Snoqualmie River Powerhouse Access OPEN on Saturday 14 SEPTEMBER at 3:00PM. Happy Powerhouse paddling!

PSE says:
The Lower Park/River access will open to the public at 3p on Saturday. It will close at dusk on Saturday and then open and close dawn to dusk from there on out. Enjoy the River!

Edited by ReneeCP - 13 Sep 2013 at 10:29am

Hey super thanks for getting the info out Renee !

Oh, and I'd say Turkey Shoot is an easier feature than the wave on PH. Sure, TS is more retentive, but the PH wave is actually trickier to access and to surf. While it doesn't hold spins, it also doesn't forgive sloppy weighting, inatentive edging, or ruddering. There's also a long wave train after it for ample time to setup and do some wave wheels.

The rapid above the Powerhouse does offer cl III+ lines, maybe even IV if we look for it with more water.

I know it doesn't qualify as "stepping up," but I think anyone who isn't a solid class IV boater or more can still learn something doing the attainments (boat control, reading water, and thinking ahead to link up attainments).

If I had know two years ago when I moved here......

Better than a pool, and the falls are killer too!

Edited by Mr.Grinch - 15 Sep 2013 at 5:36pm

All upriver walking I did was on River Left. Once at the surf wave (first little cascade upstream of the parking lot), then an attainment, then another carry (working on a possible solution for attaining, though), then another attainment, with a little in-the-boat-pull-up-past-shallow-spot, then attain up to the base of the rapid above the PH. that's where the long walk begins, still on River Left. Not bad considering you get the plunge basin and all the beauty it allows, plus a full swing at the most challenge offered in the reach. Super fun slot move once the FU rocks are covered (above 850 or so), and some fun lines I've found below that as well. Not that hard for anyone with experience, but tight and technical when low. Definately best to have a shorter boat as some of the FU rocks aren't friendly to longer waterlines.

Sorry if I'm popping a bubble, though I doubt it. Usually I've been alone when there, even on weekends. All I have to say is it's better than a pool and there's a lot of workout potential for no shuttle.

Better than working, or being dry!

(No, Grinch, you don't gotta keep this a secret- but you can tell everyone you know about it and still go out there to find you have it all to yourself, much of the time) enjoy

jP, I totally agree about paddle abuse! Certainly at the low summer flows. Long boat speed as well. The down side comes in heading back down river. At low flows, a big boat just makes it not only so easy but also closes all play potential. I know the play isn't that good, but a pool has less, so......it's just all about what one is looking for. Personally, I was trying to showboat a little on Saturday and a playboat made it all more impressive to the people onshore (did some squirts, mini surfs, maybe a splat/spin, and of course some cartwheels).

I think with more water (I've yet to see it over a grand) a long boat would be manditory for attaining, but at summer flows I found a shorter boat to allow me to squeeze through tight spots on my way up where a longer boat would have my stern hung up longer than I would want while making some of the moves.

I LOVE tha conveyor feeling, once it starts pulling and you start looking for the next move, and linking that up. Then the next, if there are more. Jet ferrying on waves, stalling on pillows, and milking boils to make it upstream, lotsa fun!

Oh, and your mention of paddle placement around rocks is, of course, spot on as well. Sometimes, yer just gonna scrape, but other times, ya gotta play the weight game and stoke where you can, even if it isn't "textbook." I still found myself cussing up a storm at times thinking about plastic and fiberglass lost while trying to fight upwards. Even when doing the best possible not to lose any of either. Whatever, still fun, and nothing lasts forever.

Perhaps, at low summer flows, a long boat might make some attainments easier (if sacrificing play headed downstream) by making better use of deeper channels that ahull speed deprived shorty just can't make. Or, perhaps, a shorter boat allows one to make use of awkward tight spots on the way up that a big boat would be too cumbersome trying to follow? I bet that with more water, a little boat won't cut it against the flow. Don't know where that cut-off is, and by the time there's enough water to find out, we'll all be elsewhere :)

BTW&FTW, tomorrow sundown session? Before it starts getting cold and before better runs come back to life......

Cheers!

Edited by Mr.Grinch - 18 Sep 2013 at 6:17pm