I think it was in the late 2000s when Luke Spencer first showed me this run. I’d still like to know how he found it! Before that I had done the West Branch (?) once, which is the tributary that joined with Hagen above Tea Kettle, and I had done Stebbins once, which is another small tributary in the Washougal headwaters. Hagen is better than either of those. It has stayed remarkably clean, rarely snows out, and it runs after almost every good rainstorm. It is truly one of the crown jewels of creek boating in the region.
@@bfosterkayaking In January of 2006 Jason Rackley, Pete G, and couple of others did exploratory runs on Hagen, Skamania Mines, Jackson and Wildboy Creek in this drainage. We thought these were the first descents, but can't be sure. Jason documented it on his website and Hagen has been a local favorite since.
Excellent Tour of Hagen!! Very informative. However, you didn't show the wave at the end. That's a really important part of the total experience. And I'm interested at what it looked like at that level.
This is a creeking video, not a playboating video, and many clips hit the cutting room floor during my editing process. I believe the two waves located shortly above the takeout are better around 10', when the troughs are smoother and greener. I did not drop into them on this trip, and my POV video from a distance did not do them justice. The second wave had a huge pile and looked violent. The first wave had a decent shoulder on surfer's right. Paul caught a surf on it, but I wasn't in a good vantage to film him.
The entry move is high consequence and requires precise boat control but it's remarkably easy to execute. As long as you have your bow pointed downstream on the left side at the top it seems to take you right where you need to go. Jonathan scouted that ledge at low water and confirmed the deep channel safely avoids the wood.
Fantastic!
Nice looking run. Never heard of it back in my kayaking days.
I think it was in the late 2000s when Luke Spencer first showed me this run. I’d still like to know how he found it! Before that I had done the West Branch (?) once, which is the tributary that joined with Hagen above Tea Kettle, and I had done Stebbins once, which is another small tributary in the Washougal headwaters. Hagen is better than either of those. It has stayed remarkably clean, rarely snows out, and it runs after almost every good rainstorm. It is truly one of the crown jewels of creek boating in the region.
@@bfosterkayaking In January of 2006 Jason Rackley, Pete G, and couple of others did exploratory runs on Hagen, Skamania Mines, Jackson and Wildboy Creek in this drainage. We thought these were the first descents, but can't be sure. Jason documented it on his website and Hagen has been a local favorite since.
Excellent Tour of Hagen!! Very informative. However, you didn't show the wave at the end. That's a really important part of the total experience. And I'm interested at what it looked like at that level.
This is a creeking video, not a playboating video, and many clips hit the cutting room floor during my editing process. I believe the two waves located shortly above the takeout are better around 10', when the troughs are smoother and greener. I did not drop into them on this trip, and my POV video from a distance did not do them justice. The second wave had a huge pile and looked violent. The first wave had a decent shoulder on surfer's right. Paul caught a surf on it, but I wasn't in a good vantage to film him.
Dang! That drop in Euphoria with the wood is no joke. Kinda sketchy!
The entry move is high consequence and requires precise boat control but it's remarkably easy to execute. As long as you have your bow pointed downstream on the left side at the top it seems to take you right where you need to go. Jonathan scouted that ledge at low water and confirmed the deep channel safely avoids the wood.