Just ran it today w/ D1, D4, NVC (2/3/12).

Since its such a popular local classic, I'm gonna give yall the latest status. Last week I reported on all the wood littering the gorge
from Ledge Two all the way to Mercury.

The latest HH releases have cleaned it up ALOT. Still some stuff to watch out for, but much wider lines again. Much more "normal". Definitely proceed with caution and pay attention.

THE NOZZLE: Scott's video (I'll probably move it to this new thread) is still representative of the RIVER WIDE LOG SPANNING ALL CHANNELS FROM BANK TO BANK. Portage R. Left. (Mercury is clean, just eddy out on the left. I will say the wood has shifted and technically speaking the R. Right slot could be run if you are real luvvy dovey w/ wood right above a tight constricted channel that may be seivy. Arguably a class V move right now. Anyway the wood significantly shifted to the point that I'm optimistic that high enough water could remove it. But it may take a lot of h2o so we may be stuck with it till next fall. We'll see.

Somewhere near the end there was wood that is obvious in the center. You got a country mile left or right if you queue up for it soon but the right side funnels towards it deceptively: D4 and I nearly got fed back into it despite paddling away to avoid it. Caution.

As reported, Pair 'o Dice is Good 2 Go. And not like 520.

BELOW PARADISE probably has two of the worst hazards on the Green right now: watch out for wood on the left. Twice. Esspecially The Lower Gorge runners. Let me explain these two spots because a class II+ or III- boater could potentially get entrapped in either one. So those of you who are "Trip Leader" status on a LOWER GREEN run got a responsibity to know if you are leading novices...
1) The very next rapid below Paradise Ledge has wood on the left at the bottom. So you know how you enter left of center and go through the riffle zone/ cobble field at the top? The main trunk of current goes left of the big boulder in the center. In that left main channel is a cool Pour Over Boof just left of the big boulder that is sick air time at 900. The wood is just to the left of that on the left hand bank. If you boof the top of the pourover you'll flirt w/ the wood in your landing zone. Boof left and you're basicly boofing into a potential strainer. You can boof the right side of the pour over near the boulder, or run the boat-width channel or slot between the pour over and big boulder.
IF I HAD NOVICES FOLLOWING ME OR WANTED TO BE CONSERVATIVE, I'd take the right channel to the right half of the river, right of the big boulder in the center.
2) This second rapid below Paradise Ledge is probably considered Class II by today's WW crowd. The riffle zone flutters down into a simple weak wave train, bending to the right. About three or so medium large boulders flank the left bank back toward the right, and any first season kayaker should be able to tell that this is an excellent place for long wood to get hung up. Long wood is hung up here. And at 1400 cfs, it extends out from the boulders and REALLY SNEAKS UP ON YOU. That's what I'm saying. My man Cody Howard wouldn't give a sh*t but the beginners you lead down the river will.
I was in the back of the pack and could hear the exclaimations of surprise as I recalled being surprised last week by it. No big deal, just keep them PPeepers PPealed.

There you go. You don't need any videos. Just an attention span and an eye for whitewater. Passion is always good too.

Kay's Landing (named after Kay Denfeld who perished on the N. Frk Sauk, God Rest Her Soul) is cleaned up. The recent releases cleared the beach to reveal sand once more.




Edited by jP - 03 Feb 2012 at 7:40pm