Malad Gorge repel and Kayak

The best way to break in a new kayak.

I just got a brand new Jackson Kayak Super Star. I wanted a full on play boat that has a little volume to it, that way I could do a little down river as well. I took it up to the gutter, (which for those of you who aren't from Boise, it's a little kayak play park just an hour north of the city) but this did not seem to do it justice. I did not even put a scratch in it. So with a week of planning I decided to make a trip to the Malad Gorge.I have been to the Malad Gorge many times, but this time it would be different.

The Malad Gorge is a 250 foot deep crack in the Southern Idaho plain that is made up of exceptionally porous lava rock. The porous stone makes it possible for fresh water springs to emerge at the base, and also for waterfalls that line the canyon walls throughout. At the beginning of the gorge is a 70' waterfall into a huge pool, and a small foot bridge that spans the gap. At the end of the pool is a huge boulder garden that the river siphons through, then the river opens up about a quarter mile down. Many people have problems with heights won't even venture out onto the bridge. I couldn't wait for this time to the gorge, this time I had plans to do something that would make most people cringe. This time I couldn't wait to feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

The bridge is too high for my camera to get, even with an 18mm lens.... Looking away from the falls

The plan was to repel off the bridge with my new kayak, and paddle out. I of course would meet a few friends to do this, but I was going to do this with or without them. The day finally came and I took off work a couple hours early. I was way too excited to just sit around daydreaming. The one and a half hour drive seemed to take only a few minutes, and before I knew it I was looking into the abyss. I climbed half way down into the gorge making sure that I had back up plans for escape if something went wrong. I realized that I would be able to have a fairly simple free climb out from above the falls, but below the falls was all me. I went through my gear again, and before I knew it the time had arrived.

Nobody else wanted to do it, so it was all me. I decided it would not be too fun to have to haul my boat off my harness, and would be easier to just lower the boat into the pool below. I did that arm over arm, and then attached myself to the rope. I climbed over the railing and slid slowly down the rope. I got about 5 feet off of the water, and pulled my boat underneath me, and lowered myself right in. I paddled to shore and my friends hauled the rope back up. I was all alone.

I pulled off the harness and tied it into the back of my boat, heaved the boat over my shoulder and started the hike downstream. I quickly realized that the hike would take me a bit longer than I had originally anticipated. The boulders that looked to be car size from above were actually bedroom size. I had to route find my way through in order to go downstream. Sometimes I could just walk on the smaller car size boulders, and sometimes I ended up sliding down the back sides of the huge ones. I realized that even in big water this part of the river would be extremely difficult, and most likely extremely dangerous. When I finally reached the water, it also was not as it appeared from above. When looking downstream from the bridge, the water appears to be stagnant and murky. When I actually got on, the water was the most clear water that I have ever been in. Beautiful plant life, giant freshwater clams and fish galore. I felt like I was in Hawaii, and wished that I had brought a mask and fins. The pools subsided to rapids, but going through the rapids seemed different too when you paddle see through water. I am talking that you could see 100' easily. It seemed like no time at all when I finally met up with my friends. They were ready to go, and all I had to do eddy out for a couple minutes while they put their boats on. The rest was class 3-4s in crystal clear water. By the time the river was done, I had sufficiently scratched my way into no longer having a new boat, but at least this way it was well worth it.