Anyone that keeps track of these things might of noticed that Atlantic Kayaker hasn’t been updated for a while. Unfortunately it was hacked and has just been put back to normal, long story short here we are again.

I got back from Colorado just in time to catch the tail end of creeking season in Alberta and in time for things to really get going in B.C. After less than a day back in Canada Scott Feindel was at me to go paddling. First we hit up Cataract Creek in Southern Alberta which is one of my favourite runs in the area. It’s got an awesome waterfall, a decent sized slide and lots of good drops in between. After Cataract we took a day off before heading to Revelstoke.

Titan on Cataract Creek (Photo Scott Feindel)

I’ve wanted to go to Revelstoke for a few years and it’s one of my new favourite places to paddle. The amount of whitewater in this area and variety is ridiculous. The first run we did was the Upper Pinkston, a continuous boulder garden style creek that gives you a chance to bite off as much as you can chew. My favourite drop on this run has to be Highway to Hell (not sure if that’s the actual name but that’s what Mikkel was calling it). Basically it starts with about a 15 foot drop that looks like you’re going to piton your brains out, instead you reconnect, then you shoot out straight into a series of ledges and boulders.

Scott Feindel on the Middle drop of Tripple Drop

The Pinkston also has a middle and lower section which we didn’t end up doing but did camp at the bottom of the lower run by a lake, a beautiful camp spot. When we woke up in the morning the triple drop beside camp was waiting for us. We ran this sucker park and huck style then headed over to Sutherland Falls.

Heading over the lip of Sutherland (Photo Scott Feindel)

Sutherland Falls is one of the nicest big drops you’ll ever find and you can drive right to it. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, I’ve run several drops close to the same size as this but it’s definitely one of my biggest to date. My biggest fear was pitch polling and it wasn’t settling that no one else was going to run the drop but the opportunity was a little to much to pass up. I seal launched in, set my angle right where I wanted it and enjoyed the fall, which was a lot shorter than I expected! So short that my plan of tucking late actually turned into a “woah!” while pulling my paddle to my chest instead of to one side. Then I proceeded to break it over my chest as I landed and my deck imploded…double whammy! With a little help I made it to shore safe and sound, with a big smile on my face.

I wonder why I broke my paddle? (Photo Scott Feindel)

Kelsey Thompson