Extreme Kayaking

Mike J

My boys and I were backpacking in Eagle Creek which is one of our favorite trips. We stopped at Punch Bowl falls on our way down and ran into a some kayakers. I thought they were just going to drop over Lower Punch Bowl Falls but they told us to go down to Metlako falls to watch the real fun. So we hoofed it down. Turns out they were doing a photoshoot for EPSN Mag and were big name kayakers (don't remember their names but one was from Corvalis and the other from Asheville, NC). The photographer was Lucas Gilman (www.lucasgilman.com). He was set-up with one D3X on a tripod and another one in his hand. The handheld camera also set-up to wirelessly trigger the one on the tripod. I decided to pull out my D300 and my backpacking lens (Tamron 18-250) and take some shots as well. These guys are nuts. Metlako Falls is about 100' tall.

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Ran into the two at the parking lot...

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torags

whoa ...out of sight

Great captures

nw scout

VERY cool.
Bet the boys loved seeing that!
Nice shots. Did they do punch bowl also? Not as big but would have made for a great shot. I love that location

Here is one I did in the Gorge a few years back
Cant run this falls, but I liked the location so we set this shot up.

Mike J

torags wrote: »

whoa ...out of sight

Great captures

Thanks Rags...definitely was a highlight of the day.

nw scout wrote: »

VERY cool.
Bet the boys loved seeing that!
Nice shots. Did they do punch bowl also? Not as big but would have made for a great shot. I love that location

Here is one I did in the Gorge a few years back
Cant run this falls, but I liked the location so we set this shot up.

Nah...the put in below Punch Bowl right above lower Punch Bowl Fall - basically walked down the trail and put in right at the bottom.

I know what you mean about the location. Backpacking Eagle Creek (we do it from Wahtum Lake down) is a rite of passage for my kids. I usually take them when they are 9/10. Any younger than that, I would freak out. Here's why:



What fall is your shot from? Looks like a rope so he is climbing up the falls?

nw scout

Hiking down is a good idea!

I love tunnel falls. Hiked up from eagle creek years ago then turned around. Havent done the area between there and the lake. Is it nice?

Have you seen the pit just below tunnel falls? Looks like a well. Cool formation from what I remember but its been maybe close to 20 years since I have been that far up.

I shot that shot from just off the bridge at Sheppards Dell.
The idea was a down river portage shot but the rope dosent show up to good.
Some people say it looks like he is falling cause they dont see the rope.

Mike J

nw scout wrote: »

Hiking down is a good idea!

I love tunnel falls. Hiked up from eagle creek years ago then turned around. Havent done the area between there and the lake. Is it nice?

Have you seen the pit just below tunnel falls? Looks like a well. Cool formation from what I remember but its been maybe close to 20 years since I have been that far up.

I shot that shot from just off the bridge at Sheppards Dell.
The idea was a down river portage shot but the rope dosent show up to good.
Some people say it looks like he is falling cause they dont see the rope.

The hike down from Wahtum Lake to Tunnel Falls is a typical Cascades hike through forests with a couple of scree fields. There are a couple of waterfalls but nothing like when you get to Eagle Creek itself.