So the Yagnob was our plan. Expected time, 5 days. Drive as far as you can up a 4×4 road, get to a village, and walk the rest.
Up the valley to the bottom of the pass
Unfortunately that ‘walk the rest’ part meant 25km up over a 3300m pass. Boats, gear, camping equipment, food, the lot…
Time to barter for a donkey.
Starting the Stroll
It turns out in Tajikistan its cheaper to buy a donkey than to hire a donkey. Each with a leg of a donkey (called Shakira) to our name, the four of us set off on the hike. Turns out its not easy to lead a stubborn cheap donkey…
Shakira doin her thang
Its a long way up!
2 gruelling days later and we made it to the riverside.
The calm before the storm
5km downstream we had our first surprise. A 6km long gorge with a massive entry rapid not portageable at river level greeted us. More walking – not what we needed!
Back down at river level we paddled the rest of the spectacular gorge in the sunshine.
Yet another portage
5km downstream of this we had another surprise. Another gorge with a runnable entry but unrunnable exit. This wasn’t supposed to happen!
It was what we all feared – the river was too high!
Big portages interspersed with a few nice rapids
After a couple of days of long scouts, long portages interspersed with some good paddling we saw our first signs of civilization. Our Phrase book wasn’t much use since they speak an ancient 8th Century language in this valley, however we managed to get a room and some local food for the night.
It was here that Hugh twisted and severely sprained his ankle. After a lot of use of the Sat phone, debate, broken conversation and scouring over maps, Hugh prepared for a long uncomfortable donkey trek to the nearest road.
Only a Sprain?
Donkey to the rescue
On the river we were down to 3, but the river gods seemed to throw and apology in our direction. The sun came out and the levels seemed to drop slightly. Everything cleaned up and became runnable with some spectacular scenery.
The next few days were bliss…for those of us on the water.
Beautiful weather..
..Amazing scenery
and some tasty rapids to compliment!
Danny and Hugh are heading home soon so we’re trying to cram some roadside boating in for the next few days, where we know that the river levels are up to!
An audience on the Fandraya
The steep sides of the Zerafshan
Follow the leader...if the river will let you...
Dave Burne
(written on expedition, uploaded post expedition. Less time on the internet means more time on the water!)
Hi Team,
Well after a busy summer of paddling down here in the Southern Hemisphere I finally find myself in front on a computer with some time to report in my new favorite piece of kit from Palm – the all new Amp Vest. I have been a long term user of the Axis Extrem vest and it has served me marvelously well, and seen me through a few fairly sporting swims! Needless to say it was going to require something pretty special to sway me away from the old faithful. What Palm has delivered in the Amp Vest is exactly what was required. Lightweight yet still with plenty of flotation, the Amp will be perfect for everything from a freestyle session in the local hole, to month long expeditions. What has really impressed me with the Amp though is the comfort! I have never experienced a PFD that molds to the body so comfortably and offers unrestricted freedom of movement, Palm have absolutely set the benchmark with the Amp.
Look for footage of the Amp in action on the Red Bull Chronicles – coming to a TV screen near you soon. In the meantime I have attached a short video of myself and the Amp enjoying the last of the NZ summer.
Cheers,
Ben: www.benbrown.co.nz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtj_7Jphtgs
When I was 15 I ran the top drop on the Gamlan (at very low levels). 10 years later, I was lucky enough to find good water levels and sunshine on the same day; so donned my shiny kit to run the river with nostalgic memories of Topos and Schlegels.
The gear has changed, but the line’s still the same…
Recent photo by Chris Eastabrook. Old photo by someone in York Canoe Club (I can’t remember who exactly!).
It’s raining again now… see you on the water!
Lowri
I have just arrived back in NZ for two weeks downtime before jumping back on the plane and heading to North America for more adventures. My return coincided with one of NZ’s frequent winter storms so not one to miss the chance to huck some drops I loaded up the truck and headed for the hills. A TV channel here in NZ is running a feature of our recent Iceland mission so I dragged them along for the ride. They were very stoked at the awesome interview location and the chance to check out some waterfall hucking first hand! Tempratures are less than tropical down here in the antipedes at present but as per usual the Sidewinder dry top kept me toasty warm – keep it up Palm! Check out more on our NZ A-Day at Red Bull Special Op’s.
At least I don't have to worry about being cold!
Sweet shuttle vehicle!
Never get sick of that feeling!
Sweet little sequence shot.
Cheers guys,
Ben Brown
I have just returned from an awesome expedition in Iceland where we were filming for Rush Sturges and Tyler Bradts upcoming feature ‘Dream Result’. Along with Rush, Tyler and Patrick Camblin we headed to the Land of Fire and Ice in search of big waterfall adventures!
We spent three weeks circumnavigating the entire Island and found some amazing drops. As well as dropping a few of Iceland’s more postcard drops we also knocked of several sweet first descents.
