Ride To Live
DJ
Adventure Traveller
- Age:
- Nationality: USA
- Where was your adventure?: United States
- How many days was it?: 10
- What type of adventure?: White Water
- Give us a general overview of your adventure:
I live in Austin Texas and traveled up to Idaho to film scenes for an independent movie I am putting together. I needed a canyon for a super bike road racing scene, a white water river for a crash sequence and mountains and deserts to ride a dirt bike across. The name of the independent project is Ride To Live. So I packed up my family for our two week vacation from my regular job and headed up to Idaho. Since I am shooting a no budget film everything I did was either gorilla or public land. Using my son Hunter as a camera man, my wife Heather as a vehicle driver, and my daughter McKenzie as a script supervisor and everything else, I first shot scenes of me riding a 1986 Ninja 1000 through a canyon. Using both tank mounts for my camera as well as road side hand held by my son we shot multiple takes. I also utilized our Ford Windstar van by opening up the hatch, mounting the camera and tripod to the floor and shooting out the back.
The next part of the script and trip called for a motorcycle crash into a White Water river. So we went to the town of Riggins Idaho on the Salmon River and I went down a set of rapids called Time Zone. It is so named because it sits on the line dividing pacific and mountain time. The water was running about a class 4 rating. Basically I swam out into the river in a full wet suit, lifejacket, and wardrobe over that to simulate what happened after the crash. I did seven takes in the extremely cold water. The Salmon River is fed by snow melt. During one take I used a homemade waterproof camera container and went through the rapids with great point of view footage. Hunter did all of the shore footage and it came out extremely awesome. I had been taking breaks and eating food during the day and in between takes but even with that during my last trip through the rapids I started to cramp up in the cold water. The adrenaline took over and I quickly shook it off for another fun ride down the white water. I say fun because even though your heart is in your throat the trip through the rapids is better than any roller coaster ride. After that it was off to shoot all the dirt bike shots. I have started keeping a blog of the experiences and will be posting edited footage soon. No Time Wasted There are pictures here with the blogs. My other web site is Ride To Live Later! - Was it difficult?: yes
Why or why not?
The snow melt can be brutal on your body, even with heavy 5 mil wetsuits and lifejackets. The rapids break over you so quickly that maintaining a relaxed controlled attitude while breathing tests your metal. - Would you recommend this adventure trip to someone else? Why or Why Not?
I highly recommend white water rafting by experienced guides. The town of Riggins Idaho has many rafting companies and the Salmon river is scenic, beautiful and gnarly. I am an experienced water man in all aspects so my story is not one of a half crazy adrenaline junky being stupid. - What do you wish you would have done differently?
I love it just the way it was. A memory for ever. - What kind of advice can you give to other travellers going on this adventure?
Travel in the spring and get the best ride. The snow melt comes off faster and harder creating bigger rapids. - What type of gear did you bring?
Wetsuit, Lifejacket, Warm and Cool weather clothing, shoes to get wet in. - Where is your next big adventure? Why?
It looks like a trip to Australia and New Zealand is coming up in March. - Did you travel before or after your adventure? If so, where?
Both. I went through Las Vegas for a few days, helmet required for street bikes there by the way, then to Southern California for some surfing at Del Mar after Idaho. - On your adventure, what person did you most identify with?
Indiana Jones
