This post needs very little introduction. It is the original footage of Walt Blackadar on the first D of Devils Canyon on the Susitna...Enjoy
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1 comment:
As badass as this footage is, and it is badass, it is NOT footage of Blackadar's first descent. It is simply the first filmed descent. This was filmed by American Sportsman, with cameramen including Fletcher Anderson. Blackadar actually swims in the footage, and gets pounded royally. The first descent, made by Blackadar, Roger Hazelwood, and Kay Swanson, ended in total disaster. They all swam, lost two boats, Blackadar recovered Swanson's boat and paddled down alone until he found Swanson. They believed Hazelwood dead, but he was eventually rescued by helicoptor. That was in 1972. This footage is from 1977, Blackadar's second attempt. Cully Erdman, who was on this trip, is widely considered to be the first person to successfully run all of the Devil's Canyon / Devil's Creek rapids on the Susitna without swimming. Blackadar tried a third time, with Rob Lessor, Al Lowande, and Ron Frye, and swam yet again. Not to say he wasn't a badass, but Erdman is the one styling everything in this footage.
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