Deso Gray - Flash Flood results in Rapid Change

[Andy H.]

To paraphrase an email from the BLM to the Utahrafters group:

"There was a flash flood at Cow Swim rapid, Joe Hutch Canyon. Apparently there is debris, stainers, rocks. It is drastically changed and
BLM recommends everyone scout it from the right side before
running."

If you're running Deso Gray you may want to ask about this at Sand Wash.

The rapid is at mile 40.5 in the Belknap Guide.

-AH

[Chip]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll pencil a note on the map.

Chip

[kurtmo]

We ran Joe Hutch on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week (August 12 or 13). It wasn't what we were expecting but not difficult - a good read and run. The tongue leads you down into a series of three nice standing waves, great fun for us kayaking and easily managed by the rafts. A pull left off the tongue gave the rafts a relatively clean shot through. The debris fan on river right was impressive! Boulders, rocks, and wood scattered over about a half a football field area. Bent over cottonwood sapplings that were still green but scunt up badly told us that it had happened very recently but we had no idea when.

None of the rapids were difficult but the run-outs were troublesome because of sleepers that could surprise you.

[freexbiker]

Whats a sleeper?
Guess I don't know rafting terminology very well or something...

[TakemetotheRiver]

You must be referring to the giant sleeper (rock just under the surface difficult to see from upstream) in the wave train at Coal Creek. LOL- it was the talk of our trip a few weeks ago- completely unexpected by 4 experienced boaters in a row- an easy maneuver to the left, but "oh shit" worthy nonetheless. Good times on class III.

Originally Posted by kurtmo

None of the rapids were difficult but the run-outs were troublesome because of sleepers that could surprise you.

[atg200]

Heh, Deso at lower water is harder than Westwater because of all the sleepers. I got hung up badly at the start of Coal Creek and finally got off on a collision course for the big rocks that generally form the hole river right. I've never pulled as hard as I did there to avoid a wrap on big exposed rocks there. The runout for Steer Ridge and a bunch of places in Joe Hutch Canyon were also interesting. This was a few years ago when the river was running low.

[original durangotang]

Originally Posted by freexbiker

Whats a sleeper?
Guess I don't know rafting terminology very well or something...

It is a rock that is difficult to see from upstream.