Popular Stories
Some sections of whitewater are just so remote and committing that only a select few of the sport's elite even dare try it, so naturally Trent and Knox were attracted to the idea. California's Royal Gorge of the American River falls into the category of remote and committing, but the crew knew what they were in for. Successfully completing the four major drops in the river has been dubbed the Royal Flush, and is a surefire way to cement a kayaker's career. In a matter of 16 miles, the river drops on average of 195 feet per mile, often in large and sudden doses.
Knox sends it deep into the next section. Eric Parker photo.
Our Newsletter
The run is rated as Class V+ by those who have braved its waters, and was not run until 1998. Trent and Knox are among an elite club."The Royal Gorge, one of the Crown Jewels of whitewater, provided us with three days of navigating big drops, committing canyons, and remote wilderness full of poison oak," shares Trent.
