By Hannah James-Johnson/JJ
So, having paddled the Ailort last year in similar conditions, it was not a hotly anticipated river of the trip. HOWEVER, we had all forgotten how pleasant a paddle down it could actually be.
After some layby issues and driving past each other going in opposite directions (and a stop at the Harry Potter bridge), we kitted up and got on the rather windy lake. Elliot went for a short scenic paddle round an island and Akim got a technical for conveniently 'forgetting' his wetsuit ( though he suspiciously found it once we got to the get-off SUSPICIOUS SOME MIGHT SAY).
The initial rapid was a bit bonier than we all remembered and caught Maeve out SWIMMERRR. (We're allowed to bully her now, she can roll on a river ). Everyone paddled it, Karina&the inazone bossed it after some initial nerves and everyone regrouped at the bottom for some ferrying practice. Waller tried to convince everyone backwards ferry gliding was a thing: I'm not convinced.
If you forget the minor bursts of hale and the wind, it was a rather pleasant morning winding through the trees to the grassy get-out.
Having not really had a plan for the day initially, the day took a turn for the EVEN BETTER when it was decided we'd run the Upper Spean. The Laggan Damn was on two pipes so it was a go, and after a bit of deliberating, I was convinced to do it. The dream team of me, Fiona, Wallerbingbang, Jordan, Jack, Elliot, Neil and Thwaites set off climbing down a rather snowy hill to a get-on where looking upstream was just not going to happen: spray from the dam and sleety snow was covering us as we put on. There were some nerves, but sticking in our pairs we worked our way downstream dodging holes, rocks, pour-overs (or in Neil's case punching through every hole possible with Jack paddling behind, mildly regretting his partner allocation as he hole dodged). Personally it was possibly the hardest river I'd every done in the sense that it was just so continuous. By the time we made our first eddy, I was, for the first time, very much in need of the rest it provided. It was a little terrifying having to be on the ball all the time, but focussing on where I was going and how I was getting there worked much better than trying to follow someone.
I took a swim about 3/4s of the way down the initial harder section and despite 3 roll attempts I annoyingly took a swim (boo. I did have 3 attempts though Dom- so it's statistically relevant ha)
After being told swimming on this river would probably mean kit loss, I was mentally planning my insurance claim as I walked down the bank only to find my boat and paddles bobbing happily in an eddy on the opposite bank :D. Thanks for the rescue everyone, promise I wont swim next time!
With the river easing off, we had a chilled paddle down to the gorge where we were caught up and lapped by the 'Athletes' Earndog and Chamedog who were lapping the entire section like excited puppies. We all got off, had a look at the gorge (I had already made the decision to walk round so just watched everyone) and everyone but me decided to do it. There was some debate over preferred lines, with some taking the Left, whilst others powered across to the middle after having watched the 9R style this line really smoothly.
So, Jack decided to set off. I was standing at the mouth of the gorge and paying no attention to those getting on when I saw an orange and grey burn float past pretty submerged. My initial thoughts were naturally 'Jack's kicked his boat in, idiot haha' and then 'oh shit, Jack's kicked MY boat in, idiot'
Looking back upstream I witnessed the extracting of Mr.Ward from a clump of trees by Thwaites & Co, and his rather sheepish face as he explained that he hadn't been looking at the trees when he got caught up against them. His paddles had vanished and as an act of gentlemanly shame (hahaha sorry Jack) he carried my boat the few hundred metres down to the get out.
All in all, a very good day!
"Twas I that hauled Jack from the tree by the scruff of his BA into my accidentally awaiting crotch"
-Ben Thwaites, 2015.
"Twas I that hauled Jack from the tree by the scruff of his BA into my accidentally awaiting crotch"
-Ben Thwaites, 2015.
By JJ.
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