The Paddler ezine Issue 53 Late Spring 2020 | Page 50

ThePADDLER 50 When we were ready for a change of scenery, we took a day off from freestyle and concentrated on river running through Heart Attack and Land of 1000 Holes. On our rest day, we enjoyed the walk-through town of Fort Smith, visiting the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre. In the evening we took some time watching videos, analysing the tricks and breaking them down during our flat freestyle sessions. After the rest day we came back for Rollercoaster to throw tricks we had been thinking about on the rest day and surfing with full energy again - one of the best surfing days! We had taken playing with freestyle on all sizes of waves, which gave us enough skill for bigger challenges. It was time to explore other rapids and run some of the legendary lines. SIZE AND POWER We came back to Mountain Rapids this time starting from the top – Running Furies, English Channel, Turnpike, Maelstrom, Forgotten, Avalanche and ending at the Chico. Some of the rapids we run following the lines only, then look back on them – otherwise, we would probably be too hesitant, given the size and power of them! Paddling at Mountain is followed by Pelican the next day. We start easy from the bottom with Pelican Bottom Ferry. The waves are huge, the Ferry itself demands plenty of power and confidence because of the size of green waves that like to crash. You can either enter high and move through the whirlpools or simply take it a bit lower, joining the current at the easier spot. With the size of this rapid – it does not make much of the difference, despite the line you choose – you will end up at the same place! We take more time to run rapids like Prat Fall, Staircase Bottom, Snow Catcher and return through Pelican Bottom Ferry. The group takes a while looking at the Pelican trying to grasp its size and scale while Leif, Pierce and I wander off to run it. Ferrying in through three big breaking hole waves will set you on the line and once you are there you go down.