"Karma's too slow, that's why we need Dharma."
I love this line, its so true. I thought I heard it in a movie; I am surprised that Google can't find it.
This is sort of a Google search experiment, because I posted that line on utrivers.com on March 10, 2012, and now it is the only Google hit for that line in quotes. I just removed it from there, so it will be interesting if this blog post becomes the only google hit.
A tibetan teacher who has helped me on my path, Khenpo Choga, has the clearest definition of Dharma I have ever heard.
https://www.facebook.com/DzogchenKhenpoChogaRinpoche
Dharma: right thinking.
Sangha: those who have right thinking.
Thus the saying:
I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
North Fork Championships
Wow its been a long time since I've posted here! I went up to Idaho for the North Fork Championships last weekend. It was incredible to watch. On Friday a light drizzle in Crouch let up as we drove over to the North Fork. We took up a prime spot at Juicer, where the largest crowd was. Juicer and Crunch are the two class V rapids on the lower 3 (the race was on the lower 3 miles of the "Lower 5").
Saturday was the Elite race on Jacobs Ladder; incredible V+ drops with gates!
I have not edited the video yet; (need a video editing program), but here are some unedited clips:
Jakub Nemec run 1:
https://vimeo.com/44018208
Ben Luck run 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STySt-OcWMc
More to come...
Saturday was the Elite race on Jacobs Ladder; incredible V+ drops with gates!
I have not edited the video yet; (need a video editing program), but here are some unedited clips:
Jakub Nemec run 1:
https://vimeo.com/44018208
Ben Luck run 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STySt-OcWMc
More to come...
Friday, June 24, 2011
Kayaking the Vertical Challenge 2011
The Eddyflower Vertical Challenge took place again this year from May 15 to June 15. This is a fundraising event for the First Descents kayak camps for cancer survivors. The kayaking side of the Vertical Challenge involves paddling all the "vertical feet" you can. There were less teams this year, for a few reasons, but a few teams from Utah still entered, as well as some of the regular hardcore teams from Colorado and Hood River.
Shoot, eddyflower.com has become an infected site, and they can't seem to clean it up. So I don't want (2012 edit: this link to be clickable until they clean up that site again. )
www eddyflower com/VerticalStandings.aspx#/home
Shoot, eddyflower.com has become an infected site, and they can't seem to clean it up. So I don't want (2012 edit: this link to be clickable until they clean up that site again. )
www eddyflower com/VerticalStandings.aspx#/home
We have had epic high water on every run in Utah this spring, with bankful levels and even flood stage levels being common. There were not so many paddlers with the high levels, and it was often hard to find kayaking partners. Still it was a great month. After a slow start, I finished with a big last weekend, paddling a total of 10964 feet, 25th overall (our team won the class IV division again, and raised $325 for First Descents). A friend informed me that I made the "10,000 foot Vertical Club":
(2012 edit: this site is infected right now; so don't go to this link until they get it cleaned up)
(2012 edit: this site is infected right now; so don't go to this link until they get it cleaned up)
www eddyflower com/verticalstandings.aspx?Report=VerticalClub#/home
Although the new owners of Eddyflower.com assure us that the site won't have the stability problems that the site had under the old owners (most of last years results were lost), I want to back up our results. These are ordered by date.
Paddler Vertical Feet
Bill Hunt 10964 feet
Justin Raymond 5027 feet
Chris Smith 4405 feet
Brandon Sturm 7128 feet
Graham Taylor 8057 feet
Bill Hunt
Bridal Veil IV 5/15/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/15/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/15/2011
Pineview to the Indian Trailhead III 5/17/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 5/17/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 5/18/2011
Mouth of Weber Canyon to Riverdale III 5/19/2011
The Riverdale Wave III- 5/19/2011
Riverdale to 24th Street II 5/19/2011
Ogden Kayak Park III- 5/19/2011
Evanston Playpark III- 5/21/2011
Evanston Playpark III- 5/21/2011
State Park to Playpark III- 5/21/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 5/23/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 5/24/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 5/24/2011
Mouth of Weber Canyon to Riverdale III 5/25/2011
The Riverdale Wave III- 5/25/2011
Riverdale to 24th Street II 5/25/2011
Below the Ogden Kayak Park II 5/25/2011
Pineview to the Indian Trailhead III 5/26/2011
Woodside Trestle to Vivian Park II 5/27/2011
Woodside Trestle to Vivian Park II 5/27/2011
Little Grand Canyon I 5/28/2011
The Chute III+ 5/29/2011
Henefer to Taggart III- 5/31/2011
South Fork Ogden, upper III- 6/1/2011
