Kayak Camping Catawba River (Pt 1)

[@siliilith]

Great job scouting the potential hazard down trees. Smart move to porting around them. Stay safe and thanks for the videos!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks siliilith!

[@subbydwg]

I've only ever used a sit on top so far that being said I really enjoyed watching the sit on top kayak hanging with you all

[@RiverKingsKayak]

It didnt hang well...just so absolutely slow and heavy...but they are comfy!

[@GamerKidEdits]

Never a dull moment paddling with you.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

he he! thats right!

[@GamerKidEdits]

@@RiverKingsKayak You need to gather the troops and hit up the #MR340, right up your alley.

[@Crabbyskunk]

Big guy, sit-on kayak, rapids... what could go wrong? Looks like a lot of Type 2 fun you all had.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

You nailed that on all counts Th Pr!!!

[@caucathethao82]

amazing, thank you share

[@RiverKingsKayak]

thanks Câu!

[@TK-oe1xm]

I'm beyond happy I came across this video. I live in Hickory NC and am 3 years hooked on kayaking. Trying to find time frame and how many miles. I want to do the entire river to the Atlantic 1 time in my life. But start in baby steps and 2-3 day weekends. I want to do to lake James. Or start at the camp and go from there to Rhodhiss, and hickory and lake lookout too. And pull out there. Idk how long that will take. But I'm gonna watch all of these videos now! Thanks for helping me. And anything else or website please let me know. Thanks KS to All!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks TK! Just Google earth your runs, calculate the miles and put the plan in motion!

[@TK-oe1xm]

The plan is to do 84 miles in 4-5 days from the mtns to SC border. Then I'm going to do the other parts of the 440 mile run to the coast. And do it every year. By the time I'm on the last 80-120 miles it should be my 40th Bday self gift of my favorite time. I did lose a dear kayaking brother. And will carry his ashes a little at the top and a little along milestones. He was planning on going with me and my cuz.

[@michaelwityk3990]

Well done to you all at least he never gave up stay safe

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Michael! He is a trooper and I'm sure he will be back!!

[@jadewatson2440]

matt just needed to read river little better and charge those rapids. old town sportsman 120 here. momentum really helps.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Yes sir, and that boat did not do him any favors!

[@hopeahead]

I'm a 60 yr old woman here in Winston Salem enjoying your video while sipping coffee on this rainy Sat. I teach nursing at a college here and have been so cooped up since March. I really can't wait to get out on the James River and do some kayak camping. Never had tried this area. Just wanted to let you know I really appreciate your videos so much!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on hopeahead! Glad to have you along. Thanks for the support and kind words!

[@thewonderingelectrician]

Wish I could have made it

[@RiverKingsKayak]

We missed you out there!

[@dirtdobber2185]

missed you on this one Kevin.

[@thewonderingelectrician]

Hopefully the next one😉

[@demondunk]

Another great video. Best way to start my week . Morning coffee and a river kings video before i start work .

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thank you Duncan! A fine morning indeed!

[@biscuittechnician]

another great video bro! im paddling vicariously while the weather sucks over here 😂👍

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Biscuit Technician! Love the handle btw. Biscuitville is my favorite restaurant here in NC...

[@biscuittechnician]

@@RiverKingsKayak thanks man, im a big fan of your channel!. i've never tried Biscuitville, im hoping to go to the states when the travel restrictions are eased up though so i hope to try them soon 👍.

[@mikeemmons4062]

Rough start, but that often makes for the best memories. I thought that sit on top was going to give Matt problems. Glad to see him hang in there. Looking forward to Part 2.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

You are right about that Mike! Thanks!

[@iowamatt2519]

Mike when I chose the sit on top water levels were at 300 cfs. Thought it would be easier to get out and drag across the shallows. Had a great time just lost confidence after that swim. It was cold, and makes u think instead of just do.

[@mikeemmons4062]

@@iowamatt2519 If you never make a mistake, you never get a chance to learn. You get it next time.

