Cataract Challenge Complete 18 hours!

For a brief note on the trip and a few pictures check out:

CKS Blog


Thank you all again for your support and donations.



Here's how it works:

Cataract Canyon is a 95 Mile section of the Colorado River between Potash and Lake Powell (Hite Marina). I'm betting that I'll be able to do this section in under 20 Hours. On the 24th of July I plan to leave Potash at 3am and arrive at Hite before 11pm.
Map from the Moab Adventure Center Website.

Here's the deal:

If I don't make it in time I'll donate $10 in your name to American Whitewater.

If I make it within the allotted time then you have to donate to American Whitewater.

Reasons why you should play along.

1. Either way American Whitewater will benefit. Thus we all benefit.
2. I've never done this section so I honestly have no idea if this is possible or not.
3. If I don't make it you effortlessly donate money to AW, costing you nothing.
4. The longest distance I've ever paddled in 1 Day is about 45 miles or so...this would be over twice that.

Donation Commitments Thus Far:

1. Tiff Simpson: $10
2. Joe Carroll: $20
3. Dave Kloberdanz: $10
4. Conor Ross: $10
5. Paul Gamache (I'm even betting I won't be able to do it.): $10
6. Robbie Ringer: $10
7. Drew Oldfield: $10
8. Ryan Hastreiter: $10
9. Paul Hemming: $10
10. Dave Frank: $10
11. Toni Frank: $10
12. Chris Kelly: $25
13. Randy Thompson: $10
14. Christina Warthen Gamache: $10
15. Andrew Gamache: $10
16. Andy Horn: $10
17. Tim Dunning: $10
18. Kyle Bogard: $10
19. Laura Jorgensen: $10
20. Atom Crawford: $25
21. Nadia Almuti: $10
22. Zach Simon: $10
23. Brian Copanas: $10
24. Scott Yoder: $10
25. Glen Egbert: $10
26. Colorado Basin River Forecast Center: $25
27. Ricky McDaniel: $10
28. Earl Richmond: $10
29. Jennifer Waddell: $10
30. Eric Grasser: $10
31. Gus Ghuneim: $10
32. Fred Zacherl: $10
33. Kyle McCutchen: $10
34. Baxter Pharr: $10
35. Norm Cooling: $10
36. Lawrance Simpson: $10
37. Hank the Dog (Drew's Dog): $10
38. Mark Robbins: $20
39. Mark Billingsley: $10
40. Dan Simon: $25
41. Kelly Bacon: $10
42. Chris Hatton: $10
43. Austin Smith: $10
44. Chris Menges: $10
45. Doris and Greg Gamache: $20
46. Kayla Maddox: $10
47. Chad Gorby: $20
48. Alex Horangic: $10
49. Brian Tupper: $10
50. Stacy Johnson: $10
51. Bryan Kelsen: $10
52. Alex Wolfgram: $10
53. Chris Brobin: $10
54. Shawn Hartje and Mary Sackett: $25
55. Greg Didriksen: $10
56. Josh Morris: $10
57. Mike Hagadorn: $10
58. Marianne Boykin: $10
59. Steve Schmitt: $10
60. Lynne Allen: $10
61. Bob Wilkerson: $10
62. Luke Gribick (www.notearsinheaven.com): $25
63. Bob & Gail Corona: $10
64. Mary Schmitt: $10
65. Laura Howe: $10
66. Laura's Dog: $10
67. Christian Figueroa-Tyler: $10
68. David Fetter: $10
69. Orion Meredith: $10
70. Ian Buckley: $25
71. Devon Brecke: $10
72. Ben Hawthorne: $10
73. Heather Gorby: $10
74. Chris Shackleton: $10
75. Josh Tetreault: $10
76. Rush Sturges: $10
77. Young Gun Productions: $10
78. Dustin Stonner: $10
79. Aubrie White: $10
80. Taffe Schmitt, the great canoeing Basset Hound: $10
81. David Jackson: $10
82. Lillian Good: $10
83. Laurie Maciag: $10
84. Leif Anderson: $10
85. Daniel Brasuell: $10
86. Pat and Pat and Miranda McNalley: $25
87. Melissa Verlet: $10
88. Jana Taft: $10
89. Greg Moore: $20
90. Mike Gehard: $10
91. Randolph Green: $10
92. Cactus Jack Anderson: $50
93. Liz Ferrin: $25
94. Adam Cramer: $10
95. Eric Brooks: $10
96. Brian Vogt: $10
97. Tracy Corona: $10
98. Brian Jennings: $10
99. Charlie Center: $10
100. Tyler Bradt: $10
101. Ryan Fair: $10
102. Hut Wade: $10
103. Fil Payne: $10
104. Mark Reed: $10
105. Terra Ganem: $10
106. Mike Fisher: $10
107. Mac Thomson: $10
108. Marjo Curgus: $20
109. Emily McGinty: $10
110. Dave and Debbi LaDue: $20
111. Courtney Gates: $10
112. Zac Quick: $20
113. Lynn Koester: $10
114. Jm Sprouffske: $10
115. Matthew Gross: $10
116. Bob Beers: $10
117. Mike Zimber: $10
118. Tommy Hilleke: $10
119. Teresa Jarmul: $10
120. John Clark: $10
121. Rob Molacek: $10
122. Ann Hopkinson: $10
123. Gary Rempe: $10
124. Dustin Urban: $10
125. Natalie Tilton: $10
126. Mandy Caldon: $10
127. Mike Williams: $10
128. Anne Musick: $10
129. Kelly Lesch: $10
130. Jordan Egan: $10
131. Robin Simms: $10
132. Penelope Cronk: $10
133. Diane Cheshier: $10
134. Andy Chechier: $10
135. Bob & Pam McAdam: $50
136. Robert "Gator" Crump: $10
137. Greg Horton: $25
138. David Dempsey: $10
139. Katie Knobbs: $10

Total so far: $1,710

If you would like to be added to the list and commit to donating in the event I am successful please email me at Paulgamache@gmail.com

Please include your full name and a phone number or contact.


If I am able to complete the challenge you will obligated to donate to American Whitewater.

Directions on Donating:
Click the link below-
American Whitewater Challenge
You'll have to select the $1 bubble.
Next add something in the comment like "AW Cataract Bet" or something so we can see how much total money has been donated from this challenge.
Click the Agree Box.
After that click on the quantity button and change the amount to 10.
Click Add to Cart
After that click checkout and follow the instructions. You may need to create an American Whitewater account if you have never done so.

Thanks for helping out.

Paul Gamache