Jalama to Goleta Beach Paddle

A couple weeks ago I had a great adventure with Garrett Kababik and Fraser Kersey paddling from Jalama to Goleta Beach over 3 days.  It was about 45 miles in total, which are certainly a few good miles in a kayak, but the trip was so much fun, the miles were hardly felt!  I had paddled most sections of route in the past, but it was so neat to link the whole Gaviota Coast together in one journey.  Below are some photos and a few stories.

Setting off from Jalama in three long distance sit-on-top kayaks.  The boats were great because they allowed us to ride some waves while still being able to make miles.

Garrett the adventurer!

Ready to go!

Huge fog bank off Jalama and the first of a few waves around Point Conception.

Beautiful section of coast from Jalama to the point.  

One of the big rollers as we approached the point.

Garrett at the lighthouse

If you look closely, you can see Fraser's head

Another view of the lighthouse.

Beautiful water color around the point.

Garrett on a fun one at Govies. 

It was a stressful trip...

Amazing tailwind after we rounded the point.

First evening.  Fraser stressed out.

Morning of Day 2.

Approaching Gaviota

Great section of coast from Gaviota to Refugio that I hadn't paddled before.  

Arriving at Refugio.  Classic summer day.

Thanks to the awesome crew that met us at Refugio!

Glassy conditions in the morning of day 3.

Friends just past El Cap!

A view from Naples area back up the coast.  This section was my favorite.  Amazing reefs full of life (leopard sharks, bat rays, seals) and an early California feel.

Tired comrades.

Isla Vista

We made it!  A fantastic adventure.  More to come for sure.

Down the Sisquoc River by Packraft in 2010

In early April 2010 I had the idea to float down the Sisquoc River.  I was able to hike the Sisquoc Loop   two weeks before with my dad to scout the river.  We'd had some big rains consistently and not for about two weeks before I did it, so I knew it would be the most manageable time of year to run it!  I had seen an account online of two guys running the Sisquoc in creek boats a few years earlier, but I wanted an easier hike-in, so opted for a packraft!

Hiking the route with my padre and Osito two weeks before rafting.

The packraft arrived in the mail the night before I left on the trip, so a dry run needed to be made!  It's only 4 pounds and rolls up smaller than a tent.  

Hiked in 16 miles on the first day to South Fork Cabin.  A great spot with a little bit of flatwater nearby where I was able to test out the raft.

Un amigo down at the river before putting in on day 2.

Laying out the gear--not really knowing what to expect at all.

The water was freezing, but I didn't want to wear a wetsuit all day.  This  was the set up gear-wise and it worked pretty well.  The helmet was used more than once going through low hanging branches and banging against boulders through rapids.

Most of the river was about like this, but some sections (which I wasn't able to photograph) had 4-5 falls and others were flat for 100-200 yards at a time.

Coming into a rapid a few miles into the journey.  Being such a small river, it was tough to know which way to go when coming into sections with all the willows.  

A quick video from on a calm section.

Snapped the paddle only about an hour into the paddle coming through a tight boulder section.  But with a stick and some tape, it was not a problem.

My dad and I had heard this bear in the bushes two weeks before.  I came around a bend in the river where the hiking trail does not pass and saw the bear on the bank ahead.  I pulled over and after a while made a few sounds so as not to surprise it.  Realized as I got closer, it was dead.  Not sure what happened, but if it was a hunter, I hope he/she is ashamed for having killed this beautiful animal and not used any of it.  I couldn't get much closer than this because of this creature's powerful energy.

Floating down a section as the valley opened up just before the river got too dry to raft.  

The river widened and shallowed quite a bit near Mormon Camp, where I stayed that night.

Mormon Camp

Cansado selfie.

Hiking 20 miles back out to Nirra Camp on day 3.  Some sections of the river still looked "raftable", but for the most part it became too shallow.