Absolutely No Swimming Allowed: Thunderdome to Anglers, 8.09, 2024-01-11

Whitewater Kayaking
Great Falls - Thunderdome - Mather Gorge - Anglers
Level: 8.09
Boat: Rewind
00:00 Fish Ladder and Back Canyon Scouting
00:55 Great Falls
01:56 Thunderdome
02:24 Zambezi Wave
03:20 Portage
03:37 S-Turn
05:35 Rocky
06:22 Wet Bottom
08:37 Dead Cow
09:30 Corner Wave
10:03 Skull Island
10:39 Anglers

[@johntempest267]

That huge water is so scary. I'd have to dust off the old Jefe Grande. I'm sticking to steep creeks. You guys are fearless.

[@pedro191921]

- How many PFD´s would I wear ? - Yes. you are insane. but in a good way. :D

[@RobPollen]

you cant even tell which way the river flows

[@ArtificialBeligerence-bl9hq]

Less than 1000 subs, he out here risking it all

[@macfawlty]

A courageous crew in rarified waters. The half-slice was a bold choice. The backender roll at the start was pretty freaky. Well executed. I’ve been in Vegas and NOLA and haven’t witnessed the recent surge.

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

I figured if I messed up and got stuck in a hole, the half slice would come out easier than the creeker. It did make the eddy lines more interesting.

[@user-ik4cv8zb8c]

Try it in a slalom race boat if you really want to have fun in those boils.

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

@@user-ik4cv8zb8c If I could afford one...

[@DrRepper]

Big, bouncy fun! That first rapid is huuuuge!

[@minyambou]

Awesome, David. Looks terrifying bit fun if you can pull it off. And obviously you did!

[@user-xm3iy6ht1z]

Looks like fun!

[@petedog9581]

Looks like the Inga on the Congo at Thunderdome and Zambezi. props.

[@bos7708]

You guys are straight savages. That was crazy... +1 sub... stay safe out there boys

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

Thanks!

[@MarkAlan145]

It's been a long time since a video scared me. You guys are crazy. 😅

[@MTB_Rider_96]

Yikes that's F-ING high. I was there about 10 years ago when it was at least 50% higher than that after a hurricane.

[@tonybarnes3858]

Nice to see a Mayfly's view of my old top-roping grounds, a million miles and and ten thousand climbs later.

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

I keep forgetting to go to Carderock to see at what level the base of the cliffs is under water. I certainly wouldn't want to climb at Great Falls with this much water going through!

[@tonybarnes3858]

We used to rap down to whatever starts were available @@paddlebikediveclimb

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

There are some routes I've done with belays from the top, but I think those were all at Carderock. I have always belayed from below at Great Falls. But that's a fair point, You could still climb whatever of the routes are still above water!

[@tonybarnes3858]

Top-roping can be done either way. Easier to hold a fall from below, of course. If you rap down you have a slingshot TR ready. Don't they teach this shit any more?

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

@@tonybarnes3858 Well, I can't speak to what anyone learns or doesn't learn. I don't trust most people to belay from the top. I haven't ever seen anyone climbing over the Potomac at near flood stage. You lose at least half of every route. I have seen a few folks belay from the top on a few routes at Carderock that are over water. I mostly TR solo those anyway. At Great Falls I don't recall having ever seen someone belay from the top, so it's surprising to hear that it used to be common.

[@MykoSuchy]

Wooooooooooo hoooooooooo! Ooooooo yeaaaaaahhh!!

[@ArthurFellig]

Kayakers are brave souls.

[@stereothrilla8374]

The chop and roll don’t scare me. The terrifying part is getting pinned in one of those washing machines.

[@h2s142]

Brothers friend died behind a waterfall in the sierra’s was the last time my brother kayaked.

[@bashy2.0]

Great watch, thanks , I couldnt tell which way the flow was half the time, which camera do ya use and is that a camera mount point on the paddle? if so, how did ya managed keep it stuck there?

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

I use a GoPro. I can't recommend it because it drives me nuts, but I also don't know what's better. That is a broken camera mount on my paddle. GoPro has amazing adhesive mounts that people stick on all kinds of surfaces. It's the flat version of the sticker mount that I use to hold the camera onto my helmet. As for it being broken - that was me mashing it on a rock. For that particular shot to have worked, I would have needed the mount to be farther from the edge of the blade. kzbin.infoawuhiHlW5QE

[@bashy2.0]

@paddlebikediveclimb hi, thank you for the reply, sorry to hear about the Gopro, I recently bought the DJI Action 4 and I really like it, they do overheat mind but from what I've see on here, Gopro are worse for overheating, so perhaps give DJI I thought, at least watch a few reviews on them. Thanks for the answer about the paddle mount :) Great video keep it up, I've now subbed :)

[@jasonwalker7166]

That was a no sssssshhhh swim situation

[@kayakboy6748]

Where is this? Surprised to see that much debris in the fall. Looks more like spring runoff

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

This is where there are normally dry rocks upstream and river left of the O-Deck surfing area, just below the Maryland observation deck. www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1pJyoiyDhyWszGsjtS4BRvD5JFjab5fJY&ll=38.99633209999999%2C-77.25231080000003&z=20

[@user-so1mv9po2f]

Great Falls of the Potomic outside DC

[@johnrflinn]

Boiling cauldron.

[@kevinmabry8422]

What kind of roll do you do? If your playing in this stuff you should be capable of one handed rolls without a paddle.

[@ennanced]

😮, how’s his shoulder?

[@paddlebikediveclimb]

Last I heard, "sore."

[@hamiltonhauder]

Yes very sore! Will be getting a closer look tho

[@Ari-pw6nu]

Ya know. When your sitting on the side of the road watching the ri river flow it doesn't look this scary.

[@user-so1mv9po2f]

I dont think even Chuck Norris would run that

[@samiirai]

Lmao shit doesn't even look fun, it's just straight up survival mode.