Hudson River Ducky Shuttle - 06-27-10

North Creek Rafting Company is now offering inflatable kayak (ducky) trips on the Hudson River Gorge and other rivers when levels allow. Duckies are a great way to get up close and personal with the river. Previous rafting experience is required.

A ducky is also a great shuttle vehicle. After dropping the raft trip off at the put-in, I park the bus at the take-out spot. North Creek is just another 5 miles downstream, so Ellie and I float home and avoid the need for a second vehicle. It's the next best thing to running the Gorge today.

Ellie loves the river.














We came upon Tom Sawyer's raft.















The river is very relaxing to Ellie.

Hudson River Raft Guides Race 05-15-10

Every year the Hudson River Raft Guides from all the various outfitters, compete in a downriver sprint race called the GODS Race - stands for Guides and Outfitters Downriver Sprint. The race begins at the normal take-out and ends at Ordway Crossing, about 2.5 miles downstream. Most outfitters compete with a 2-person team and all boats are exactly the same.

North Creek Rafting Company was represented by Nate Pelton and Justin Bazil. This is Justin.



















Mass Start!














They started out very strong, about 100 yards ahead of the pack.














Taking on water.














Disaster struck in the first and only rapid on the course, Perry Ellers Rapid (Class II+). Nate and Bazil swam almost a half mile before getting the swamped canoe to shore (no float bags).














Everyone made it to the finish and a good time was had by all.














The race was won by two guides from an Indian Lake outfitter.

Hudson River Overnight Trip 04-07-10

April started out very warm this year which gave us some great early season river days. We took advantage of the weather and did an overnight trip on the Hudson from Newcomb to North River. We rafted 24 miles in two days and camped at the Hudson-Cedar confluence.

The crew ready to launch.














It was quite foggy the first day, luckily no big rapids either.
Here's Nate and Ellie in the fog.














Here's Eric and Sara in the fog.














Camp when we arrive.














Residential zone of camp.














The kitchen overlooking the Hudson and Cedar Rivers.














Ellie is the first one ready to go on Day 2.














Eric and Sara in Kettle Mountain Rapid.














The paddle crew and a gear boat.














Ellie loves the calm stretches where she can take her PFD off.

Moose River Rafting Trip - 04/03/10

75 degree and sunny on the Moose River is a fantastic start to the 2010 rafting season. The river level was perfect at 5.79 feet. We had three 14' 6 person rafts and a kayaker on our trip. A good time was had by all.













Eric runs a nice clean line at Mixmaster.











































Chris runs the holes.


Nate's boat before Mixmaster.















Nate's boat after Mixmaster.















Eric messing around at Elevator Shaft.















It's all good on the Moose.

Boreas River - 04/01/10

April Fool's Day on the Boreas.

Hudson River Rafting Trip - 03/17/10

First Hudson River Gorge trip of 2010 on St. Patrick's Day complete with Guinness thanks to Jeremy. Nate Pelton, Mike Kohl, Jeremy B.

Nate's cat on the putin ramp.
















Mike and Jeremy R2'd this raft.
















Bunch of snow left in the woods.
















Blue Ledge Rapid
















Geology Lesson
















Ice Wall at the bottom of Kettle Mountain Rapid.
It was about 15-20 feet tall.
















Nate floating out of the Gorge.
















Meanwhile, back in town...

Hudson River Rafting Trip - 09/29/09

Here's some photos of a Hudson River Gorge trip last week. The colors are getting near peak and should be peak on Columbus Day weekend - which is our last weekend of the the 2009 season. The river was up at about 4.5 feet this day.

Becky approaching Blue Ledges.
















Becky approaching the train trestle.
















Rafts in Harris Rift rapid.
















Looking back up at Kettle Mountain and Kettle Mountain Rapid.
















Becky's crew from Singapore !
















My 2 person crew from Michigan - Glen and Jeff.