The 2nd day of the VKC festival started with plans being made to head off to Silver Hope Creek in the beautiful Skagit Valley . We decided to meet at Tim Horton’s in Chilliwack to group up. On the way to get coffee, the trip almost didn’t go, as we drove along the river a lady had left her new pickup in reverse with no parking brake on. We watched as she tried to run with the truck as it reversed into the barrier wall protecting the river. As she did this barely missing getting hit twice, we controlled traffic as Marty drove her truck off the barrier. Her truck was damaged but in the scheme of things she got off lightly.
Meeting up we gathered the troops and with some rough instructions from Adam Frey, we headed off for exit 168. We checked the gauge and it was sounding like a solid 3. We knew it would be rising though the day as it was HOT. I think the day topped out at 33 degrees. We started a bit below the lake and were able to have a look at a lot of the rapids on the way up. It was a good thing to as Adam was the only one who had been on this section before. It was going to be a very fun day. It looked like a boat the Jackson Karma was going to enjoy.
We broke it up a little bit into a couple of groups and ran down setting safety and scouting lots. Adam did an excellent job of giving pointers on different spots, helped us cut down on the scouting quite a bit. The water level made for a great time.
Dan Dunn borrowed my camera to get some shots of us paddling, I am usually doing photos so hardly ever get out in front of the lens, was great to meet a few new paddlers and check out this beautiful run.
Look forward to next time.
Enjoy the pictures – All by Dan Dunn
On Safety
Ash Bullivant Charging toward Gemma’s Hole
Mason Lacy into and out of Gemma’s Hole
Ash on Roadside Rapid
One of the group getting close to the Log at the bottom of Roadside rapid
Taking a hit in Roadside Rapid
Adam Frey in Roadside Rapid
Mason Lacy on the runout of Roadside
Ash on one of the longer rapids
Boofing the Karma
David Richard running the last big drop.
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