PNW classic: Punchbowl Falls

Tucking up to go deep on my 2nd run

photo by Susan Hollingsworth

photo editing by Nick Franchi

Punchbowl falls on Eagle Creek in Oregon has to be one of the most photogenic waterfalls in the world.  I hiked the trail beside the creek last year to check out all the falls and haven't been able to get it out of my mind since.  There are 2 more big drops on this creek that will have to be run at a later date, but for now 2 laps of punchbowl with a bunch of people was pretty fun.

Jesse Shimrock approaching the lip while WCKA students watch from above

The World Class Kayak Academy (WCKA) had been in the gorge for a few weeks taking classes and firing up the goods in the area, when I got word that they would be hiking up to punchbowl.  This sounded like a great opportunity to hike in to the drop since I would get to watch several people go off the falls instead of just a few.  Normally the park n' huck style of boating is not my first pick, but sometimes your just in the mood to hang out with a bunch of people and huck off a sweet waterfall.

My first time off this thing

photo by Susan Hollingsworth

So Drew Austell (aka Drewguy), Susan Hollingsworth (WCKA teacher), and I loaded gear into good 'ol Linda and drove on out to eagle creek to join the show.  Unfortunately for Susan, she was nursing an injury so she was just along for the ride and to take some photos.  

 Eric Parker sticking his line

Head coach and teacher, Jesse Shimrock was the first to run the falls this day.  Jesse made it look pretty easy in his new baby blue Biscuit, but ended up taking a hard hit on the nose.  Next up were a few of the WCKA students.  Each of them had different lines, but all fared well in the end.

Drew Austell boofing the $#it out of it

photo by Susan Hollingsworth

After taking some photos and watching several of the WCKA students go off the falls I Drew and I decided it was our turn.  I felt really good coming off the lip and tucked up at the end but slightly over-pitched and took a small hit.  Drew then followed and decided plugging was not his thing, so he fired off a huge boof and stomped it down at the end.

Drew Austell trying the plug on round 2

photo by Susan Hollingsworth

The WCKA only hiked up a few boats for the 13 students so Drew and I both offered up our boats to some of the students and again watched and took photos.  Both of the students in our boats stuck their lines, which was pretty sweet since neither of them had paddled those boats before.

Nate Garcia proving that he might be the youngest brother, but he can still fire it up

Once we got our boats back, Drew and I hiked up to run it again.  Drew went first this time and decided to try the plug, which he stuck.  My 2nd line went really well.  I took a slight stroke at the lip this time hoping I wouldn't over-pitch, and it worked!  I plugged in pretty deep and shot back out stern first and upright.  

In the end it was a great day.  We got to watch about 16 people go off Punchbowl, and some ran it more than once.  There were many different lines, some landed on their heads, some on their sides, 2 paddles were broken, and no major injuries.  Watch out kayaking world, some of these WCKA students might be young, but they are solid.