[@ECCHellbilly1]

@@iowamatt2519 I probably would have made the same decision . I love my SOT mine has two hight positions it's very hard to flip in the low position. The higher one I could see it being much more of a problem. Good job brother.

[@iowamatt2519]

@@ECCHellbilly1 if we hadn't gotten 5 inches of rain the day before the sot would've been perfect for the river part, the lake however was never going to be easy. I forgot who I was with and how fast they paddle.

[@MarieJanssen74]

One of my favorite videos so far!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Sis!

[@turtleheadboys5263]

man that river was moving! How do I start learning the Jedi move LOL?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

LOL!! Only Greg knows! he he. It was running pretty hard at the put in!

[@adamagent2002]

Great video, can’t wait to see the next part.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Bobby!! Sneak peek up either today or tomorrow...

[@FlintHillCatfishing]

Dude....how have I never found your channel!!!! I was a whitewater C1 paddler for over a decade and now spend most of my time trophy catfishing from a kayak on the Catawba river chain. This was just what I wanted to find on youtube right now. Subbed!!!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on FHC! Glad to have you on board!

[@chancebsigns]

Awesome video.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Chance!!!

[@scottpiner2149]

Just finished part 1. Looks like such a fun trip! I’ve passed that Sonic on 221 many times on mountains trips.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

right on Scott!

[@livermush]

Cool. I put in around that area. Went to the ocean. Took a month.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

very cool

[@TK-oe1xm]

Was any of this on the Johns River. The beginning looked like it at the island split shot. It feeds into it. My trip i will be fishing for lunch and dinner so we will live in, on the water and whats in it for the entire trip

[@RiverKingsKayak]

No, we passed the confluence with the Johns near the end of the trip, but this was entirely paddled on the Catawba.

[@TomKirkman1]

Sit on tops, particularly the newer types with high-rise skin on frame seats, have very high center of gravity. Not the best for rivers with much of any rapids beyond maybe class 1 stuff.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

You got that right Tom! I really never recommend them unless out for a leisurely float and fishing on flat water...

[@myadventureoutdoors]

Holy Moley, part 1 gave me my money's worth as a River King fan boy. That was intense. Of course someone finds Matt's GoPro, of course they do. I was hoping Bobby D was going to instruct the group in how to seal launch. Looking forward to part 2.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Its just not fair is it?!?! lol. we talked about that seal launch! he he.

[@CarolinaMusicScene]

My Old Stomping Grounds

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Robert!

[@CarolinaMusicScene]

@@RiverKingsKayakUsed to be Prudy Famous round dem parts🤪

[@hike-bike-paddle-and-drone]

Thanks for the journey Part 1! Glad to see ya back camping ! Sorry I missed the premier but was on my own epic adventure. You would have loved it other than there are no burger joints until you get out. LOL! There was a place with some fabulous Eggs Benedict after we got out of the wilds though!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Jeff! You had an amazing camp site...I've been drooling over your pics!

[@hike-bike-paddle-and-drone]

@@RiverKingsKayak there are over 35 campsites that are awesome! And it is really cool to jump around to different ones as you get deeper into the wilds! Thanks for the compliments! BTW, the canoe was sporting RK decals on the nose! ;-)

[@mountainsnmoore256]

Enjoyed it Pete! Thanks for the entertainment!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks as always Brad!!

[@billcotton1551]

These videos are so well done! Can't wait for the next part.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thank you Bill! Hope to see you in the chat on Sunday!

[@raistlin42o80]

I found this guys gopro when i was kayaking this past Saturday. How can i get in touch with him to return it?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

message me on facebook...Lloyd knows how to get me

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks for the retrieval!!!

[@lawrenceconstantine7735]

What you the teacher didn't put on your drysuit god forgive. I am not you but I have done some fierce water and I mean fierce in my little sportsmen canoe with those sit on boat cushion life whatever you want to call them was it a smart move most likely not but made it though but it's my makeup and I am still that way at 64. But you do a great job and I really enjoy watching thank you.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

he he! right on Lawrence! It was so hot and muggy at the put in, we would have had heat stroke during the portage! LOL. It def chilled off later. Thanks for the kind words!!!

