Whitewater Forum: FITW levels?

FITW levels?

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=7015
Printed Date: 15 Jul 2025 at 9:58am

Topic: FITW levels?

Posted By: Will
Subject: FITW levels?
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 6:59pm

I would be interested to hear what folks think for high and low level limits on FITW. I think the 500cfs high level on AW is a bit low.

I know everyone has a different comfort zone but it would be interesting to get some thoughts. I figure it out each summer about time the water is gone and forget by time it comes back around. Maybe, with your input I will figure it out like 2 days before the water is gone this year.

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What could possibly go wrong?

Replies:

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 8:19pm

I think 500 is a good medium-ish flow...

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Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 9:34pm

I like it and feel comfortable around 400-500. The pics I shot recently were around 900cfs. I wouldn't recomend running it at that level unless your wife has life insurance on you.

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Nomad

Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 9:44pm

to put it simply, I think that is generally correct. But really you need to keep in mind that the guage is DOWNSTREAM of the run, so it really doesn't do you much good. Somewhere in this forum, on some recent thread, Cronar breaks it down pretty good. Just start looking through all the recent FITW related threads. This link may help.
http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6973

The most accurate rule of thumb is the famous "Cup Rock" at the base of FITW Proper. Lots of people prefer to run it when the cup is not quite full, and plenty of rock is exposed. I like it best when a small peak of rock on the downstream side of the "cup rock" is barely exposed, but wet and awash with periodic surges.

Somewhere around here Tom posted info about the "cup rock" including a picture of it when it's flowing the way he likes it.

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Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 9:54pm

I mean, it really depends on how you like to creek. Some prefer scraping down over the bones because it's not so pushy. One of my friends thinks that's like going over to Grandma's house for brunch and showing up before she's had a chance to get fully dressed and be presentable at her sunday best. Well, ok, that's not specifficly what he said but you get the idea. Me, I prefer plenty of water to start smoothing out the lines, cover all of the little gremlin rocks, and make the drops less bumpy and more fluffy at the bottom. Medium High if the rock has only a 2" diameter barely exposed. Lately that's translated to about 550 on the S.Frk guage. But as Cronar pointed out, that guage becomes a moving target as the season progresses and the melt occurs in different drainage elevations.

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Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2008 at 10:06pm

I like Grandmas house. The cup rock is the only good gauge. But, the electronic one can be used to decide wether to drive up or not.

I like the cup with a little water in it, but not to much....

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Nomad

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 2:02am

Its all about the cup!

but late in the year when it is accurate, a hot day at 1k can be a good run and in the years previous I would say around 750-800 on the gauge when its in that semi reliable season has the rock covered just by a small layer of water with the cup filled. Over a thousand the water gets murkeier and deeper and its hard to tell, thats when "<--->"'s Stick gauge could be quite handy! But still... the cup!!!

J

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Posted By: Kiwi
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 8:39am

whats a good first time level for FITW?

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 10:56am

Depends on the season, I would say 300-450 when the gauge is accurate,

and half a cup to a little less in the rock.

-- A teaspoon of sugar is not required to make the kayak go down. This is already a pre sweetened lil crick

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Posted By: Kiwi
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 12:01pm

thanks, the stimulus check my parents are getting is going towrds a creekboat for my dad so he can't make anymore lame excuses.

although he's run both the wind and lower icicle in a jackson superfun.

Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 10:14pm

Personally, I like it when the cup over runneth, 'cause that's when you get the cream in the mix. Not no 1% low fat S#@t, neither. I'm talking bout CREAM. Fattening, delicious cream.

Cheerio!

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Posted By: Aukija
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 10:27pm

is the cup half full or half empty

i think someone all ready said it but i will say it agin

Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2008 at 11:40pm

Completely full as long as I'm on the river. May as well be empty if I'm not.

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