Ha Ha. We were in luck- it rained on Saturday evening, allowing the Etive to come up a little bit. We were in two minds at to whether to paddle the Etive or the Morriston. The Morriston was day two’s agenda for the Wet West Paddle Fest. We decided that it was probably better to paddle the Etive as that was our reason for being in Scotland. We had the Etive entirely to ourselves. Chris had the camera, so you get me in all these photos, for better or for worse
Photo L to R: The put in: Chris on Triple; me Boofin’ skijump, yehaw.
Letterbox. The level was low, I went too far left. Be warned it hurts if you clip your backend on the sticky out rock if you boof too far left at this level. I managed to wind myself. I chatted with someone else who did the same thing on the Friday.
Photo: Me on Letterbox. My Nemesis…
Breath back, no issues at Crack of Doom, next up Crack of Dawn. Seal launch left. I can see how it is better at higher flows; seeing it at low flows, the left ledge sneak looks really appealing.
Photo: Me on Crack of Dawn
Then the money drop. Right Angle. What a lovely looking drop. Clean with very little consequences…or so I thought. Chris went first and had a good run over. So the dog leg lead in was not the nicest at this level. I had to high brace just before I peeled into the eddy at the top.
Photo: Me at the top of Right Angle Falls.
I was totally ready for this drop. Its about 1/2 the height of my highest drop to date (Perrywinkle on the Roaring, Oregon) and looked about the same height as my first ever waterfall back in 2005 (Big Kahuna on Canyon Creek, Washington). Complacency and arrogance. I haven’t run a waterfall in over 1.5 years. I knew not to boof because several people have broken their back on this fall doing just that. However I didn’t tell myself to tuck either. As I peeled out of the eddy I just didn’t move my paddle to the side. It hit me in the chest as i landed. I don’t know if it was above or below my PFD. But it hurt. I was winded again. Ho-hum. Chris re-ran and we got off the river.
Photo: Me on the Right Angle Falls about to be winded. Spot whats wrong with this photo.
I learned a valuable lesson: No matter my experience, no matter how insignificant a waterfall looks, ALWAYS think and plan before running. I was lucky i got away with a hyperextended back, not a bruised or broken rib or worse. When in doubt, tuck if it is an option. Bad Kate. All I can say is:
Photo: Oh Deer!