Winter Edition Mini-PP Ball?
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11456
Printed Date: 16 Sep 2025 at 10:34pm
Topic: Winter Edition Mini-PP Ball?
Posted By: jP
Subject: Winter Edition Mini-PP Ball?
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2011 at 9:26pm
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So we've talked about this in the past,and we've had some larger spontaneous winter gatherings, but we haven't done any thing in an "official", organized level:
Anyone interested in a winter time Mini Professor Paddle Ball? ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Replies:
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2011 at 9:27pm
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Talkin bout something much more low key. No sponsers or raffles or anything requirig tons of volunteers or organization.
Just tarps, campfires, potlucks, beer n boat'n ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2011 at 9:29pm
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...a weekend that would be spontaneously launched as the flows permit. Thinkin somewhere down by Olympia. What do you think, BIGWATER? ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2011 at 9:33pm
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Slickhorn just threw out something about cabins at Ike Kinswa... Run the Tilton, maybe something else the following day.
Organizing a camping/boating thing on the Green would be cool too. Probably camp at Kanaskat Palmer like Slick was sugesting. Or, one of my favorite ideas: an E. Frk Humptulips/Matheney combo. Big 'ol tarp city base camp n lots of OP boating. Highly dependent on rains. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 1:52am
I'm hearing a New Year's Day weekend O.P. trip, done proper. Somethin' deep, that probably involves hiking. Maybe scouting  And lots of beer and firewood. We could do a proper trip down the GC Elwha. That could turn into a massive undertaking. Vance Creek/WF Satsop is a good option. Upper Upper Sitkum/Upper Sitkum would be fun, too. If Matheny was in I would do the whole thing. Fool's is always a good option. So many others I haven't done. UPS pool session was pretty fun tonight. Thanks for drivin', Gordon!
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Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 8:32am
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That sounds good, brian- we could tentatively shoot for a window around that time frame, then see what the weather is doing.
BTW- I'll be on the Green a lot this winter, so anytime you want to run it gimme a shout. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: Courtney
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 8:41am
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Posted By: James
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 8:52am
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Did I hear someone say overnight party on the green? Count me in! Pack them rafts heavy on a nice beach and get it. I would prefer in Jan. some time early like say a MLK weekend trip. That way we would be in the thick of steelhead season too! By Feb most of the green has thinned out, just saying... |
Posted By: not-very-clever
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 10:48am
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what about getting some huge flood lights and a generator and setting up shop at paradise for a night-time rodeo? maybe we could talk to howard hansen dam about setting the levels to 1400 cfs for the event. that might be far fetched, but i think party on the green sounds primo |
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 2:10pm
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Hey i think the idea of usen the take out park on the Tilton is great , i have never even checked out the cabins (since i am an hour away), if flows r good the north fork tilton is great and so is the main run , also the class 2, 3 streach is up there for people not wanting to do harder stuff
and im always down for the Olympic , Kalaylock (spelling) has nice cabins right on the beach near matheny and all the west side stuff , i have rented them before, for weekend trips
but i think the bigest problem as far as planing goes is flows , like JP said it would have to be spontainious
i mean we can plan it all ... but if we get a cold dry week like this , its a no go
definatly easyer to plan events around spring melt .... but not imposible in the winter
lets do it !
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Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 2:25pm
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as far as van / tarp city im always down for that and do it when ever i can it just seems maby more people would show if we had cabins or something people could rent |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 2:26pm
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Originally posted by Courtney
<element style=": progid:DXTrans.Microsoft.name(sProperties);"> <font face="Arial">How about something like the Green so people of different skill levels can join in the fun. Otherwise it sound like it would just be limited to the harder runs which will limit the show of people on PP. </element> I agree. I'm thinkin class III- I dunno- we can leave it up to PP to decide. I was figuring The Green or the Tilton, humtulips... Those are class III's with some IVish crux spots that are considered by most to be pretty manageable. Notice I didn't respond to Wacko's post. You don't want throngs of PPeeps squeezing down the Sitkum. That's... Well, Wacko. A recipe for disaster. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 2:35pm
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altho the Titlon caynon is called class 3 by many people , it is a remote place and i have seen many class 3 boaters get there asses handed to them in there there is the streach between the north fork and the canyon that realy is a class 2 , 3 run and its roadside , i only ran it once when we did the Tilton top to bottom from north fork to lake at about 5k all in all the Tilton has options for everyone even if you dont wana do the north fork or the canyon
the green is great also , its just that the green gets plenty of attention , even has the "clean of the green " every year
would be nice to see something happen at a new spot , get people stoked on some less popular runs
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Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 2:45pm
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Now I think, like BIGWATER says, we can loosely plan a three week window maybe, then we have to leave it up to the rains (or dam operaters) to make it possible. Announce it by wed and go that weekend.
