First Ascent Kayakers Conquer Middle Kings in a Single Day

First Ascent adventurers Christopher Korbulic and Ben Stookesberry set out to hike and paddle the Middle Fork of the Kings River in California in one day, becoming only the second team to do so. They completed the 11-mile adventure in only 17 hours – the fastest time ever – encountering Class III, IV and V rapids that tested their endurance, skill and ability.

By Chris Korbulic

It seemed too early for sunrise, but as we climbed the steep six miles toward the top of Bishop Pass, morning crept over the ridge to the east. The trail, lit by our headlamps, gently wove upward through alpine meadows, passing lakes and stands of whitebark pine.

Ben Stookesberry and I began this 11-mile hike with the goal of completing the Middle Fork of the Kings River in one day. Our boats were packed for one day instead of the usual five to seven days required to paddle this river. Empty except for light snacks and the requisite safety rope, my kayak balanced comfortably on my shoulder.

After little more than two hours on the trail, we reached the top. We rested briefly and then continued racing the sunlight down to the river. Soon after entering the river and negotiating the first low-volume rapids, we were portaging. It was our second trip of the week, so we already knew exactly where to portage and re-enter. We counted on memory and motivation to keep us moving. Read More…

First Ascent Kayakers Attempt Three River Descents in Four Days Near Yosemite

First Ascent kayakers Chris Korbulic and Ben Stookesberry set out to kayak down three rivers in the High Sierra wilderness – just outside Yosemite National Park– in four days.

By Chris Korbulic

Just before sunrise, it was a picture-perfect summer morning. I hiked up the Kibbie Ridge trail, 10 miles toward the put-in for Upper Cherry Creek outside Yosemite National Park. I was trying to keep up with Ben Stookesberry as the brisk air lost out to his unrelenting pace. We were moving fast and feeling good about our ascent to the top of the trail. Our adventure would not end with this hike, but just begin with our push to paddle three High Sierra wilderness rivers in four days! Read More…

First Ascent Kayaker Jesse Coombs Shares Expedition Packing Tips

First Ascent kayaker Jesse Coombs shares his tips and tricks for traveling to remote corners of the world with kayak in tow.

By Jesse Coombs

I’m often asked, “How do you get your gear across the world?”

First, book a flight with an airline that is kayak-friendly. Research the policies of all the airline options, and select one that explicitly accepts kayaks. With ever-changing airline luggage policies, be sure to check airline policies online beforehand to make sure you do not have any unwanted surprises the morning of your flight.

Read More…

‘Tweet’ Live with First Ascent Kayak Team on 8/26

First Ascent kayakers Ben Stookesberry and Jesse Coombs will answer your questions and talk about expedition kayaking live on Twitter on Thursday, Aug. 26, at noon PST.

Ask questions to “@firstascent” on Twitter, and we and encourage you to follow the conversation by searching Twitter for “#kayakchat.” If you do not have a Twitter account, feel free to ask questions by emailing fasocial at eddiebauer dot com.

First Ascent Kayakers Conclude Grueling Portage at Barranca de Piaxtla, Mexico

In the previous entries of this expedition, First Ascent kayakers Jesse Coombs, Ben Stookesberry, Darin McQuoid and friends struggled to portage around a 1,000-foot descent of falls at Barranca de Piaxtla in Mexico.

By Jesse Coombs

We had already been hiking for more than a half day, temperatures were in the 90s, we had run out of water and there was no way back down to the river, which was more than 700 feet below.

After scouting about for options, we stumbled across something we couldn’t have been happier to see: A swampy-looking pool of water about 9 feet in diameter and 1 foot deep. It was full of moss and lichen and particles and was disgustingly green, having clearly been stagnant for months. But it was still water. Read More…

First Ascent Kayakers Forced to Portage Extreme Terrain of Barranca de Piaxtla

First Ascent kayakers Jesse Coombs, Ben Stookesberry, Darin McQuoid and friends navigate the extreme terrain of the Barranca de Piaxtla, Mexico.

By Jesse Coombs

We woke up and were ready to hit the trail by 8 a.m. We had a heavy load to portage. Each boat weighed between 80 and 90 lbs. We shouldered our boats and started the uphill hike. A tremendous help, some wildlife trails led up the same direction we wanted to hike. The trail was quite steep with some difficult footing. We spent two hours hiking, climbing, pulling, pushing and fighting up the 600-meter hill. Finally it flattened out a bit, and there was a grassy area that offered a respite.

After a short rest and a little water, we shouldered our boats and continued the portage. Soon the vegetation got even thicker and we spent the majority of the time pulling and pushing our kayaks under the walls of vegetation while trying to keep the stickers and branches out of our faces. This struggle continued for over an hour, and then we were confronted with a serious problem – It was 12:30 p.m. and we were all very low on water. Read More…

First Ascent Kayaker Jesse Coombs Goes for 101 Foot Drop at Metlako Falls

By Jesse Coombs

I had just finished a month long Hotel Charley V: First Descent film tour and was ready for some much-needed rest and relaxation, but as I was driving home I got a call from photographer Lucas Gilman. He said he was in Hood River, Oregon, shooting waterfalls and wanted me to come join him.

I made a quick change of plans and headed that morning to Metlako Falls at Eagle Creek Trail, near Hood River. I had only seen photos of these falls before.

Lucas and I hiked up and I could feel the anticipation and tension building in my body. The decision to run tall waterfalls has to be the right one, because the consequences of a bad line can be serious. Metlako is claimed by the USGS to be 101 feet tall, so running this fall requires serious consideration.

As soon as I saw the falls from the first lookout, I knew it was at an acceptable water level. Too much water and you can get stuffed up against a wall or flushed into the next rapid as a swimmer. Too little and you can fall 100 feet into green water which is water that is not aerated by the falling water. Green water has high-surface tension and cohesion compared to aerated water and can seriously hurt you and literally rip away any flailing limb when you are falling at high speeds from a height like Metlako. Read More…

First Ascent Kayaker Chris Korbulic First to Run Royal Gorge Falls

Chris Korbulic is the newest and youngest adventurer on the First Ascent kayak team. Chris was featured in some of the biggest runs in the expedition kayak film Hotel Charley V.5: First Descent and has built up a résumé of first descents. He describes his latest achievement below.

By Chris Korbulic

I stand in the intense sun at the edge of the biggest rapid I have ever wanted to run. Mist from water crashing onto rock cools my sunburnt face, but does little to ease my nerves. I’ve seen this cataract before and walked away, knowing that the time would come for me to see the line and solve the crazy puzzle falling in front of me. I know it’s right at the edge of what I can handle, but this is why I kayak—for these moments of clarity when commitment to the line is all you know. Read More…

First Ascent Adventurer Jesse Coombs Reflects on Kayak Film Tour

First Ascent caught up with kayaker and First Ascent adventurer Jesse Coombs at the end of the Hotel Charley Vol. 5 tour. In this interview, Jesse talks about promoting the film and lessons from the road. Read More…

First Ascent Teams Close Out Teva Mountain Games

At the 2010 Teva Mountain Games, the Eddie Bauer First Ascent team saw world-class athletes compete in a variety of outdoor sports, including kayaking, bouldering, mountain biking and SUP. Showcasing their untamable spirit of adventure, the team also got into the action by sailing across the river on the Eddie Bauer zipline, hosting mountaineering classes and getting down and dirty in the mud run. See photos at our Teva Mountain Games Facebook album. We look forward to seeing you at the games again next year!