THREE SWIMS ON THE LITTLE WHITE LATER…

In this column, Ben contemplates the risks of the PNW's most iconic Class V river and his relationship with the Little White Salmon.

By Ben Stookesberry

"BACK IN THE 2000s, NO PADDLER HAD LOST THEIR LIFE ON THE LW, BUT I MUST HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT I EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST." 32 years ago, Ron Reynier, Bill Bowey, Jeff Bennett, Phil Unsworth, and Bill Pooley made the first descent of the legendary Little White Salmon. Four years later, Jens Mullen made the first full descent including the previously untested Spirit Falls. Soon after, the river was rafted by Val Shaull and Doc Loomis. Before Shannon Carrol set a world record with her First D of 78 ft Sahalie Falls in 1997, she honed her boat control on 32 ft Spirit Falls. As whitewater kayaking shot towards a crescendo in popularity at the turn of the century, the Little White Salmon was already one of the sport’s…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2022

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