This weekend will by far go down in the history books for me and Devin. To the best of my knowledge Devin just happens to have become the youngest person to run the Green Truss section of the White Salmon River in Washington. With Dane Jackson 13 running it a few weeks ago and Sam Drevo back when he was 14. Not a bad accomplishment for a kid that has been taught by his dad and many great friends that have been way more supportive than I could of asked for. This is the short list and I know there are names I'll forget to mention but you know who you are: Michael Williams, the Herbeck's, Ej Etherington, Lauren Boehm, Kuma Dog and Kris Litz.
To me the Truss had never been a run I'd planned on running. Not to say I didn't want to run it. It just seemed like it was more than I'd be comfortable to be on. I'm not a checklist boater and it was only as my skills developed that the idea of running it came into my mind. Thanks in part to having a awesome little paddling partner, Devin. Devin, who had set a goal on his profile on liquidkayak.com to run the Truss this summer had been a little bit of a running joke between us. Like I'm gonna let a 12 yr old run the Truss no matter what level it was. Well I decided earlier in the week with the water heading south quick it was time for me to fire it up. When I told Devin I was gonna run it he jumped at the chance to run it with me. This unforturnately has become a all to common occurance. Most all the creeks I ran this year Devin has been by my side except for Opal Creek when he was at his mom's that day. The Lower Tilton,WA, Canyon Creek, WA, SF Clearwater, ID and Butte Creek, WA.
The crew we ran the Truss on Saturday consisted of Ej Etherington, Michael Williams, Nate Herbeck who all knew the run and like 10 of us greenhorns reading to head into the abyss that lies below the Farmies on the White Salmon. At 2.0, most all the rapids where easily managable and Devin, myself, Kris Litz, Kyle all had smiles from ear to ear and were loving the exploration. Kyle, who's from Seattle and a good friend of Ej that me and Devin had paddled with up on the Wenatchee Festival is a inspiration to a younger boater. Kyle's 50 and has more energy than I do by a long shot. Nice guy too. Me and Devin both ran all the drops other than Big Brother, Lower Zig-Zag"due to wood" and BZ Falls.
After the run I put on a little bbq at NW Lakes for new friends I'd made on the run and friends that didn't feel like the Truss. It was a great time and I appreciate all that came and hung out with us.
The only bad thing that happened on the trip was some footage Nate Herbeck was shooting didn't come out so we were forced into running it again on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Darn.....
This time we knew most all the lines and only needed a quick reminder of the line on a few drops we we're not 100% sure of. It was also a small group consisting on Nate, myself, Devin and Tony. One of Nate's friends that knew the run. We still portaged all the same drops and even with three long portages where I was carrying Devin's boat and mine. We ran the Truss in just over 3 hours. Not too bad, I'd say.
The best new's was that other than me getting worked for a few in a hole near the top of the run. One that Devin was nice enough to boof over my boat while I was upside down in the hole. I guess that's what dad's are for, right? We did not become part of the "Green Truss Swim Team".
I don't have any pics of us., though I believe Ej does.
But, there is a chance you may see some of the "Wonder Midget" on Nate's upcoming video; "TOXIC WATERS"
