Making an Improvised Stretcher

Last summer in New Zealand we watched this video: http://vimeo.com/54896465. At minute 3.30 there is an accident where somebody hurts their back pretty bad. While we were watching, we were cringing at their extraction method and asking the question "is there a better way"? I think that the best resource that we have for packaging someone with spinal issues for transport is a (their) kayak. It can be dragged, lifted, modified and destroyed. 

If I found myself in a situation where I though that my back was broken, I would want my friends to look after me and do what ever they had to make sure the situation didn't get any worse. If this means chopping up my kayak, then I would say go for it. 

During some downtime this week in Canada, we tried out what system we would use (on a kayak that was broken and retired). 

First we chopped out the cockpit to make a hole big enough to slide a person into. We did this using our river saws.

The next step was cutting some holes in the bottom to thread our slings through the kayak. We made the holes with a small pen blow torch and a knife.

The slings are used to keep the patient in place. 

Slings are used to make a full body harness

The end loops of the kayak can be used to make an attachment point for hauling. I would use a separate safety line that goes directly to the victim as a back up. 

Rata was secure in the stretcher and didn't move at all.

Handles could easily be added to the sides to allow for easy carrying. You can use the center pillar to make a neck collar and head support.

Once we were done, Lief had a chainsaw which made it very easy to finish cutting up the kayak to recycle it.

Rata enjoying it a bit too much. Safety first. 

Rogers Creek, British Columbia: One Year Later

At the moment, we are kicking about in Whistler, BC. We are with our friends Phil and Rata (Two Dash Productions) and have picked up a couple of Idaho boys by the names of Sam and Mike. There is an abundance of paddling to do around the area, from quick Cheakamus laps to full day adventures like Tatlow Creek, and everything in between.

A few days ago, we got on Rogers Creek which is a couple of hours north of here. It is a tributary of the Lillooet River and is famous for its' triple, back-to-back 20-footers. Daan and I had our first foray into Rogers Creek about a year ago. With just the two of us, it made for a pretty good adventure. You can read about that trip here: Dreaming of Whitewater Magazine (Issue #4).

This time round, we had a team of six. Having spent the evening prior soaking in the Tsek Hot Springs, we were ready to go. The road up to the put-in is pretty steep, but in way better condition than last year. One of our vehicles is more of a low-clearance and low-gradient cruiser, so we did a couple of trips up in the other rig to save hiking up with our boats.

Driving up the put-in road, we checked out the falls and were pleased to see that the flows looked great down there. Once you are at the top of the hill, it is a hike-down into the river. Daan picked a stellar line through the second generation forest, which had us at the river in good time.

Picking our way down through some (manky) boulder gardens, there were a few fun drops before we got the the last eddy before the three waterfalls. Scouting from river left, we got a phenomenal view down into the gorge and everybody got pretty excited. The drops look amazing, clean and pretty friendly. Not to mention, the lighting made it all look even better.

Rata Lovell-Smith charging #1.

Photo//Daan Jimmink

The three drops are each around 20 feet high. Once you are into the gorge, you are committed until you finish the third drop. The first drop is a spouty-ledge into an aerated, moving pool. The second drop is run left of middle, into a beautiful green pool. The pool is spectacular, as you look up around at the gorged in walls and lush green forest above. The third drop is a near vertical slide, best run on the right, which fans out into a friendly pool below.

Daan Jimmink making #2 look way too easy (as always).

Photo//Jess Matheson

The author (Jess Matheson) looking for air on #2.

Photo//Daan Jimmink

Boise Boy Mike Thurmond getting "amongst it" on #2.

Photo//Daan Jimmink

Phil Palzer on #2 repping it for the Kiwis.

Photo//Daan Jimmink

Rata making her exit move, a ferry to the right to line up #3.

Photo//Daan Jimmink

Looking back up at the series of drops is truly breathtaking. Such good waterfalls in such a fantastic environment. The drops were so good, that a bunch of the team went back for more (you can hike up river left).

Daan enjoying #3 for the third time!

Photo//Jess Matheson

The other Boise Boy Sam Wells with "The Line" on #3.

Photo//Jess Matheson

Rata hucking #2... Such an awesome place.

Photo//Jess Matheson

There was just the one kerfuffle. Rata lent her spray deck to Sam (his one is prone to implosions), via Mike carrying it back up to the top. Getting his boat across to the left back saw the spray deck fall out and start making its' way downstream. With all available people searching every possible nook and cranny, we eventually found it a few rapids downstream where it was gently beached on a rock, happily rocking side to side in the current. It was a good save!

While we were searching, the team also cut out a log that was in the run-out of one of the last good rapids. You still had to limbo move under the massive log just below (think head-height) but it cleaned things up a lot. A few more moves saw us at our exit point, where we hiked a short distance back up to the road.

I was initially a little underwhelmed about going back into Rogers, having been on the gruesome-twosome mission originally and finding that a little stressful. But it turns out with a great team and a beautiful warm and sunny day, Rogers is an truly an incredible place to be. What I remembered as being manky in there, still was, but there was much more good stuff than I remembered. The drops are well worth going for, and I would love to get back in there for trip number 3.

