Basin Falls Brook, West Peru ME., Team Updates, and video!

So,
I just got back from a trip to the Caribbean Islands, and haven't had the chance to update the blog since then (plus there is no sending in the Caribbean, plenty of SUP though).  Just before my departure I met up with Send It, ME Team Members Josh Geib and Chris Hull.  Chris rallied us to Buckfield, ME to explore Basin Falls Brook.  Though the water was low we found several great rapids and an INCREDIBLE gorge.  Josh was the only one of us to fire up the entrance rapid into the gorge and he had a SICK line through (see video).  Congrats Geebers!  After a complete descent of Basin Falls Brook, Chris told us about another possible run he had scouted earlier in the week.  Due to time constrictions (mostly on my part because I had to fly out to the Caribbean Islands early the next morning) we only ran the entrance slide, located somewhere in West Peru.  it looks like this part of ME (Maps 11 and 19 on the Gazetteer) have a lot of potential.  Check the pictures below courtesy of Chris Hull...

Josh G., only taker on the Entrance Rapid, Basin Falls

jcass Basin Falls

jcass on the slide, W. Peru

First Rapid on Basin Falls

Setting Safety for Josh, Entrance Rapid, Basin Falls

Bottom of Basin Falls

Josh G. First Rapid, Basin Falls

Top 3rd of Basin Brook Falls, Josh G. Sending.

jcass final rapid Basin Brook

Josh G. Sending a slide somewhere in W. Peru

Team members jcass and Chris Hull offer each other some support

Josh G. Entrance to the upper Basin Falls

Scouting is fun!

Chris Hull routing the Slide first, showing us how it's done!

jcass, second half of the slide

Josh G., Left Channel, Basin Brook Falls

Slide in W. Peru

A couple things I would like to share about Send It, ME team member Chris Hull:  Chris has been paddling for well over a decade and has been formative in providing information on Maine creeks and rivers for the American Whitewater Database (link here www.awa.org) and numerous guidebooks.  He also regularly contributes useful information to the Northeast Paddler's Message Board under the surname "Mainestream" (link here www.npmb.com) where he is  always helpful and respectful to the other members.  Chris is also is a long time affiliate of Pyranha Kayaks (link here www.pyranha.com).  When he is not kayaking, he is carefully studying the Maine Atlas and Gazatteer or working at Saddleback Mt. (link here www.saddlebackmaine.com) where he operates heavy machinery, or in his words, "plays video games all day".

All in all he is a stand-up guy who has your back on the river and is just fun to be around.  I feel pretty lucky to regularly paddle with him, Josh, and Chuck Mathieu.  We have some ambitious plans for the future.

BTW:  Congratulations to Chuck for becoming a Team Wavesport Ambassador (hopefully it won't interfere with his Send It, ME responsibilities too much.

We are working on getting more team member footage and information up soon.

Check out the footage of Josh, myself and Chris running Basin Brook Falls for what could be a possible first descent, and the large Slide in W. Peru.  If you have any information on these please feel free to add a comment or post a link.  Also, I just want to encourage everyone to get out there and explore on any river, any grade and have some FUN!

Off to meet up with the team in Western ME for some more creeking and river running action! Will report back soon.

From Send IT, ME
-jcass

PS.  BIG report from Western Maine coming next post with video and picutres!