Whitewater Vacation

Darin and I took a week off during Colorado peak water runoff to kayak. We boated for 10 straight days. The trip started by driving over to the Ark valley and doing a Browns Canyon run. It was interesting, the "alternative" put-in cuts off 4 miles of flatwater but was a scrappy mile.After a cold play run we headed to Pueblo for some high water play park. Darin got the biggest loop of his life and we spent the whole afternoon wondering where we would go next. All the rivers were running, but Colorado can be a big state and making plans is impossible for kayakers. However after studying the map, gauges and guidebook we picked the Cache la Poudre for our next destination. On the way to the Poudre we hit up peak Clear Creek and boated to the Golden play park.
The Poudre is in the Roosevelt National Park and is the only designated Wild and Scenic River in Colorado. It was running big at 4 feet and the Class IV play section was perfect. We spent two days playin' and campin'- skankin' up the poudre! Tons of fun! After tons of downriver play we were pooped and headed to the Golden play park for a relaxing day of playboating. That night there was the Golden community rodeo and I won. Yeah! I got a free t-shirt!
We both felt like it was time for some creek boating so we headed to Bailey. This is my new favorite creek. A beautiful canyon full of 10.5 miles of incredible whitewater. New creek runs are always such an adventure because you scout, set safety and take more time on the river. I love exploring new places and Bailey was the perfect peak to our trip.
Worn out, dirty and happy we headed to Salida for the 59th annual FibArk Festival. We spent a day recouperating and got wet playing in the hole which is in the middle of the festivities. The next day we headed up and did Clear Creek of the Ark. Darin did two laps, but I saved some energy for a high water Numbers run. I playboated that run until I didn't hae anything left and called it a vacation.