That's why I'm not thinking too big about this. Just some camping (or cabins, if people want to do that), campfire, hanging out and boating. I don't think we want to plan tons of events- days are short and winter is cold. That said, the Green seems to be a favorable option. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 2:54pm
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oh and i guess i should mention that the log jam on the TIlton is GONE on the left side now we cut the last log out the other week after the flood had taken out the rest , the log jam is spread all over the run but nothing is in a bad spot (yet) ,,,, totaly open for rafts now ( you still have to paddle the lake tho) |
Posted By: BRoss
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 3:55pm
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Originally posted by BIGWATER
oh and i guess i should mention that the log jam on the TIlton is GONE on the left side now we cut the last log out the other week after the flood had taken out the rest , the log jam is spread all over the run but nothing is in a bad spot (yet) ,,,, totaly open for rafts now ( you still have to paddle the lake tho) Thanks for that!  That was a treat to find the logjam gone. We ran it on Saturday at 800-ish. I thought that it wasn't going to be any good at that level, and was very pleasantly surprised. Still really really good with nice play, just not pushy at all.
I like the Tilton idea. I like the Green idea. I like the Matheny idea. It all sounds fun. ------------- "That boated a lot better than it looked." "It always does until it doesn't." |
Posted By: Yotes
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 4:06pm
| I'd be more likely to jump in on a Tilton trip, since it's a lot closer for me. That said, a winter get-together sounds like a blast! |
Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 7:32pm
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Also, the Green offers not only car camping that is close to beer and food supplies and wood supplies, but it has overnight camping in the gorge and ClassII, III, and IV sections if the water is right... ------------- Nomad |
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 9:04pm
| I'm still pushing for the OP! Love that place. Humptulips?? Ehh.. What else? Middle Dose? |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 9:27pm
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Sorry 'bout the 'wacko' play on words, bret- you know I'm down for all the adventures you suggested.
Just lookin out for the bulk of the PPeeps who for a variety of reasons aren't chasing after those options. Green: two sections, very close n convienient for many Tilton: still accessible, yet down in BIGWATER'S ZONE ( this discussion partly spurred forth from his bemoaning a lack of Oly buddies) Humptulips/Matheney: more exotic, more remote for camping, and more options for more paddlers (PPeeps can go up to Sitkum, too they want more steeps to creek. There's also the Wynoochee n Satsop runs on the way) - maybe The OP Ninja will show up.... ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 9:29pm
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Not such a fan of the Dosewallips, I gotta say. Sure Elkhorn makes for a splendid, beautiful adventure, but after The Maze, there isn't much for class III boaters. Did Elkhorn twice. I think I'm good on that one. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2011 at 9:40pm
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We should loosely plan all three. That way whoever doesn't make it to the others may be able to make one. Just a thought.
I could do without the cabins, personally. Got a van, a coleman stove, and a bunch of tarps. The Green: I think that one's gonna happen for sure. If the Green ever runs. We should try to do that in Jan to oblige our own nutty Professor, without whom we'd have no "whitewater social media" in the area. Besides, I wouldn't mind slingin a hook around myself. And, Slick- I ain't no High Water Snob- I'm a Medium Water Snob! Get it straight! 
