Eagle River?

[JBL]

Anybody got any info on the Eagle below Dowd Chute?

[outdoormikeg]

What do you want to know?

It's probably a class III with some pretty good sized holes to avoid, depending on where you put in.

You can either put in directly below the Chute at the dirt pulloff or at the bus stop in Eagle Vail.

Read and run all the way down to Avon.

[pbowman]

check out the following for info on the takeout at bob bridge, this info is still accurate

http://www.mountainbuzz.com/viewtopic.php?t=8693

solid III+ run when put in at bus stop, a couple diversions to be heads up about but both are runnable. good whitewater ratio with fairly consistent action, much better ratio than the below bob to edwards stretch.

if you put in just below dowd as described by odmikeg, i personally think the section from below dowd to the bus stop is a little tougher because there are more rocks/holes in the river with a smaller channel to navigate. there was also a downed tree below the second RR bridge of this stretch earlier this year, but it may be gone with higher flows (or outfitter chainsaws).

[JBL]

thanks for the info. if the tree near/under the rr bridge is still there, is runnable in a paddle raft?

also, I assume that the bus stop put-in is downstream of the chute take-out or are they one in the same?

thanks again for your help.

[outdoormikeg]

Ran through the sections above the bus stop last night (the Chute take out) and most of the big holes are not so bad becuase the river has come down a bit so they are more like pourovers, you'll still want to avoid them. The river does get narrow in there and there are still some pillow pourovers so watch out for them.

The tree is still in the river on river right but slightly underwater. The move is start way left (there is an eddy there) and push right.

This stretch is rafted commercially all of the time by at least one company that I know of and I think the other two do as well.

Dams are pretty straight forward. First one, run left. Second one is more of a "C" move. Startright moving left and when you get to the top of the drop, turn the boat to the right and push right.

If you are pushing a raft you should be ok but it will be a bit of work navigating around all of the rocks.

The takeout with a raft will be tricky becuase of the construction. The raft companies take out just below the bridge on river left but this is private property. You could try it... Other than that, I'm not sure where to take out with a raft.

[pbowman]

the runs generally break out as follows

dowd chute: put in accross from the minturn ranger station at the exit from I70, take out at the "kayak crossing apartments" bus stop. put in is CLI, but take out is CLIII with steep bank down to river, at least there are steps. the alternative put in that mikeg discussed is right below the chute and along the new bike path, it is probably CLIV with a raft.

upper eagle: put in is at the bus stop (the common dowd take out), and take out is either (1) at the bob bridge in avon, or (2) at the treatment plant below edwards. option 1 take out allows the greatest whitewater ratio, but will be a hassle at the take out (see previous post). option 2 gives you a very easy take out with boat ramps and lots of parking but adds several miles of lower quality whitewater, with the exception that you get to run the edwards mile which is a hoot followed by a mile of flaaat water to the plant take out. there is another diversion if you run the section below bob bridge, it is rocky mank about 6-8' tall but can be run.