The Upper A is an amazing place that must be experienced to appreciate. Difficulty is highly dependent on flows, but it is always a great experience. We hit it recently with what I consider perfect flows. 1300 (medium) in Silverton, but with side creeks pumping it was pretty high by Rockwood (1700 on the Tacoma gauge). Side note: the Tacoma gauge reads low at higher levels (1700 at Tacoma felt like 2500+cfs as we floated past the gauge). The smoky put-in thanks to huge wildfires in Arizona.
During one of the fall rainstorms last year, in the spot where the old Snowshed Rapid used to be, a side drainage ripped out in a huge landslide, partially blocking the river. Fortunately, the result is a totally clean rapid.
Russ running the new rapid.
The only other pics I got were of No Name (oops, camera battery died). No Name is the biggest rapid on the Animas. Is is nice IV+ at low water but a hole forms at high water that has most boaters walking. At our flow the hole was forming, but not yet the high water monster. A couple kayakers pose in No Name for scale (This is the entrance. The big hole is out of the frame downstream.).
The Upper A is really too much river for one blog post. Broken Bridge is great at every level, Rockwood is intense at higher flows and the in-between is pure bliss. Get it before it's gone.
During one of the fall rainstorms last year, in the spot where the old Snowshed Rapid used to be, a side drainage ripped out in a huge landslide, partially blocking the river. Fortunately, the result is a totally clean rapid.
Russ running the new rapid.
The only other pics I got were of No Name (oops, camera battery died). No Name is the biggest rapid on the Animas. Is is nice IV+ at low water but a hole forms at high water that has most boaters walking. At our flow the hole was forming, but not yet the high water monster. A couple kayakers pose in No Name for scale (This is the entrance. The big hole is out of the frame downstream.).
The Upper A is really too much river for one blog post. Broken Bridge is great at every level, Rockwood is intense at higher flows and the in-between is pure bliss. Get it before it's gone.
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