Grade 2 Sunday
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12299
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 6:55am
Topic: Grade 2 Sunday
Posted By: megspk
Subject: Grade 2 Sunday
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 12:05pm
Anybody up for a grade 2 paddle on Sunday anytime? There's a section on the Snoqualmie and I'm up for suggestions if anyone is interested! 
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Replies:
Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 1:26pm
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We just did the Upper Middle Snoqualmie last night. It's a nice little run, though kinda anticlimactic towards the end. No portages but there is a bit of wood. Paddlers would need to be able to recognize the danger and maneuver around it. Still all class II. We put in 6 miles upstream of the concrete bridge, just below the confluence with the Taylor. The hardest rapids are in the beginning, so, if you want a bit of a mellower run, put in a couple miles lower. This is a pretty scenic run. Don't forget to look up. One big downside to this run is the shuttle. The pothole marked road is a pain in the shocks.
The Club stretch on the Snoqualmie is a snooze. Can't recommend it unless you're desperate. I'm a fan of Headworks on the Green River. There's a couple really nice surfing spots, a mid run ledge, "The Weir" that is intimidating to class II boaters, but is pretty safe(check for wood) and the swimming is easy. If, by the time you get to the first takeout at Kanaskat Palmer and you're feeling all super fired up, there's a nice class III run through the park. Don't miss that second takeout. :-) If you're strong class II paddlers, you may be able to handle the Lower Green Gorge. It's a beauty and the surfing is great at low levels. You can put on below the first couple hard rapids to make it easier. Another really scenic run. Don't forget your Discover Pass. |
Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 1:48pm
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Hey Dale, what would you recommend for someone's first time on moving water? club stretch? think yo-yo is too low. we talked about the swirly water on the upper middle. what about big eddy or is that too much at this level? i haven't run that since i moved here.
Megan, I might be up for it... might be taking the newbie out this weekend, so probably club stretch - we can figure it out friday. otherwise I'll probably be on the middle middle.
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Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 2:22pm
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The YoYo is pretty low. You could probably get down it, but it will be scrappy.
If you put on the Upper Middle about 3-4 miles above the concrete bridge, it's pretty doable, though, you'll still need to keep your eyes peeled for wood. The lines get narrower as the water drops. Also, the water is cold. The water on Headworks is warmer and is probably a good bet, unless your newbie is really delicate. It's probably a bit harder than the others mentioned. I'm not a huge fan of the Big Eddy run. It's probably a bit of a handful for a first timer. The Club Stretch is pretty manageable but is severely lacking in surfing opportunity. It's probably one of the better bets for a first timer. Stop and scout the Blue Hole rapid(name?) during the shuttle. It'll give the newbies something to look forward to. It's certainly easy enough for first timers and it's pretty cool paddling right below Mount Si. It's also pretty easy to paddle the MM and have your newbie meet you at the MM takeout for the Club Stretch run. |
Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 3:20pm
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the yo yo is also pretty boring. sounds like the club stretch is just as exciting? (but great for a first experience on moving water)
anyhow, my newbie is definitely in this weekend for sunday. Megan, you want to run the club stretch or upple middle on Sunday meeting around 11 or 12?
Anyone else want to join us? would be nice to have at least one more experienced boater!
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Posted By: BrianP
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 3:24pm
| I may be up for something this weekend. |
Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 3:34pm
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OH YEAH DALE - what's the lowest you run the lower green? I thought it was too low. Megan I think you can handle the lower green.
Brian - i'm thinking MM sat and/or possibly FITW IF 1- it's in my comfort zone of low and 2-I feel good enough (which i might not).
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Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:02pm
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The Lower Gorge is run pretty regularly down to around 400cfs. It's a bit scrappy in the shoals and gets a bit technical, but is not pushy and there is some good surfing at low levels. Some blessed souls have cleaned up the strainers at the Cave Wave. It's a great step up run for the ambitious class II paddler.
