2011_05_21 – As any fellow outdoors enthusiast (or whatever you call people like us) can attest, pretty much all of the more physical skills involved are perishable. Paddling is no exception. I’ve been out once this season to check out Cave Run, but I still needed to get my sea legs back for moving water.

That’s where the Elkhorn comes in. At normal level it’s mostly I-II with some class III here and there; not exactly the pinnacle of whitewater action, but that’s a good thing for refresher training. Plus the scenery is something one could never get tired of. So I made plans to head in around 14:00 or so and take a 12 mile run. That was the plan at least. But this is me I’m talking about, and in typical late for my own funeral fashion, I wound up at the put in right at 18:00. Obviously the latter half was going to going to be in dark, but I don’t mind that at all.

What I didn’t plan on was the nasty thunderstorm that blew in right on top me at dusk. Between down pouring and mist my lights were useless and visibility 0; nothing like paddling blind against the wind with lightning strikes all around. Since the camera couldn’t see any better then I could, about 1/3 of the recordings are scrap and by the time I made take out it was almost 23:00. I’m not complaining though, quite the opposite in fact; what’s the point of an Adventure category without a little adventure? Besides, I still got some nice footage beforehand of the palisades and river area in general.

See below for videos.

 

From put in to the dam at Jim Bean Distillery.

Dam through palisades. Best rapids are here, plenty of surfing at the right level.

Lower Elkhorn. Scenic with occasional riffles to keep you awake.

Storm starts to move in. No use keeping footage from here on.

See you next time!

DC