One of the best kayaking mini-docs I’ve seen. I’ve been visiting Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks, Canaan Valley for over 40 years… a prime group of locales in Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia. Not many videos of these Red Creek runs, so very welcome to see. I’ve hiked the creek (instead of the trail that parallels) upstream from there and it’s truly a beautiful section of overhanging shelves, waterfalls and slides, but had no idea Red Creek was runnable (not by me, however).
I’ve done that same hike at low water, and even as a boater use to seeing those flows, the contrast between low water and runnable is fascinating to witness. One day I want to get in there and film low flows and high flows from the same angle to blend the shots to show just how different it is. Thanks for watching.
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." // "I am haunted by waters." - Norman Maclean I love the beauty of West Virginia's mountains and rivers. Thank you for showing the Cheat watershed to the rest of the world. Kudos to all involved in making this film. Your hard work and skills are evident. Thanks to WV Public Broadcasting for showing it. I look forward to discovering other MRM productions.
Watched several times now and it keeps getting better! I also shared with a buddy who has a background in hydrogeology…he loved it and now wants to take up whitewater paddling to experience the “geologic playground” that is our rivers! This is truly something special. Thanks to all who contributed!!
Hey Justin, it’s Shannon from Mesa Verde National Park. Cool meeting you out west! I loved the film. Thank you so much for sharing such a great piece of WV with the world. I always tell folks that’ve never been that WV has the most beautiful rivers.. now I’ll have em watch your film to prove it! Hope you had a safe trip on the San Juan and maybe I’ll see you back in the valley someday ✌️
Hey Shannon! Thanks for taking the time to watch, and it was so cool to meet a West Virginian so far from the homeland. Thanks for educating the west on the beauty of our amazing state.
Shout out and huge respect for creating such a fascinating film to celebrate these rivers and hills. Geologic perspective was especially noteworthy. I lived in Motown 2004-2006 and was lucky to paddle all these runs many times with outstanding humans. Best days were the flooded ones - spicy indeed! Cheers from New Zealand
Bravo sir. Outstanding. Out of all the years I’ve been interested in whitewater I have never heard of most of those tribs along the cheat. Obviously red creek the black water otter and big sandy but never the smaller ones. Great film great footage and excellent photography. Love wv always have always will. Cheers.
I'm glad (and so is my wife) that I didn't see this until I hit my early 70's. If I'd have seen this when in my 30's it would have been like a needle in my vein. I now live by Dirty Harry's words of wisdom - "A man's got to know his limitations".
What an awesome journey! Absolutely loved this immersive dive into what makes this magical place so special. Awesome work, Justin. Felt like I was back on the river with my homie Phil again!
What a great documentary. So well done, and in my backyard. Spent a few years as a Cheat guide, the love for whitewater never leaves you. Thanks for making this.
What an outstanding video! My first trip into Dolly sods area was it 1973. So I have a hiked and skied around up in there for 50 plus years. That makes me age 70. Never thought about paddling red Creek. I I have my credit card out ready to make the purchase..... Or at this age should I just rewind and watch the video again?? Great job guys this should win an award! Even my wife has a message it's "gimme that darn phone..." So I guess that's my answer.
WOW!! I mean WOW!!! What a great representation of WV! The fury of the water, the beauty of the landscape, just all of it. You perfectly captured the majesty of our great State!! Amazing that some of that beauty, Big Splat, is literally my back yard!!! Amazing job!!!
I’ve now rewatched more than 4 times. Each time somehow it only seems to get better as I pick up on the little details and transitions. Thank you for putting this together for the paddling community!
Did you catch the fact that the seasons change from summer to spring to late winter as the film travels higher in the drainage? Because it was a pain in the ass to get that done.
Excellent! I grew up on the banks of the Cheat River. I'm constantly learning more about how unique the watersheds are that sent water past my front door.
This is awesome hope you guys can do lots more stuff like this. I find this 10 x as engaging as most regular kayak vids. The context and background info of all the rapids makes the kayaking footage itself so much more interesting. Keep it up!
Wow! This is an exciting way to learn about geology! Thank you for sharing your work when I spoke with you at the Ohio State Fair today in the ODNR park. I can tell you and many others worked many long hours dedicated to this project. Can't wait to see it come out on PBS and all your future projects! I shared your info with my teacher friends who teach and love geology as I do!
Outstanding! Impressive piece of videography. Thank You for sharing this labor of love with the rest of us. Sometimes I get so frustrated with West Virginia I just want to pack up and leave. But then I get a reminder like this of all the beauty and adventure that is all around us. Thanks.
Awesome video! Love the holistic approach encompassing geology (rock), hydrology (water), mysticism ("There is an energy in these hills, you can feel it when you come here.") and adventure. Not to mention some kick ass paddling and breathtaking cinematography. Well done, guys!!
