There is a reason that the Jeffco Parks have closed that area to swimming...MANY people have drowned in that same undercut over the years. My uncle lives in Dome Rock (the crazy-grumpy guy on the hill with the guns and Donkeys), and I have been witness to alot of drunk folks.
Word of caution from a 15 yr kayak vetern, if you are a beginner and you run the shoot...be very carefull and I am dead serious.
I am not scaring any one out of that area, the land use issues from the mid 1980's and the crowds that use to surfice there on the weekens are long gone, however the severity of that spot still remains. Many of the drowndings were from young party going-cliff jumping folks, I am not aware of any kayakers that have died. I am simply giving any one that might swim upstream of that spot ample notice of the potential risk.
If you are in the area, need anything, dont feel threatened by my gun totting uncle. He is the only Full time resident of Dome Rock (the small town 4 miles upriver of Waterton). His name is Dave Merrill, with his appearance aside, he can be a very valued help, and one of only a few people with telephone access in the canyon.
The undercut/underwater cave in there is very nasty. Not easy to end up in if you know what you are doing but scary nonetheless. Everyone, but especially groups with beginners, should be exceedingly cautious. Be safe.
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"The world would be a better place if everyone kayaked."-Brad Ludden (Valhalla)
"You only get one chance to run a drop blind."-DD
I wouldn't say that the land use issues from the mid 1980's are gone, at least not if you are talking about kayakers not getting harrassed in that location.
The sherriff out there cited me and my wife for tresspassing there when we stood on a rock above the drop to scout it. He was one of the biggest jerks I've run into in Colorado. He specifically mentioned the fact that drunks have killed themselves there and I said something like "all it takes is a few drunks to ruin it for everyone" and he said something like "and some kayakers too". He can eat the corn out of my shit. And I hope your uncle is not that crazy guy who hauls ass up to people in his old car and then jumps out and screams at them and threatens them. I saw that asshole in action at the confluence by the old hotel yelling at some motorcyclists. If he is going to use super-aggressive behavior like that then he is going to reap what he sows someday.
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