Tag: MapYes

NF of the Feather River Release

Thanks to American Whitewater, we had releases on the NF feather this weekend. I only made it up for sunday, but had a good time paddling with my friend dan, and running into dozens of other paddling friends. Not much water for paddlers this late in a dry year, so we tend to congregate where […]

Napa Valley Bike Tour and Paddling on the South Fork American

Kim and I had another fun weekend. Saturday we joined our friends Erol and Paula for breakfast, then did a bike ride in Napa, stopping at several vineyards. Sunday I went to the Farmer’s Market, then we paddled the SF American with Jeff, Michael and Nini. M&N were in a Topo-Duo, like ours. First time […]

Staycation

With the crazy rise in gas prices, and the fear of recession, papers and magazines keep talking about people taking “staycations”, where you take mini-vacations close to home. I think Kim and I did it this weekend, we had a great time. Saturday we chilled in the morning, did some yardwork, then headed to the […]

Cache Creek with Paula and Erol

Kim and I headed over to Cache Creek today. We met our friends Paula and Erol. They were renting a small two person raft to join us. It was a gorgeous day, with lot’s of sun, and a good amount of water. Paula and Erol seemed to struggle a bit at first to get the […]

Shirttail Run on the North Fork American

Kim and I took our tandem whitewater kayak out for a fun run down the class II+ section of the North Fork American river, not far from our home. It was so nice, we went back and did another lap. A gorgeous day on a very pretty river. Not many photos, but I did take […]

Pauley Creek

Had a fun run down Pauley Creek today. The water was low, all the big drops went are were fun, but slightly excessive butt massage on the rest. It was a little low, but still good fun.  

Double Header on the South Yuba River and the North Fork American River

Yesterday I went paddling. Paddled my new Pyranha Everest kayak, which was awesome. Met my friend Sabrina at 1, and went and did a low water run on the South Fork Yuba. It was fun, and went smoothly. We pulled under the bridge at 4:15, and I calculated that with some quick driving and some […]

Chamberlain Falls – NF American Compilation

One of my favorite runs in California, with amazing scenary, fun rapids, and generally cold, clear waters. When I lived up North I used to run laps on this regularly, and it is perhaps still the stretch of whitewater I’ve paddled most. A write up from my friend Daniel. http://www.awetstate.com/NAmericanC.html and from AW https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/139/main I […]

Skiing at Lake Tahoe

We had an awesome, fun day skiing/snowboarding at Alpine Meadows, near Lake Tahoe. It was a pretty day, warm spring conditions. I skiied my new (used, but new to me) Telemark skis, and had a great time, though I felt a bit wobbly and insecure. Good times. We went with our good friend Erol.  

Deep Sea Fishing

My husband and friends took me out to celebrate my belated 30th birthday with a deep sea fishing trip. It had been postponed for 3 months for various reasons, so even the sore throat and start of a cold that I woke up with that morning couldn’t keep me off the water. John, Phuong, and […]

In Loving Memory – Lt. Gen. Hal B Jennings, Jr. MD

My Grandpa Jennings passed away a few weeks ago, and I feel extraordinarily lucky to have had him in my life. He was a decorated Army surgeon, achieving the rank of Lieutenant General and serving as Surgeon General during Vietnam. I remember fishing with him, his curiosity about everything, and the warmth of his presence. The last time I saw him, despite his frail body, his eyes lit up with joy. His funeral was a heartfelt celebration of his life, filled with family, stories, and a military ceremony that honored his remarkable service. I’ll miss him dearly.

Kim and I spend a day in San Antonio, Texas

Kim and I were in San Antonio for my Grandfather’s funeral last weekend. It was a sad weekend, of course, but it was nice to see my family so much. On Sunday morning, my parents were going over some stuff with my Grandma, so Kim and I took the morning and went to downtown San […]

Surfing this weekend

Taylor wrote: > Got Vitamin I? (Ibuprofin)> You guys must have done the equivalent of running a marathon> yesterday. 5 or 6 hour session!?> We were out least 6 hours. Maybe closer to seven. It was incredible.I’m pretty beat today. Typing is hard. To sum up: Saturday I joined Dennis St. Clair at Bolsa Chica. […]

Climbing at Lover’s Leap

Some of you may remember, back a few years ago, when I was consumed with climbing. You might even know that Kim and I met at the climbing gym in Southern California, and were climbing partners and friends before we dated. But over the last few years, I’ve been busy with work and school, and […]

Desolation Wilderness – Velma Lakes – Lake Tahoe.