Such an amazing production and only the best people out of this paddling community to step up and make a stellar video of what others only talk about thank you justin for putting in all this effort to show people what is on the map
I watch a lot of white water kayaking video and this one is top 5 for sure. Refreshing content compared to all the standard cookie cutter vids out there! Keep up the great work!!!
I’m an avid fly fisherman and spend a lot of time at my camp on Dry Fork. This spring we’ve had a lot of water and I honestly get so depressed sitting around waiting for water to drop back down to fishable levels. I want to get into creek boating so bad!
@@kmccollom the only SLR work in this film is photography. I use the Canon D series. I have a 5D Mark IV full frame for work, but thats a lot of cash to be beating up on the river. So I usually go with my 7D and two lenses. Mostly its the 70-200 and that is certainly the work horse on any whitewater section. If you can afford an 18-300, it has huge benefits, but if you can't a second 18-55 lens is what I go with. Wide angle lenses are useless in 99% of situations. You'll never needed to go wider than 18mm unless it's a planned shot right on top of the drop. If that's the case I go with 10-22. Pelican case between the legs and you're good to go.
I love this, even though I am not a kayaker. There is some great drone footage. I tried to figure out where all these different obstacles are located. I think the First Slide and Clapper are less than a quarter mile down the river from the Forks, the most popular place for camping . But what confuses me is the commentary at 8:19: "Not long after entering the forest, the Right Fork enters the creek." I though you already were on the Right Fork of the Red Creek, and the creek entering was the Upper Left Creek?
You are correct about First Slide and Clapper. The Right Fork comes on from up towards Timberline. If you look at the map you will see that we were on the main branch of Red Creek. There is also Alder Run flowing in from near Red Creek Campground. There actually is no Left Fork to Red creek.
@@Mountainrivermedia Thanks for your reply! It's amazing how different the Forks look in high water. Not to be argumentative, but both Google Maps and AllTrail maps do name the creek that comes from the West (Timberline) and joins the creek you were on the Left Fork Red Creek, hence my confusion.
@@randomkindness2 you are probably correct. In kayaking, we refer to everything as river left and river right, as applied to always looking downstream. So even when looking upstream you still refer to it as river left and river right. So most likely I’m confused and it is the Left Fork, but there is no Right Fork. In 2020 we hiked in from Tomberline and put on that fork. It’s a long hike and shorter paddle. I prefer shorter hikes and longer paddles like we did in 2022.
@@Mountainrivermedia Thanks. Wow, carrying the kayaks all the way from Timberline, that's quite a workout. Take care, and I hope you will create more great videos like this one.
Dude amazing video!! So awesome how many creeks in that drainage. :) love the beauty of WV just wish people could open their minds up to a few things. They have the highest rate of a few things that I don’t agree with.
Noise from generations of miseducation. The wilderness and river flow drown it all out and then I look around me and realize that West Virginia is a magical escape from what the world has become.
![Lil Uzi Vert - Chill Bae [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7F42F_JM3U/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the best kayaking mini-docs I’ve seen. I’ve been visiting Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks, Canaan Valley for over 40 years… a prime group of locales in Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia. Not many videos of these Red Creek runs, so very welcome to see. I’ve hiked the creek (instead of the trail that parallels) upstream from there and it’s truly a beautiful section of overhanging shelves, waterfalls and slides, but had no idea Red Creek was runnable (not by me, however).
I’ve done that same hike at low water, and even as a boater use to seeing those flows, the contrast between low water and runnable is fascinating to witness. One day I want to get in there and film low flows and high flows from the same angle to blend the shots to show just how different it is.
Thanks for watching.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Love it !!!!
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." // "I am haunted by waters." - Norman Maclean
I love the beauty of West Virginia's mountains and rivers. Thank you for showing the Cheat watershed to the rest of the world. Kudos to all involved in making this film. Your hard work and skills are evident. Thanks to WV Public Broadcasting for showing it. I look forward to discovering other MRM productions.
Well done ! Excellent video
Future of whitewater documentary directors here, this man’s stuff hits differently and it’s needed
Thanks dude. Hope to see you soon.
Watched several times now and it keeps getting better! I also shared with a buddy who has a background in hydrogeology…he loved it and now wants to take up whitewater paddling to experience the “geologic playground” that is our rivers! This is truly something special. Thanks to all who contributed!!
Hey Justin, it’s Shannon from Mesa Verde National Park. Cool meeting you out west! I loved the film. Thank you so much for sharing such a great piece of WV with the world. I always tell folks that’ve never been that WV has the most beautiful rivers.. now I’ll have em watch your film to prove it! Hope you had a safe trip on the San Juan and maybe I’ll see you back in the valley someday ✌️
Hey Shannon! Thanks for taking the time to watch, and it was so cool to meet a West Virginian so far from the homeland. Thanks for educating the west on the beauty of our amazing state.
