Planning on Tumwater Sunday (10/3/10) if still running. How many can make it?

And if too low, what are YOUR plans? (I speak in YOUR and YOU as in to those reading this)

I'm in for Tumwater, we paddled top to bottom this past sunday at around 1200 and it was super fun,, looks like it should be in again this weekend

I'm in for the Tum. I've run it down to 273. I don't recommend it! It'll be good this weekend fer sure.

Sounds like a plan. Sunday it is then. Tom, make Saturday your busy day cuz that's my busy day too. Also, Adrian, I'm planning on Friday Sky run if you wanna join.

Aww... I'm jealous Blair! I wish I felt ready to join you guys on TumTum .

For you experienced folks, what would you recommend I feel comfortable with, before jumping on Tum? My current thought: wait until I can run BD every which way, comfortably, before I jumping on Tum. What do you think? Also, what is a good level to run Tum for the first time?

For flows on Tumwater under 1500, feeling comfy in BD at 5-6k is a good benchmark. Other rivers to check out along the way are Pilchuck Creek, NF Sky when the main's around 15k, Middle Middle at 4-6k, Green around 3k, and have a solid roll. Playboat a lot. That means SURF and go into holes, not just run the river in a playboat. Playboating and creekin' are complimentary. Playboating teaches you how to roll without any hesitation (mainly from doing it so freakin much). Creekin gives you confidence and teaches you how to 'select' your strokes instead of just paddlin yer ass off. Do both and don't have a time limit on when you 'should' have it down. Throw out as many 'shoulds' as you can. That'll help make it fun, instead of 'keepin up with the Jacksons' or whoever. Know what I mean? I never thought (even after 5 years of boating) that I would be paddling the stuff I am now. I used to think the dudes on the Oregon Kayaking site were crazy and that it was crazy to 'need' to paddle class V all the time. Although, I loved looking at the pics and fantasizing about having the skill to get into those places. I guess what I'm really saying, and I can't emphasize it enough, is that kayaking is at least as much a mental sport as it is a physical one. Sure technique is required, but you really only need to be so strong and so agile, the rest gets sorted out in your headspace. Playboating helps with that. Good luck, hope this helps...

Exactly my thought! If you pull up to lunch hole thinking you're gonna screw it up and get sucked in, you probably will. Just like lifting heavy weights, vision that bar coming up off your chest and it will. Don't vision what bad will come. Another reason you avoid carnage talk before you run something like Tum for the first time.

What? Carnage is the best part. You guys have it all wrong.

Negative, I have to head down to NorCal. I can boat tomorrow though.

No problem, Gwen.

Brett, I'll be there at 10:00, well let me check the ferry schedule to see how that will pan out, might be 15 mins before or after..

Hey Blair, I'm in for Friday Sky at 1 pm, let me know if anything changes.  Will shoot for Tum on Sunday, hope it pans out!