River Culture: Ephemeral River Art

Sandcastles of the River

I first met the Lone Kayaker many years ago as he was stacking rocks in the river. Moving slowly and deliberately about shin deep in the riverbed the short stack grew surprisingly quickly. The rocks, harvested from the riverbed where he stood, were tightly fitted forming a 4 foot tower - plum straight with four sharp corners. It was simple and beautiful ... and ultimately very temporary.

If you've floated the Dan River in the Hanging Rock State Park and Danbury, NC area over the past 15 years you've probably seen one.

News: 2016 Kibler Valley River Run is back ON!

If you started making alternate plans for the last Saturday in July - STOP! The Kibler Valley race is back on! Here's some early information from the Red Bank Ruritans in Claudville, VA.

A new finish line with plenty of parking was confirmed today! The course will be over a mile shorter but still includes all of the best rapids.

It will be held on the usual date - the last Saturday in July - that's July 30, 2016

Expecting to see official information from the race organizers in the near future.

News: Closed Campground in Kibler

UPDATE April 11, 2016 :: See "Kibler Valley River Run" section at the bottom.

Fishing and Boating Access Remain Open

Outflow of Pinnacles Hydro Station.

Campsites are a short distance downstream.

Source: http://www.lifeinmayberry.com/ (Delane Heath)

Not many people know about the 10 primitive campsites tucked away in Kibler Valley, VA, on the banks of the Dan River where it's young enough to call a creek. There's no charge for camping. Just find an empty site and check in with the on-duty operator at the Pinnacles Hydro Station at the end of Kibler Valley Rd. Even tho my thing is promoting outdoor recreation and tourism in the Upper Dan River I am always hesitant to loudly promote that campground. I feel like I would be betraying my friends who hold it as a refuge - like a secret hideout. There is no mobile phone service in that deep gorge ... if that helps you understand.

River Play: Sticky Little Hydraulics

Q: How do you hone whitewater SUP skills to paddle class 3 and harder? 

A: Work the heck out of that class 2 river near your home.

1. Catch every eddy. 
2. Surf every wave (even the teeny ones). 
3. Tap every rock.

Church of the Active Blade

Barry Kennon's smooth River SUP Style demonstrates the beauty that comes from attention to form and awareness of hydrodynamics.

Review: Farm To (wet) Feet

Where the Merino Meets the River

Layering for cold water: Keen sandals, 
NRS Hydroskin neoprene socks,
Farm to Feet Blacksburg water socks

Whitewater SUP is all about the feet. The place where you and the board meet. If your feet are injured, sore, or otherwise malfunctioning - and mountain streams are full of foot hazards - your ability to SUP effectively is severely degraded. While sturdy river shoes are essential in most river environments I learned long ago the value of wearing socks to prevent bloody chaffing from the grit that gets into almost any river shoe or sandal. Guiding, fishing, and SUPing on rivers involves a surprising amount of walking in the riverbed stirring up sand and tiny rocks. A properly fitted no-show sock not only shields your foot from abrasive sand inside your shoe, it also reduces foot slippage, and fill gaps preventing most grit from entering the shoe at all. 

Whitewater SUP as Personal Expression

Ever since I made that video about whitewater SUP Style I keep seeing more and more examples of technique that shows more than just technical proficiency - not to mention great camera work and better editing. There's a spirit of play and improvisation that emerges when the foundation skills are well-honed.

Near the end of this exquisite reel by a French adventure journalist and videographer in Japan you will see a nimble member of Team Old Guy using his board to play with the river's currents with the grace and confidence of a dancer. There is a joyfulness in his movement that I only see in whitewater SUP paddlers. The rest of this shoot features truly fantastic scenery and inspired paddling.

Watching from above as one paddler carves an intricate line through a boulder garden rapid left me smiling in recognition - that's how I play with my own familiar creeks and rock gardens. From a standing vantage the river reveals so much more than is available from a kneeling or sitting position. Seeing what others around the world are discovering about whitewater SUP is too freakin' fun and exciting.