Adventure Photographer John Webster Shares His Favorite Springtime Lines

The North Fork Payette has roughly 1600 ft. of vertical drop, so the rapids at the beginning of the section usually collect snow in the winter due to it's starting elevation. But what usually doesn't occur is 3 feet of snow on the banks and high, spring flows at the same time. When @nicktroutmankayak and crew descended the entire stretch (excluding Jacobs Ladder) they were practically running the stretch blind. Scouting was at a bare minimum, the usual scouting pullouts were blocked by snow. Luckily @alecvoorheeskayak, @smstoenner, and Sam Wells were there to show Nick the lines. "I can't express how much I feel that I'm about to drop into the unknown" -Nick Troutman.

One rapid in particular that excites everyone who drives up Highway 55 is Juicer. This prominant and lengthy rapid is impressive at pretty much any flow. This spring has provided the NF with high water levels that we haven't experienced in 5+ years. At this flow, Juicer flexes itself into this impressive wave train. With one steep wave after the other its a ride that @smstoenner displays ever so perfectly with some air time. Kayakers gain plenty of speed on the river; descending a river like the North Fork requires great amounts of momentum to be able to punch through some of the massive wave-holes. With that comes the option to put in a perfectly timed stroke to boost yourself into the air.

With high water comes unpredictable surges that can take hold of your kayak in ways you didn't think possible. @hunter_katt (pink boat) was where he needed to be in the rapid Disneyland, but nature timed things perfectly and when he collided with this wave it boosted him straight up. At this point, it is up to muscle memory to balance yourself correctly in a split second before you land back on the surface of the water. Hunter did just that and with a elated war cry he carried on paddling through the rapid.

@danejacksonkayak is one of the most entertaining kayakers to shoot, reason being-he is incredibly flawless. Driving up to the put in of the North Fork on this lap, he pointed out this wave in-particular that the whole car was raving about boofing. Minutes later I saw Dane paddling toward this large feature and knew he was going to catch significant air, which he did, to no ones surpise. Landing flat in the trough, he later claimed that his back hurt for a while after that very large boof.