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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2016)
Sports B1 Appeal Tribune, www.silvertonappeal.com Wednesday, August 17, 2016 Stayton grad gets taste of national rodeo competition LUIS RAMIREZ SPECIAL TO THE STAYTON MAIL Charlie Weeks was born to be a rodeo star. His family has been participating in rodeos for decades and he developed a love of the sport from a young age, fol- lowing in his family’s footsteps. “I’ve been doing rodeo as long as I can remember,” Weeks said. “My whole fam- ily has competed in rodeo so I was kind of born into it. In July, Weeks competed at the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming. He qualified for nationals after com- peting at 10 rodeos throughout the state and finishing in the top four in team rop- ing and steer wrestling. However, de- spite graduating from Stayton and living in Scio, Weeks was representing the state of Washington. “I represented Washington because the guys that I roped with live in Wash- ington,” Weeks said. “All the rodeos in Oregon are on the east side of the state so it was just as close for me to go to Wash- ington.” Steer wrestling is an individual event where a horse-mounted rider chases a steer, drops from the horse to the steer and wrestles the steer down to the ground. Team roping includes two mounted riders attempting to rope a steer to the ground and then roping the steers’ feet together. Weeks won a belt buckle after placing SPECIAL TO THE STAYTON MAIL See WEEKS, Page 3B Charlie Weeks developed a love for rodeo at a young age. PHOTOS BY ZACH URNESS/STATESMAN JOURNAL Ponderosa pines and firs rise above the North Fork Rouge River. Kayaking the headwaters of Rogue River ZACH URNESS STATESMAN JOURNAL PROSPECT - In the minds of most kayakers and rafters, the Rogue River begins at Lost Creek Lake. Southern Oregon’s iconic river is im- pounded not far from its birthplace and transformed into a 10-mile reservoir that allows close regulation of the river’s low- er 157 miles, including its world-famous “wild section“ between Grants Pass and Gold Beach. Built in 1977, the reservoir decreases flooding, cools water for salmon and steelhead, and provides predictable wa- ter levels for anglers, rafters and jet boaters. In many ways, Lost Creek helps make the Rogue an economic power- house for recreation. And yet … There’s something deeply satisfying about setting your boat on the upper riv- er — above the reservoir — and experi- encing the Rogue in its infancy. Fast and reckless, jade-green and ice- cold, the Upper Rogue squeezes through Jim Heck prepares to put his kayak onto the North Fork Rogue River. lava tubes, roars into basalt canyons and drops off multiple waterfalls in a lush, sweet-scented forest of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. The thrill of hurtling into complex, punishing rapids and rolling peacefully REACH US: Cliff Kirkpatrick, ckirkpatr@Salem.gannett.com below towering trees on this immature river is one of my favorite whitewater experiences in Oregon. Officially known as the North Fork Rogue, this spring-fueled stream is one of the few free-flowing rivers that can be kayaked into late summer. Despite that, the North Fork Rogue gets little use from boaters. No outfitters run this stretch of river — permits are not available — and the put-in spot is a long way from Oregon’s major popula- tion centers. On most days, you’ll be the only group on the river. “The North Fork is largely unknown and has great Class III and IV rapids through a beautiful canyon,” said Zach Collier, owner of Northwest Rafting Company and a writer for WhitewaterGuidebook.com. “Most rap- ids are pretty straightforward Class III, but there are some tricky Class IV rapids that require strong eddy-catching skills so you can get out and scout the rapid.” While it’s mostly experienced hard- shell kayakers that run this stretch of river, a handful of inflatable kayakers also tackle the North Fork. Doing your homework — knowing which sections of river match your ability level — are im- portant to determine before putting your See URNESS, Page 3B