The following are my recent video updates, I have been posting them else where, with little write-ups along side. It has finally started to precipitate here in the Tahoe area. While its still raining at my house here on the Washington Ridge above the South Yuba it snowed at the resorts up a little higher. Letting us know, hopefully, that winter is finally upon us. With out precipitation the runs have all dwindled down, still reveling in the glory of our high water year last year, minimizing the options. Thankfully being here in California even with seemingly no water there is still some water. Most recently I have been venturing towards the Feather River drainage, with another quick trip to the Upper Klammath. The Feather drainage is home to many great runs, most of them seem to be pretty difficult and or consequential runs. This first video of Tobin at lower flows was shot with the GoPro Hero, Hero2 and a Canon 7d. There is a really noticeable difference in quality coming from the HD2. There is also a dramatic and noticeable difference in the run. While it becomes easier and slower one becomes very privy to all the openings in the rocks. Weird tunnels straight through rocks or every other pile acting like a sieve. GoPro really bumped the bar up a notch for competitors. This video contains two segments with the second part also being a stop on the Feather River. The Big Bend Dam is a fun Park and Huck 20-30 foot Dam slide. My first time there we had more water and it seemed quite a bit taller. This time was also very fun however quite a bit lower. The lower flow also makes it alot easier to paddle the boat back to the base of the Dam. Both times I would tie a rope to some re-bar at the top of the Dam in order to pull the boat and ourselves back up.
This next video was shot during the Summer of 2011 on the Kern River. It is mostly the Lower Kern and does include a little carnage. It was a great summer to be in California. I had been guiding on the Kern for the last 3 years and it ramped up snow pack each year I was there. The Lower Kern is a premier commercial Class IV raft trip. I love the Kern River Tours family and hope to return every year for more fun to make videos and write about! The last little bit of this was shot on the Upper Kern River during a high water guide training trip. It shows two lines through the rapid, letting you see first hand how little margin there is for error when playing out on the river. Even on the “easier” runs.
This video is of my little brother Hayden Nickell. He is ridiculously talented on the Slackline. He recently came in 4th in the National competition. Slacklining is a crazy sport, requiring a mental game that I just do not have. I was scared out of my mind just helping him set up the damn thing. Pulling on the end of a line that is pulling back at you over the edge of a cliff is not my idea of a good time. But he really enjoys it and I was really ecstatic to see him set one up and walk on it a couple times for us. I hope you enjoy a quick glimpse of what its like to be my brother for a moment.
Video Updates!
The following are my recent video updates, I have been posting them else where, with little write-ups along side. It has finally started to precipitate here in the Tahoe area. While its still raining at my house here on the Washington Ridge above the South Yuba it snowed at the resorts up a little higher. Letting us know, hopefully, that winter is finally upon us. With out precipitation the runs have all dwindled down, still reveling in the glory of our high water year last year, minimizing the options. Thankfully being here in California even with seemingly no water there is still some water. Most recently I have been venturing towards the Feather River drainage, with another quick trip to the Upper Klammath. The Feather drainage is home to many great runs, most of them seem to be pretty difficult and or consequential runs. This first video of Tobin at lower flows was shot with the GoPro Hero, Hero2 and a Canon 7d. There is a really noticeable difference in quality coming from the HD2. There is also a dramatic and noticeable difference in the run. While it becomes easier and slower one becomes very privy to all the openings in the rocks. Weird tunnels straight through rocks or every other pile acting like a sieve. GoPro really bumped the bar up a notch for competitors. This video contains two segments with the second part also being a stop on the Feather River. The Big Bend Dam is a fun Park and Huck 20-30 foot Dam slide. My first time there we had more water and it seemed quite a bit taller. This time was also very fun however quite a bit lower. The lower flow also makes it alot easier to paddle the boat back to the base of the Dam. Both times I would tie a rope to some re-bar at the top of the Dam in order to pull the boat and ourselves back up.
This next video was shot during the Summer of 2011 on the Kern River. It is mostly the Lower Kern and does include a little carnage. It was a great summer to be in California. I had been guiding on the Kern for the last 3 years and it ramped up snow pack each year I was there. The Lower Kern is a premier commercial Class IV raft trip. I love the Kern River Tours family and hope to return every year for more fun to make videos and write about! The last little bit of this was shot on the Upper Kern River during a high water guide training trip. It shows two lines through the rapid, letting you see first hand how little margin there is for error when playing out on the river. Even on the “easier” runs.
This video is of my little brother Hayden Nickell. He is ridiculously talented on the Slackline. He recently came in 4th in the National competition. Slacklining is a crazy sport, requiring a mental game that I just do not have. I was scared out of my mind just helping him set up the damn thing. Pulling on the end of a line that is pulling back at you over the edge of a cliff is not my idea of a good time. But he really enjoys it and I was really ecstatic to see him set one up and walk on it a couple times for us. I hope you enjoy a quick glimpse of what its like to be my brother for a moment.
Scott Sady getting ready to be amongst it!
Jordan Golnik enjoying a beautiful day.