It seems as though the dam operators have it out for me as of lately. Three different rivers in a row, I have driven great distances only to see much less water than I expected, or much lower than stated by the flows page. It started on the Big South July 6th. Long Draw reservoir was saying 220cfs and the graph looked like that was good to go at least for one more day. Andrew and I split 7am the next morning to get there with only 170cfs coming out when we arrived. Disappointing, but everything was still a blast once we got off of weird creek.

The next day we woke up early, ran the Narrows and headed to Bailey. Again, the graph said 550cfs when we checked that morning. We rallied straight there from Fort Collins and by the time we arrived only 350cfs greeted us.

Thinking there is no way my bad luck will continue this way, on Friday I went to go meet Jakub Nemec for an afternoon Lake Creek session. I have heard about people having the water turn way up on them while on this creek and saw the graph that looked more like a heart beat than a release schedule. Of course, Friday was the only day of the week that they didn’t turn the flows back up for the evening sessions! The flows were way too low for paralizer but everything else still went. The wood in Cauldron was a non-issue (and has since been removed) and the rest of the run was clean as can be.

I hope my luck changes so that I can continue what is turning out to be the “Tour of Colorado’s Classics.” Here are the pictures from Bailey and Lake Creek. Enjoy and SYOTR.

Paul Siratovich rounding the bend above SuperMax

Me hitting the manky boof on SuperMax

Me landing on the Pad in the run out

Jakub Nemec on Brains; Lake Creek

Me preparing for takeoff, Brains

Jakub and I got much more than a kiss on this one, Kiss Me, Lake Creek

Here is the second part of my summer web series Driven. This one stays more local here in CO. The intro is Blackrock at 1400cfs, followed by Yule Creek, High Water Gore Canyon, High Water Glenwood, and OBJ race. Just got some new editing software and excited about what I’ll be able to do in the future. I hope you enjoy and please let me know feedback for episode 3.

Driven Episode 2 from ross herr on Vimeo.

Rivers in order are Clear Creek, Yule Creek, Gore Canyon, OBJ

Music is Deadmau5, Santigold, and Kid Cudi

For years I have been trying to catch the OBJ race. Some how, I was always working when everyone else was enjoying the amazing place that this river truly is. This year was different, well it started out the same, but Friday evening came with a great surprise as my schedule unexpectedly opened up for the weekend.

Flows are definitely low, but that didn’t stop the crowds of people from rallying up the hike for the goods. The campgrounds were packed with people enjoying what mother nature provided. Saturday evening held the best flows. We sat in the rain for a bit, but Brent Toepper (event organizer, thank you) assured us the clouds would part and waiting for the flows to rise in the evening would be well worth it. Like Kathy Sabine, he called it, and the sun came out for two great evening laps.

Me representing with a brown claw for the crowd

Chris Woods with his first lap on the classic

With a keg of free beer waiting for us at the bottom we cruised back to camp for a relaxing Saturday night, and an early dawn patrol with Jacub. Race start wasn’t scheduled until 4:30 in the afternoon so most of the day was spent hanging in town and enjoying the festivities. Want to say thank you to Brent Toepper for organizing this awesome event and making a great weekend. Also, all the other volunteers that were there. There is rumors of cleaning the wood down below to make this race run all the way to the bottom! That would be awesome.

So, results finished like this… Jules Campbell “the legend” destroyed us with a winning time of 4:30 seconds! Congrats! Second place was Jacub Nemec, congrats on second and the new engagement/marriage! 4:50. And I was lucky enough to finish 3rd, 4:59

Here are some pictures from the big one. Also, if you can tell me what kind of bird the last picture is that would be sweet. Never seen anything like it. It was up on Kebler pass.

See you on the River, all video from the OBJ race will also be on Driven Episode 2 I’ll have done soon.

I took my last final on Thursday and to say the least, I’m ready for a break. This last semester has been brutal between no water in the Midwest creeking season, and a huge school workload. Somehow I was able to complete my Stand Up Paddle Board project just in time. Here are the pictures of the final project.
-pouring the resin first layer of glass

-sanding…lots of sanding…

-more resin

-and there is the final project

-now to load up the truck… Pick up Issac and Begin the trip home!

There is the sweet fleet for the summer. 1 Remix Hungee, 1 Jefe Grande, and 1 Biscuit 55. Can’t wait to get my Versa Board up there too!
Now off to film Issac Levinson kill it at the Wausau Team Trials. and begin filming for Driven. I can’t wait to get home and start an awesome summer of whitewater boat riding. If you haven’t checked out the teaser for DRIVEN, here it is below. Some clips from last season; I can’t wait to do even more this year.

See you on the Rivers

Driven Teaser from ross herr on Vimeo.

Kayaking is a lifestyle and a sport. The people you meet, the places you go, and the things you do all drive you in some way. Follow this story and find out, what drives us.

A free 5 part web series.

Premiering April, 2010

kayakingRoss.com