CenterFocus Adventures takes you into the world of high adventure and exploration of the Desert Southwest, focusing on downriver Stand Up Paddleboarding, canyoneering and rock climbing. Professionally we have provided guided tours throughout Arizona and the Southwest since 2007. This channel is dedicated to CenterFocus and its personal explorations, these personal journeys of our guides while not at work, and doing what they do best outside..... while having a lot of fun doing it.
That's an interesting question... actually I wonder if any and what type of fish maybe in there... I'm actually going to check into this it is interesting question for sure
We hiked up with tubes and came down and all the people yelled at us! I would love to do this! Not sure what sections you did I didn't see the swarms of people!
This was run as a proper whitewater trip is a class 3 run with class 5 consequences. One guy broke his ankle and three lost boats in the other group behind us, two pulled out by helicopter. A very real deal wilderness adventure and by no means a tuber run. The permits to do what we are doing here are issued when the Narrows are closed to ALL hiking, thus why your not seeing any people. Once the paddling season is over and levels below 120cfs as what your talking about it opens to hikers... and yes not ok to be running tubes down it or anything else for that matter once thats the case so not surprising on all those for good reason upset over that...this again being a totally different animal it's a special permit and meant to be done by experienced paddlers with wilderness exp and rescue skills
Wish i could go places like this I see them in the distance In my semi while passing by but i never really get to explore or experience the world around me
Thanks for checking this out Scott. I sometimes feel hesitant to post stuff as I always want to avoid being some sort of non reticent guy spraying about what we do out there but since a kid this stuff is the only thing I've had to just keep me going. So I always know in similar ways others are out there, explorers in that you do wonder what's it like back in there. I thought in a way I get to be part of something by sharing this stuff so your comment means a lot. I really hope you can get outside and feel free to reach out anytime as I know people around usa guides etc that if your passing thru a place maybe I can tie you in with. Cheers.
it was a technical canyoneering trip with a packraft exit. Ferry swale itself was the goal... we came in thru that slot w potholes multiple raps etc ie canyoneering not just rapping down a wall, so that was the top of the final rap but loads of beautiful canyon we got to see before that rap for miles above that bit... its basically what canyoning is, descending technical canyons...waterhole, 9 mile, Junkyard... are all other technical canyons in that area w packraft exits also... many of these technical routes below the dam are in Todd Martens canyoneering Arizona book. So the objective was to descend the technical canyon versus just gain access to the Colorado River itself.
Thanks man it's funny you say that bc before I did this route I did the EXACT thing haha. I use youtube for preprep / recon for so many trips. That's awesome it all goes around and all can help each other community wise. Have fun out there honestly I though this trip was so unique and fun!
Are you a native of Arizona? Were you born there? I was Born and raised there by people born and raised there and we would never do this for obvious reasons reasons
In normal conditions would you ever do a self supported 3 weeks river trip on a SUP? For obvious reasons, you should INDEED never attempt this. Some people are built to do extraordinary things, and train every days to reduce / calculate their risks, maybe thats a new concept to you.
Yep lived in Camp Verde for 20 years. Own a professional guide company for 15. Certified rope rescue tech, high angle and confined space, a certified guide with the ACA and 25 years of adventure exp with 15 of that on big rivers all over usa where the national park service has been supportive. I'm also on the hala paddleboard pro paddler team for 2024, and have made my sole living guiding since 2007 post working for 5 years as a wildland firefighter. I also ran as a permitted river guide service in clarkdale ON THE Verde River in 2015 under permit from the city of Clarkdale so I ran the Verde River guide service (one of them). Your right, this is definetly for professionals only. Others would likely be injured or killed.
Oh yeah and I was also featured on Arizona Highways TV for stand up paddleboarding the Verde River in 2015 while running my guide services on the Verde river
Hey man this is awesome content! It reminds me a lot of ND Yak Angler. This seems actually pretty wild though, I could imagine getting stuck in that would be rough.