Kim and I are going on a trip to Peru in November, and part of it will be an extended hike. We’re both a bit out of shape, so we’re in training mode. We went hiking last weekend, in the amazing Desolation Wilderness area, near Lake Tahoe, CA. This amazing location is only about an […]

Yosemite National Park Compilation

Yosemite is a large part of the reason I settled in California. I had moved out here from Texas for a summer job, intending to return to Texas that fall for a grad school program. I was very into climbing at the time. My job was working for an oil-field service, and we worked 6 […]

South Silver Creek – 2006

Pictures from my 1st run down the incredible South Silver Creek.  Thanks to Kim for the photos.  700 feet per mile!  Holy cow.Sometimes I find albums that bring a smile to my face, like this one from 2006, from my first trip down South Silver Creek. I had seen South Silver in VHS videos, when […]

South Fork of Silver Creek Below Ice House Dam

SF of Silver Creek is most well known for it’s more difficult upper reaches, but below Icehouse resevoir, there is a gorgeous, fun dramatic Class IV. With an average gradient of 70 feet per mile, several class IV rapids and literally miles of continuos Class III rapids through dramatic scenery, this should be a popular […]

Riverton to Peavine, South Fork American

We’d planned on running South Silver Creek, not the famous section, but a lesser known section below Icehouse Resevoir. Unfortunately upon arrival, we noticed a distinct lack of water. Thinking quickly, we decided to salvage our day and run something on the nearby South Fork American. Some of our group were not comfortable with running […]

Passing Out Rice In Vietnam

  “Laa”Vietnam – 2004Our cameraman is doubled over in the backseat.  His stomach isn’t feeling very well.  Whether it was something he ate this morning or last night is anyone’s guess, but for the moment, he’s just sort of hunched over and clutching his stomach with a blank expression on his face.  My mom is […]

My Grandfather’s Grave

I have never seen my uncle cry. Not the heaving kind that affects your entire body, and leaves those around you at odds over whether to leave you alone to bask in waves of emotion that so clearly need to emerge, or to come to your aid with arms of solace. Today, though, Uncle S. nearly hyperventilates through his tears as he kneels down in front of my grandfather’s grave to make out the inscription on the headstone.

Rogue River Wilderness

My friend Kristi scored a permit for the stunning Rogue River in Oregon, and we couldn’t wait to embark on our adventure. With eight paddlers ready for three days of exploration, we set off into a world of breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife. From sorting gear to paddling through mellow rapids and playful spots, every moment was filled with joy. Jessica, just 13 and new to kayaking, amazed us all with her skills.

WildFlower 70.2 Mile Triathlon

It’s Saturday morning, and I’m already feeling the nerves as I prepare for the WildFlower 70.2 Mile Triathlon. After a long drive to Paso Robles and a fitful night of sleep, I know I’m not fully prepared. The swim is daunting, especially with a mass start, but I’m determined. The bike ride rekindles my love for cycling, even as I face a monster hill that nearly breaks me. The run? It’s a struggle, but I push through the pain.

Dry Meadow Creek

7 or 8 years ago I remember flipping through a paddling magazine, and being captivated by an image (similar to the one on the left)in a advertisement. I remember being captivated by the image, thinking it the most spectacular whitewater I’d ever seen. At the time I probably assumed it was somewhere exotic. Chile, or […]

Baja, Mexico Thanksgiving 2002

My Girlfriend Kim and I recently spent 6 days exploring the Northern part of Baja. Click on the small map to the right for a bit more detail. She wrote a trip report, which is here. My comments were added in Green Text. It’s long, but I hope you enjoy it. By Kim Luu and bits […]

Saddleback Mountain Trail Marathon

I faced this tough course alongside Kim, a first-time marathoner who had only run five miles before. With nerves and excitement, we tackled the steep climbs and beautiful views together. Kim’s determination shone as she finished in an amazing 6:21, winning a plaque for 1st Female 20-29. Experience the thrill of the race, the friendships among runners, and what’s next for us as we plan our next marathon adventure.

Stinson Beach Marathon

Wow. What a run! While my last two big runs have been woeful epics, this one was so great, it almost seems that writing a report on it won’t be interesting at all! If you don’t feel like reading the whole report, here are the highlights. Yesterday I might have been the happiest last place […]

Catalina Island Marathon

Just over a year ago, I decided to run a marathon on Catalina Island, despite my minimal training and growing doubts. As the race day approached, I felt the weight of my decision, especially when I learned about the challenging course with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. On race day, surrounded by hundreds of eager runners, I faced the grueling uphill start and the intense heat. With each mile, I battled fatigue and self-doubt, but crossing the finish line transformed my experience. J

Mammoth Compilation

The biggest and best ski area within weekend trip distance. We’ve had a lot of fun days there.

June Mountain Compilation

June is an awesome ski area in the Eastern Sierra mountains. It’s laid back, and always feels a little like a throwback to the areas I grew up skiing. The girls both tried skiing there their very first times on skis, and we’ve continued to go back.

Ventura Waveski & Kayak Contest

There have been a few different contests for waveskis and kayaks held at Ventura over the years, including the first surf kayak I ever attended, and later my best contest finish ever where I was ranked as the #2 American waveski paddler. I don’t have a post or pictures of it, but my dear friend […]