Camping in Iceland during the summer months is always a challenge due to the 24 hour sunlight and the extremely changeable weather. Luckily for us Iceland has a constant stream of natural hotsprings offering welcome refuge to the weary kayaker! Luckily for me on the water I was wearing the Sidewinder Top and Pant Combo as well as the new SIS Immersion Suit which both performed exceedingly well keeping me warm and dry in all conditions.
This was one of the most enjoyable trips I have been on for a long time. The combination of an awesome crew, unique location and epic paddling made for a memorable adventure. We filmed a great segment for Dream Result and got a ton of amazing images so be sure to check back here and on www.benbrown.co.nz for more tales as well as a video blog from the adventure.
Arkangel Chemical Weapons Facility (Aka. Verzasca Dam)
Hello there, so I’ve just returned from a beautiful week in the Italian and Swiss Alps. After spending a day on the middle section of the Verzasca, we stopped off for lunch on its unfeasibly large dam, before heading to the rarely run Loana and Basso for an epic day’s hiking, kayaking, and some gnarly portaging (see Tim’s post).
Your truly in a cheeky flair move on the Middle Verzasca
Simon Boofin' on the Basso
Having previously only experienced Valsesia during the monsoon, it was a revelation to arrive there in glorious sunshine. Although levels were still slightly too high for many of the steeper runs, we spent a thoroughly civilised few days enjoying the high water, relaxing in the valley’s gelateries, and arguing over how to pronounce stracciatella. Fot those stilll unsure, it’s pronounced ‘Stracciatella’.
Matt Tidy plugging hard on the upper Gronda
Relaxing at the bottom of the Gronda racecourse
Dropping in on the Sorba Slides at 'man levels'
Tim in the meat. Sirloin I believe.
The Mastallone river is not considered by many to be one of the classic runs in the area, however when the water is high and the sun is shining it makes for a grand day out, offering some fun bouldery rapids, an incredible pristine gorge, and if you head a little further up the Valley a cheeky Park ‘n’ Huck on it’s lesser trib the Landwasser. On this occasion we were lucky enough to catch a fish.
Jared Meehan and Jim Cummings: Park 'n' Fish 'n' Huck.
Simon on the Landwasser drop.
Dave Carrol from above.
On my last day in Valsesia, Simon and I entered the Valsesia River Contest downriver sprint, which due to high water on the Sermenza was to be held on the Sesia at Piccolo Canada rapid. The sun shone, we paddled hard, and despite a moderately controversial choice of line on my part, Simon and I won first and second places respectively in the ‘International’ catergory.
The Sesia in high water
Yours truly, sporting the victory bling. Solid Silver.
All in all a cracking week in one of the world’s greatest paddling destinations, and a sweet warm up to what looks to be an incredible season. I’m now back in the UK, preparing for further adventures in France and then Norway. I can’t wait.
Safe paddling, see you on the water!
Nick
Recently I returned from Uganda on a Playboating trip with Satu my wife. We travelled very light, and the new paddle bag and River Trek dry bags from Palm were our main baggage for the trip. Of course we took playboats, however all in all, the whole lot weighed in at 38Kg, this for two paddlers is a light trip…
Well for years I have been on to Barney, Palm’s designer that I need solid travelling gear to get to the river. Of course Palm have made great on the water gear for years, however with recent attention to the added extras to travel in style, Barney and the crew have come up with some great new products. First and my favourite is the cockpit cover, I always through all my wet PFD, deck and rescue gear in the boat, it lives in there between runs, so to have a bomber seal to keep all my paddling gear safe is a real must. Plus in having wet gear in your car, that oh so paddler scent seems to whoffed from every boater’s car…. yet for myself with a cockpit cover I can avoid this paddler’s delight!
The new River Trek dry bags have been designed for robust travel in mine, a more malleable fabric than perviously used, and with different closure options, plus fully adjustable back straps and side carrying handles, make for a more universal companion on the road. I have a 50L for everyday use and 125L for all the road trip paddling gear. Now a real asset for a paddler is to keep the boating shoes away from all the rest of your gear. Why you ask, well, there is nothing worse than having your flash dry suit covered in mud if not worst, when you pull it from your bag for the drying line. Get a small dry bag, 6L or so, and always place your paddling shoes in there, you’ll thank me one day, of that I am sure. And at worst, if you wish to go one better than drinking from the bootie, try the bootie bag!!!!!!!
Next up is Palm’s jewel in the crown of their new travelling gear, it takes 4 paddles, its the all new Palm Paddle Bag. Indeed 4 paddles’ easy, plus 2 sleeping mats, a 3 person tent and 2 sleeping bags, well I was sent to test it anyway. Now in the production one comes in a grey trim, as this one I stole from the new Mac Monkey, Tim Trew, nice chap, but does not have the one off, only one ever made orange trimmed paddle bag anymore….
Well that’s it for now, as I await the never ending encoding of my new instructional DVD, Genotype 2, but that is a whole other story, and until then, goodnight.
Regards
Simon Westgarth
