Anyone want to run Big south from the source on mon/tue?

[frenchy]

Hi Mike. The run from Trail Ridge Rd (Fall River Pass or Poudre Lake) to the confluence with the main run is for the most part a low water class II/III meandering stream. There is a class IV+'ish gorge near the confluence, but the entrance and the exit drops contain bad wood. I think you'll find the section from Fall River Pass to takout A to be extremely scenic, full of wildlife, but also super boney. Very little whitewater and more boat abuse than you may care for, especially now with the recent cooler temperatures over these last couple days.

Obviously, takeout A requires you to hike your boat up Corral Creek. And takeout B requires you to hike up to Peterson Lake. Both of these takouts require Long Draw road to be open, which hopfeully will happen by this weekend.

But, to answer your question, the chance of enough water on the upper poudre section + the gate open is unlikely most years (including this one). And as far classifying the above section as 'fun', well that's not how I would describe it at all unless you're on shrooms (or something).

As for paddling from A to B, beware of the horizon lines and know where to get out before 'Cool World' - this rapid can sneak up on you. Everything else in this section is easy enough to spot from your boat (i.e. pool drop character with distinct horizon lines).

[Marty]

The upper upper BS (above Weird Ck) will likely be too low by the time the road opens, and while super nice, there's not much in the way of whitewater up there.

At lower flows the upper BS gets to low for the nature of the named rapids and there isn't a whole bunch in between the named rapids to make things very interesting. At these flows most will put on at Peterson, which is pretty fun and not much more than class 4 if you take out the bumps (Double Trouble, Slideways and the Rush when it gets too much - knowing where to get out for these is advised as they do sneak up on ya).

Maybe that's what you're looking for ...

Marty

[GAtoCSU]

Originally Posted by MikeD

Frenchy or other source vets,

What is the run like from Trail ridge road to the confluence where the source meets the big south? Or from Trail ridge road to Peterson Lake? Any options there for a fun run for a class IV boaters who likes low volume remote runs but is'nt ready to take on the full gnar of the big south? Obviously the road would have to be open for the take-out so timing would require the road to be open plus water in the source, any chance of that?

Here's a link to a map of the takeouts (A and B) i was thinking of

Thanks.

From Trail Ridge to where the first big tributary begins (not Wierd Creek) it's like 4 inches deep and 10' wide. It's very scenic, but it's nothing too exciting. After this merger of tribs, it has one big mini canyon before Wierd Creek which is where they are talking about strainers being. It's class 5 for sure inside the canyon. We portaged last year on the left.

It's 3/4 until Wierd Creek comes in.

Short season for sure if you're not willing to run Big South. It might never run to be honest.

Scott

[Phillips]

Is that log still in prime time?

thanks
Kent

[frenchy]

Kent: Yes. Actually, there is a new log at the entrance of Prime Time. Sneak this one on river left. The log at the bottom of the entrance rapid (the one you are most likely referring to) is snuck on the right. This one has been pushed down under the water surface and is also easy to sneak, so long as you are river-right.