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| by Cody Howard January 6, 2007 |
So my 2007 definitely started off with a bang. Actually a really good time, but with a sprained
shoulder that just won't seem to heal. That is one of the end results, let me tell you about the
events leading up to that.
It all began when i moved back to Phoenix. I had just exited the Marines after 4 years of
service...so no more Sergeant Howard, back to Cody Howard. Pretty awkward, but i adjusted
quickly by hopping on Arizona's year-around travertine creek. I had heard stories of the dam
(Fossil Creek Falls) but all led up to a "no go". Down and out, i started to browse the Internet
looking for pictures of the falls....saving me the 4 mile hike in. So some "online scouting"
started the madness. I found a panoramic picture of the complete drop on a hiking site, and
didn't like what i saw. A huge mess of trees with a jet of water coming out of the flume. The
other route, "the Hot Route", was class VI gnar. A bouncing, dropping, twisting fall into a 5 ft
must make landing zone. So i started to look at the fall coming through the trees....thinking to
myself..."We could rappel into there and clear those things out!"
So with that i was on the phone arranging a Saturday excursion with whom ever volunteered
to do the hike. Sure enough 60% of the old crew came through. Jim McComb, Aaron Riding,
Ryan Fair, and newest Seattle import, Eric James. We rallied early at Denny's and bounced
out to the creek. After a long hike in we arrived to the fabled "43 CFS". (not bad for Arizona).
Geared up and ready to go, we pushed off and "scraped" down stream. After a long flat pool
we arrived to the falls. Exiting out of our boats we saw a scene that should have been in a
tropical forest. A lush crystal clear greenish-blue pool with two falls, dropping into it. So i
hopped down the railing and scoped out the river right fall. And to my surprise 90% of the
trees from the picture a year ago, where dead and gone. All that was left was a lone tree
crossing right where i wanted to go. So i rigged up my harness and rapped into the drop.
Sawing and pushing out the stump was a lot easier that expected. I hoisted myself up with
the assistance of Eric, and gazed at Arizona's, newest-clean drop. What a sight! Mentally
prepared for the drop a propped my boat at the flumes edge, and snapped in. With
everyone in their respective "safety" positions, Aaron released me into the white water...
All I saw was the tree grazing my shoulder and then the pool coming, at what seemed to be
100 mph toward me. The 15 ft slide ended and i was airborne, flying in the wrong direction.
Sideways. With nothing to do but brace, i impacted the pool. Half on my ribs, half on my
shoulder. As I hit, i thought..."I should have tucked a little more!" And then i felt it...right
shoulder. Pain. Yep, the kayaker's worst. You all know it. But it was short lived, because the
adrenaline kicked in, and I flying high. Cheers and shouts echoed from above and i looked
back up at the drop. Thoughts rushed through my mind, and i was happy to be back home.
Safe, with friends. Thanks guys.
shoulder that just won't seem to heal. That is one of the end results, let me tell you about the
events leading up to that.
It all began when i moved back to Phoenix. I had just exited the Marines after 4 years of
service...so no more Sergeant Howard, back to Cody Howard. Pretty awkward, but i adjusted
quickly by hopping on Arizona's year-around travertine creek. I had heard stories of the dam
(Fossil Creek Falls) but all led up to a "no go". Down and out, i started to browse the Internet
looking for pictures of the falls....saving me the 4 mile hike in. So some "online scouting"
started the madness. I found a panoramic picture of the complete drop on a hiking site, and
didn't like what i saw. A huge mess of trees with a jet of water coming out of the flume. The
other route, "the Hot Route", was class VI gnar. A bouncing, dropping, twisting fall into a 5 ft
must make landing zone. So i started to look at the fall coming through the trees....thinking to
myself..."We could rappel into there and clear those things out!"
So with that i was on the phone arranging a Saturday excursion with whom ever volunteered
to do the hike. Sure enough 60% of the old crew came through. Jim McComb, Aaron Riding,
Ryan Fair, and newest Seattle import, Eric James. We rallied early at Denny's and bounced
out to the creek. After a long hike in we arrived to the fabled "43 CFS". (not bad for Arizona).
Geared up and ready to go, we pushed off and "scraped" down stream. After a long flat pool
we arrived to the falls. Exiting out of our boats we saw a scene that should have been in a
tropical forest. A lush crystal clear greenish-blue pool with two falls, dropping into it. So i
hopped down the railing and scoped out the river right fall. And to my surprise 90% of the
trees from the picture a year ago, where dead and gone. All that was left was a lone tree
crossing right where i wanted to go. So i rigged up my harness and rapped into the drop.
Sawing and pushing out the stump was a lot easier that expected. I hoisted myself up with
the assistance of Eric, and gazed at Arizona's, newest-clean drop. What a sight! Mentally
prepared for the drop a propped my boat at the flumes edge, and snapped in. With
everyone in their respective "safety" positions, Aaron released me into the white water...
All I saw was the tree grazing my shoulder and then the pool coming, at what seemed to be
100 mph toward me. The 15 ft slide ended and i was airborne, flying in the wrong direction.
Sideways. With nothing to do but brace, i impacted the pool. Half on my ribs, half on my
shoulder. As I hit, i thought..."I should have tucked a little more!" And then i felt it...right
shoulder. Pain. Yep, the kayaker's worst. You all know it. But it was short lived, because the
adrenaline kicked in, and I flying high. Cheers and shouts echoed from above and i looked
back up at the drop. Thoughts rushed through my mind, and i was happy to be back home.
Safe, with friends. Thanks guys.
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