As for the YoYo vs the Club Stretch, at least the YoYo has that one tiny surfing area... but I think the YoYo is too low. I think you want at least 1000cfs on the Auburn gauge. You can still scrape down it at 800cfs, but that one tiny little surfing area gets even tinier. The fun part is, all the goobers running the river in tubes, K-Mart rafts and waterbeds and laughing at us for wearing pfd's and helmets. :-) The YoYo appears to be brutal to tubers. When searching for information about the drowning at the Nozzle, I ran across story after story about lost boaters on the YoYo... and I use the term "boaters" rather loosely. Read the description of events in the this video... http://youtu.be/AC2p-ZE--pg If you're looking to get away from civilization, the Lower Green Gorge and the Upper Middle are both completely free of homes on the river. You're not really that far from civilization, but it really feels like it due to the lack of houses and stuff. |
Posted By: BrianP
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:07pm
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I'll throw in my vote for the lower green also. There is great play that's not there when its properly lubricated.
Let's stay in touch regarding MM/FITW! |
Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:11pm
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Thanks for all the info Dale.
Sunday I have someone doing their first moving water run, so that girl isn't ready for the lower gorge. I was just saying that, in my opinion, Megan is capable of handling it, and, in my opinion, is almost ready for the middle middle. Or the middle middle at a low water level. It's a little harder than the section of stilly that we did.
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Posted By: megspk
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:20pm
| I am down for Sunday anytime :) Sounds like fun. I am a bit beat up from my swimming experience the other day, so an easier run would be really cool. I heard the middle middle was pretty swift still. What section did you decide on for Sunday Jen?! See you tomorrow night! |
Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:27pm
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honestly i think the club stretch will be a better choice for the brand new boater. if all goes well and we want to boat more, we could do the upper middle afterwards (bring a snack). either way, we can practice lots of eddy turns and peel outs and ferries.
meet at 11 at the take out in north bend? i don't know where that is, but i'm guessing it's on AW or the bennet book since it's not on here.
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Posted By: BrianP
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:27pm
| The MM may be creeping down around 1000 which should be pretty mellow for a first time. |
Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:35pm
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re "I am a bit beat up from my swimming experience the other day" You can't drop that little bomb without providing a story. |
Posted By: mokelumnekid
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:37pm
| As Dale pointed out, the drive to the Upper Middle is heinous. I don't know how the construction project up there is going, but it is very slow going in the car. Beautiful run but I prefer more water in it for sure, and it is rather long. It will get wide and shallow. First time on moving water? Club Stretch will be enough for sure. |
Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 4:38pm
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Originally posted by PaddleGirl
honestly i think the club stretch will be a better choice for the brand new boater. if all goes well and we want to boat more, we could do the upper middle afterwards (bring a snack). either way, we can practice lots of eddy turns and peel outs and ferries.
meet at 11 at the take out in north bend? i don't know where that is, but i'm guessing it's on AW or the bennet book since it's not on here.
correction, there is a link to a map with the take out spot on the river page.
yeah, 1000 on mm is a nice mellow level.
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Posted By: megspk
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 7:06pm
So the swim wasn't that terrible, except the fact I hit my elbow really hard, punctured it and bruised it pretty good. The next one was more exciting. I got broached (I think is how you spell it) on a rock in my boat and stuck for a bit, never done that before and don't want to again! 
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Posted By: Arrow6
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 7:26pm
| I'm game for Sunday, even if it's a terrible drive. |
Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2012 at 4:46pm
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Hey guys, just checking in.
club stretch tomorrow at eleven. meeting at the 428th st bridge take out. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=47.5160675,+-121.7679977&hl=en&t=m&z=16 |
Posted By: megspk
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2012 at 5:28pm
I will beeeeee there 
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Posted By: Arrow6
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2012 at 6:14pm
| I can no longer make it, work. |
Posted By: snojunkie
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2012 at 9:14am
| I'm interested in joining you all. See you at the take out |
Posted By: megspk
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2012 at 3:04pm
Had a ton of fun! 
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