Pandora's Box: THE REAL DEAL

Jake and I have been talking about this run for quite a while. It always inspires a bit of fear in me everytime I hear the name. This was nothing compared to the amount of fear I had getting in my boat at the put-in, about to drop into one of the deepest gorges and probably the gnarliest run in CO. It isn't really a recommended run unless you really know what you are getting into. You CANNOT swim. There is no getting out. This is the real deal, committing class 5. It didnt help that there are signs hiking in that say "NO Trespassing, Violators will be shot, and Survivors will be shot again". We had awesome guides, big thanks to Ben and Nate for leading us down. They were awesome. From what I hear, most people stop running the box at 600cfs. Our level was 750cfs. Quite a juicy level for our first time, and the second day in our creek boats for the season. We were scared. Luckily everything went as planned, no swims, each of us flipped once. My favorite rapid was swollen member, a slide with a huge hole/boily eddy at the bottom. If you are up to this run, do it, some of the best whitewater in CO, and the coolest gorge I have ever been in. I love this run and it was an epic day.


Looking into the gorge, holy shit.

We made it past the sketchy part of the hike past the no-bullshit property owners.
Jake looking into the ominous gorge.
Us at the put-in, a very scary moment.
The put-in rapid has only been run 3 times, very stout.
Nate chillin in the gorge.

I didnt really get many photos because you cant really get out, but not only is this the hardest and most committing run in CO, but also one of the best. It was so much fun. Some of the best whitewater in CO.

Jake very stoked to be done and alive.

That is my hardcore face. I was stoked to be at the bottom and safe.

We then went and lapped vallecito at about 300cfs. Probably one of the best days of paddling of my life. SOOO good.


My toenail fell off, too much hiking!!(after pandoras, and 2 laps of vallecito)

Escalante

Its that time of year... the time of year when good kayaking is about to come and i'm so excited, I cant wait. I drive the 2.5 hours from Carbondale to run Escalante, the only show close out of town that isn't doing loops over and over again in some playhole. Its that time of year where people are getting stoked for good times to be had over the next couple months of summer boating. Jake and I left late-ish from c-dale around 10. We arrived at Esca to find it low/medium (I would say more low than medium).It felt soooo good to get back in the Grande, I love how that boat performs. To get back in the groove of things, we decided to run everything blind, only going by our memory of the rapids from last year. We took much more extensive media last year... Check it out here. Escalante Creek '08. We started with a top to bottom charge, no scouting, no bullshit. Just gettin in the groove again. Everything went well although both Jake and I werent pleased with our lines at 57' Chevy. We ran the falls blind, Jake having a great line, and me a decent. We then went for another run of just the gorge. It seemed a bit lower but still fun. This creek is much more worth it with more water. I strongly recommend going in there when it is nice and padded out, It is just more fun (less kayak abuse too).

This was the first run with the Green Jacket. Love how comfortable it is. Check it out here Green Jacket

Thanks to Kent Perillo for the photos.



Jake gettin nice and deep in 57' Chevy with me looking on.

Jake and I afterwards.



Jake Sakson himself with another monster boof off this thing.

My line was ok, not the best line I have had here, but also not the worst.

We rallied back to C=dale while Jake passed out in the passenger seat from skiing sopris, then going to Zion I at the belly up in Aspen the previous day. Today we chilled, tomorrow we CHARGE there is brown to be run!!!!! Either headin to durango for a few days vallecito, pandoras box, or hitting up barrel springs. Make sure to check out the DEMSHITZ movie when they roll through CO. I hear it is a masterpiece. See you on the river.

Props to T-Bradt

YOYO im sure most of you have heard by now that Tyler Bradt destroyed the World Record by running 186ft. Palouse falls in Washington. I would just like to thank Tyler for pushing the sport. I have seen quite a few posts on the buzz and boatertalk hating on this. I would just like to say that if you are sitting in a kayak, its kayaking, whether its a park and huck, a super gnarly expedition, or play boating. We all love kayaking. So lets support what everyone is doing to push the sport whether its Tyler running insanely big waterfalls, or EJ coming up with some ridiculous new trick. Nice work Tyler. A few picks of the drop.





Runnin the Brine ain't no crime.

Demshitz Movie Teaser/Pleaser 2

Well Folks, here is yet another teaser for the DEMSHITZ Movie. The Hilarity and kayaking continues.

Demshitz teaser/pleaser #2 from jared seiler on Vimeo.

Demshitz!!

Demshitz Movie Teaser Pleaser #1

Well while I have been hitting up the wave in glenwood a lot, DEMSHITZ have been in Ashville NC hard at work on making the most hilarious and extreme kayak video of all time.... The DEMSHITZ movie. It will include a collaboration of footage from all over the world from some of the industries best athletes. With locations like Chile/Argentina, Colorado, California, Oregon/Washington, and many more it will truly be one of the best kayak videos ever. But enough ranting. Check out teaser number one.


Demshitz teaser #1 from jared seiler on Vimeo.

And make sure to stay tuned for teaser/pleaser number 2.

DEMSHITZ!

Lazy Tuesday with Fred Norquist

Well today I went down to the playpark in glenwood, and it was a fun session. Here is a little video I made from the day. The biscuit is a sick playboat, im stoked on it for sure.


Lazy Tuesday With Fred Norquist from Fred Norquist on Vimeo.

Glenwood Whitewater Park in April

Well recently I have pretty much just been working with little time to paddle. Today was the first sunny/nice day we have had in a while so I figured I would go for a short paddle down at the whitewater park. Although it was still cold, it proved to turn into a fun session, and I officially cannot wait for it to get warmer and the rivers to start going. Here are some photos from the day by Ryan Leto, who killed it. Cant wait for some creekin. Stay tuned for some good stuff.


Bowstall to warm things up a little bit.



The little side in G-wood is the best right now, with spins and roundhouses/blunts being possible.
Cartwheeling the Biscuit, such a fun boat.
A sick photo from ryan of me roundhousing.

Crazy photo

Gettin a lil play in the main feature

Demshitz is happy to on the rio.


Im stoked to be part of the CKS squad this year!! Check out CKS www.coloradokayak.com
Also I must say my new smith sunglasses are quite sexy.