging. In the trees and rippin along. This would be a quick trip down to the end.

Enjoy the photos.

Cameron River Vancouver Island

Cameron River

Located on the way to Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. This is a great creek. The call came from Shayne Vollmers that it would be running around 5-6 on the gauge. This is a very nice level for the Cameron. Provides nice consistent cushioning and nice flow so you can bomb down a lot of stuff. We met up at the gas station just outside Qualicum. Picked up a bit of fuel(read coffee) and we were on our way. Read through the rest of the story by pictures. Little write ups under some.

Filling up at the local gas station. Coffee to go, habitat loaded.

Dan Dunn ready to go for a paddle. View of the take out.

Steve Hunt hiking into the put in. About 30 ft up the road.

The lads on the river with a view of snow covered Mt Arrowsmith in the background.

Vancouver Island Fall Season

Vancouver Island 2009 Fall Season

The Author and Joe Box looking back up stream after the 2nd drop on Stotan Falls. One more slide to go before the finish. Then it is on to the play. Photo by Jakub Drnec.

Jakub Drnec running the first drop on Stotan Falls on the Puntledge river. Courtenay BC, Vancouver Island.

Well it has been a good season over on the west coast. Finally getting back into paddling after a year and a half off the river due to a broken shoulder, this fall has been pretty good. Huge flows on the puntledge. Some adventuring with a river board, taking my new Wavesport Habitat 80 down a number of runs a couple of new sections, a new river. Some waterfalls and lots of photography. All in all has been sweet.

Here you will find a number of photos showcasing a number of runs. A little write up about each will be included as well.
Follow the link for more

Fall Time Paddling, Vancouver Island.

Two weeks ago we had a bit of rain on the Island. It was warm, so the rivers picked up with lots of water. The Puntledge was having a release due to this and it's main tributary was running as well. A number of paddlers were in the area from Victoria, the Valley, Nanaimo, Europe and NZ.

I am still not paddling at this point but hope to be next year. I went out just to do some photography. The fall colours were beautiful and the river was at a nice level.

A few of the kayakers were keen to paddle the falls on the Browns, it is an interesting 12-15ft drop with a few different lines. The right line was a bit boxed in by a tree, the far left line is shallow in a couple of places. They decided on the middle line, Gord, Gillian, and Todd, had nice lines down the middle. The others were running safety and scoping out how it went for them. Tyler then headed up to run the drop next. Unfortunately things didn't go quite as well for him.

Tyler came off the top went a bit further to the left and ended up back under the drop. Apparently there is a rock back there as well, because that messed up a couple of his roll attempts. He ended up swimming, with Gord off chasing his boat.

Tyler was throw-bagged in, and Gord had got the boat stuck on some rocks out in the middle of the river. After a half hour or so the boat and paddler were reunited and they paddled off down to the confluence with the Puntledge. From there many play waves waited. I was able to connect with them for some shots on the lovely tarp and play wave. If you come to Vancouver Island in the early summer try to connect with the Puntledge Festival when BC Hydro releases 100cms for two days.



Fall time has arrived.

Checking the Level, also good to look here.

Short hike in from the parked car.

Heading to the put in.

Gord playing on a small hole near the put in on the Browns.

Gord and Gillian paddling down the Browns.

The boys look as Gord huck's off the drop.

Gord dropping in.

Arising from the deep.

Todd smooth sailing down the middle line.

Gillian cruising down the middle of the Browns Falls.

Tyler happy to find the boat stuck and not floating off down the river somewhere.

Gord with his catch.

Getting a rope out to the rock so we can pull the boat in.

Hmmm.......

Tarp and Play, Puntledge River.

Gillian throwing ends.

Carrie surfing it up.

Such a nice spot, Gord tearing it up.

Todd enjoying his Jackson 4Fun.

Photos by Dave Prothero Photography.