Today we had a really amazing discovery on the river. Over the past 3-4 years we have been river surfing on our local rivers. One spot in particular is really special to us. It is extremely difficult to get to: it takes a high 4x4 vehicle to navigate down the rocky back river roads, an old rail grade, and through an unused railroad tunnel, which takes about an hour. Then from there we have to hike for another hour down stream. Once there we have to get on our boards and paddle across the river through the current right above a major rapid. With a two hour journey each way you have to really want to surf this wave.
Our parking spot on the far side of the tunnel
We knew what flows this wave was in at and we tried a little lower and a little higher with no success. Once the water got too high the wave would completely wash out and you couldn't jeep your board in the wave. So that was it, only this specific level.
Normal flows at this special spot.
This year one of our group was bored and really wanted to surf but nothing was in. The river was 1200 cfs higher than we normally surf this spot, but they wanted to see what it was like. A level just above the normal surfing level the wave flattens out, but at some point it must build back up, because what he found was a huge glassy beautiful wave.
The big glassy high water wave!
Today I went out at these high levels to check it out and it is the best I've ever seen this wave. This shoulder high, glassy, huge horseshoe of a wave may be the best river wave I've ever surfed. This situation has once again lit a fire in me to never write things off and always to keep exploring and trying out different levels and spots even if I don't think it would be good. You never know until you get out there and see it and try it. What other spots and levels are here that we are missing?! I'm excited to keep looking to see!
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Looks like a lot of fun and the landscape is beautiful too. Great photo of landscape photography and sportphotography.
Thanks, It is for sure a really beautiful river!