//Jess

West Coast, NZ: The Wangapeka

Think lush, green temperate rainforest. Add recent rain, a hungry-for-paddling team and (finally) some free time... And you have a deal. In March, amongst our busy stretch of teaching kayaking, we managed to escape to the Westport. In all honesty, there are possibly better places to escape, but on the back of some rain and rumours of some pretty fun paddling, we headed over for the day.

Picking up Mr, Matty Coles - our Westport tour guide, and in between driving shifts - we planned our day. A Wangapeka in the morning, a Ngakawau in the afternoon, then back to Murchison that evening.  Too easy! 

The Wangapeka came to easy fruition. It is a short journey north of Westport, and then a short walk (30 minutes or so) along an old mining trail to the put-in. The Wangapeka is a bit of a local staple, keeping people honest and inspired between dry spells. The river needs rain. It's a sweet Class III-IV trip, runnable at a range of water levels and tucked into classic West Coast bush. There were five of us: Matt, Rata, Soph, Daan and myself.

All Photos//Daan Jimmink.

 The walk-in follows an old mining trail.

 At some point during the walk-in, the trail changes sides of the river!

 Everyone needs a local. Enter Matt Coles. We miss you!

 Girls on the mission... Soph and myself.

 Classic West Coast rain-run colours.

 Soph steezin' it up.

Colesy on a hot date with his Nomad.  

Rata... What is that?

The Wanagapeka was a good little mission... Happy days! Jess.

Two Days on the Upper Whitcombe, New Zealand

This year has been a very busy one for all of us at the New Zealand Kayak School. Lots of cool people and awesome courses - river rescue, playboating, advanced groups, intermediate groups and beginner groups. Because of the busy months, we did not have much time to get our much needed fix for adventure. So the first chance we got, we headed down to the Best Coast (West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand) for the two-day trip on the Upper Whitcombe. 

We had a great team with Ben White, Jess Matheson, Phil Palzer, Rata Lovell-Smith, Soph Steezy Mulder and myself. 

We called up Danny Reedy (the helicopter pilot) for a price and to see if he was available for the morning. Everything pieced together nicely. 

Recent floods have left their marks on the Whitcombe, changing some rapids a little bit and changing other dramatically. Most of the changes were for the better, which is always a good thing. The rapids keep coming on day one, and don't stop until just before Prices Hut. 

Unloading at the put-in.
Photo//Jess Matheson

Rata probing the centre line.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Phil finding out what the Whitcombe is all about.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Rata on her first Boof To Swim.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

A full-on seven hours of kayaking got us to the hut. This is where the rest of the hard work started! As we flew into the Upper Whitcombe, we got the pilot to drop off our food and over night gear at the hut. The bags weighed a lot more than they should have because of all of the awesome food, wine, bacon, eggs, milk, snacks and treats. Everyone suffered from multiple food comas trying to eat as much of the food as possible. 

Rata serving up breakfast in the morning.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Just before the food comas set in.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Day two has more fantastic kayaking, and also contains my favourite section of the run - Prices Gorge. Lots of very clean rapids that just keep coming at you and only one short portage. At the bottom of Prices Gorge you still have the regular Whitcombe day trip to paddle, which is where we got into a great rhythm as everyone in our team had been down this section a number of times. 

Phil skirting (what used to be) the Toilet Bowl.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Ben about to enter the light.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Jess, waiting for her crucial stroke.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Soph, loving her nomad.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Rata, just before her triple fist pump.
Photo//Daan Jimmink

Me on the on of the big ones on the second day. 

Photo//Jess Matheson

13 hours of kayaking and four rapids that weren't run by our team. A great couple of days. Can't wait to get on more of the two-day heli trips on the coast. 

Till next time... Daan.

We are pleased to bring you Issue #4 of Dreaming of Whitewater. This issue is a bit later than expected, we have had a really busy summer. We hope that you enjoy this issue - we have had a lot of fun shooting pictures and putting it all together.  In this issue you will find. The Crooked River, New Zealand Chelan Gorge, WA, USA Rolling Gear to carry in your rescue vest Rogers Creek, BC, Canada And of course some of our favourite shots in the Gallery section.

Click here to view Issue #4 in High Res Click here to view Issue #4 in Lower Res (Faster Download) We value your thoughts, feedback and support so please get in touch with us. We are always looking for more ideas! Please help us share Dreaming of Whitewater with more people by clicking "Like" on Facebook  And finally, a big thankyou to everyone who has helped us out during this issue... The people we have paddled with, recreated with, taught with and stayed with; those we free-loaded from, travelled with, used internet from and everyone in-between, to help bring Issue #4 to the world!  Happy paddling, Daan Jimmink and Jess Matheson CEO's, Editors, Gophers, Photographers and Stunt People.

The Good Kind of Devil... Devil's Canyon, Middle Feather

Typically in California, you finish one mission and are immediately planning the next. The South Merced was no different - as soon as the team was off the river and waiting for the shuttle, the wheels began rolling for the next mission. From Yosemite, we did a mad dash north in the night to be at the Middle Feather by morning for a two day trip through Devil's Canyon. The team: Tyler Fox, Jim Bob, Daan and myself.