Seriously though- I really dug the lower Green last weekend at 900cfs. I think from now on if its under 1100, I'll just run the lower. Lots more sunshine, some great 'lil surf waves (which prolly do improve as flows drop), and some good Nature Slalom. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 9:48am
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well JP if we plan 3 dfirent weekends , at least one of them should have good water ,, sounds good maby start with the green becouse everyone is soooo fammilar with it , and if it goes good we can branch out to the more elusive runs like the tilton and the Olympic stuff the green is actualy very close to Oly and is one of my all time favorites especialy when its over 3k ,,, about and hour and 20 mins from my house IF trafic is good .... but honeslty on any give day the tilton is in thats where i go if i have the choise (epic play and no trafic)
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Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 9:55am
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Originally posted by jP
Sorry 'bout the 'wacko' play on words, bret- you know I'm down for all the adventures you suggested. JP, I know you're a little wacko yourself No worries, bro. You're in good company  I'm just sayin, if it's a holiday, NEW YEAR'S!!, then we should get out in it!! Because if not during a glorious time of year like this, then when. I guess my prerequisite and others'? is... enough h20. 30 people down Fool's could get a bit wacko indeed 
My first choice is something haven't done before. If the Sitkum is going though... |
Posted By: fiddleyak
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 10:04am
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The idea of a gathering on the Olympic Peninsula in the winter is a great idea. It's pretty difficult to get the motivation to drive all the way out there. The prospect of a PP style party would make it an easy decision for me.
Of course predicting good flows are the problem, but the Matheny/EF WF Humptulips/Wynoochee/Satsop zone has a variety of runs from class II to Class V that can still be fun even at low water. Also, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hood River. A farther drive but it's the best destination from Seattle in the winter for world class whitewater. |
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 12:07pm
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lets try to stay on topic here ... Hood River is way far and has a very active kayaking scene, i can go down there any day and have people to boat with i think the idea of a mid winter PP would be to get people out to places they dont usealy go , or get more people out on runs that dont get done enough , or try to build intrest in south WA runs so i dont have to drive north to go boating hahaha funny thing is i have freinds that come UP from hood river all the time to run the Tilton because the play is so good ... if it was not for them i wouldnt have haad nearly as many days on the Tilton in the last few yearsi dont want this to turn into a contest for wich river is best for this or that .... lets plan a few weekends and do em all !
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Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 12:37pm
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I agree BW, the reason I'm coming out is for PP, meeting new PPers, exploring new rivers and of course.. getting into the deepest darkest. OP. Getting on runs during a holiday weekend, especially New Year's, offers paddlers more time to get into places they wouldn't normally go. so let's go!! ------------- "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 12:43pm
Posted By: NateW
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 12:59pm
| I could probably rally some Wenatchee people for this. Especially for the non OP trip since that limits our travel time. |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 1:04pm
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Koolness. For once I managed to stir the pot in a positive way. What's wrong w/ this picture? No one's bickering- just kidding- don't start now!
James, I don't think we are too unfocused. We basicly had three themes, and ccould do any or all of them: 1) Green: local, accessible, popular and easy. THIS ONE's GONNA HAPPEN, its just a matter of when. Honestly I won't run the Upper below 1000. No way in hell. But I'd run the lower way below that. Still, If I was building a weekend around it, I'd rather it be higher at least a little. If yall decide on a Green Riv weekend and its butt scrapin, hip bangin, face bloodying low, I'll just run the Lower. Win Win. 2)Tilton: PPeeps don't seem to be biting on this option but I am down. I'd love to do an overnighter in there. Yo BIGWah- if no one goes for that, you n I will make it happen. 3) OP. This option would be designed so PPeeps can base out of one tarp city base camp, and go on seperate missions. Where could we best camp to facilitate this? I'm thinkin Humptulips/Matheny. PPeeps can run the Hump, and/or go Northwest toward Matheny n beyond, or East to the Wynooch, Satsop. PPeeps can "choose their own adventure". Hood River is Hoody McRiver. Ya go down there to boat, and often to boat with the PDX and HR locals, fine folks that they are. I agree its a bit far to drive for many. I don't consider that option on the table unless more PPeeps put it there. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 4:00pm
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hey slick glad to see at least some intrest in the Tilton , i know the beach well and would love to camp there ... i have camped on the island in surf city 3 times now , i packed my creeker full of gear and towed my playboat with a cockpit cover to the wave , next day i got to watch my playboat run the canyon solo , it did very well the first 2 trips but on the 3rd trip it cought an eddy behind us in the canyon and we could not reach it ... we did a second run that day to rescue it
unfortunatly playboating and over nites dont go well together unless ya have a raft , but ill never forget thoes moonlight surfs on the TIlton with a huge bonfire roaring next to the eddy
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Posted By: James
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 4:15pm
Posted By: BIGWATER
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 4:28pm
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haha the funny thing is on one of the trips my buddy had a full sized dry bag / backpack full of empty beer bottles and camping gear that we hearded down the canyon along with the playboat , at one point the bag got stuck in an eddy bellow leap of faith and it took me 10 mins to finaly push it out, was like rescuing 2 swimmers all day long playboat overnites could be rescue clinics also ! surf all of one day / rescue gear all the next
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Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 4:29pm
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That was a fun trip... a little toad in James sleeping bag :) I like the Oly idea levels dependant. Tilton sounds fun as its been years... but playboating overnight gear doesn't sound all that inviting. Green is close, sorta, and if James held the afterhours party at his digs, then man, I'm all IN! ------------- |
Posted By: not-very-clever
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 4:46pm
| i think we were all waiting for james to invite us to his house for the mini pp ball |
Posted By: Yotes
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 4:50pm
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Or at least another poker night! |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 5:19pm
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Ha ha- Dude I think with the Overnighter Playboat thing it woukd be ALL ABOUT heardin yer sh*t downstream while you playboat in. My suggestion would be a larger than average inner tube w/ drybags within drybags, strapped to the top.
