IV- to IV+ in the Durango area?

[thecraw]

Does anyone recommend a IV, IV-, IV+ creek in the Durango area that is running today? A buddy of mine and his wife are cruising through town in about 3 hours and wanted to run something...

I suggested to look at Hermosa, but would prefer to hear from some locals...

Thanks...

Craw

[El Flaco]

Hermosa is probably a bad option, because you have to hike it in.

The Piedra is a good option, but it's a long trip - probably more than 5 hours because you have to do the whole 20 miles right now. But is they have the whole day, that's the trip to do this week. I would also take a look at the Upper Dolores or the Upper San Juan.

[casy76]

the piedra's a great run...beautfiul...and it takes at least three hours to run if you hustle hard...setting up the shuttle is what takes so long.

get good beta though on current conditions...and know where the two mudslide rapids are. they were described to me as beefy class v drops that could not be portaged...but were easy to identify.

i got bad info...they were that obvious to us. they both CAN be easily portaged and when i paddled it on 4/19 it was well over three grand cfs...and the two drops became significantly more difficult than just beefy class v drops. at that level, there's a slim line at the upper slide on river left (with probable death occupying most of river center). the lower slide was unrunnable...upon scouting, none of us could even possibly imagine a line of reasonable safety...so we walked it.

i didn't check the flow today though...so the personality of those drops may have changed significantly...the pics on aw site were almost unrecognizable to me based on what i had seen.

overall though...an amazing run that includes a lot of read and run class iv that could give true creekers some enjoyment even though it's not truly a creek.

[thecraw]

Thanks guys!