The Paddlefest Wet west Paddlefest What can I say the paddlefest is fast becoming my favourite time of the year? For months we had arranged to go Scotland this year 2007. We were up early on the Friday and were on the road for 7 we were meeting James From planet Paddler.com and we were going to paddle the etive for a warm up .We were in Glen Etive for just after dinner for a weekend warm up James introduced us to the guys we were to be paddling with today (and the guys saving our bacon LOL) And with all the hellos over we were on the water no warm up (there is no warm up on the Etive) just on to the water above triple falls. Did I mention it was pumping not the low water seal launch fun id seen on all the pics from last year no no we were going to know we had paddled this river that was for sure.

The Etive

TRIPLEFALLS

So anyway no warm up right on to the water Louis went first as he was closest hit the first fall and took a roll came up and the dropped down the rest of the fall sideways strait in to a hole it was not pleasant for him anyway we found it quit funny him digging away and then swimming , that was until I realised its now my turn so of I go down the first drop and yep I’m upside down and I rember thinking ( I don’t want to be down here ) so I’m up dam fast now I’m facing the fall I just came down not good this means I’m going down the next bit backwards I’m not happy im trying to look like I know what im doing. As it turns out everyone in saw paddle that fall on the Friday had the same problem .so I’m in the eddy at the bottom of triple falls and still in my boat wow that was fun NEXT So we all paddle around the corner to the next falL

LETTERBOX

Letterbox took one look and decided id walk this one. It was just screaming (im going to eat you ) so I let everyone else that wanted to paddle it go watching the little voice in my head was right there was some close runs grabby to say the least .

SKI JUMP So NEXT

Ski jump PLF hard (If you don’t know PLF ask a paddler) nice fall with auto boof like this type of fall.

CRACK OF DOOM

Well I can see why they call it the crack of doom tight, grabby and James put a dope on a rope I can see this is going to be fun ! But in high water it was not to bad well it was not for me anyway so if it bites your ass don’t blame me lol. One of our groups aced the crack only to take a leathering in the drop after the crack of doom apparently it gets a bit grabby in higher water ops swimmer (wont name and shame lol)

THE SLOT

I was told this drop is normally portaged in lower water as it to shallow and breaks boats, people and kit. No worries to day then nice east boof to the left. And I’m in the eddy. I low water the line seams to be to get out river left and do the big seal launch in to the pool after fall . Looks fun

RIGHT ANGLE FALLS

What can I say its a 22 feet drop trust me with the amount of water the day we ran it to looked bigger running is a little tricky, as you have to go from river left down a little drop in to a very small pool when we ran it you were pretty committed from the run in some paddlers were seal launching right in to the pool at the top of the fall and then right down the fall. Good fun I’ve never been back looped underwater before LAST FALL

After right angle there’s a bit of grade two stuff until you get to the last fall by the bridge at the get out Some of our group took a chicken run on the left but we did run it in high water the shoot won’t be there in lower water. I ran the middle line pulling left on the run in heading for the right of the middle hitting the slab as hard as I could missing the slot in the middle (did not want to be in there). And that was the Etive now I can see why everyone raves about it top river. KINLOCHLEVEN

The party / or pile in was at the ice factor in Kilnlochleven (yes Pete Dave that’s Kilnlochleven not Inver Garry) The ice factor is where the SCA organised the first nights entertainment talks on trips around the world. There’s also beer and food on for all the guys and girls that have dragged there arse all the way up to Scotland (I’ve been twice now its worth it) Camping is right out side the ice factor so it makes a great gathering point .This year the SCA had arranged for the Morrison to realises on the Saturday and the Garry to release on the Sunday.

THE MORRISON(upper)

After our warm up on the etive I was looking forward to the Morrison. The SCA had arranged for us to park at the gun club near the Morrison and we got undress to the sound of gun fire. We were ferried up to the put in in minibuses and trailers we got on under the dam and had a bit of a warm up before we hit the first fall

FIRST FALL

I had picked my line as soon as I look at the river breaks left and right at the first fall giving lines both sides of the river .I ran the first Fall River left. Running from the right of the shoot hitting the slab hard sliding down the slab and a bit of down time through the stopper and in to the eddy. The first drop on the Morrison is a little steep to get to but it is worth it to see the carnage from paddlers getting it wrong .After the first fall the river is grade three and moves from left to right down in to some flat water then you’re in to the second fall

SECOND FALL

This fall runs down river right over a big drop with a grabby stopper if you go tight right .I came over the top boofing of the left of the fall .if you get this fall wrong it’s not going to be pretty and you will take some down time. After the fall you drop down a little shoot and you’re at the top of a grave yard section.

GRAVEYARD SECTION

Again the graveyard section will go left or right I went left over the top on to a big slab that kicks you to the middle of the river (watch for the slot on the left or it will do its best to take your face off, I gave some cuts and broses thro the day) Then in to the eddy river left big round eddy room for lots of boats. Then there’s a quick ferry glide across the flow down to a big standing wave the your at the get out. You can paddle down to the lower but I here it’s a bit of a slog. FORTWILLAM

A the SCA had put the entertainment on at the nevis center same as last year it was a seventies theme and everyone got in to the sprit of things top night of drinking till 330 am god my head hurt when I got up at 8 to go paddle the Garry I’m glad they pick the Garry to end the weekend as most of us were a little fragile

THE GARRY

The Garry is nice easy play Boaters River we put on just below the dam paddle down from the easy grade two three to the play wave

PLAYWAVE

The play wave runs in the middle with shoots left and right, with a big eddy river left from there you down stream to the graveyard section.

GRAVEYARD SECTION

The graveyard runs river wide good for the less experianced paddler to lead and learn to read the river and pick there own lines. After the graveyard you paddle down to small drop SMALL DROP River right easy drop good for pop outs in bigger boats. LASTDROP The last drop is a right hand dog leg in to a grade three stopper good to play in then the get out is in the eddy river right before the bridge