...I always laugh my ass off when people try to use garbage bags. Ha ha... ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 5:52pm
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If we did OP we could have the overnighter at my place.
Or maybe even the Compound, Jon?
I think its an awesome idea, I also think that keeping it class III will bring out a lot more participants. ------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there. Daniel Patrinellis 360.434.4616 |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 7:44pm
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Yeah, that's very much in the spirit of which I originally proposed it. But Gig Harbor is still a bit far from the goods- I say we straight up camp it. I could head out early on a Friday to a designated camp spot, say up the Humptulips, and start stringin tarps- I gots... Like... Lots of tarps... Kinda goed with the whole ex-marine panel van theme ( I'm not an ex-marine, I just bought my van from one.)
Anyway, I could get out there early and get some basic shelter set up, if we go OP. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 8:05pm
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Tilton Idea- bout this one: Y'nz who wanna playboat make an initial lap QUICKLY with your creeker full of gear. Drop it off, but DON'T set it up. Yet. Jam to t.o. I MEAN JAM, MUTHUFUKA, NOT LIKE YOU'S DRIFTWOOD (c'mon now: once upon a time a kayak was a FAST vehicle). Rally back up to put in 'cuz you took two seconds to figure out your logistics, and put on w/ playboat. 2nd lap that day cuz you got an EARLY start. Play your way down to your gear where you'll stay, set up camp, n surf. Day two, play all you want leaving enough time to get back up to put in and blitz another w/ creekboat to pick up yo sh*t. Sounds complex, but not if you are as motivated ( and Wacko, I will grant you, Bret), as I.
Now, BIGWATER: (AND this offer is ONLY extended to you) me n El Diablo would be happy to haul in SOME of your gear should we decide to do some Tilton overnighter W/ ya. There may be a FIREBALL WISKEY fee and an... Assorted SAFETY surcharge, but it is an entirely viable option. El Diablo Nuevo is a way better PNW surfer than his grandpa, yet has all of the traditional stowage sans pillar. Just sayin'. Again, that offer is EXCLUSIVELY for the BIGWAH man and the overnight Tilton plan. I know his safety sensibilities wouldn't let me down. Forgive my "rapid"fire brainstorming. It's the middle of dark winter, and I can't get out to paddle enough- all I can do is wait till we round winter solstice. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: flowtorch
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 8:33pm
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I really like the idea of an O.P. winter rally. Bigwater got me fired up on that place last week. Myself and liquidguy will do our damnd'est to be there with our blue Tarps! |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 9:38pm
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Ok- then you need to check out Water Wacko's thread, cuz that sh*ts already off da hook w/ enthusiam, n it ain't even a two pager yet like this thread. Wacko is gonna be our official PP OP AlmBUDSman for this OP thang. Ima just sling a few opinions around as usual n show up with my own Tarps.
We'll start a Green River thread soon too, I'm sure of it... ...and a Tilton one. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2011 at 9:38pm
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Btw Flowtorch is a cool ass user name, I have to admit... ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |