Every spring I make the pilgrimage to California like many other paddlers looking for smooth granite and overnight runs with friends. This spring was a little different than most. With a marginal snow pack and high temps, the rivers were running and high Sierra runs were in much earlier than usual. The run off was already more than half over and most of the snow pack had disintegrated. Time to get on with it.

I arrived in Sacramento and contacted my friends Ben Jackson, Daan Jimmink, and Jess Matheson. They had just flown in from New Zealand and were itching to get on something as well. A team of 20 or so paddlers with mixed nationalities were on their way to the Kaweah for some southern golden granite and I joined in on the fun. What a team it was!!!  A mixed contingent of Kiwis, an Australian, Canadians, the Netherlands, and 1 token American.

We paddled the Hospital Rock section of the MF Kaweah and the East Fork of the Kaweah.  Both sections of river are amazing. Slick golden granite, amazing drops, and portages. I gotta say that my 5.10 Savants and River Booties were definitely the way to go!!! The granite is polished and when it gets wet, super slick. Our portages were above gnarly drops where falling in would be disastrous. The team folks who were wearing other brands (can’t say the name) were sketched every time we had to portage. Not me…my shoes stuck like glue. Several times other paddlers simply walked while those that had 5.10 footwear carried their boats. Everyone I know who wears other brands salivates at my footwear.

Enjoy the pics and see ya out there.