We got room for one or maybe two in Big Red if anyone wants to go to Matheny Creek.  We will leave later this evening from Ballard and get over there late tonite.  There will be plenty of water for  lower/middle runs but we are also hoping the Queets comes up to about 8K or so for the Upper!  I will be riding bike shuttle!

Anyone want to join us?  We could use one more for our group or squeeze two to make the gas really cheap...

We will camp tonite and tomorrow  with full ktchen and outfitter wing for dinner and fire tomorrow eve...

Give a call or send message if you are interested...

Horner
two zero six, six nine six, one one nine five...

Great trip!!
We MUST find out about the access to the Upper.  There's got to be a number or somebody we can call to get permission to go up there...I want that upper section bad!!
The lower would be a lot of fun too with some more water eh??
Horner

What was the problem/ Why couldn't you get to the upper??

Bill pett
RPMMAX@juno.com

Definitely a problem there.... From Tom OKeefe in an email a few minutes ago, "The district Ranger assured me they would keep it open on weekends" and that is the same thing that Bill told me on the phone.

Sounds like they are either trying to scare folks off with a nasty sign or access has recently become more complicated, or perhaps that sign should just be revised... Bill take a Magic Marker up there on your next run and apply correction!

okay, that makes sense. you just have to be there on the weekends. any idea for what flow to look for? in relation to the queets gauge?

In another email from Tom he mentioned a webpage that has information on FR2160 and the general area here is a update from it:

FS Road #2160 Lower Matheny CLOSED on WEEKDAYS per 36 CFR 261.54 (a) MP 2.0
Conditions: OPEN on WEEKENDS.   Expect some debris on the road. High clearance vehicles are recommended.

Remarks:     Contact Graeme Ton @ (360) 374-1240 for further closure information.

Oh and it goes without saying that we should be very courteous to everyone that is working up there!



Edited by James - 31 Mar 2008 at 10:13pm

Last year in April, we didn't even need to hike to the Upper put-in.  There is a bridge that goes over a small creek (might be NF Matheny, it is mentioned in the write-up).  This is where the road ended for us last April.  The bridge wasn't out but blocked by a huge pile of dirt.  From this bridge we hiked down to the river, just above the confluence rapid that is the first on Upper Matheny creek.  It should be noted that to get to the Upper put in, there were many abandonded culvert  "dips" that require a car with some clearnance.  Driving slow helps up there. 

 As for correlation to the Queets gauge all I can say is that we ran Upper Matheny between 7500-8000K on the Queets.  The water was barely splashing over the rock mentioned in a previous post on this thread.  This was enough for Iking but I think a hardsheller wouldn't have had such a good time.  I would say more like 10K on the Queets would be good for the Upper for hardshellers...

Maybe if we head up past the gate we should leave a note telling them there are kayakers in there and not to lock it on us.  I'm glad we can still go up there!!!

I love Matheny Creek!!!!!  If its up...I'm there...

Thanks for clearing that up!