Shout out and huge respect for creating such a fascinating film to celebrate these rivers and hills. Geologic perspective was especially noteworthy. I lived in Motown 2004-2006 and was lucky to paddle all these runs many times with outstanding humans. Best days were the flooded ones - spicy indeed! Cheers from New Zealand
Bravo sir. Outstanding. Out of all the years I’ve been interested in whitewater I have never heard of most of those tribs along the cheat. Obviously red creek the black water otter and big sandy but never the smaller ones. Great film great footage and excellent photography. Love wv always have always will. Cheers.
I'm glad (and so is my wife) that I didn't see this until I hit my early 70's. If I'd have seen this when in my 30's it would have been like a needle in my vein. I now live by Dirty Harry's words of wisdom - "A man's got to know his limitations".
What an awesome journey! Absolutely loved this immersive dive into what makes this magical place so special. Awesome work, Justin. Felt like I was back on the river with my homie Phil again!
Thanks for all the support buddy. It's greatly appreciated. Now come paddle!
So amazing. West Virginia water is so enthralling.
What a great documentary. So well done, and in my backyard. Spent a few years as a Cheat guide, the love for whitewater never leaves you. Thanks for making this.
Beautiful, beautiful film!! Thank you for this view of beautiful WV!!
Total banger! Can't wait to get back to WV
Incredible! 10/10.
We met at the takeout of the Winnie in NH and shuttles you upstream.
Thanks so much for making this! Very, very cool.
Hell yeah man! Thanks again for the shuttle and hit me up if you ever come down to the Upper Yough area.
What an outstanding video! My first trip into Dolly sods area was it 1973. So I have a hiked and skied around up in there for 50 plus years. That makes me age 70.
Never thought about paddling red Creek.
I I have my credit card out ready to make the purchase..... Or at this age should I just rewind and watch the video again??
Great job guys this should win an award! Even my wife has a message it's "gimme that darn phone..." So I guess that's my answer.
Amen. This project was 🔥
WOW!! I mean WOW!!! What a great representation of WV! The fury of the water, the beauty of the landscape, just all of it. You perfectly captured the majesty of our great State!! Amazing that some of that beauty, Big Splat, is literally my back yard!!! Amazing job!!!
Thanks Sheila. Much appreciated.
So sick!
I’ve now rewatched more than 4 times. Each time somehow it only seems to get better as I pick up on the little details and transitions. Thank you for putting this together for the paddling community!
Did you catch the fact that the seasons change from summer to spring to late winter as the film travels higher in the drainage? Because it was a pain in the ass to get that done.
Excellent! I grew up on the banks of the Cheat River. I'm constantly learning more about how unique the watersheds are that sent water past my front door.
It’s truly one of the great whitewater basins of the world.
Just .awesome me wish I had learned kayaking years ago when I had a chance. Well done
Thanks for watching my film Jim! That makes my day!
This is awesome hope you guys can do lots more stuff like this. I find this 10 x as engaging as most regular kayak vids. The context and background info of all the rapids makes the kayaking footage itself so much more interesting. Keep it up!
A second film on the 1985 Cheat River flood paralleled with meteorology is in the works to start filming in early 2023. 😎
@@Mountainrivermedia awesome can’t wait. Are you going to be at moosefest in a couple weekends? I think that would be a great weekend to document
Fantastic work!
I've got some photos of the first decent from back in the day.
Who was on that trip? Would love to talk with you and get copies for a future project.
Myself Matt P and John R. Got a couple of good stories for you. How about Seneca creek too? Love your excellent work. @@Mountainrivermedia
Got photos of the Upper Blackwater and the North fork too. @@Mountainrivermedia
Wow! Just a first class outstanding video!!! Thank you!
Wow! This is an exciting way to learn about geology! Thank you for sharing your work when I spoke with you at the Ohio State Fair today in the ODNR park. I can tell you and many others worked many long hours dedicated to this project. Can't wait to see it come out on PBS and all your future projects! I shared your info with my teacher friends who teach and love geology as I do!
What a presentation, it's like I was along for the ride. I'm not sure how you manage some of those tight spots. Great job!
Stellar video!
So cool!!!!! Make another one!
Working on it.
Great video!👍🏽👏🏽👊🏽🌊🌊🌊
Great video I love it. I have paddled all of them many times except bull and elsey. Upper cheat water shed is the best
Outstanding! Impressive piece of videography. Thank You for sharing this labor of love with the rest of us. Sometimes I get so frustrated with West Virginia I just want to pack up and leave. But then I get a reminder like this of all the beauty and adventure that is all around us. Thanks.
West Virginia is a truly special place. Thanks for watching.
that was FANTASTIC Justin. Good job!!! awesome drone footy and everything
Outstanding film that connected passion and raw emotion of whitewater boating! I very much enjoyed your dedication and hard work to this piece!
