Forest Rambling

Perspective is a useful tool when evaluating progression. I’ll tell a short story that I promise is (somewhat) relevant. In March of 2024, I was invited on a high flow Chamberlain Falls lap. At the time, I’d been boating for about six months with at least 10 or so laps on the run under my belt. This invitation however was different; projected flows were to be 2,400 cfs, which is over 1,000 cfs higher than I’d ever run it. This invitation also carried weight in a different way as it served as a pseudo audition to join a crew of next-level boaters. With that said, I packed up a loaned creek boat (thanks Steve!) and joined the squad. Within the first few rapids, I knew things were different. Maybe just a bit more challenging skill wise, but I was intimidated nonetheless. I had to fight harder to stay upright and moving forward as the boils worked hard to bring me down to the depths of the river. In the end, all went well save for a few rapids and a handful of flips.  Fast forward...

There, I did it. I went chasing waterfalls. More specifically, I went chasing after Calcutta Falls along the North Fork American.  While I've been out to Calcutta Falls a few times this season, I've never been able to take a decent shot of the falls itself. The last time I was out there, a photographer was taking a 30 second exposure of the falls. Since I lacked a tripod at the time, all I could do was watch with envy. Several weeks and many expensive purchases later, I made my way back to the falls armed with my brand new carbon fiber travel tripod and freshly mounted Shortstache Everyday filter. The Everyday filter caught my attention early on. Aside from its fancy marketing and oh-so-desirable mute green anodized filter threads, it's basically a 1/4 strength black mist filter combined with a CPL. Being that I shoot mostly around water, I figured it'd be a great way to cut glare as well as acquiring  nice bloomed out highlights. It also reduces exposure by about a sto...

I’m lucky. Like really, really lucky.  Chamberlain falls, a sweet, scenic, short class IV run is only 30 minutes from my doorstep. As the winter spins up, our collective eyes are drawn to the Lake Clementine inflow gauge, patiently and eagerly awaiting the flow bump we crave. It’s important to note that the actual Chamberlain Falls run (hereby also known as Chamb, Chambies, Chamberlain) is about 9 miles from the Inflow Lake Clementine (aka Inflow) gauge, meaning there is a slight delay. I don’t actually know the exact timing. Some claim it’s 3-4 hours downstream of the takeout, others claim it’s a whole 8 to 10 hours. The winter also complicates things; since the majority of flows originate from rainfall (as opposed to snowmelt) accretion from streams within the 9 miles to the gauge also add liquid. Essentially, it’s really tough to know exactly what flow in CFS you have on the run. Which is why I generally rely on the Mineral Bar (put in) stick gauge. Unfortunately this gauge ...