That's great input I will check him out. Thanks for mentioning... yeah for sure nothing was staged it was definetly unpredictable dicey and legit and the worst most deadly pin occurs many episodes in the future. I just went with it and figured well it's fully candid so should be hell of adventure and it sure was. And your spot on its big giant real desert wilderness out here the mazatals are remote as remote gets so definetly mega bad if issues in many of the spots I am with only the section thru the town of cottonwood as the exception which is coming up in the next few films.
@ethanp2499 it's so cool the positivity and the input cheers for real. I'm just a guy in this niche remote desert and sport and it's so great you said you felt you can come along because 100 percent that IS EXACTLY the goal. Honestly at times being out there alone so long a lot of adrenaline and focus the viewers WERE there because after awhile the lens was my companion, someone to talk to and celebrate with and plan with to feel that I was not alone.
@@TheCenterfocus dude ive dreamed of doing something like this on a kayak since I was very young. On a paddleboard is a different level of badass, I subscribed and I plan on watching more of your videos during dinner, i was jumping up in my seat like " god damn he doing that?". it makes me reconsider getting a shitty inflatable kayak instead of a SUP. ive been fishing on a paddleboard and couldnt barely stay on so this is incredible to watch man. I hope you get some credit for what you post, you got a ton of content.
Great question! That section of Oak is beastmode for downriver SUP for sure. I ride Hala boards because the center fin is retractable and spring loaded, although I still used the smaller 4 inch retractable fin for this run versus the 9 inch. I left off my side fins but now would probably side fin wise just go with the Hala "pocket fins" to add a touch of stability while only having minimal fin (about .5inch) in the river. We just started a FB group called stand up paddleboarding Az... if anyone wants to learn or looking to get out lmk.
Cheers for watching! Over so many years I've used youtube to scout rivers before I go and so much of Verde River people have not seen. Even many paddling friends haven't seen many sections so I figured ok im going to finally get a proper video of the entire river... I'm working on Morgan ranch to perkinsville now and will keep pushing them out until the end in Phoenix.
Thanks for checking it out! Yeah, we actually did have a bit of a wild situation with one of the packrafts below the second waterfall and definitely a run to be mega heads up for sure safety wise at higher flows ...
Not great on sprint event... first gopro games lots to sort out from that but I definetly understand competition formats now... certainly way different than multiday expedition solo paddling class 4 with 60 pounds on deck haha... the comp format is pretty fun though but requires a specific approach for sure
Thanks so much for watching and the non stop good vibes! It means so much.. I hope your doing well and your always welcome to use my boats in verde if you want to escape the heat... I'm surfing out east until November veryyyyy lucky for sure. Aquatherapy!
Not my wisest decision I did the black hole and 97 and post 2000. We mark With stone so people wouldn’t go up the incorrect side of canyon wall. Couple gallons of water sneakers and shorts
You and Wade truly made my day today. Thanks so much for the kindness and also for letting us get those shots of Beasley during these crazy floods. God bless and stay safe out there.... I will shoot you an update when this film gets done for sure.
Thanks man. Yeah it's pretty much par for the course as for our local arizona creeking... all our local stuff.... dry beaver, dry creek, oak creek... lots of vegetation so it was similar to those... not sure if this section ever been paddled by anyone, although if someone has run it hoping they post out of curiousity... thanks for checking it out 👍
Awesome! I live right near Sullivan lake and paddleboard myself. I always wondered about doing this and here you did it! Good job! if you ever want a partner for the next time just reach out.
First descent but you added bolts on that 2nd rap it appears? If so, I don't have an issue with it but would think you would get run out of town on a rail these days....