Big thanks Froom. It was quite the ride.
Outstanding Work! Lucky to call this area my backyard!
Awesome video! Love the holistic approach encompassing geology (rock), hydrology (water), mysticism ("There is an energy in these hills, you can feel it when you come here.") and adventure. Not to mention some kick ass paddling and breathtaking cinematography. Well done, guys!!
Really really well done! Great work!!!
Such an amazing production and only the best people out of this paddling community to step up and make a stellar video of what others only talk about thank you justin for putting in all this effort to show people what is on the map
The community came through in a MASSIVE way and I'm so grateful to so many people for it. This was a true community endeavor.
Amazing. 🤜🤛😎
I watch a lot of white water kayaking video and this one is top 5 for sure. Refreshing content compared to all the standard cookie cutter vids out there! Keep up the great work!!!
Awesome job man awesome narration and fantastic videography!!
Makes me want to buy a kayak. (After I finish paying off this mountain bike!) Great work Justin, really well done.
Don’t tease me. 😏
Such a great video!!
I’m an avid fly fisherman and spend a lot of time at my camp on Dry Fork. This spring we’ve had a lot of water and I honestly get so depressed sitting around waiting for water to drop back down to fishable levels. I want to get into creek boating so bad!
Blackwater Outdoor Adventures is a great place to start!
Excellent. Great quality video, and impressive paddling. WV rocks.
Great video. Words can't describe how special those tributaries are to me and how many lessons I learned on those rivers. Nicely done man.
Thanks so much. It’s truly one of the worlds great whitewater watersheds.
Soooooo sick
TRuly Epic....great vid
Nice video 👍
Well I know where I want to paddle next! Thanks for sharing this! Looks like an incredible place to call home 🙌💙
We are very lucky to choose an existence in these hills. I can’t express in words how much I love this place.
You made a piece of art. Never remove this from the internet. So good.
Thanks dude! Art is what I was going for, so I truly appreciate this.
@@Mountainrivermedia I'm curious what your on water SLR camera set up is?
@@kmccollom the only SLR work in this film is photography. I use the Canon D series. I have a 5D Mark IV full frame for work, but thats a lot of cash to be beating up on the river. So I usually go with my 7D and two lenses. Mostly its the 70-200 and that is certainly the work horse on any whitewater section. If you can afford an 18-300, it has huge benefits, but if you can't a second 18-55 lens is what I go with. Wide angle lenses are useless in 99% of situations. You'll never needed to go wider than 18mm unless it's a planned shot right on top of the drop. If that's the case I go with 10-22. Pelican case between the legs and you're good to go.
Mannnnnnnn! That was stellar!
Thanks homie.
I love this, even though I am not a kayaker. There is some great drone footage. I tried to figure out where all these different obstacles are located. I think the First Slide and Clapper are less than a quarter mile down the river from the Forks, the most popular place for camping . But what confuses me is the commentary at 8:19: "Not long after entering the forest, the Right Fork enters the creek." I though you already were on the Right Fork of the Red Creek, and the creek entering was the Upper Left Creek?
You are correct about First Slide and Clapper.
The Right Fork comes on from up towards Timberline. If you look at the map you will see that we were on the main branch of Red Creek. There is also Alder Run flowing in from near Red Creek Campground. There actually is no Left Fork to Red creek.
@@Mountainrivermedia Thanks for your reply! It's amazing how different the Forks look in high water. Not to be argumentative, but both Google Maps and AllTrail maps do name the creek that comes from the West (Timberline) and joins the creek you were on the Left Fork Red Creek, hence my confusion.
@@randomkindness2 you are probably correct. In kayaking, we refer to everything as river left and river right, as applied to always looking downstream. So even when looking upstream you still refer to it as river left and river right. So most likely I’m confused and it is the Left Fork, but there is no Right Fork.
In 2020 we hiked in from Tomberline and put on that fork. It’s a long hike and shorter paddle. I prefer shorter hikes and longer paddles like we did in 2022.
@@Mountainrivermedia Thanks. Wow, carrying the kayaks all the way from Timberline, that's quite a workout. Take care, and I hope you will create more great videos like this one.
Hats off to you mate. You killed it with this one!
Thanks broski. Come back east and let’s have a good ole fashioned SmashberryFest!
Amazing video been excited for the release of it!
Me too. Because now I can actually have a life again. 😂
this could be a Banff Mountain Film Fest submission....
You predict the future well.
@@Mountainrivermedia …yaaasssssss…
Dude amazing video!! So awesome how many creeks in that drainage. :) love the beauty of WV just wish people could open their minds up to a few things. They have the highest rate of a few things that I don’t agree with.
Noise from generations of miseducation. The wilderness and river flow drown it all out and then I look around me and realize that West Virginia is a magical escape from what the world has become.