August 11-12, 2007 Novice Whitewater Trip - Salida, Colorado
By: Chris Collins
Pictured: Phillip Walsh following a successful surfing experience at the Salida play hole.
Ed Walsh and Phillip Walsh received plenty of help from T.J. Hittle, Jim Weaver and me. Ed and Phillip are fairly new to kayaking. They both took the YMCA Kayak Workshop last year and then purchased equipment. I took them and several others to the upper Current River get oriented water and do a few eddy turns in mild moving water. Then we hit the Mulberry at 1.7 feet with almost no eddies to be found. This was followed by the ACC Whitewater School, again with mild conditions. This trip to Salida Colorado, was their first sampling of fun whitewater with decent eddies to catch and neither had experienced waves that could be surfed. This was to be their treat!
As an unusual move, we drove on Friday instead of Thursday, and then paddled Saturday and Sunday. We camped for free in the Brown’s Creek area of the National Forest…my favorite spot. My tent was less than 25 feet from a noisy Brown’s Creek rapid. Although it was a really cool spot, I think I will pick quieter next time. Ed & Phillip slept in iron and canvas with all the amenities of home. They will be expecting some teasing when you meet them.
T.J. was able to join us on Saturday. We warmed up on the Stone Bridge to Big Bend run which is a wonderful for eddy practice in the first couple miles. Although it is only about a 4 miles run, you can make it last almost as long as you want by working the eddies hard. It also has one Class II+ rapid, Squaw Creek that can be easily portaged. Ed and Phillip did a great job on this rapid. We finished the day with surfing at the Salida play hole. Jim Weaver and Phillip Walsh surfed while Ed watched his son get churned occasionally like dirty laundry. I took the photos that are posted under [Trip Reports] on WichitaPaddler.com. Phillip (15) made us all very proud. He did several great combat rolls and no swims. That is no swims for the whole trip, I believe.
Sunday, we did Rincon to Vallie Bridge. This included several Class III rapids including Tin Cup. Ed bailed out after an exhausting swim following Badger Creek Rapid. T. J. was not able to join us on Sunday. Jim and I tutored Phillip with kid gloves, felling a bit apprehensive about taking a minor without a parent. All went wonderful. We scouted Tin Cup. I ran it first so I could take photos and set a safety line. I unintentionally hit the eddy on river-right. To my surprise, I braced and stayed upright. Jim thought it was intentional and complemented me on a cool move. I had him fooled! Jim and Phillip hiked back up to run the rapid. Again, Phillip did a perfect job and I got photos of both.
Sunday we capped off with another trip to the Salida play hole where Jim and Phillip surfed until they were exhausted. Then we treated ourselves to Mexican food. At one point I said something to Phillip about an incident making the trip worthwhile. He replied there were a lot of things that alone, made the whole trip worthwhile. He made me glad I scheduled the trip.
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