Ocoee with Matt and Tyler

Last weekend Tyler and I headed down to the Ocoee River to meet up with our buddy Matt. It was their first experiences with whitewater, and they both did great. We paddled the whole middle on Friday, with Rick helping with safety along the way. On Saturday it was just the three of us, and we decided to run the upper. Both Matt and Tyler handled it just fine, and Tyler even ran the race course. His lines were all clean until humongous, where he went for a little surf and his boat went for longer surf. It was a great weekend with amazing weather. Here are some pictures from the trip. Until the next adventure. Must photos where taken by Matt

Tyler and Matt getting the Duckies ready for the Upper Put-In

Tyler looking like a Pro

Matt enjoying the middle Ocoee

Tyler talking about kayaking to randoms, and he doesn't even know what he is saying

Race Course!

Tyler not Following the Line I told him, and dropping backwards

Just a little Swim

A little tired after his swim

Cooking a MAN meal

Da JED

It finally happened! Since 2010 I have paddled a Jackson kayak. I bought my first 2010 All-Star from CKS after driving 14 hours to B.V to pick it up. This last weekend with the help of Bilbo, I ordered and picked up my brand new Pyranha JED kayak. I'm really excited to get it on the water and get the outfitting dialed in. Here are some pictures of the new boat. This weekend I'm off to the southeast for 3 weeks of kayaking. Until the next adventure!

Looks like a warpped up dead body

There she is

Angry fish

2013 All-Star

Cat's Paw

This last weekend Cal Mike, Rick and I were all set to head to the Cheoah River but a strong storm brought the Saint’s Level to over D bridge. As we debated what our weekend entailed, we decided to stay local and paddle the saint.

Campsite

 With the saint at a great play level, I headed to the Alpine Shop to pick up the 2013 Jackson All-Star and headed straight to the put-in. We arrived around 7:30 with a level just about 1ft over D bridge.

The new All-Star is very different than the previous model. The boat has more volume and is much wider. The width was the hardest to get used to. The boat is extremely stable but with the increase width I found it had to get on edge, making Flat water cartwheels very difficult. In a hole or wave the boat felt very balanced on stern and bow.  

2013 All-Star

Overall I thought the boat was a great river runner and even better surfer, but I feel it lacks in the river play due to the increased volume.  I also tried the new Pryahna Jed, which is a cartwheel machine. The slicer ends allows for very smooth cartwheels in flat water. I'm truly undecided on the two boats so more testing will be needed.  Here is a quick video I made of the Jackson All-Star boat.

All-star-premier from Curtis Ahlers on Vimeo.

Where Have I been?

It’s been some time since my last blog post due to a full schedule this semester. Winter started with teaching all week and then putting in 30+ hours at the shop fixing and waxing skis. I didn’t get to kayak that much this winter but I was able to get some skiing in. I got 16 days this season at winter park and copper mtn. The best day was one of the last of spring break, it snowed all day! By lunch we were making fresh tracks again! Chris and I even found a nice size pillow to drop off of.

Once home I was given the opportunity to go to the Smoky Mountains with the Rockwood Trek and Travel program. They take 5th grader to Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont to learn outdoor skills and local biology. The school is located in the national park. The experience was amazing! I was reminded why I decided to become a teacher. Here are a few pictures

My group of 5th graders

A waterfall we hiked to

we got 4 inches of snow the first night!!

Sleeping Quarters

river that runs through Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremount

Hiking in the snow

 Anyways to tell you how awesome/crazy my February was, I was in Colorado for president’s weekend then St. Louis the next weekend then Smoky Mountains the following weekend, back to St. Louis and then back to Colorado. So in 5 weeks, I spent 3 of the weekends in the mountains! With kayak season right around the corner check back for more blog post, I promise! Until the next adventure.

Saint 7.5 over D bridge 1/13

Saturday night I was working at the Alpine Shop when I received the text from Nicky. It read “rick thinks the saint will be couple feet over D tomorrow” My first response was “sorry I have to work” but as soon as I hit the send button, I realized I don’t really need to work, so I ran over to the Ski board to see how much work there was and who was working on Sunday. To my surprise, three guys were scheduled for Sunday and there was little work to be done. I ran to the mangers off and ask to be off. I did put on my availability sheet that when the saint was over 10 inches I had to be off. Pete granted me permission and texted Nicky back right away. All night I was excited. I meet rick in the morning and headed down, the saint was prime at 7.5 feet over D but the temperature was a nice 30 degrees and sleeting on us. Here is a video but doesn’t do the river justice at this level. Until the next adventure.

SAint 7.5ft over D from Curtis Ahlers on Vimeo.

First Ski trip of 2012/13

Theme of the trip

This last week Chris, Kyle and I made our annually pilgrimage to the ski Mecca Colorado. This year we all bought rocky mount super passes good for copper mtn. And winter park. The trip started with the long drive through Kansas where the only good thing to see is the worlds largest parrie dog.

Kansas sucks

With no time to spend sight seeing we had to push on and miss the dog. After arriving in Georgetown CO, our mountain home away from home, we were off to bed to rest up for our first day. As the phone alarm went off, the snow reported showed 8inches over night. Finally it was time for the pow.

Mr. Polley looking good

The first day at winter park the pow was boot deep. Over the next 5 days we skied winter park, copper, copper, winter park, copper. After the third day we were graced by my buddy Nate and marj, we meet them for some BBQ in Idaho springs. It was great seeing them and catching up.

Copper Mtn.

Chris getting him some air

Top of Copper Mtn.

The Crew

Supa Pipe!!

COLROADO!

As we left Colorado, we decided to drive half way home to make the next day's drive a little easier, unfortunately we drove right into a storm cell that dropped 8inches and covered the roads in ice. Unable to continue to drive, we had to stop short and get a hotel. The worse part was fish tailing on a bridge while a semi truck was flying passed us, there was sheer fear in all of us. Here is a little video for your enjoyment, until the next adventure.

Ski Trip Winter break 2012 from Curtis Ahlers on Vimeo.

Russell Fork 2012

Fall Colors

Last weekend Rick and I headed to the Russell Fork River. This is one of my favorite runs and has become a yearly October trip for me.

Campsite, notice the sign!

We usually only run the gorge, with the put-in being in Virginia and the take-out in Kentucky. It is the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi river.

With the trees changing and the weather a nice 70 degrees we couldn't ask for a better trip.
We ended up paddling with Jim and Raymond Saturday and a bomber run Sunday. Here is a little video of the gorge. Until the next adventure

russellfork2012 from Curtis Ahlers on Vimeo.