I have two brothers arriving in Denver from the UK this evening for five days of paddling. They are solid III+ paddlers willing to take on the odd IV- run. We were planning on heading to Buena Vista and running the Ark, but at 3K there isn't much class III+ to be found there, right??? Was thinking of the Poudre, but five days there might get a little ho hum, and didn't want to spend too much time driving around. Any suggestions for an area where we will find decent variety at this level of difficulty within 4 hrs of the Front Range?
Maybe take them to Foxton tomorrow. If that goes well, get back on 285 and drive to the Ark. There you've got Fractions and playboating in BV, a day to run down Browns Canyon, then repeat (which is always nice so you can get your lines right) or move on to other Upper Ark runs.
I'm not a Poudre aficionado, so I can't really comment there, but get the impression that a Class III/IV- boater could stay amused for a 5 days easily.
In any case, everything is big and pushy right now. Get after it!
I think Poudre is an awesome option, could then cross over into steamboat for the town run/Lower Elk. Then maybe head into Vail and boat on the Eagle below Dowd's and possibly Gore Creek.
Your right on about the flows though, its all pretty much flowing juicy in the area your looking at so everything runoff dependent is going to big and in most instances cold. But I do think Brown's on the Ark still offers class three if you take out at Hecla before Seidel's or maybe do the fractions/frog rock section. But again at these flows it seems to be personal about ratings and comfort level.
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No Freakus, you're right on!! I was thinking that the Lower Elk would be perfect. Be aware that it is a flood-stage hazard run, as the banks are littered with vicious wood. The middle line is just one long beautiful wave train that I could ride forever.
Both the Poudre and the Ark are flowing great and could offer up great times. I'd spend a couple of days on each. Pretty easy to run upper mish through bridges in a single day, perhaps hit the rustic sections up top the next. Head to the ark, browns canyon, parkdale, fractions/frog rock all are in the III+/IV- range. Worth checking out the play features in BV in Salida too.
You could do a day run of Foxton and Waterton, only about an hour away and would be a solid amount of fun at this level. I've been told that Foxton at this level is probably a solid IV, i've only run it at ~500 and it was a good amount of fun. Waterton is a lot of fun too and gives quite a rush.
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Take Dan's suggestion from post 2, hit the Ark, Come over Independence Pass into Basalt/Carbondale and hit up the Roaring Fork, Crystal and Colorado. Then head back I-70 to the Upper Eagle and back home. Lots of options on this route.
__________________ I guess now we know why they call them rapids and not slowpids. - N. Flanders
Take Dan's suggestion from post 2, hit the Ark, Come over Independence Pass into Basalt/Carbondale and hit up the Roaring Fork, Crystal and Colorado. Then head back I-70 to the Upper Eagle and back home. Lots of options on this route.
That's a really good idea! Independence pass will knock out the brits! Good camping off of independence pass on the Ark side if it's not snowed in.
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