Vancouver Island BC: Part 2

Point Renfrew Cabins
Photo: Christina Russell

So the next day we all woke up to a lot of snow... Then it started to rain and we all felt a little better that flows would go up. At this point we found out that Austin had a total flat tire and Ryans car also had an almost flat. This became our priority over any creeking and took up most of the morning. By the time we got the tires fixed it was getting late to put onto other creeks, so we all decided to hit up the Middle Gordon agian.

Christina and Laura
Photo: Kim Russell

Austin Fixing his Flat
Photo: Kim Russell

When we reached the put in it was snowing really really hard and made a few people drop out for running the middle section. It was like boating back in Oregon agian and all the wonderful snow we get here during the winter months. Thankfully we had seen all the drops the day before which made the scouting and portaging a lot easier in the snow.

Put In for Middle Gordon Creek
Photo: Kim Russell

Put In for Middle Gordon Creek
Photo: Kim Russell


Crew Paddling down a Tributary into Gordon Creek
Photo: Kim Russell

Here are a few more Pictures from the first Drop of Middle Gordon. I really didnt get any pictures this day due to the crew trying to keep a good pace and it being so cold.

Me on Drop 1 Middle Gordon
Photo: Kim Russell

Me on Drop 1 Middle Gordon
Photo: Kim Russell

Me on Drop 1 Middle Gordon
Photo: Kim Russell

When we all reached the take out the worst news of the entire trip came to pass. Austins clutch had burnt out on the shuttle and was completely immobile. The girls (Kim, Christina, and Laura) doing the shuttle pushed the car a couple hundred yards up the hill to get it out of the way and safly parked! Yeah, they are bomber!

The FJ with no more Clutch
Photo: Kim Russell

At this point some of the group went up to the FJ and figured out a solution and everyone else finished the planned run for the day. My truck was still at the take out for the Lower Gordon. The game plan ended up being that half of us would ride in my truck back to the cabins and the other half would deal with the FJ problem. Overall it worked out well and we all were back at the Cabins by 6pm. The FJ was still up on the logging road and proved later to become a big problem in getting a tow truck to get it out. That evening some of us decided to go on a drive to find some surfing spots on the coast to hopefully do some playboating. Kim, Christina, Todd, and myself jumped into Todds subu and headed down the road. About 20 minutes into the drive Todds rear left tire got a nasty flat. This became flat number 3 for the trip.... Thanks to Kim and Christina, the spare tire was put on in a matter of minutes and with an excited attiude.

Pumping up the Spare Tire
Photo: Kim Russell

Still Pumping up the Spare Tire
Photo: Kim Russell

After the flat number 3 was fixed we headed back to he cabins for he night to get some food and relax. We had to figure out a game plan for the next day, and it was not looking to be a good one. 2 cars were working off of flat tires with basic repairs and 1 car was completely immobile. With much discussion we all decided that fixing the cars was the number 1 task for the next day.

Team Alder Creek!
Photo: Christina Russell