Beta on Piedra

robatnordic · 07-01-2005

We are looking to run the Piedra on 7/8-9. Coming down from Leadville and looking for a break from the Ark.Any info would be GRRRREAT. Probably r-6 paddle boat

jmack · 07-01-2005

we did it at 1900. It was really fun. Very beautiful run. The 19 miles goes quick- it took us 4:15 (it was real cold and we were booking it). There are 2 gorges. The first gorge has two long class 4 rapids that are pretty read and run. The second gorge has 3 big drops and some great class 4ish boogie in between. The first drop is long but straighforward. the next drop has a big pool above it and is hard to see over. The line at 1900 was far left- you may want to scout. The next big drop is the largest. We portaged. Definitely think long and hard before running this if there are still logs in the runnout (they were in a bad place when we were there). Great run- sorry if I spoiled the surprise.

-Josh

robatnordic · 07-02-2005

Thanks! Any more on what minimum cfs is realistic without scraping the bottom of my boat off...camping options (base camp, day trips)...Yea, know about cold-Yampa memorial weekend BRRRRRRRR

Schizzle · 07-04-2005

We kayaked it on the 3rd, 1st gorge only. Gauge says it was 1400. Seemed like plenty of water to take a raft down. There was a commercial group at bottom of 2nd mudslide. Looked like they had the customers walk and the guides ran through. This drop changed significantly from this spring's flood. I never ran it before this year, but I'm told the rock that backed up eye of the needle got pushed downstream and left about 20 feet -- making the drop open up somewhat. It still has a big curler pushing you towards the rock. I think the shittiest bit in a raft would be the runout to eye of the needle just because there's a bunch of trashy rocks all over the place. Nothing nasty, and it's not pushy, but it's an immature river bed there so there's a bunch of sharp FU rocks everywhere. The lower gorge is all pool drop so you can easily scout everything but perhaps the first rapid, which as Jmack said above is pretty straight forward -- enter right and work left.