Mouth of Weber Canyon to Riverdale III 6/2/2011
The Riverdale Wave III- 6/2/2011
Deer Creek to Vivian Park II 6/3/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Lower Run (Ferron) III+ 6/4/2011
Lower Run (Ferron) III+ 6/4/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/5/2011
Top Slides - Main Huntington IV 6/5/2011
Pineview to the Indian Trailhead III 6/6/2011
Bridal Veil IV 6/7/2011
Mouth of Weber Canyon to Riverdale III 6/8/2011
The Riverdale Wave III- 6/8/2011
South Fork Ogden, upper III- 6/9/2011
South Fork Ogden, upper III- 6/9/2011
Lower Ogden III 6/10/2011
Pineview to the Indian Trailhead III 6/10/2011
Pineview to the Indian Trailhead III 6/10/2011
Red Banks, upper mile IV- 6/11/2011
Red Banks III 6/11/2011
Upper Logan IV- 6/12/2011
Woodcamp Section III 6/12/2011
Red Banks, upper mile IV- 6/12/2011
Red Banks III 6/12/2011
Red Banks, upper mile IV- 6/12/2011
Red Banks III 6/12/2011
Woodcamp Section III 6/12/2011
South Fork Ogden, upper III- 6/13/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/14/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/14/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/14/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/14/2011
Mouth of Weber Canyon to Riverdale III 6/15/2011
The Riverdale Wave III- 6/15/2011
South Fork Ogden, upper III- 6/15/2011
Justin Raymond
Bridal Veil IV 5/20/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/20/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/20/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/20/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 5/15/2011
Black Canyon of the Bear IV+ 5/22/2011
Evanston Playpark III- 5/21/2011
Evanston Playpark III- 5/21/2011
Desolation Canyon III- 5/28/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/29/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Lower Run III+ 6/4/2011
Lower Run III+ 6/4/2011
The Chute III+ 6/12/2011
Top Slides - Main Huntington IV 6/5/2011
Deer Creek to Vivian Park II 6/15/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/12/2011
Chris Smith
Ogden Narrows IV 5/16/2011
Ogden Narrows IV 5/16/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/19/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/20/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/20/2011
Park and Ride to Catch Pond IV+ 5/25/2011
Park and Ride to Catch Pond IV+ 5/25/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 5/28/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 5/28/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/29/2011
Park and Ride to Catch Pond IV+ 6/6/2011
Park and Ride to Catch Pond IV+ 6/6/2011
Park and Ride to Catch Pond IV+ 6/6/2011
Murtaugh Canyon IV 6/12/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
City Creek, lower IV- 6/9/2011
Brandon Sturm
Buena Vista Town Run III 5/27/2011
Fractions III+ 5/27/2011
Numbers IV 5/27/2011
Buena Vista Town Run III 5/28/2011
Numbers IV 5/28/2011
Brown's Canyon III 5/29/2011
Numbers IV 5/29/2011
Henefer to Taggart III- 5/15/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/17/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 5/19/2011
State Park to Playpark III- 5/21/2011
State Park to Playpark III- 5/21/2011
State Park to Playpark III- 5/21/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/23/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/23/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/25/2011
Henefer to Taggart III- 5/31/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Lower Run III+ 6/4/2011
Lower Run III+ 6/4/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/5/2011
Top Slides - Main Huntington IV 6/5/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 6/6/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 6/6/2011
Pineview to the Indian Trail III 6/6/2011
Henefer to Taggart III- 6/8/2011
Big Cottonwood Creek IV+ 6/8/2011
The Chute III+ 6/12/2011
Graham Taylor
Lower Run III+ 5/15/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/17/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/19/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/20/2011
Black Canyon of the Bear IV+ 5/22/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/24/2011
Evanston Playpark III- 5/21/2011
Evanston Playpark III- 5/21/2011
Price Canyon IV 5/27/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 5/28/2011
Bridal Veil IV 5/25/2011
Pineview to the Indian Trail III 5/26/2011
Rainbow Gardens Section III+ 5/26/2011
Murtaugh Canyon IV 6/1/2011
Henefer to Taggart III- 5/31/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Cottonwood Creek IV- 6/4/2011
Lower Run III+ 6/4/2011
Lower Run III+ 6/4/2011
Top Slides - Main Huntington IV 6/5/2011
Big Cottonwood Creek IV+ 6/8/2011
Zion Park IV 6/11/2011
Zion Narrows III+ 6/12/2011
Graham still has a few runs missing I see (Top Slides and more of Main Huntington, and some City Creek laps).
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Finally Snowing again!
I may actually get out tomorrow- its finally dumping again in the Wasatch!!!