Well I'm certainly glad you don't have an issue with it..... I don't mean to insult I truly just don't know another word for it, its so multifaceted on so many levels I need 30 minutes on the phone to teach you ethics and how things work. As far as who I am I doubt I'm getting run out of Sedona considering I'm one of the original developers here for over 20 years and created and set many of our local standards in conjunction with the US Forest Service whom used me as a consultant for canyon clean up and ethics, I wrote the local job hazard analysis (JHA) FOR the US FOREST SERVICE here, I also wrote the wording for the metal safety signs posted in places like base of casner mountain. I have been given contracts by the national park service and drilled bolts for remediation of Montezuma Castle FOR the national park service..., I also trained the Yavapai County Sherrifs department here, work with amputee veterans, and own the local canyoneering guide service for 15 years where I worked as consultant for Travel Channel and worked three film shoots with Arizona Highways. I am also a certified canyoneering guide with the American Canyoneering Association. Also certified high angle and confined space rescue tech.... Lastly I have been given an award specifically for bolt REMOVAL by the Coconino National Forest for pulling out grid bolting from illegal guide outfitter team building sites. I'm the one wasting my 20 years away to truly contribute to the land and this sport so please think before you write as I'm ready to say F it and help nobody or nothing here any longer as so many other burned out good souls exhausted by negativity... Look at Arches, even in Utah in places like that first descents submit for bolting approval and building Deadman Anchors to avoid drilling in Arches is ironically banned because the park I'm assuming realized the costs of injury and rescue became too much as novice canyoneers were not capable of building these or inspecting them properly. From a management perspective if you are REALLY that knowledgeable than you know the complexities to management in addition to having experience working alongside land managers as well as working as professional in the industry.... when you do than everything becomes situational, and the standard in one place may be totally different than another. The same case applies to rock climbing on public lands. It's all situational. Thanks for watching the film, and do hope you are getting out enjoying the canyons 👍
Thanks man.... a lot we ran are 3s but we hit it low so really that one did feel like more an honest 3 at that level. Came a long way since then and just got off main salmon running loads of 3s and few 4s.... it's just so good once you get the feel. Thx for the good energy ....
Garrett , I enjoyed meeting you and hearing stories about your expertise. I wish I would have done a video interview about the product inventions, new materials and technology advancements you’ve seen over the last 20+ years. You’re a wealth of information and an excellent canyoneering guide!
Thanks for the nice vid. I'm hoping to do that upper section sometime in the future. What was the cfs in this video? Do you think I'd have better luck in the spring with snowmelt or in late summer after the rains?
Thanks man 👊.... yeah spring is the way. Not saying you cant catch it other times but you cant in my opinion beat spring. The thing is you get these great open sections, a few with minor class 2 stuff, but between them is strainerville like I have NEVER seen so if its too high I cant see how its safely managable. So timing a big rain it rips too high then window so small boom too low... I like spring for northern az because you have predictability in that you can say ok xxx snow is in the high country then watching weather warming up time the mission accordingly and most likely get more consistency on your cfs.... its like even when snow gone the aquafers are alive from a decent winter (assuming winter gets precip) and along my entire run TINY springs helped the flow adding along the route. I think verde clarkdale gage was around 120cfs when I went and the paulden usgs guage around 35cfs if not mistaken. You really feel like your in a place nobody goes out there and right as I began a rancher on horse was blown away and said in 25 years he has seen less than 20 people in that area. Hard freaking work real physical first 15 miles dragging etc but I had a blast. Below perk your solid and wont deal w many strainers...
@@TheCenterfocus Thanks for the comprehensive reply. That's what I want is solitude and nice scenery. I hate being cold so would prefer summertime. I'll keep checking the gauges for the rest of the summer to see how it fluctuates. Watching your other 2 Verde River vids now. Hoping to hit up the lower section at some point too. Going to do Sycamore to Beasley sections next month. Thanks again and enjoy your adventures!
Good question you ask.... so here is deal. For a half day trip best you can do is follow that tapco road further West and scout places to park along that road. There will be no good putIn, no gravel bar and certainly no RAP so plan on small portage to river. Another option I never done would be to find the roads that drop in near the basalt cliff section off that tapco road, but same approach ie most likely small portage. We used to put in at the verde/ sycamore confluence... and it made for GREAT fullday run class 2 bits... BUT you again need portage in a long way... we did not as 15 years ago for awhile a resident friend in there would unlock the usfs gate and allow us to drop down drive across sycamore to verde putting directly into verde, but without a legal way to bypass that gate you need portage long way on that road past that gate... all in all best bet probably half day run parking further west of tapco, and simply finding short portage to the river.
