My fears of public school  vanished as I arrived to yet another rainy day in Portland, OR. Every drainage in the pacific northwest was flooding beyond belief, with my favorite local runs more than double the average flow. My arrival back home marked the end to a glorious four months traveling with World Class Kayak Academy across the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada, and to Zambia and Uganda. (http://brendanwellskayaking.blogspot.com/2010/12/life-in-uganda.html)
My first mission upon arrival, after not running a tall drop for nearly half a year was to the infamous Eagle Creek. My brother Todd Wells and I hopped in the Subaru with a few friends and cameras, and made our way up to Metlako Falls. With fresh snow on the ground, we knew it was going to be a cold one, but kept in mind the frigid air may offer a unique shot of the falls with icy banks and snow capped trees.

The hike up was the most difficult part of the trip. The steep trail leading up Eagle Creek was covered by a thick sheet of ice. We eventually made it to the first viewpoint and took our first peak at the 85 footer. The small creek was much lower than the previous two times I had ran the falls, but the lip still looked great.
Todd and I both felt good about our lines and made our way to the put in. Boofing off the ten foot lead in drop, things were feeling a bit low. My brother and I stood at the lip, looking down at the beautiful gorge below. Huge icicles lined the canyon walls and the surrounding trees had a fresh coat of snow. Todd spotted his line, climbed in his boat and slowly rolled off the lip first gradually tucking up for the hit. He popped up with a huge smile, shouts of joy, and blood gushing down his face. Todd's Line- https://tandemstock.com/assets/72005202

He gave me the “OK” sign, and it was my turn. I had the usual butterflies, as well as the calming peace of mind I feel at the top of any difficult drop or rapid. I hopped in my Nomad, snapped on my skirt, closed my eyes and imagined every stroke of the way. I peeled out of the eddy toward the massive horizon line. The narrow, sloping lip guided me until nothing but gravity took over. You can barely see me in the red boat-  https://tandemstock.com/assets/43141322
Of the variety of tall drops I have ran, this was the most epic moment of them all. I spotted my landing, making sure I was perfectly vertical, then slowly tucked forward and bear hugged my boat. The free fall was at least twice as long as I expected. I felt as if I had something slowing my fall, yet I sure wasn’t going any slower. Then BAM, it hit me. Hard. Completely dazed I attempted a few unsuccessful hand rolls, then finally rolled up with the help of my brother. It took me a little while for the stars to fade and realize that I was safe and happy as ever.
I looked up, a huge smile across my face. A place only a few individuals had ever been. The walls were covered in thick sheets of ice, and massive icicles paralleled the drop. 

Our next mission was to Upper North falls on Silver Creek. This one was a first for me, and I was excited to stomp yet another beautiful northwest waterfall. Hiking up to the falls- https://tandemstock.com/assets/15505646 Levels were a bit lower than expected, but the lip and landing both looked smooth and soft. A quick scout from the bottom and we hiked to the top with boats, cameras and gear. I decided to probe it first, and had a smooth line and a soft impact. Erik Johnson was up next, again with a smooth line over the fifty footer. Todd was last, and starting out a little further right, had the cleanest line of the day. My line over Upper North Falls- https://tandemstock.com/assets/91452554

Less than a half hour out of my front door lies the infamous Outlet Falls. Outlet was probed in a kayak for the first time only a year ago. The falls very rarely gets enough water to create a soft enough landing for a kayaker to paddle over the lip, drop seventy vertical feet, and land safely in the pool below. After a big rain, my brother Todd, friend Erik Johnson and I got lucky enough to see a line over the falls and seized the opportunity with excitement. I went first and had a clean line and very soft landing into the giant pool below. My line- https://tandemstock.com/assets/80609062

 Erik was up next and had an epic line as well, chucking his paddle at the lip and taking a mid air hand stroke to find the perfect angle of entry. Johnson's line- https://tandemstock.com/assets/87230976

 Todd was last and showed us the line of the day. Just before the lip of the frothing seventy footer, he skidded into a micro eddy just feet above the falls. After chilling out for a minute, he peeled out into the current and was enveloped into the white falling curtain of water. Todd melting it- https://tandemstock.com/assets/80849368

Looking up at Outlet- https://tandemstock.com/assets/50100308

Another successful day- https://tandemstock.com/assets/48068095

Classic Spirit Shot- https://tandemstock.com/assets/14221708

 It's always epic in the Gorge

Brendan

Thanks to Bennett Barthelemy for all the great photos! http://www.bennettbarthelemy.blogspot.com/