Picture this….a skate park meeting a water slide and having a kayakers dream as their child. Welcome
to the Granite Highway!!
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On
the way up the hill. South Silver, CA, America.
Photo//Greg
Lee
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After
watching countless videos and hearing stories we were fired up to be heading
toward the South Silver at optimal flow. We arrived early
afternoon and after a quick stroll down the hill we were at Auto Barn.
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Rata
Lovell-Smith Getting her slide on. South Silver, CA America
Photo//Greg
Lee
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Too
good to only do once we all hiked our boats up two or three times. After Auto
Barn there's a nice little boof into a tight run out, followed by a short
portage around a little bit of mank which then saw us at the next super clean
drop.
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Phil
Palzer enjoying the goods of the Tea Cups.
Photo//Jacob
Schrama
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After
the last Tea Cup you have to punch a couple of holes to catch the last eddy
above Sky Scraper which flows straight into off ramp. At my first glance I didn't want
much to do with it, however after washing some ‘sand", I made my way to the
top. As I sit writing this I can feel my heart beating fast as I replay
the drop. As I took my stroke out of the eddy I was fully
committed.
There’s
something about the feeling of rolling over the lip of a drop that keeps me
going back for more.
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Rata
Lovell-Smith gets air time on Off Ramp. South Silver, CA, America.
Photo//Greg
Lee
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Greg
Lee fully focused and about to go flying. Sky Scraper South Silver, CA, America.
Photo//Rata
Lovell-Smith
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The
boy’s all had nice lines and we made another quick portage on the right. Next
is another fast section into Plastic Surgery, which goes way better than it
looks.
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South
Silver, CA, America.
Photo//Jacob
Scharma
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We started to rally the last section as it was getting
dark. This is what happened next..
Phil disappeared over the horizon line, as I rolled
over the lip I saw him trying to show me the line. I’m way off line and about
to drop into the pit of a burly looking granite hole, adrenaline and fear rush
through me as I pull on my stroke and try to lift my nose.
I can hear my heart in my ears as time slows down,
the white tentacles latch on and throw me with force back into the white.
I’m now in the washing machine on spin. I try hard to
fight my way out but it isn't going to free me. I pull my deck, but I’m
still in there.
I'm running out of breath, I throw myself at the green but
I’m pulled straight back. Fear overwhelms me, I’m not getting out. I kick
myself off the bottom and see Phil. I can see his fear, and I’m pulled back
under. I’m
running out of strength, I kick off again only to get pulled under. I try again
throwing my hands into the air.
Greg
spots them and throws his bag. The rope lands in my hand and I use the
last of my strength to hold on to it and pull Phil out with me, who had paddled into tri get me out.
Emotions are high as Greg and Phil pull me up on the
bank. It’s these times where friend’s turn into family, ready to give all
they have for their buddy.
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The good life, lake side. South Silver, CA, America.
Photo//Greg
Lee
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The
South Silver is about 30 Minutes from Placervile on Hwy 50. The Best Place to
get info is on Dream Flows and Darin Mcquoid’s Blog.
A must do!! And the camping doesn't get much better than this.
Thanks, Rata.
