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South Silver

April 28 & June 2, 2007

 

 

Sweet. Get to run South Silver at a more reasonable flow. I was excited about coming back to South Silver with lower water, considering the previous “run” of South Silver whereby I spent a lot more time with pine and manzanita in my face than water because of the crazy high flow.  Plus Dad had advised me to wear my dry suit in 94-degree weather, always keeping safety as first priority.

             So my second time around I suppose didn’t have to meet high expectations to be a better trip, but wheew. It sure did. I had officially chosen this as my FAVORITE river run once I landed Skyscraper — the biggest rapid on South Silver.

             There couldn’t be anything better to get you pumped up for the run than the sweet granite slide of Autobahn. As you fasten your helmet and strap your elbow pads (recommended) at the put-in, the long slide of cool water encourages you to dress faster. Within five strokes of getting in your boat, you’re on the first boof of Autobahn, the first of many boofs in this amazing mile-long run. At the bottom of the rapid, I thought “It’s going to be a good day,” but didn’t say it out loud in fear of getting jinxed. Maybe I knew that this day was a little more special, possibly because of the sunny weather, the perfect flow, or maybe even that I was wearing a girly ring that set as a reminder that I wasn’t just like one of the guys. I’m a paddling chick finally running South Silver. It actually gave me motivation, and I felt proud! What ever it was, it was a good day.

             Although, it’s one mile long, it became quite the day trip from scouting nearly all the big rapids. We had at least a couple of first-timers, including myself. But hey, I think it’s justifiable. It drops 590 feet in that one mile. I felt a little helpless at the top of each drop we scouted, not because of the rapid, but because I couldn’t put my borrowed skirt on my Pyranha Burn myself! Thank you Dan, Erik, Chris, and Keith for helping me put my sprayskirt on!

             The group ran all rapids except for a couple of sieve potentials after Autobahn and Double Drop. The list of rapids we ran includes Skyscraper and Offramp. We took some time to scout these connected rapids. Keith Kishiyama ran it soon after, and we carefully observed the probe. Although he went through without any trouble, I thought I had made up my mind to walk it; however, another group came up, and we watched Thomas run multiple laps.  After observing and analyzing several runs, including my friend Erik (who is my lure in slalom racing), I wanted to run it. It started to go beyond a just a desire to run the rapid but more as a need. It’s strange, I didn’t feel that usual anxiety at the top of the rapid. It was nice that I had seen it done so many times which engrained the line in my head. I even had visualized each stroke and the way I’d edge

the boat. Not that I was over-analyzing the whole thing, it’s just my usual routine and I don’t feel like I KNOW the rapid until I “tell” my body how its done. Sounds corny, but it truly helps.

             Once in the boat, I found the mini rooster wave on the edge of the horizon line, and lined up right of it with a left angle and shot for it. It’s so amazing, this was what extreme sport felt like. Although it isn’t a line between life and death, when you’re in the moment it almost feels like it is, and you’re instincts

just kick in. On the second part of the drop in Skyscraper, water was in my eyes but I’m still moving my arms and reacting. It doesn’t feel like there’s time to think, things are just happening and it’s like I’m watching things off of a helmet cam. I reached for the last boof and landed Skyscraper.  I couldn’t help but throw a celebrating fist up in the air!  Offramp was just an additional five strokes downstream. Wheew that one gave some speed!  I was concentrating on “carve left at the bottom.” There is a wall that’s not generous on space. Wow, was that fun! My dad and Heather were on the cliff above us taking pictures and video and I couldn’t stop smiling, and even added in a victory dance in my boat. I absolutely loved it!  It was great to see the reactions of others after they came down. They’d be wearing a huge grin that made me smile all over again.

             Farther downstream, we entered the medical field: Nose Job, Plastic Surgery, and Quadruple Bypass. Plastic Surgery was something. It was like hucking yourself over a slide of speed bumps — still fun though! And to wrap it up, Heather was kind enough to make the group sandwiches. Another perfect day on the river!

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