In mid May, I packed up my stuff, three pairs of skis, two pairs of ski boots, my kayaking gear, two kayaks, two mountain bikes, and my dog and drove west. Well, west and then north. 6500 miles in the following three weeks. But it was not all for naught -- along the way, I did a high water trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon for a friend's bachelor party and paddled in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and BC.

Christian Woodard running Fine Line on Big Timber on the way to the Middle Fork.

I first rowed the Middle Fork a couple years ago at normal June flows (4.2') -- it was a phenomenal trip. But this year, the water was high, the road was closed, one person got arrested in Darby, MT, a truck broke down, and the four of us with any rafting experience put on a day early to self support down Marsh Creek leaving everyone else to rig and fly in. I don't think they were too upset. And, in our defense, self supporting down Marsh Creek was awesome! It's a great run, and the extra day was a great addition to the trip.

Calling it "self support" when we camped at the luxurious Boundary Creek campground may be a bit of a stretch -- precut firewood, outhouses, and a firepan with a griddle made it a bit easier than your normal overnighter.

Christian on Dagger Falls, Middle Fork of the Salmon.

Billy Wagner in the Loon Creek Gorge (a tributary of the Middle Fork).

After getting off the Middle Fork, I met my girlfriend Daphnee Tuzlak in Missoula and we drove to Hood River for a two day whirlwind tour of the paddling there. I'm always one to defend the whitewater in New England...but the whitewater just about everywhere pales in comparison to the Little White.

Double Drop on the Truss at 4.5'...the line, as told to me in the eddy above it: "Enter on the left, and roll up in time to run Karen's Box on the right."

"Follow me, it's a boof on the right." My thought, coming around the corner: "He's going under that log?? WHAT?!" Awesome boof.

From there, we drove north...and then north some more. And then a little further. We paddled for a day in Terrace, BC on the Kalum River, which turned out to have a pretty awesome playspot on it, and then continued north up to Whitehorse, the Yukon, where I'll be through August.

There aren't many roads up here, but there's definitely water. I'm hoping to get into some business while I'm here, we'll see.

There's some kayaking to be had up here...Olivier Roy-Jauvin on the Tutshi River.

A heads up for anyone going to the Stikine this year: they changed the sign on river right by the beach! It says something along the lines of "Dangerous rapids ahead." Not quite as climactic. Take the photo on river left, the old sign is still there.

Also, here are my GoPro videos from the Little White:

and Farmlands/Truss: