Dinkey Creek is the very first river that I paddled in California and my first ever overnight kayaking trip. For this reason (along with it being a wonderland filled with 6 miles of the most fun, classic rapids and limited portaging), it has always held a special place in my heart.

Since my first trip there in 2009, I have made it a priority to make the pilgrimage back there every year since. This year was my 6th time paddling the creek and it was just as magical as ever! That…

The Soouth Feather is a short but steep creek that flows for an entire month every fall due to the lowering of Little Grass Valley Reservoir. Having raced this section of river last year  during Gnarlfest 2011 it was blatantly obvious that this course was not for longboats. This year things were gonna change as Will Pruett and myself took a visit to the river 5 days before the race with only Greenboats loaded on the car. The crux of the course is a 25 footer with a shallow landing that had…

Last week, after returning from a month of guiding in Belize, I officially transitioned out to California for the winter. I was pretty stoked that on day one back in the state I not only got to go kayaking, but got to check a new run off my list- Bald Rock Canyon of the Middle Feather. Last May I was fortunate enough to get on the amazingly beautiful Devil's Canyon section of the Middle Feather, just upstream of the Bald Rock section, so I was excited to see what…

You all have probably heard of the infamous Cherry Creek in California. If you haven't it's a High Sierra classic that you should put on your to-do list. I was lucky enough to paddle the upper section last summer along with Lane Jacobs, Louis Geltman, Jay Gifford, and Seth Swallen. The river was pristine, the scenery gorgeous, and the whitewater incredible. I put together a video with footage from my GoPro Hero video camera and also included some photos that Seth Swallen…

Last week I was fortunate enough to take a trip into the granite planet on Upper Cherry Creek. Due to a work commitment and coordinating a plan for Gareth's dog, we had to wait a couple days to put on, which led to the water being lower than preferred. As it turns out though, Upper Cherry with any water in it is a spectacular place not to be missed.…