Minnesota

Minnesota land of the cold and snow, and big slides.

Chris Baer Running almost always on the Lester
Photo John McConville
The Lester is just out side of Duluth Minnesota and makes a very fun quick post work run.

Split Rock, access on this is getting ruff and it needs a lot of water but wow is it fun when you get the water, slide slide slide slide slide.

Andy "the Punisher" McMurray on Ski jump


Andy " maximus" McMurray in Under the Log, (there is no log any more)


Nora Whitmore 52 years old and slayin the Canyon section, See also Andy McMurray in the back ground.


Encampment,

More of Andy McMurray this time getting his nose down on the 30fter, this thing has an amazing lead in, and the next few rapids are amazing as well.


Me on the 30fter, photo by John McConville

The Onion, talk about slip slide yourself off the edge of the world this thing has 2 drops that get rid of 400ft of gradient in about a quarter mile, damn this is fun.

John Kiffmeyer slipping off thew edge of the world, we are going to lake superior 500ft below and less then a half mile away.


John Kiffmeyer on the lead in slide, this is just the giveme, into the big one.


Nate Herbeck about to catch some air.


John McConville dealing with the crux of the top slide


Me trying to keep my nose up at the base of the first slide, 200ft down 200 to go
photo by John McConville

P
Heather Herbeck, bouncing down the bottom of the second slide

East Beaver, we did this as just a park and huck, 3 fun drops

John McConville boffin the 20 fter

Poplar River coming out of Lutsen ski resort,

John McConville in the maylay of the big slide

Me in the same slide
photo John McConville

So there is a quick update on MN, there is a lot more to come including the second decent of Superior Falls, you might remember this one from Tao on stunt junkies, Well I'm here to tell you it doesn't need a helicopter be ran.

Also a Big thanks to the sponsors, 4Corners Riversports, Wave Sport (the habitat 80 rocks), Snap Dragon (and there implosion bar thar I have been putting to the test), Rudy Project, Blunt Family Paddles, and you.

All photos by Chris Baer unless noted
Thanks again and stay posted for more silly sliding in MN
Chris Baer

Mexico Video Finally

So it has taken way to long to get the raw video, but now I have it and I pumped out a fun little video check it out.
You can all so go back in the blog to December and January to see the original write ups for each area and some cool pictures.





Check in soon for some Minnesota Kayaking
Chris Baer

Opel, and Canyon Creek

Wow, a month in Hood River went fast.
Opel Creek, Canyon Creek and a Horrible swim.

After a couple weeks in Hood it was time to go explore, Opel creek was first on our list.

A stunning hike in threw an old growth forest.



Our first major drop on Opel creek, a funky boof into an ugly hole.



Scott Baker styling the line.



Same drop shot from below,




The last drop on the Opel, a fun two tired item.
There was also another drop spotted on the drive out that we had to stop and look at. 20ish foot water fall that had definitely had some man made help at one point, lots of concrete along the river left side but it did look.... ok


Then we were off to Canyon Creek OR


This run started off awesome, tight little boulder gardens, wood galore, nasty holes, under cut walls, sieves, all the things to make it a manky class5
Scott trying hard to not go under the wall.



Smiling away coming threw another steep wood infested boulder garden.




So this is where I reiterate, NASTY HOLES, check out the one at the top of the picture, walled in, sieved out, boil all the way to the bank... nasty.




So here I am doing a very ugly stern squirt in the fore mentioned hole.

WARNING
This is where the story goes bad.
Mom don't read this.

I stern squirt, get the boat back down, and start paddling like hell. Got flipped, rolled back up facing the hole, and immediately ask for a rope. Then the rodeo session began threw some ends and quickly lost all control. At this point I realized I was not getting out of the hole in my boat.

So now I am getting cartwheeled and flipped around in the hole with my paddle, boat, and camera. I manage to catch a decent gasp of air and see the guys on shore throwing ropes, my hands go up my head goes under and I couldn't find a rope to save my life... literally. I continue to get beat for a while occasionally coming close to the surface and flailing my arms feeling around desperately for the ropes. I tried clawing and kicking off the undercut walls, but nothing was working. A few moments latter I have a decision to make, stay just under the surface and continue to feel around for the rope or to ball up hoping that the water grabs me as a hole and pushes me deep in to the low lying current. Or in this case possible deep under one of the surrounding rocks, a scary decision to make but when faced with no oxygen, and the real thought that this might be it... ball up what is it going to hurt.

I barely went any further down then I had when I was just flailing around, time for other options. The buoyancy of my body and gear was keeping me recirculating in the hole, so it was time to ditch some flotation. I reached a hand up and pulled the latex gasket away from my neck, this would allow any extra air that was trapped in my dry suit to escape. All I felt was 40 degree water coming down my chest. At this point I was on the worst carnival ride ever upside down right side up cartwheeling, the guys on the surface said they could see my hole back on the surface occasionally but I was getting so tumbled I had no idea which way was up.

I was starting to get really tired, the hole event had been going on for close to two minutes now and I had only occasionally had gotten even a mini gasp of air. I thought about trying to take off my life jacket the one last piece of buoyancy, but what would this mean for me further down stream, and... I was too tired. I felt my arm fling limply threw the air above the hole and that really scared me. I was dyeing. A few more tumbles and I felt what I had been looking for the hole time that damn rope. My hands clenched on with every thing left and the guys pulled my blue body out of the water and on shore. They held me there for a while, my legs wouldn't support me. After a minute or so of coughing hacking and my throat burning from the taste of oxygen. I raised my head and said guys we need to go get my paddle and camera.

The guys were all relieved, and I thank them for truly saving my life.

The rest of the run was ok, collected all of my gear minus one elbow pad, and I was happy that there were only a couple more nasty little holes.

Back at the Wreck Center after a scary day.
Thank you Scott Baker for some of the pictures and thanks to Scott Baker, Dan Ingerson, and sketchy Dan, for pulling me out of the damn hole.

Thanks for reading another installment of Where Is Baer, stay tuned in for some Minnesota action up next.
Chris Baer