Fat Cats Productions: Latest News, Travels, Photos and Videos

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Dipper Creek BC

In October 09 a group six of us paddled Dipper. The creek is in the Squamish River drainage. This catchment has to be of the best in the world , containing rivers like the Ashlu , Elaho , Squamish , Tatlow , Dipper and many , many more.
Ali Marshall , Codey Howard , Ben Hawthorne , Steve Arns , AJ , Fred Norquest and One Eyed Scott made the team. We came prepared with rope , walkie talkies and ground support in case we became trapped in the canyon.

We took two days to paddle this section and it was one of the most physically demanding trips I have ever done. Huge hikes, scouts and portages, there were many unrun drops that we paddled aswell.
This is probably the most spectacular box canyon that I have ever been lucky enough to see.
























posted by Fat Cats @ 3:53 AM 5 comments

Monday, September 28, 2009

Grand Canyon of the Stikine



The Classic Stikine photo. Left to right, back row: Simon Tapley (Eng), Kurt Braunlich (USA), "The Death Starr" , Corey boux (Can), Left to right, front row: Steve Bartrom (NZ), Ali Marshall (Eng)




Nervously checking levels.






The set up on the long and aprehensive drive up the Stewart-Cassiar highway



"The true keepers of the Stikine"



Scouting Entry Falls. No photo, no video, no hype or talk, nothing can prepare you for that first sight of this rapid. It is huge.



Entry falls from the cliffs high on river left



Simon with his life saving device




Someone immersed in day 1












Scouting the must run, Wasson's Hole.

Below: Sequence of Ali running the left line and just missing that lethal hole. Check out the 921 BC trailer to see this hole destroying people.
























Morning light on the entry to Site Z. Taken from camp 1.



A boulder fell on Corey during the dodgy portage around Site Z. He wanted Savlon for his cuts. Stevo piped up and said "No, not Savlon. What you need for that Corey is some get hard pills!" Unfortunately Corey had finished his supplies whilst filming earlier in the week.




The sketchy descent to put on below Site Z





Site Z, how long 'til the whole thing is run?









The Death Starr leads the way as Ali follows and gets swallowed at the start of day 2





Day 2 Is mainly read and run with some big suprises in there. Simon got worked in one hole for a long time. The wall is pretty much a blind rapid. It then opens up and reveals Garden of the gods. Simon avoids a second beatdown.





Calming down at Camp 2 with some treats from the East


















Kurt scouts the hole that ate Chicago before the Death Starr tried to surf it.



The Death Starr washed through backwards



Scouting V Drive





Here The Death Starr goes into orbit




The run out to V Drive




Bartrom in the Tanzilla slot. The flow was around 400 Cumecs going through that gap




Relieved, tired and inspired at the take out. No wolves at the take out this time. Just a couple of cats.


A massive thanks to Typhoon for all their continued support! Thanks also to Pyranha kayaks and Palm equipment.



posted by Fat Cats @ 12:02 PM 1 comments