RIVERSIGNALS COMMUNI
“I FEAR FOR THE FUTURE OF PADDLING…THE NEW REALITIES OF RISK/REWARD…WILL NEVER CREATE A LABOR OF LOVE LIKE PALMER FEST.”
Excerpted from a comment posted on
Rapidmag.com by WALLY SCHABER STANDINGWAVES
Easier to get out than in. PHOTO: DAN PATRINELLIS
TY
SAVING THE DAMMED
PADDLERS WORK ALONGSIDE AUTHORITIES TO RECLAIM A LOST WASHINGTON RUN
Looking downriver from the Chelan Dam, it’s hard to imagine the volume of water that carved this gorge through Chelan, Washington. For three fleeting weekends last year, paddlers were satisfied to take advantage of a modest 400 cfs release. An agreement made in 2006 between American Whitewater, the
U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the local energy agency is the basis for a three-year flow feasibility study that concludes this year. The project’s outcomes will include a recreation- al resource management plan that directly addresses the needs of whitewater paddlers. Last July and September, the ongoing work of Thomas O’Keefe and
American Whitewater gave paddlers the opportunity to demonstrate safe use of the waterway. “The utility, federal regulators and the local community will be care-
fully evaluating the outcome of these releases,” says O’Keefe. “The success of the weekends is judged not on the number of paddlers or the number of trips, but on our ability to be safe.” Before putting in, paddlers were greeted by project leader Kris Po-
mianek and two security guards. They were required to sign in and were issued permits following a briefing on what was expected of them during the day’s descent. Pomianek told paddlers, “Because these releases are part of a study required by the FERC, the local util- ity takes things very seriously.”
16 RAPID SPRING 2011 Authorities originally objected to these releases over concerns sur-
rounding hazards known to lay hidden within the gorge. Although short, the run brims with horizon lines, class V drops and vertical walls, constantly reminding paddlers that there is no easy exit from the gorge. At one set of rapids, The Point of No Return is crudely spray-painted on a rock face. The initial study only allows access for hard-shelled kayaks. O’Keefe
implored boaters to respect the policy and insisted that access for in- flatables could be explored when the management plan is revisited at the end of this year. The efforts of O’Keefe and a small group of Washington boaters res-
onate with paddlers across the U.S. and Canada who are fighting for shared access to their local waterways. This project makes it clear that with a willingness to work alongside authorities and compromise, pad- dlers have reason to be optimistic about reclaiming their playgrounds. Referring to the Chelan Gorge, O’Keefe speaks to whitewater activ-
ists everywhere. “Our actions will have implications for the future of this run and other regulated rivers across the continent.” Dan Patrinellis was thrilled to join a group of paddlers taking part in the test release on the Chelan Gorge last summer. For more info on this and other river stewardship projects visit
www.americanwhitewater.org.
DIGITAL EXTRA: To see more photos and video from the Chelan, go to
rapidmag.com/0004 or download Rapid for the iTunes store.
ON THE iPAD AND DIGITAL EDITIONS THIS ISSUE
If you’re not reading this on the iPad, iPhone or online, here’s what you’re missing:
» A slideshow and video from the inside the seldom-seen Chelan Gorge (Standing Waves, page 16).
» Exclusive footage of nice guy Andrew Holcombe losing his temper (just kidding) in the full interview with Rapid’s Scott MacGregor (Profile, page 22).
» Videos from our testing of the new Pyranha Varun and Esquif L’Edge at the U.S. National Whitewater Center (Boat Insider, pages 26–27).
» A follow-along DIY boat welding film with Liquidlogic Kayak’s Woody Callaway (“Plastic Surgery,” page 36).
Watch for this icon throughout this and upcoming issues of Rapid to see additional photo and video content.
Creative Boat Loading
Sometimes we hold our breath, anticipating a huge response to a story, and then pffftt… nothing. Other times, the volume of interest takes us completely by surprise. Such was the case with Neil Wright’s blog, “Creative Boat Loading” on
Rapidmag.com. Inspired by images of improbable shuttle
rigs, Doris wrote, “I carry my 14-foot Alche- mist or Liquidlogic Remix in my Mazda Miata— yes, convertible top.” Fat Paddler liked the idea of a two-wheeled shuttle, “That Vespa is rocking! What a great way to get to those hard to reach creeks.” And Randy Mitson shared a classic portrait (above) from the headband- and-short-shorts era of Algonquin Outfitters, “How do you stack 27 canoes on one pick-up truck? Well, AO staff can do it as this picture shows.” See what all the chatter’s about at
www.rapidmag.com/0005.
Palmer Fest Eulogies
Last November, Rapid magazine publisher Scott MacGregor announced that we were laying our Palmer Fest whitewater weekend to rest (
www.rapidmag.com/palmer-fest). Af- ter an incredible five-year run, it was a pain- ful decision for both Rapid and our festival groupies. “Easily the worst news of the day,” @kayakinstructor tweeted. Still, our readers were very understanding: “I recently stepped away from a labor of love as well and could re- late to your words,” wrote Andrew Schleger of Kingston, Ontario. “Few people understand what financial and liability risks you take to make things happen in our industry. You had a GREAT FREAKING run and can stand proud of the legacy,” wrote Canoe North Adventures’ Al Pace. Comments on
Rapidmag.com ranged from soul-searching to straightforward. “We thought it was almost too good to be true,” wrote Elliott, “If something feels like too
www.rapidmag.com
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PHOTO: VIRGINIA MARSHALL
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