I wrote this up for a different thread but thought I would give it its own title for future searches etc.
Here are some guidelines from my point of view for anyone thinking about ELFing the Ark. Firstly, the gauge to use is the Below Granite gauge when it is operating.
USGS Current Conditions for USGS 07087050 ARKANSAS RIVER BELOW GRANITE, CO
It normally operates "April through September" but for some reason is still on line into October this year. When it stops functioning you need to use the "Granite" gauge and add in the "Clear Creek below Clear Creek Reservoir" gauge and technically the "Pine Creek at Mouth" gauge but normally when we're ELFing that is barely running. 4cfs today.
Detail Graph
Detail Graph
Detail Graph
If you look at those gauges right now, Below Granite reads 162. The other three read 119, 20 and 4. In theory they should add up to the 162 but they only total 143. That disparity is meaningless at higher levels but is significant when ELFing. There is almost nothing else entering the rio in that stretch so I tend to attribute it to the inaccuracy of the gauges. Also, I tend to think the higher number is more accurate, in this case the 162 reading.
These are the gauges to use for Pine Creek, The Numbers and the Fractions though Pine Creek enters the rapid Pine Creek in the middle of the rapid.
IMO:
Pine Creek laps go at any level.
The Numbers from the AHRA putin go down to 180ish.
The Numbers from just above #1 go down to 125ish fluidly. It becomes "Full Contact ELFing" below that and though it rarely drops below 100 it still goes.
#5 starts manking out at the bottom of the entry slot below 200 and the rock is heavily in play below 150ish. I walk the slot sometimes.
#4 and #6 are fast and shallow and it really helps to know the line. They really aren't read and run for the first timer.
The Fractions actually go fluidly at slightly lower levels than the Numbers but you need to know the lines. There are cobble bars that can be avoided but knowing where to finesse them is key. I have run from the RR Bridge putin to Elephant Rock at 59cfs and stayed in my boat but it required wheel chairing twice. The rio rarely gets that low. 100 is still pretty fluid fun in this section.
You can ELF all the way to BV but it doesn't go as well as the sections above once its down to 200ish.
The gauge for Browns is the Nathrop gauge:
USGS Current Conditions for USGS 07091200 ARKANSAS RIVER NEAR NATHROP, CO
This gauge goes through September and is done now. The year round gauge to use is the Salida gauge:
Detail Graph
The Nathrop gauge usually reads higher than the Salida gauge. 270ish vs 230ish last weekend. Browns goes down into the high 100's but is a long day. At 270ish last weekend it was fluid and beautiful! The one spot of note is the bottom of Pinball. There is a slot but people frequently end up backwards in there. I sometimes walk that slot on the left.
There's beautiful boating to be had on the Ark almost year round. One thing to note is that this time of year the wind tends to blow down river and that's worth 15 or 20 degrees on your skin compared to wind in your face.
Any locals that want to chime in, please do.
Here are some guidelines from my point of view for anyone thinking about ELFing the Ark. Firstly, the gauge to use is the Below Granite gauge when it is operating.
USGS Current Conditions for USGS 07087050 ARKANSAS RIVER BELOW GRANITE, CO
It normally operates "April through September" but for some reason is still on line into October this year. When it stops functioning you need to use the "Granite" gauge and add in the "Clear Creek below Clear Creek Reservoir" gauge and technically the "Pine Creek at Mouth" gauge but normally when we're ELFing that is barely running. 4cfs today.
Detail Graph
Detail Graph
Detail Graph
If you look at those gauges right now, Below Granite reads 162. The other three read 119, 20 and 4. In theory they should add up to the 162 but they only total 143. That disparity is meaningless at higher levels but is significant when ELFing. There is almost nothing else entering the rio in that stretch so I tend to attribute it to the inaccuracy of the gauges. Also, I tend to think the higher number is more accurate, in this case the 162 reading.
These are the gauges to use for Pine Creek, The Numbers and the Fractions though Pine Creek enters the rapid Pine Creek in the middle of the rapid.
IMO:
Pine Creek laps go at any level.
The Numbers from the AHRA putin go down to 180ish.
The Numbers from just above #1 go down to 125ish fluidly. It becomes "Full Contact ELFing" below that and though it rarely drops below 100 it still goes.
#5 starts manking out at the bottom of the entry slot below 200 and the rock is heavily in play below 150ish. I walk the slot sometimes.
#4 and #6 are fast and shallow and it really helps to know the line. They really aren't read and run for the first timer.
The Fractions actually go fluidly at slightly lower levels than the Numbers but you need to know the lines. There are cobble bars that can be avoided but knowing where to finesse them is key. I have run from the RR Bridge putin to Elephant Rock at 59cfs and stayed in my boat but it required wheel chairing twice. The rio rarely gets that low. 100 is still pretty fluid fun in this section.
You can ELF all the way to BV but it doesn't go as well as the sections above once its down to 200ish.
The gauge for Browns is the Nathrop gauge:
USGS Current Conditions for USGS 07091200 ARKANSAS RIVER NEAR NATHROP, CO
This gauge goes through September and is done now. The year round gauge to use is the Salida gauge:
Detail Graph
The Nathrop gauge usually reads higher than the Salida gauge. 270ish vs 230ish last weekend. Browns goes down into the high 100's but is a long day. At 270ish last weekend it was fluid and beautiful! The one spot of note is the bottom of Pinball. There is a slot but people frequently end up backwards in there. I sometimes walk that slot on the left.
There's beautiful boating to be had on the Ark almost year round. One thing to note is that this time of year the wind tends to blow down river and that's worth 15 or 20 degrees on your skin compared to wind in your face.
Any locals that want to chime in, please do.