So what's the deal with the Tieton? I keep hearing that it releases in September but I can't find any info on release dates. Anybody know if they are for sure releasing this year?

Just went on Alpine adventures website and they said Aug31st- sept23rd they will be out there running it. But I'm pretty sure that the run runs longer than the 23rd.

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yakstats.html

This is the river page that is linked from this site. They generally talk about what's going on with the levels. I'd bet you can call them and get more info.

I'd be a bit surprised if the lower section is very beginner friendly if you're taking someone who might be swimming. From what I remember just looking at the river last year it's still pretty continuously swift water.

no roll, even in flatwater.  styled big eddy on her second river day, a natural.  i'd take her through easy class III but swims are possible... well... likely.

Why rush it? Stick with stuff that you're familiar with and will be easy recovery when she swims.

You can still scrape your way down the Wenatchee at these levels. I'd wager the sky is your best bet once the rain starts picking back up again.

The lower teiton is a pretty good run from windy point to Tims pond.  Several class II and one easy  class III drop.  Several islands with fair amount of stainers.  Not a place to be swimming.  It takes more river reading skill and boat control then most class II runs becouse of the stainers

Thanks for the heads up JD_G

there is tons of free camping all over the place, river right is a good place to start looking. I can't remember the name of the road but if your coming from white pass it's the first road that crosses the river once you get below Rimrock dam. There will be a bunch of raft companies posting up back there, some of the nicer sports are further up stream close to the dam.

(Bit too late for the Skykomish)

No features that can be surfed/played on at that level. I think at the really low level rock and roll down to rodeo is actually the better run. I would say that there is a fair amount of rock negotiation in that section and going upside down would be a pretty unpleasant experience.

I would suggest going from Cashmere down to Monitor at this level. I've been running this section with my wife who is in an IK and just getting comfortable on the water. It has a few little rapids and it's pretty fun, but it'd be pretty hard to actually go upside down because the water is so slow.

Yeah, I agree with JP here.

In fact, in my opinion the lower (easier) section of the Tieton is just as, if not more hazardous than the upper. The rapids are easier, sure...BUT the channel is twistier, narrower and there tends to be more logs and snags. The water is shallow and eddies are few.

On the other hand, there are runs on the Naches above the Tieton confluence that may be more beginner friendly during the flip flop. Also during the flip flop (not a lot of people know this) the Bumping River also is releasing water as well. Not as much as the Tieton, but often enough to bring the Naches up to (barely) runnable levels. You would still scrape on the Naches but would be on a pool-drop river rather than a fast brushy flush. Just food for thought. Often the Bumping realease isn't enough to bring the Naches up to ELF levels, but sometimes it it. Check the gauge, you'd want the Naches at Cliffdell gauge to be at least 500 cfs and definitely do a visual check.

And I don't recommend running the Bumping river itself for beginners. Easy rapids but tons tons of wood.

1100 cfs discharged from Rimrock Reservoir on Sunday.  Volumes rising.

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yakstats.html

http://www.usbr.gov/pn-bin/graphrt.pl?rim_q