[ToddQAckerman]

My wife and I ran Brown's last week at 1000 cfs in our 11'4" tub. No problems my dog slept through parts...
Tomorrow I am tempted to change it up and run from Railroad bridge to BV with her, possibly run the numbers solo first depending on my scouting first. But I have not been in the Numbers at all this season so probably just scout...
Coming from Leadville the Narrows means less driving.

New to the Arkansas with my background primarily rowing Glenwood Canyon, (though never Shoshone when it's as big as it is now) and the Roaring Fork - So I thought I would throw it out and see what people thought?
Opinions? Advice?

 

[lmyers]

You better re-think that plan. Numbers are 3500 and Browns is 3600. Don't boat anything solo, and I would highly suggest Browns over Fractions/Numbers. There is a reason why commercials don't run Numbers at these flows. Stay safe, boat conservative. Difficulty levels are a full step up from what they were at 1000.

 

[ToddQAckerman]

Pretty competent in my boat, don't generally have any trouble accurately reading whether or not I have the skill set to run a river cleanly. And I respect the river not to be reckless.
Maybe I misused "solo" but I have spent many evenings doing hot laps on Shoshone in my boat with just Bluedog and I running that above commercial levels, I always just join another train of boaters... at these levels my dog will stay home. Is this is not kosher on the Arkansas? Never get any grief on the Colorado.
But thanks for the feedback.
Am scouting either way but will lean towards Brown's.

 

[pflan]

Please leave your dog at home!!!!!!

 

[lmyers]

You can usually hook up with other boats when in Browns, not so much above BV. Have fun, stay safe.

 

[Bobby Ladd]

Todd - Just got off Browns at 4000, and it is bank full with lots of wood, ie trees, floating down it, as it is on the rise. With temps in 80s here all week, she will be at 5000 or higher for next weekend, and very high for FibArk coming up in 2 weeks. Browns was just good old fun, but if you did not read it right, flips can happen at several places. It's mostly read/run but respect the holes and push through them. Right below Heckla take out for Browns is Siddels Suckhole, biggest hole on the river at this level - scout it, as it's a flipper. Also, rumor was the old Stone Bridge on that run is too low to get under it, portage at sign (easy for paddle boat, oar rig will need several to haul over).

Start out on the Fractions part of the Numbers area runs, from old RR bridge put-in, down to BV, as it is romping right now, and if that seems ok, then scout #5 below the Antero pump station bridge off Hwy 24 on way to Numbers put-in, and try the big stuff. Be aware that there are dozens of flip spots on the #s run, and it is unforgiving, non-stop action the entire way down. This is a way big, way big level for the Numbers, best to follow someone down that knows it, and "safety in #s, on the #s" is best. Good luck - wear lots of warm gear, even a f/john not bad in case you swim - water is ice.

I agree - leave the dog at home.

 

[Salidaboater]

Pretty competent in my boat, don't generally have any trouble accurately reading whether or not I have the skill set to run a river cleanly. And I respect the river not to be reckless.
Maybe I misused "solo" but I have spent many evenings doing hot laps on Shoshone in my boat with just Bluedog and I running that above commercial levels, I always just join another train of boaters... at these levels my dog will stay home. Is this is not kosher on the Arkansas? Never get any grief on the Colorado.
But thanks for the feedback.
Am scouting either way but will lean towards Brown's.

Dogs are fine on the Arkansas, it's just at these levels, I think it is very dangerous and not fair to a dog.

I boat with my dog on the Ark all the time but even on the easy sections right now with the river raging like it is, if for any reason a dog ended up in the water it shure would be scary.

My dog grew up on the river and I think it is scary walking the river right now when he starts to go in.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[ToddQAckerman]

Brown's was perfect...

Well we got out too late to scout Numbers... but I am guessing it's too big for my fitness.

We put on at Fisherman's and tagged along with a couple paddle boats which ran more meat than us. Bluedog sat this one out but has swam class IV in the past willingly, however he is not down for that these days so I agree it would not be fair to drag him out. But that never had been the plan...

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.
We will see you all out there....