Calling All South West wyo Boaters

[Chip]

Since I live on the Laramie River, in the mountains upstream of the town, this intrigues me. There are two nice little whitewater canyon runs (2+) near our house, but nothing worth driving a long way for. The lower part is more like ag. plumbing than a river, but might give a good run at the right flow.

When I checked out the Google Earth image, I could see water in the channel and some evident rockgardens, falls, etc. There's a long reach through the rocky stuff with no roads close. But most of the land (including the potential put-in) is private. Ranchers in those parts tend to be prickly and there are a lot of locked gates. There are also lots of rattlers along the streambanks.

I did find some gages, NOAA rather than USGS. The upstream gage is: <www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=cys&gage=bosw4&view>

Once you get there, look for an arrow for the downstream gage at Fort Laramie, which should give a rough idea of how much water's going through that reach.

If I get a chance, I might check it out this fall, for access, etc.

yrs, Chip

[freexbiker]

Thanks Chip
Its nice to have a local with an idea of the area but I don't want you to take the brunt of the work. Im going to try and call the BLM the next time Im at work for more info into what we can do.
PM me if you go take a look I might be able to come down and explor with you
Luke

[Chip]

Thanks for the offer to share a scout.

Local I'm not. I live on the Big Laramie above Woods Landing, about 7 miles from the Colorado border, so it's a 2 hr. drive for me to check this one out. But I have to go to Cheyenne in September and might nose about then.

On the map, Bluegrass Ck. looks like a whole different watershed. Not sure what's up with that. There are tunnels & other weird shit over there.

A good source for land status are the BLM 100,000 series topos (with the yellow cover). Or the Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer (DeLorme) which has topos that show land status. According to which, there's virtually no BLM land on the Laramie River for some distance below the Wheatland Reservoir #2, 'til the bridge where Tunnel/ Wheatland Rd. crosses. Below that is a good bit of BLM or FS land, which looks more mountainous. So that might be where the rock & roll lives.

Looks as if the simplest access is from WY 34 (the Sybille Canyon Road) on the Wheatland side. No great rush– I expect it's a late May or June run.

yrs, Chip

[Old Fart]

According to the article I referred to earlier, the run was made in July He was there again when it was briefly running also in July. Aside from the Palmer Canyon Rd another landmark he mentions as being the end of the burliest whitewater is Duck Creek. If one of you wants to PM me I would be glad to copy the article and send it Good Luck
Scott

[rmpeddie]

Some guys I fish with are from Wheatland and grew up on Bluegrass creek. They've made a few hair-ball runs on the creek and know a little about the water you guys are attempting to re-con. They say it's pretty big stuff... thier words exactly was "that's for pro's" My reply was that it has to be the spot. He wasn't sure where you're thinking about putting in but if you e-mail him he might be able to help.

His web-site is cowboydrifters.com and you can reach him through that site. He said it's not running right now though.

Caspermike... you ever run the encampment?

[caspermike]

not yet but i want to get on it for sure if anybody is up for this new run let me know im down!

[rmpeddie]

It'll be next May or June but I'll let you know when it's in.

[Canoer]

Check out the American Whitewater page on the run
American Whitewater - NWRI - Laramie 3- Thunder River Rd. (Wheatland #2) to Tunnel Rd. (Laramie Canyon)
It has photos and info
The water for the Laramie is the same water that flows into Bluegrass Creek when you get the flow from Wheatland #2. There is a tad more water in the Laramie than Bluegrass because they have to release about 50 cfs into the Laramie below Tunnel Road. The section below Tunnel Rd. is the part described by Jim Rada back in the 80s. It rarely has water.

Originally Posted by freexbiker

Thanks Chip
Its nice to have a local with an idea of the area but I don't want you to take the brunt of the work. Im going to try and call the BLM the next time Im at work for more info into what we can do.
PM me if you go take a look I might be able to come down and explor with you
Luke

[Chip]

Thanks, mate— the American Whitewater site is pretty informative on the Laramie R. run above Tunnel Rd. On Google Earth, it looks as if Laramie River water gets shunted into the reservoir (which is not on the main channel) and then dumped via tunnels into both Bluegrass Ck. and the Laramie River lower down (or into further tunnels for irrigation).

Geomorphically speaking, the reach below Tunnel Rd. looks like the best part. Given water, that is. Sometimes those de-watered channels get clogged with shrubs, and are pretty spooky when they do flow, strainer-wise.

Seems worth a look, anyhow. Given enough water, there could be two good days of creeking.

yrs, Chip