Big Thompson 11-3/4-07

The Big Thompson has been running at a near perfect level for the past few days. I believe this has something to do with maintenance on the Colorado-Big Thompson project. Whatever the reason, the paddling is pretty damn good for November. The top 1/2 mile of this creek is full on. The top two drops look pretty terrible to me, so I decided to put in above the final big drop in the "Sluff Section". This drop probably wasn't the best warm-up rapid after a month out of my creekboat.

Me warming up.



Day 2- better:


And this rapid from above.


The Class IV section below the mank is good fun. The crux comes about a mile in. There are two options here: 1) a cool sliding diagonal move off the center boulder, or 2) a high speed piton into a pile of sharp rocks.

Carter wisely chooses option #1.


Below the crux is more pushy, fast whitewater that feels alot bigger than it looks from above.

Fall Gore

I got up to Gore some time in October when it was running about 850. I'd call this the very low side of good. Definitely still fun.


Scissors- the boof farther left of where this guy went is the way to go.


850 is getting down towards the nasty level at Tunnel, and the left sneak looked really clean. Josh #2 makes it look easy. This is a good line when there is more water than you want for the hairy ferry, but less than you want for bombing it down the middle. Or you could just run it down the middle anyway and swim in front of all your friends.

Westwater

Westwater is the classic weekend river trip. I was lucky enough to be invited on two raft-supported trips this fall (thanks Laurie and Steve). With big easy water, good play, and beautiful scenery, Westy is always a good use of a fall weekend.

View from Upper Little D- my new favorite camp.


The little D wave does not get the credit it deserves. Pictures do it no justice. The ferry is kind of hard but very makeable and the wave is one of the best in the region. 4000-4500 seems ideal because of the large shoulder on surfer's left.


The canyon is cool too- somewhere in the canyon, maybe Sock-it-to-me.

Corner Pocket

We got our fall rain event in Durango and it was great. The Animas spiked to 4000cfs overnight. At any medium level, Corner Pocket seems to be where its at. This hole offers up loops and blunts along with cartwheels of both the intentional and unintentional variety. Its really good. The photos here were taken at about 1600 cfs. It was 2500 the day before and even better.

September Rockwood Box

I moved to Durango which is going to be great during the runoff but there isn't much going in September. However, the Rockwood Box can be run down to just about nothing and its a cool canyon if you don't mind doing a little hiking.

Two unidentified kayakers do the 100% completely legal hike in.


The first rapid- its called Mandatory Thrashing I believe. However, at low levels the run is pretty mellow and there isn't really anyhing that's likely to thrash you.


Last drop in the canyon. Don't miss the takeout (hard to do).


Then all that's left is the 700 foot hike up to the car. I can't wait to do this one with alot more water.

August Gore

As usual, Gore season was awesome. A good couple months of flows (1000-1400) and warm late summer weather makes for a good time. Gore is a good run to do with a group of 20.

Safety first- Lainey does the put-in slide backwards with no helmet.


Ian touching down.


Some dude counting fishes at Applesauce.


Gore sneak.


Gore run-out.


Christine even took a brief break from talking smack to fire off Tunnel right down the gut.