Anyone been in here lately?
It looks like levels might be good for a go Sunday (maybe too high!) and potentially Monday.
Anyone off Sunday/Monday-more likely?
What about the oly crew?

Look into accessing the class II take out. Heard if you float a little longer there's a better option? Haven't done it, just heard about it.

the hike out isn't nearly as bad as the write-up indicates. i was in there last february. there was a bit of wood, but all manageable to the alert paddler. flow was 4400 rising to 4800 on the Toutle at Tower Rd. This was a low flow. Our group agreed that double or triple the flow, this would be an awesome run.

Swimswim, Jalmquist,
Looking at the map, it seems there are two road grades you can hike from Spirit Lake Highway. Did you take the first one you came to? Any trouble breaking away from the road and dropping to the putin?

I don't remember any difficulty eddying out above gnargasm. The usual check the big horizon line mentality should get it right.
For the put-in, I think it was the first spur after the bridge. In any case, it's Rd 3100 that we took down to the creek, putting in at the bridge.

JD & SS are correct - the eddies above Gnargasm are not hard to catch.  I used to catch an upper eddy on RR.  At lower flows I'd take out there, walk the top portion of Gnar on some RR selves and then "rock hop" to a shelf in the middle of the drop where you can put in to run (more wet rock sliding) the lower section.  With more water, the hop to the middle shelf island is sketchy, so then I'd ferry from the RR eddy to RL where you'll find the actual portage route.  The biggest challenge with the eddies is that at lower flows there were a couple of hidden F#$% You rocks guarding the eddies.  I don't actually remember being able to see the Gnar horizon line from an upstream scout, but as you approach the drop you do notice that there's something significant below.  The run kind of drops away with a slight bend to the right.  If I remember correctly, there's a ledge upstream a ways that is pretty straightforward, after which the creek angles left into a (somewhat) straightaway leading up to Gnar.  Don't go into this run worrying about Gnar - if you're competent on this type of water, you'll easily recognize from above that something is going on that deserves a look.  And you'll catch the eddies.  The bigger hazards on this run were the wood that used to collect in the later part of the run where the valley opened up as you approached the bridge, as well as a couple of crack type sieve / pin spots.  There was one crack sieve that came following a tight left bend.  It was more of an issue a low flows, but it could certainly sneak up on you.         

Edited by jalmquist - 19 Dec 2014 at 10:15am