Roaring Fork Beta?

[JBL]

What's the RF like from Basalt to the confluence with the Colorado? How about Upper/Lower Woody and Toothache? I'll be in a 14' oar rig.Thanks.

[raftus]

Upper and Lower Woody are fairly straight forward class II-III at 700. Ran them last June, most of the run is class II and there are a few rapids that we had no trouble reading and running in my 14 paddle boat. After running slaughterhouse Upper and Lower Woody were just a way for us to extend our day on the water. Let me know if you have more specific questions.

[akblair]

Right now the Upper and Lower Fork are around 900 and it is alot better for missing rocks. It can be technical. The higher, the better. I THINK it is not possible to float from Basalt to the confluence because of a drop off. I might be wrong. But you can put in, in Carbondale and go through Cemetery Rapids and you will run into the CO. Two Rivers park is right there when you get into the Colorado or you can go down past South Canyon wave and take out past the big wave. Cemetery and below is class II and III. Who knows what the water will do. It is currently snowing here.

[peterB]

There is one wierd weir structure just below Basalt that raft companies run. It looks chunky but I have seen people do it in rafts. It is the one right at the first Basalt light if you are coming from Glenwood. Otherwise fly fishermen float that nearly year round and at current flows would be a greta mellow. Float. Upper and Lower Woody are as described above.

Peter

[whip]

You may wish to take out above at Old Snowmass or launch below this bridge. Its a raft keeper.

[Kendarflugen]

I've rafted everything from the upper Woody Creek bridge to the confluance in a 14' Cat. There are a couple of diversion dams (made of rock) that I went over w/ no problem, between Basalt & El Jebel. You should be able to scout them easily. The Hwy 82 bridge just above Basalt is pretty low, but I ran it at higher water and didn't hit my head. Check that out on your way up valley. I'm not familiar w/ the keeper @ Old Snowmass... didn't stop me! BTW, still snowing a bit in Aspen today.

[JBL]

If you wanted to do a longer run (Woody/Toothache -> Carbondale -> confluence), could you portage around this dam/keeper? Or would it not be worth it?

[akblair]

I am not sure about the "keeper" either. I was talking about the concrete thing between Basalt and El Jebel, but it sounds like it is runnable.

There is also good music and a chili festival in Snowmass this weekend.

[Kendarflugen]

I don't think you'll need to portage anything. The Woody/Toothache section might be kinda boney. 800 is about the lowest I would try. Maybe a little below that if you don't mind scraping. Detail Graph. Everything below Toothache should have plenty of water. Yeah... Ziggy Marley Saturday @ Snowmass + chili & beer. Del McCoury & David Grisman tomorrow.

[Mut]

Is grisman and ziggy part of the free concerts?