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| by Cody Howard Febuary 5, 2008 |
The Huckin Huge team rallied hard for the last rains of January 2008. This would be an
underground mission at it's purest. It involved illegal stealth boating, unrun waters, no fall
under 20 feet and a huge 60 footer.
We had been filming for The Risen Sun for about a month, and had already completed 3
monumental first descents in the South West, but now it was time to move over to the great
state of California and see what we could find. The first creek on the list was San Marcos
Creek. The creek literally runs through the middle of beautiful Carsbad and has two
significant waterfalls only 2 miles away from the Pacific Ocean. We put on with a low flow,
that turned out to be just fine. After making our way through the over-grown creekbed, we
finally made it to "DCW" aka Dirty City Whore....for the sewage water that was found just
upstream.
underground mission at it's purest. It involved illegal stealth boating, unrun waters, no fall
under 20 feet and a huge 60 footer.
We had been filming for The Risen Sun for about a month, and had already completed 3
monumental first descents in the South West, but now it was time to move over to the great
state of California and see what we could find. The first creek on the list was San Marcos
Creek. The creek literally runs through the middle of beautiful Carsbad and has two
significant waterfalls only 2 miles away from the Pacific Ocean. We put on with a low flow,
that turned out to be just fine. After making our way through the over-grown creekbed, we
finally made it to "DCW" aka Dirty City Whore....for the sewage water that was found just
upstream.
| Cody Howard on DCW, San Marcos Creek, CA |
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The highlight of the drop was watching Pro-Russian-Paddler, Peter Malkin, air out over the
landing zone and nearly missing the massive rock pile. After witnessing that, some of the
members of the group decided to test their luck another day. So we then made our way
down the locked in, granite box to the next and last massive fall....WP. Let me emphasize
how nasty this drop looked. It was an easy forty feet and had a protruding rock shelf 30 feet
down. After careful scouting and consideration, Mike and I determined that you would just
"skip" over the shelf and not feel a thing. So Mike manned up and gave 'er. He came
through the pinch and rocketed over the falls, impacting off the shelf, and smacking into the
pool.
landing zone and nearly missing the massive rock pile. After witnessing that, some of the
members of the group decided to test their luck another day. So we then made our way
down the locked in, granite box to the next and last massive fall....WP. Let me emphasize
how nasty this drop looked. It was an easy forty feet and had a protruding rock shelf 30 feet
down. After careful scouting and consideration, Mike and I determined that you would just
"skip" over the shelf and not feel a thing. So Mike manned up and gave 'er. He came
through the pinch and rocketed over the falls, impacting off the shelf, and smacking into the
pool.
| Mike on WP, clearing the pinch and ready for take off. |
| Cody on WP, Picture by Mike Ferrel |
So after watching Mike aka Probe...I gave it a shot too. Man, what a fast and vicious ride that
thing is. I went off the lip, through the squeeze, and then...smack, green pool. But, I was
stoked to be on such a kick ass, California first descent. Next up was the Russian and
Jeremy Hanna of San Diego.
thing is. I went off the lip, through the squeeze, and then...smack, green pool. But, I was
stoked to be on such a kick ass, California first descent. Next up was the Russian and
Jeremy Hanna of San Diego.
| Jeremy on his epic WP ride. |
Well, we skirted disaster and authorities (the creek is private property and a nature
preserve)...and next up was the bar. While relaxing over a couple of cold ones, we ran into
The Worlds Fittest Man, Joe Decker (see joe-decker.com) and he proceeded to tell us stories
of the surrounding area. With all the banter and talk, we drew the interest of the bartender
who jotted down on a Bar Napkin, directions to our next 1st Descent. He was a cliff jumper,
and said if we liked San Marcos, then we would like Black Canyon Creek. So we parted ways
and Mike and myself would seek out this elusive Black Canyon.
What we found was a roadside, granite, steep creek, with plenty of flow. The canyon had
been burned off in the previous fire, so the runoff was thick with charcoal. I decided to gear
up and give 'er a go. The highlight was "Last Second Falls", aptly named for my quick and
wise decision not to boof straight, but instead, 90 degree "side boof" the hell out of that thing!
