Thursday, June 25, 2009

Water Pics!



So much fun! Thanks to Becky, Shane and Jeff for a super fun run and taking these pics.

Yesterday was a quick evening session on the Kanbezi. Finally nailed a mystery move in the dreaded Widowmaker that had me gasping for breath by the time I came up. A mystery move is where you get the current of the river to suck you down under the surface for some period of time. Strangely, a successful mystery move means staying completely underwater for a really long time... It
seems so logical when you're doing it, but explaining does seem kinda weird.

And it's still raining in Canmore...

WG

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Water: Best Invention Ever!

Water is the best invention ever. We really, really need it. Pure, fresh, water. But it's not a given. I always start thinking about water quality when I kayak. I'm in the water, drinking it whether I want to or not. We ran the Skookumchuck over in BC on the weekend, and it's a great river--seemingly crystal clean, beautiful granite boulders, fast, super fun run with a good crew. Not so "rad" but an all-time great river. The take-out is right beside some huge plywood factory or something. I have nothing against plywood really, I use it regularly for what passes as renovations around here, but seeing such a huge industrial facility so close to a river made me wonder. Maybe the plant does nothing to the river. Maybe it does. I think I need plywood. I've probably bought plywood from that plant. We are all hypocrites from an environmental perspective, but it's these little juxtapositions that make me think. Like pumping gas in the middle of winter to drive 1000K to go ice climbing on a climb that hasn't frozen recently, maybe due to global warming... Hmmmm.... Pump those dinosaurs man!

I like clean water. No real point to this post, just running a pristine river and then seeing industry made me think a bit. Not too much, I'm a pro athlete and all, but a little bit... Might look into some water quality issues.