[@Shreddie117]

Ahhh nothing like a little carnage to start off a trip! Excellent video as always! Definitely looking forward to part 2! Would you recommend a crossover kayak like LL rRemix XP 10 or a Stinger XP work for this type of trip?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

You got it Eddie! Thanks a ton! The crossovers or the stinger would be perfect for day one on this trek. They would suffer on the speed end of things over days 2 and 3 though. I have a Katana 10.4 and a Stinger XP as well. I usually reserve them for full on whitewater kayak camping trips such as the Chattooga trip we did in May. The Prijon Yukon that I use (as well as Brian and Greg and many of us) is the perfect compromise for most of the trips we run. It handled everything well over the course of this trip. I do not like sot's. Esp the pontoon hull design that Matt had. VERY slow, VERY heavy and VERY hard to maneuver.

[@Shreddie117]

@@RiverKingsKayak thank you very much for all this detailed information.

[@trishschofield7808]

While watching this video, I had an idea. Your paddle could have orange paint on the ends to signal to others which way to go on the river to help guide them. Hmm 🤔

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I like your thinking. However, there is already a fairly universal hand/arm/paddle signal language for doing exactly this. The orange would help to be seen at distance which can be important in an of itself. I am planning to make a video about this. For example, you ALWAYS point or direct towards the positive and never the negative. The reason is that without clarification, the signal reader needs only to know which way to go. An arm signal is super easy to Read in this situation. If sometimes you are pointing right to go right and other times you are pointing right at a hazard as a warning, it gets really confusing really fast especially when you cannot hear one another. The paddles are and can be used for different things such as a stop command or a river clear command etc...but not really so for directional signals. I have seen folks try to point right or left with a paddle, but this usually results in a confusing "stop" command or a confusing leaning "river clear" command and nobody knows what is going on. Good stuff Trish!!

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Rough trip, but that definitely makes the best adventure memories. Looked like you had your hands full Pete and the jedi mind tricks demo was impressive. lol Awesome video!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

For sure Chris!! It is that type 2 fun!! LOL. Greg is the last Jedi. Thanks Brother!

[@williamthegriffin6185]

Drysuit+taco bell=bad idea.. Lol😂

[@RiverKingsKayak]

LOL!!! Experience is a great teacher!

[@atkinsoutdoors2746]

Good lesson in risk vs reward

[@crackerbat]

Really curious how Dobber's stratos is working out for him compared to the yukons especially in the rapids.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

He loves it. He has never paddled a Yukon and I have never paddled a Stratos. However, I can tell you it is far better than the tsunami he had before.

[@crackerbat]

@@RiverKingsKayak Awesome! Yeah, that Tsunami seemed to get pushed around in current a bit, was hoping the stratos would fair better.

[@dameronlyon6740]

What app do you use to get the flow rate?Awesome video brother..

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Dameron! I use a couple different ones. American Whitewater is a fantastic source of information that covers almost all whitewater in North America and bundles the information from the USGS gauges. Basically, it displays the gauge height for a particular run as well as giving you minimum/maximum and preferred flow rate parameters...super helpful. I also go straight to the USGS sites, find the location for the river in question and interpret the gauge myself. As you learn a river, you can pretty much do your own interpretation. Hope that Helps! www.americanwhitewater.org waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv?site_no=02096500

[@Treasuremonk]

How can I get on one these trips? Up in Hickory

[@RiverKingsKayak]

He Jeff!! We need to do a trip for sure!! I will message you on FB...I have a trip I'm thinking about doing...

[@Treasuremonk]

River Kings sweet ! I’m ready! Thanks

[@d.collier_8280]

That man from IA needs to sell that yak and buy him a Crescent CK1 or a lite tackle...

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Good call!!

[@klarigey]

Do you happen to have an address of sorts for where you guys put in at?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right behind the Stuckey's Gas Station on I-40. There is a bridge there.

