Sahalie Falls is a HUGE stout waterfall on the Mcknezie River, about 4 hours away from where I live in Hood River. I was yet to run a waterfall taller than 50ft and I got really excited after I heard of some people running it recently. Sahalie is a challenging drop for 2 major reasons. It has a stout lead in because you have to peel out of an eddie right above the lip and line up your boat perfectly to have a solid line down the waterfall. Directly below the falls there is a small punchbowl that pushes really hard into an extremely technical class v+ rapid that could be deadly to swim in. This drop is a beautiful waterfall that I just really wanted to run!
I arrived mid-day and met up with some kayakers from Eugene. We spent about 3 hours looking at the massive stout. After thinking through all the outcomes, Me and Andy decided it was time too harden up and gear up for this stout! We had safety set, hiked our boats to the top and committed to the drop!
The Sunlight Hits me as I experience some serious freefall!
Starring down the 80 foot horizon line!
The Big Picture
I Had a sweet line down the waterfall. soft hit at the bottom, but the turbulence managed to rip my paddle out of my hands. I hand-rolled up and found myself in the river right eddie. Probably the best place to be on this drop. Stoked to see my paddle right beside me. I grabbed it and paddled to safety to celebrate! This day couldn't of been any better!
Too Stoked for words to describe. Best day ever!
I Had a sweet line down the waterfall. soft hit at the bottom, but the turbulence managed to rip my paddle out of my hands. I hand-rolled up and found myself in the river right eddie. Probably the best place to be on this drop. Stoked to see my paddle right beside me. I grabbed it and paddled to safety to celebrate! This day couldn't of been any better!
Too Stoked for words to describe. Best day ever!
