That night we packed up the car and headed for Crested Butte. Coming from a 6th floor apartment at sea level to camp at 12,000ft. on Cottonwood Pass in one night was a bold move, but it was right where i needed to be. As the morning of 6/15 rolled in, the #1 question arose: is there water? The verdict from the 3 rivers outfitter in Almont was yes, CB creeks are running.

Morning run on the Upper East was choice. The sun was hot and the water was flowing. Pool slide after 9 footer we screamed down stream, eddies are a waste of time. Elk crossed the creek right in front of me in a shallow wave train. The run took 20 minutes, maybe less. Then we were in an eddy at the top of a 3 tiered 60 footer, Stupid Falls. I opted out of the gnar, Nate was feeling slightly stupid. He hit the late boof and styled it (photo to follow).

Next was the Daisy. Daisy Creek has become one of my favorite creeks in the US. Great series of slides followed up by big wood falls, a 15-20 footer that you can just boof the hell out of. Just when you think the fun is over, take a huge 90 degree turn down a ripping slide backed up by a rock wall into Rip Your Face Off. Perfect Colorado Creeking.

With Fibark in progress, we headed to Salida. Saturday morning brought a Birthday morning creek run/swim on the Clear Creek of the Ark. After styling the first gorge came some carnage. “Early Season” creeking at its best… I never mind a class 2 swim down a class 5 creek. after getting banged up quite good in the boat, I popped the skirt and swam up directly into an eddy… Ideal swimming situation, after all it was my birthday.

The Afternoon consisted of a booze cruise with safety breaks at high water on the Numbers.

Sunday brought 8 of us down the Royal Gorge in a raft. Classic fun and my legs weren’t numb.

Back in the office, but I’ll be back on the creeks soon enough. Til then…