Date: 2009-06-05 5:30pm
Run: Clear Creek – Golden Play Park
Flow: 690 cfs
Class: III
Temperature: High 60s/low 70s
Buddies: Nick Lamb
Description: Quick after-work run at Golden
Carnage: None
Date: 2009-06-07 noon
Run: Cache la Poudre (Mishawaka Inn to Bridges take-out)
Flow: ~1100 cfs (3.5′ ?)
Class: III, IV
Temperature: ? (cloudy, cold, and windy)
Buddies: Chadwick Shoults, Craig Foley
Description: A fun run through Lower Mish, Poudre Park, and Bridges. Nothing major to report. Lower Mish was good, as was Poudre Park. Cardiac Corner was no problem, and Pineview was fun. Had a little slip-up at the start of Pineview and had to roll right away, but managed to recover quickly and make it down the rest of it cleanly. Chadwick put it best at the end of the run: “It’s hard to have a bad day on the Poudre.”
Carnage: None
Date: 2009-06-06 1:00pm
Run: South Platte – Union Chutes
Flow: 1530 cfs
Class: III
Temperature: High 70s
Buddies: Just me, and some other noobs
Description: Just a quick trip down to stinky Union Chutes. According to Mountain Buzz, the river is “Crankin” at 1530, so I decided to head down and see how the Hawaii 5-0 wave looked. Overall, it was pretty fun. The initial drop in (the dam) was a decent-sized wall wave all the way across, with about a 3 foot foam pile. It looked good for surfing, but unfortunately, the flow was high enough to wash out the eddies on both sides, so there was no easy way to get back into it. The “Hollywood” hold was pretty tame, I tried getting into it, but it was a little too steep and bouncy for surfing. “Hawaii 5-0″ was probably the best feature today. The big wave forms pretty well at this flow, but it’s not as retentive as it could be. Last year (or a few years ago?) at 2000+ it was awesome. It was fun today, but not as good as the flood of a few years ago. The remaing drops were ok. The last drop (“Sorority Chick?”) before the long flatwater section was actually a good surfing wave, I was able to pull off a few spins.
Carnage: Accidentally got nasty water in my mouth
Date: 2009-06-05 5:30pm
Run: Clear Creek – Tunnel 1 Down
Flow: 750 cfs
Class: III
Temperature: 60s (?)
Buddies: Chadwick Shoults
Description: Quick after-work run from Tunnel 1 down. Clear Creek starts to get good above 750cfs.
Carnage: None
Date: 2009-05-24 10:00am
Run: Cache la Poudre River (Upper Mish (Tunnel Rapid) to Bridges Take Out)
Flow: 1600 cfs (4′ on the Pineview Gauge)
Class: IV/III
Temperature: 60 cloudy
Buddies: Chadwick Shoults, Fino
Description: A good run down the Poudre at a pretty good flow. The water was a 4′ on the Pineview rock gauge. Fino and I started just above the tunnel rapid in upper Mishawaka. The tunnel rapid was pretty continuous, but no real problems. Mishawaka falls were challenging, but not as continuous, so there was plenty of time to pick a line. Running through the rest of upper mish, lower mish, and poudre park was pretty straight-forward. There is one large hole to avoid at the end of lower mish or poudre park, but there is a channel on the left that would take you right around it. Cardiac corner was no problem at all. Pineview falls was probably the most fun rapid on the run. Fino and I scouted the rapid. At the top, there is a large rock sticking up that divides the run into two choices. There appeared to be two good lines right at the top: the left side would require a move right to avoid a hole/pour-over, then a move back left to avoid a large hole on the right. The right line seemed easier, basically, drop in, then start paddling left to avoid the hole. After the large hole, there was another large hole in the center which could be easily avoided on the right or left. After that, there is the “Disneyland Rock,” which was no problem. Finally there is on smallish drop at the end. Fino and I both took the right line at the top. I was clean through the drop-in and the large hole. After the hole, I worked my way right around the second hole, then aimed straight for the slide down Disneyland Rock. I sort of got in position for the slide, but not quite. I ended up riding the pillow of water down to the bottom, where I had to roll. The rest of the run (Bridges) was fun. Good wave trains, but nothing too difficult.
Carnage: A couple rolls here and there, no swims