[@klarigey]

@@RiverKingsKayak if I would have been paying attention at the beginning I would of realized lol Thank you and love the content by the way - I am just getting into the sport and have been watching your stuff non stop

[@klarigey]

@@RiverKingsKayak all I have right now is a pelican mustang 100x but I have no interest in fishing. Any recomendations for a kayak around 10ft that would be good for quick river runs and an overnight kayaking trip?

[@timmcdaniels7083]

Pete, I have a question for you. So this same weekend I took an inexperienced buddy to Rocky River with water level at about 8ft(normally 1.9) and flow rate of above 750cfs(normally around 100). We were in over our head once we got in, and he flipped in a decent rapid. He ended up swimming for about a mile before I could rescue him and the boat. My nerves were shaken quite a bit and we decided to get off the river at the next bridge. He swam again in the last rapid before the bridge. I guess my question is, knowing I was in over my head, how do I get my confidence back? Also what classes/instruction can you reccommend for me to be a more competent paddler and a safer trip leader? I am in the Charlotte NC area and really want to be a safer kayaker, for myself, and for the people around me.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Great question! Sometimes the river can give harsh feedback as to how prepared you really are for a situation. I love that you recognize where you need to improve. I would try to keep the focus there. Rescue skills are just as important as paddling skills. I often field related questions. I try to tell folks that the max end of what they should attempt are rooted in how capable are you in making a rescue/recovery in said waters. Most folks rate themselves by how competently they paddle a certain grade of river/lake/ocean etc...A better judge is how prepared you are to be able to fully assist and recover a fellow boater and gear on said water while staying in total control of your own boat/situation. Otherwise you are totally ignoring half of the possible equation. In your case, It looks like the river delved up a hearty reminder. I whole heartedly recommend getting some swift water rescue for your friend and yourself. Also remember that your experience was a snapshot in time - not where you will stay. It, also, has ultimately given you invaluable experience for next time. It was a positive although it did not feel so at the time. I'm nearly certain that if you relived that experience again today that you would perform better as you have had a situation like this under your belt. Dont dwell on the negatives. Always remember that moments like these will be some of your fondest memories later...in a wow that was crazy sort of way. Keep grinding, take what you can from it and address the issues where you felt inadequate by getting SWR classes as well as some kayaking instruction! ONWARD!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

did you guys lose a paddle out there by any chance?

[@timmcdaniels7083]

@@RiverKingsKayak we did not. Fortunately we did not lose anything except a little bit of confidence. I was in my new to me Necky Zoar Sport, so I have a lot to hand to that for keeping me upright. I tried to keep a calm and cool head during everything. I remember your words when Dirt Dobber got pinned in a tree, that sometime you have to take your time even if it doesnt seem right, but you cant turn yourself into a second rescue. I definitely look back on what happened and see where I could have improved. His pelican rode upside down for too long before I flipped it. If I could have flipped it sooner, I may have been able to get it to shore and him out of the water faster. Definitely need to look into SWR, I see that the WhiteWater center has some beginner courses available. I want to be safer for myself and the people paddling with me. I have always tried to pride myself on staying calm in situations, but with this one, his safety was in my hands and I had to do everything I was capable of doing to help both of us. Other things that went through my head that I learned from you was never tie yourself to another boat, unless it was a quick connect setup. I guess being totally unprepared for the conditions will make you realize what you should have done differently real fast. Thanks for the insight Pete, hopefully one day I can have the priveledge of paddling with the World Famous River Kings! 👑👑

[@RiverKingsKayak]

@@timmcdaniels7083 you are all over it! Would love to paddle with you guys. message me on facebook and lets try to set something up!

[@timmcdaniels7083]

@@RiverKingsKayak Thanks again Pete! I will be in touch on Facebook soon enough!

[@cw2126]

👍👍👍

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks C W!

[@joshuas3282]

I see a waffle top? Were you in the Army?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I worked as a contractor with SF for about 10 years...

[@joshuas3282]

@@RiverKingsKayak very nice, our paths might have crossed a time or two on Bragg

[@RiverKingsKayak]

@@joshuas3282 right on!!