Somehow didn't keep up the blog during kayaking season, which can continue all winter if you want, especially in the PNW.
Some good shots from last season, just looking through them. Above, thats a shot of a peak I did a snowboard descent on last season, that had a 60 degree section (the peak on the left, the right line toward the treed NE ridge. The photo is kinda looking at the east face ).
Below, look at those rocks! I was suprised to look down this and see those rocks, because I snowboarded this line the spring before, and those rocks were all COVERED. It was a 60 degree bulge, with one obstacle to contend with. This is one way to get to Crazy Larrys (the most "staying-on-the-ridge" way).
Incisors!
Crazy Larrys, down to the Scary Larrys entrance. Super quality, a 53 to 54 degree sustained section. I did that line twice last year, and once the year before.
Somehow didn't keep up the blog during kayaking season, which can continue all winter if you want, especially in the PNW.
Some good shots from last season, just looking through them. Above, thats a shot of a peak I did a snowboard descent on last season, that had a 60 degree section (the peak on the left, the right line toward the treed NE ridge. The photo is kinda looking at the east face ).
Below, look at those rocks! I was suprised to look down this and see those rocks, because I snowboarded this line the spring before, and those rocks were all COVERED. It was a 60 degree bulge, with one obstacle to contend with. This is one way to get to Crazy Larrys (the most "staying-on-the-ridge" way).
Incisors!
Crazy Larrys, down to the Scary Larrys entrance. Super quality, a 53 to 54 degree sustained section. I did that line twice last year, and once the year before.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Snowbasin closing day
A band on the plaza, good times!
I made it up to Snowbasin for closing day, and took a couple afternoon slush runs. Wanted to hike Mt Ogden (SE chutes, above), or the Taxman steeps (below, center, in the shade, this is a short shot that measures a solid 60 degrees), but the late start, and a pinched nerve aggravated by my boots made it a short day. I did get some more photos though.
On Saturday, April 18, I participated in the first whitewater slalom race at the newly installed course at the Ogden Kayak park. Good times! Water temp was 42 degrees, but the sun made it feel warmer. Someone said I was sixth, just one spot away from the prizes. I'll have to practice for next time!
The last 1/3rd of this video shows the end of the slalom course:
More video to come...
Friday, April 10, 2009
Steep Larrys in good conditions
Steep Larrys, super-filled, with great corn conditions.
The double-fall-line return from Steep Larrys chute.A crack-of-noon club start on April 7th put me got me on the Mt Allen tram just as the sweep patroller was dropping in to the Fingers chutes. Why such an early close?? They sure don't keep those open until 3! Welll, up the tram, up the boot trail anyway, out the gate, up Mt Allen, over to the Logical chute; at least it wasn't whiteout visibility today; bluebird in fact! I followed my hard left cut from the other day, and my short boot up, and peered into the next chute- looks like it goes!
A new line to explore! This led over to the double-fall-line shot from the top of Steep Larrys, that I had looked down on a couple years ago. Today was the day to explore that double-fall-line.
Looking down and back on the boot trail climb.A straightforward boot led to unconsolidated sugary snow over a 50 degree rock slab. Two-kick steps soon became 12 kick, 15 kick, hard-to-build steps, over slick rock slab, with decent rock handholds making it possible. Interesting, time-consuming climbing finally led to the "summit ridge", a strenuous pull over the final steep headwall. I was on top of the Larrys entrance through the cliffs! Crazy Larrys, or Extreme Larrys, I've heard it called; "Steep Larrys" sounds better to me. It was way more filled than the last time I did it, no rocks at all in the chute. After a 38 degree start, it rolled to a 51 degree measurement, then stayed around 45 to 50 the rest of the way. Last time, I had a few measurements at 53 degrees; not so today.
It was good soft corn, too. 3 PM by now, and the due west aspects were soft corn, not too slushy though, with NW aspects of settled powder, super nice conditions. The occasional tree branch dropping snow keeps you alert, but no rollerballs, no significant wet slide activity. I did the chute, took the left exit to the top of the bowl below, then climbed back up, exploring the north edge of the ridge.
A future project with a rappel entrance into a treed, secluded little chute.
Grouse tracks on the edge of the ridge.Coming back, I chose a steep entrance into the double fall line shot, and made it back down into the Banana with no problems. This double-fall-line return was actually the crux of the day: a technical (ie: rocky no-fall zone over cliffs) 55 degree, 2 meter wide entrance, leading to a hard right double-fall-line that was really a traverse (top photo). Maybe not as classic as some of the Mt Ogden lines, but something challenging to do when Mt. Ogden was closed anyway :-). There still seems to be more north-facing potential off of Mt. Allen, but it may have to wait till next year.
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