Here's a few other things I've learned about BC: If the locals say the water is a little low, it's most likely going to be a great level. If they say it's a good healthy flow, it's going to be flooded. If they say it's Class IV, it's probably solid Class V, and if they say it's Class V, you'd better bring your A-game 'cause it's going to be full-on! I guess it's all relative . . .

This year, Drew Eastman and I were pleasantly surprised to find sunny, 95 degree weather and low water, and I'm relieved to report that I finally got to experience a BC leisure tour. For a minute I thought I'd died and gone to California. We paddled a handful of new runs in the Fraser Valley and looped up and around to the Whistler/Squamish classics. Everywhere we went the scenery was incredible and the whitewater was phenomenal. There was a great variety of big water rivers, low volume creeks, pool-drop waterfalls and continuous boulder gardens.