First Descent Klamath: 150/300 Miles Complete
Posted by Team Jackson Kayak on Jun 25th 2025
As the Paddle Tribal Waters expedition reaches its halfway point, spirits are high and the stoke is even higher. The river has offered both challenge and celebration — revealing new whitewater, deeper bonds, and powerful moments of cultural connection. We caught up with paddlers Ruby Williams & Jayden Duaz for a quick check-in to hear how the journey’s going, what’s surprised them most, and what they're looking forward to as the team heads into the second half of this historic descent down the Klamath.
Paddle Tribal Waters — Halfway Check-In Q&A with Ruby
Q: How has the descent been different than you expected up until now?
Ruby: Honestly, it hasn’t been different — it’s exactly what I expected. It’s hard work, it takes a lot of motivation, and it requires good medicine to keep it going. The challenge has been sticking with it, but it’s all been part of the plan from the beginning.
Q: What has been the best stretch of newly uncovered whitewater so far?
Ruby: Definitely Kikacéki Canyon. It’s my favorite stretch so far — super fun with boogie Class III/IV whitewater and tons of continuous rapids. We’re even in the process of naming some of them, which is really, really cool. It was one of the first sections I ever ran for this whole project — I scouted it with Jayden and again with the New York Times. Every time I go back, it gets better. The river keeps changing after the dam was removed, revealing new features, and it’s amazing to experience that evolution in real time.
Q: How are energy levels at the halfway point?
Ruby: Honestly, better than I expected. I thought people would be drained, tired, maybe even a little grouchy and done with each other. But the vibe is the opposite — we’re stronger than ever. PTW feels like a true family. We’ve got unconditional love and support (well, most of the time — except when someone does something dumb). The stoke is high and we’re fired up for more whitewater near Happy Camp.
Q: What has been the most impactful part of the journey?
Ruby: There are two parts that really stand out.
First, the opening ceremony when we put on the river — the Klamath Tribe welcomed us so graciously. We had a deep conversation about how whitewater hasn’t always been embraced in our communities, but they were open and supportive. We shared prayers, smudged together, and connected as one. It felt like the proper and respectful way to begin this journey.
Second, paddling these new and harder sections of whitewater has been huge. We’re running the most challenging stuff we’ve ever done, and doing it with my best friends makes it even more meaningful. I wouldn’t want to share these moments with anyone else.
Q: What do you anticipate for the second half of the trip?
Ruby: I think it’s only going to get better. The stoke’s gonna keep rising. Right now, we’re at Quigley’s — just two camp spots away from Happy Camp — and then we’ll reunite with the rest of the crew. We’ll be almost 50 or 60 deep, with more kids and staff joining us. I’m especially excited to show the crew my home run near Happy Camp on the Klamath — my stomping grounds. It’s going to be awesome and I’m so excited!
Paddle Tribal Waters — Halfway Check-In Q&A with Jayden
Q: How has the descent been different than you expected up until now?
Jayden: I definitely thought the flatwater would be easier. The group isn’t exactly built for fast flatwater paddling, so it takes more time than expected. I did think there would be more flatwater, but there’s a mix of rapids, slow-moving sections, and technical paddling. As for the kayaking itself, I expected Big Bend, House Rock, and Kikacéki (Ward’s) Canyon to be harder than they were, but I’ve been working hard over the past three years, and that prep really paid off. Those sections ended up being fun and pretty manageable.
Q: What has been the best stretch of newly uncovered whitewater so far?
Jayden: For pure fun, I’d say Kikacéki Ward’s Canyon Hell’s Corner. Ward’s had deeper water, playful moves, and just enough challenge to keep it interesting. Hell’s Corner was also really fun, there were consequences involved, so you had to stay focused and make your moves clean. Big Bend was a huge step up, it was back-to-back Class IV with real consequence if you missed a line. I’d rank Ward’s first for the fun factor, then Hell’s Corner for fun but having to stay locked in, and finally Big Bend because it was gnarly but rewarding.
Q: How are energy levels at the halfway point?
Jayden: Energy levels are still pretty good, honestly. Definitely feeling stinky and sore, but I can keep going for a while longer. I think the last few days are going to be the hardest because it’s mostly flatwater. My body’s tired, but once I’m on the water and find my rhythm, I just keep going. Everyone’s kind of feeling it, but we’re pushing through.
Q: What has been the most impactful part of the journey?
Jayden: For me, the biggest thing has been running everything up until now. We will have paddled everything except for a spot or two where we will portage. That spot is where it is like a traditional dancing ground and culturally important to do so. It feels meaningful to say I’ve paddled from the source to here without skipping any whitewater unless it was out of respect for cultural reasons. That connection to the full descent — honoring the river and also challenging myself — has been really powerful.
Q: What do you anticipate for the second half of the trip?
Jayden: I know a lot more people are joining at Happy Camp, which is exciting but also means more responsibility. I think people will look to me for support, and I’m ready to step into that teaching role. I want to help the less experienced paddlers build their skills — especially in playboats. Playboating taught me so much: balance, confidence, trying and failing until it clicks. That’s where I learned moves like kickflips and back deck rolls. Now I want to pass that on. I’ve already been helping students work on their back deck rolls, and I’m excited to keep that going by helping others improve and just enjoy the process.
A Historic Celebration.
This descent is a positive way to celebrate the removal of the Klamath dams and support the sovereignty of the Klamath Basin Tribal Nations by ensuring that more youth have a voice in the dam removal and river restoration process.
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Stay tuned as we continue to give updates on this once-in-a-lifetime journey through powerful whitewater, culturual connection, and community celebration.
Read Part I of Our First Descent: Klamath Coverage
Featured Kayak (paddled by Ruby & Jayden):
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See You On The River!
Team Jackson Kayak
Photographer: Erik Boomer
