Yeah, cool news to hear you got in there, and while I have no plans to go back in there during this (summer) season, I am glad you are giving us a report.

So does that mean you guys ran Rick's Slide and Lobster Claw? How was that? What was the cfs?

Thanks for the wood report.

How do I post pics on a thread? I'm sure there are tutorials somewhere on Professor Paddle.
@UpNOver - Anyway, I drove out to the Carbon. It's only an hour and fifteen minutes to the take out from downtown seattle! Only about 20+ minutes to the put in. I took some pictures of the log jam below the high bridge. I just wondering how you handled that. I also found what I believe is the put in. There is a low bridge at the put in and from there you can look downstream and see a log and I'm assuming that this is the one you ducked under. No repelling involved. I figure this put in is ideal so you can get a couple miles of warm up. From the high bridge it looked like a deep dark valley/canyon. It looks really good! I was curious if there was a lot of flat water to paddle out of? How many miles of good whitewater is there in this nine mike stretch? Is it good enough that you would do it again and do you want to run it around the weekend of July 27th if it's still in?

It's nice to see some enthusiasm for the Carbon. It is one of the most beautiful and special runs in Washington.
Sometimes I think people overdo the internet scouting before running something. However, in the case of this run I recommend looking into everything that's available.
Check out the information on this site (PP River details) and give this a read:
http://www.cascadeclassics.org/Kayaking/Carbon/Winter02/Carbon,Winter02.htm

Basically, downstream of the high bridge lies a rapid named Rick's Slide. UpNOver's experience may provide a perspective that Rick's isn't as big a deal as some paddlers makes of it. Fair enough, but from discussions and experiences with those that have been there, the consensus is that this rapid deserves a lot of respect.

If anyone is interested in getting on this run then let me know. PM me. It would be great to find a crew to run this stretch with. I don't have a problem rappelling down past Ricks Slide. In fact, I'm looking into some gear right now. It would also be awesome to capture some footage of the run and take some photos so others can see what's down there.
Next weekend would be the weekend to run it for me if levels hold. I also have one day off during the week. It's my birthday week so the company gives me a day off of my choosing for that week. Sweet!
@fiddleyak, thanks for posting that site. I think those fellas did a fine job of capturing the intensity of the run.
If I didn't get to run this stretch, I wouldn't mind at least rappelling down into that canyon. Anybody game for that? Speaking of rappelling, jP can you direct me to the spot that you put in? I'm assuming that there is a turn out before the Fairfax bridge? I didn't see any information on the rappelling put in. Maybe I missed it.

Yesterday Andrew McEwan and I ran the Carbon River. Andrew styled the line in Rick's Slide with his characteristic grace and confidence under pressure; I got stuck in the right eddy.

What I learned from the experience:
1. My previous post in this thread is correct in that paddlers should approach this drop and this section of river very cautiously.
2. Rick's is a much harder line to hit at 550 cfs than at flows of 300-400.
3. If you swim in Rick's you will eventually flush out.

When I have more time I might write more about my experience and post my headcam video.

Glad you made it out safely.

I have not heard the name Andrew McEwan in a few years.  My daughter use to race wildwater on the east coast when he did.  I saw him at the start of a few races till poof, there was smoke and he was gone.  Use to still see Tom out on the rivers back home.