Devil's Canyon is usually done as a three day trip as the area is amazing and the camping very good. Not for us though... We had two days to paddle, a flow of 2500 cfs and an airport commitment the day after. Fortunately there is a shuttle driver up the Feather so logically we called him to help out.

Not so logical was the conversation that ensued. After first declaring that he was not the "shuttle guy", he proceeded to lecture me about the perils of trying to paddle the river in two days without someone who had done it before. There was a lot of banter before we finally compromised on leaving his place at 8.30am.

We rolled in with five minutes to spare and realised (quite quickly) that we weren't going anywhere fast - welcome to Feather time. A bit of last minute packing and squishing freed up the front passenger seat for our shuttle guy. Taking his seat he then removed his hat and unfurled the longest (and roughest) mullet I have ever seen, about a foot from my face. 

Our shuttle passed by wonderfully. We were in constant fits of laughter and I had tears rolling down my face within the first ten minutes and it didn't stop until we waved this guy goodbye from the river. 

Once on the river we settled in for a decent day on the river. Things started out gently and soon fell into a rhythm of rapids and pools. One of the many great things about Devil's Canyon is that there are no long stretches of flatwater. The gradient keeps things moving consistently and along with our 2500 cfs of water, we were flying. 

Myself on an early rapid... It keeps getting better and better!

Photo//Tyler Fox

Although sunny, it wasn't a particularly warm day so we didn't stop too much. By the looks of the camping available in the first part of the run, it was no wonder to us that people choose to do this trip over three days. We were through the first canyon before we really knew it and quickly getting deeper into the run. There were a few quick scouts but mostly super fun read and run grade 4+. 

A rare stop: Daan enjoying his breakfast some six hours later.

You may note the half gallon of milk.

Photo//Tyler Fox

Feather goodness... Drinking from a side creek

Photo//Daan Jimmink

Mr Fox in an unexpectedly-steep rapid

Photo//Daan Jimmink 

We paddled the second canyon which passes under the Pacific Crest Trail. The rapids kept coming which kept big smiles on our faces. As our afternoon wore on we were starting to get cold so were on the hunt for a good spot to pull up for the night. Jim Bob had actually done this run before but for the life of him could not remember much about it. To his credit, he did vaguely remember camping below the second canyon. Soon enough, we found a beach with our names on it (well, not really but you know what I mean). Steak, honey whiskey, gummi bears and M and M's... Yes, please.

What was left of the afternoon sun!

Photo//Daan Jimmink

Daan and Tyler warming up while talking business

Photo//Jess Matheson

For what seemed like a pretty mellow campsite, it turned out to be more eventful than the river was. There was a bald eagle and some salamanders. I also intercepted a rattle snake on the beeline for my sleeping mat, and found shortly after an angry scorpion that I had been sitting on. 

He was just leaving.

Photo//Daan Jimmink

This was only part of our evening entertainment. The wind picked up to epic proportions. Nothing like a sandy beach in the wind for a good sleep.

Big is good. Boat size for windbreaking...

Tyler's invention.

Photo//Tyler Fox

Windier than it looks!

Photo//Daan Jimmink

After a reasonably disrupted sleep, we were up and off again. Not sure where we were, how far we had gone, or how much we had left to paddle - we got on the water early (by Kiwi standards). We paddled about half an hour and came across a pair of paddlers camped up on a sweet beach eating breakfast. They said it was about three or four hours to the take out so we would have heaps of time to get there in time to meet our shuttle driver at 6pm. 


We got into some beautiful granite rapids in some amazing little gorges which was really fun paddling. We had a sweet couple of hours of paddling and had enough time to take a few pictures!

Daan somewhere in yet another rapid

Photo//Tyler Fox

Jim Bob figuring out the line for the second time

Photo//Tyler Fox

Endless, good volume boulder gardens

Photo//Tyler Fox

Tyler living the Cali life.

Photo//Daan Jimmink

This looked kind of meaty... Daan amongst it

Photo//Jim Bob

The Devil was happy this day!

Photo//Tyler Fox

The only must-run of the trip - Helicopter - cause you would need one to get around it.

Photo//Tyler Fox

The two paddlers we saw earlier blitzed past us a little later. We had no chance of keeping their pace (locals who know all the lines) so settled back into our rhythm. Jim Bob did remember where the portage was which was helpful. We hopped out and climbed around, and as we were coming back down to river level met the paddlers again - Cody and Morgan - who showed us down the rest of the run. In river awesomeness, they also took us back up to our vehicle (at the shuttle guy's place) as we were well early after all.


Devil's Canyon is an incredible trip and possibly quite underrated. In terms of consistent gradient, heaps of rapids, wicked camping, not much flatwater, sweet scenery and overall good, multiday grade 4 - 4+ (at 2500 cfs) this trip is well recommended. We all agreed that we would go back for sure.


Cheers to Jim Bob, Tyler, Daan, Morgan, Cody and Steve for a sweet trip.