Its some sick video of this bad boy!
preserve)...and next up was the bar. While relaxing over a couple of cold ones, we ran into
The Worlds Fittest Man, Joe Decker (see joe-decker.com) and he proceeded to tell us stories
of the surrounding area. With all the banter and talk, we drew the interest of the bartender
who jotted down on a Bar Napkin, directions to our next 1st Descent. He was a cliff jumper,
and said if we liked San Marcos, then we would like Black Canyon Creek. So we parted ways
and Mike and myself would seek out this elusive Black Canyon.
What we found was a roadside, granite, steep creek, with plenty of flow. The canyon had
been burned off in the previous fire, so the runoff was thick with charcoal. I decided to gear
up and give 'er a go. The highlight was "Last Second Falls", aptly named for my quick and
wise decision not to boof straight, but instead, 90 degree "side boof" the hell out of that thing!
Its some sick video of this bad boy!
| Cody on the first descent of Black Canyon, CA |
After a couple of runs on Black Canyon, we headed back to Arizona on the third day. Finding
that the fucking state was sinking in rain!! I knew exactly were to go to, during these epic
floods....Spring Creek. Spring Creek is the feeder creek that we usually hike out of
Christopher Creek on. It is an extremely small creek that never runs more that 1 cfs. But
fear not, I knew that it would be primed, due to the massive flooding. So Mike suited up for
the first descent of the 60 footer we called The Boogeyman. This was such an impressive
drop...that i will leave you in suspense, to check out in The Risen Sun.
that the fucking state was sinking in rain!! I knew exactly were to go to, during these epic
floods....Spring Creek. Spring Creek is the feeder creek that we usually hike out of
Christopher Creek on. It is an extremely small creek that never runs more that 1 cfs. But
fear not, I knew that it would be primed, due to the massive flooding. So Mike suited up for
the first descent of the 60 footer we called The Boogeyman. This was such an impressive
drop...that i will leave you in suspense, to check out in The Risen Sun.
| Mike on the 1st Descent of The Boogeyman, AZ |
After witnessing Mike's drop of The Boogeyman, I decide to try and run Fossil at the most
retarded level ever. What is normally a creek running with 50 cfs, was now a river running at
2000, with uniformed ledge holes, no eddies, Sycamores recirculating and massive gradient
loss. Again, this is a choice segment that can't be missed in the upcoming film.
The Fourth, 1st Descent was done on that same day by Harlan Taney (new member of Team
Huckin Huge) and Brad Higinbotham of Durango. They got on the second descent of
Rattlesnake Canyon, AZ and nabbed the first descent of the 30 footer in there. Not the
infamous Rattlesnake Falls of CA...no...the stout, foamy, Rattlesnake Falls of AZ. Harlan
filmed the occasion and was stoked to be in there at such a sweet flow. (I saw the video of
Brad running it and was amped!).
So to wrap up these 4 days and 4 first descents, I would like to say that we were blessed with
cooperative weather, good friends and clean lines. Thank you to Mike of "Whale's Vagina"
for the hospitality and visual on S.Marcos. We had an exhaustingly good time over the
course of the four days. We left one of the sickest falls I have ever seen for next time....just
wait..... and keep exploring!!
retarded level ever. What is normally a creek running with 50 cfs, was now a river running at
2000, with uniformed ledge holes, no eddies, Sycamores recirculating and massive gradient
loss. Again, this is a choice segment that can't be missed in the upcoming film.
The Fourth, 1st Descent was done on that same day by Harlan Taney (new member of Team
Huckin Huge) and Brad Higinbotham of Durango. They got on the second descent of
Rattlesnake Canyon, AZ and nabbed the first descent of the 30 footer in there. Not the
infamous Rattlesnake Falls of CA...no...the stout, foamy, Rattlesnake Falls of AZ. Harlan
filmed the occasion and was stoked to be in there at such a sweet flow. (I saw the video of
Brad running it and was amped!).
So to wrap up these 4 days and 4 first descents, I would like to say that we were blessed with
cooperative weather, good friends and clean lines. Thank you to Mike of "Whale's Vagina"
for the hospitality and visual on S.Marcos. We had an exhaustingly good time over the
course of the four days. We left one of the sickest falls I have ever seen for next time....just
wait..... and keep exploring!!
