Pretty Tough Girls huck the Gnar in Washington!

by Kim Russell
May 19, 2008 – Mid-May, my sister Christina Russell, and I took a trip up to Washington to check out the 2008 Canyon Creek Race, a downriver extreme whitewater kayaking race. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to race after one of our friends had a near-death experience on our warm up lap. We were fairly shaken up, and decided to take the day off from the river.

Despite missing the race, we kept our chins up and got back on the river the next day. Christina and I as well as four or five friends jumped on nearby Copper Creek, a class V creek in Southern Washington.

Check out the photos! 
  
Kim dropping the Big Falls on Canyon Creek, Washington
Photo by: Keel Brightman

 Christina Russell dropping the same falls
Photo by: Keel Brightman  

After the falls, there was a little bit of class IV bee-bop water, then the “Final 5,” a series of 5 class V ledges with big burly holes.  

 McKeown, after his near death-experience the day prior, busting through the hole in the second ledge of the “Final 5″
Photo by: Keel Brightman

 The last ledge of the “Final 5″
Photo by: Christina Russell 

After the final five, we were home free, and made it to  the take out in no time! SWEET!

Since the morning run took virtually no time at all, we decided to check out another river nearby, the East Fork of the Lewis, in Washington. The run is pretty much class 4, with a cool waterfall or two in there. At the first falls, Sunset Falls, let’s just say that Christina and I decided to provide a little bit of entertainmentfor the spectators. haha. There was some bad carnage…Check back in a few days to see the carnage shots!   

You go girls!