49 Megawatts...

To everyone who was at the show in Seattle last night...I'm soooooooo sorry. I can't tell you how dissappointed I was to hear that the DVD's of my new documentary film "49 Megawatts" and "BC Summer 2006", which I overnighted on Tuesday, had not arrived at Shane's by late Friday afternoon. Apperently the overnight envelope cleared customs on Wednesday but was then sent to California by accident and then back to Blaine to be re-processed. The plan was to show 49 Megawatts in Seattle last night and then launch it on TRL sometime this week. I feel terrible. I trust that everyone had fun checkin' out Todd's slides, drinking beer, watching some vintage TRL video, and talking about how lame it was that my films were not showing. In an effort to recover from last night's blunder, I'm going to release the new film on TRL today followed by a bit of Ashlu beta that should fire you up and hopefully get you out paddling this gem before they divert it into a tunnel. So here it is...

49 MEGAWATTS

Lots of people have voiced their concern for the rivers of BC while TRL has been covering the Ashlu. People have felt helpless, and I think many people have been turned off by heading up to the Ashlu because of all the negative construction stuff we have published. I have a few things to offer...

1. BC Creek Protection Society is doing a tremendous job of taking this issue to action at the moment. It is important that we concentrate our energy together and get the issue into broader public coalitions. I believe that the BC Creek Protection Society is making big steps in the right direction. Check out their site and give the society some support if you feel compelled to help the cause.

2. Over the past couple of months some of the bigger environmental groups and various paddlespsorts organizations have recognized the value in supporting efforts to try and bring the stakeholders back into the process of decision making regarding the rivers of BC. The momentum is growing and hopefully we are getting somewhere now. Everyone's efforts have made this happen...keep on pushing to make our voices heard!

3. Check out the article that Christian Knight wrote on the Ashlu in PADDLER MAGAZINE. I thought this was a very well researched piece that shows how many people are involved in the issue and the history of the Ashlu.

4. There could not be a better time to get out and paddle the Ashlu. Lots to be done up that valley right now and to date the river remains the same. This could be the last season of free flowing water. Here is some basic beta all in one spot to help you put the Ashlu on the hit list this summer.

LOWER MILE

2km
Class 5
ideal flows are between 30-50 on the Elaho Gauge
the current paddling season is late fall, winter, and early spring
take-out is the twin bridges, put-in is the first place the river comes back to the road after the twin bridges.

The Lower Mile is perhaps the least paddled section of the river, because it is so steep and hard to see into. However this section of the river is incredible when you have the right flow. It's a steep pile of boulders with some significant ledge drops and a couple of smaller waterfalls. The coolest asspect of this run is that you can see the take-out when you run the first drop, but it takes a couple hours to negotiate all the stuff in between!

Here is Jonny Utah about one third of the way into the run... looking down to the take out.

photo by Todd Gillman

One of the many sweet series of ledge drops on the Lower Mile

photo by Todd Gillman

BOX CANYON

4km
Class 5
Ideal flows are between 60-90 on the Elaho Gauge
The best time to hit this section is April-May and then from August-October
the put-in is the bridge at 25 mile. If you hike down the trail on river left there is a good put-in below the 50/50 falls and the ledge drop immediately after. Or if you feel like hucking...put in below the bridge.
the take-out is on river right where a small creek comes into the Ashlu. The creek is pretty easy to spot on the way up. Just after the described put-in for the Lower Mile, the road comes up a steep incline. At the top of that incline, a creek and slide path are visible on the left of the road. Hike down that rumble to scope the take-out.
This run has several drops that are extremely hard to scout and impossible to portage. It is highly recommeded that you run this section of river with someone who knows it. It is not extremely hard, but it is a very deep gorge with no outs.

The Box Canyon (or Commitment Canyon) section of the Ashlu is probably the most scenic stretch of whitewater in the Sea to Sky corridor. It has been claimed as many as one of the best sections of whitewater in the world! TRL showcased the Box Canyon in BC SUMMER 06 The run starts with some of the most challenging whitewater. First Corner Rapid, then a manky drop you run left, Enagagement, and Triple drop are all unscoutable and unportageable from water level. Once you get through Triple Drop you can scout and portage most everything else. These first 4 rapids can be scouted from canyon level on river left, but beware that they are much bigger and very blind at river level!

Dropping into the Corner rapid at the very top of the Box

photo Todd Gillman

Todd Gillman in Kernage which is the first rapid below Triple Drop

photo by Evan Ross

The Box Canyon is made of two seperate canyons. As you paddle out of the first canyon the river turns to gravelly class II. You can hike out from here on river right if things are not going well. Scout the first rapid of the second canyon well as it has a nasty sieve on river right. The lower canyon is generally a bit easier than the first, but still has plenty of punch.

OK...so that is what I have manged to get up for now. I'm out the door for 10 days of tidal race paddling for the sea kayak film I'm working on called Pacific Horizons It has been keeping me super busy at the moment. When I return I will post up details on the rest of the
Ashlu's run: Mini-Mine, Mine, Tatlow, "Play Run", and Upper Ashlu.