[teletumbler]

I'm planning to come up to the BV/Salida area this weekend and wanted a good day trip for sunday. I'm bringing the chica friend so we're looking for something in the class 3 range. I've done Browns a lot and don't really want to do it at this level. How is numbers and frog rock at this level? Is there anything good below Salida? Is Pinnacle rock to Parkdale runnable? Would it be worth putting in at Texas Creek? I'm looking in the CCR, but the beta is a little thin. Please help.

Thanks
Lucas

 

[gh]

Parkdale is fine at this level.

 

[tellutwurp]

Despite the recent discussion in this forum, I just did numbers for the first time and think it to be IIIish at these levels. The chica would be fine there, we ran it down to town and the fractions portion is pretty damn boring. No beta needed, read and run. I suggest doing laps on the numbers.

 

[DanOrion]

If her combat roll is solid and she is technically solid (can manuver around rocks, keeps her hips loose) numbers will probably be fine. You can always have her look at Number 1 at the bridge, if she feels OK about it, good to go. From RR bridge down is pretty flat, only a few class III rapids, kinda scrapy if memory serves.

 

[gh]

If you want to know about ratings look at the AW site or the CRC. The people on this site have run the numbers a 1000 times but it is never class III.

 

[DanOrion]

So I was takin this low water run down Fractions/Frog last year, yeah, scrapy and rather boring, although there's some great eddly line play. At that level rafts need to run the right line up to the sieve, then hard left. So this private trip comes by, dude falls out of the raft and starts floating toward the sieve :shock: . Chica in the raft grabs the SOB by the PFD and pulls him OUT of the water and into the raft just as his feet are heading into the sieve. Another half second and he would have been in it. She musta weighed about 120 lbs, him more like 200. Mutant strenght! She was a pretty little thing too! Moral of the story: always have fine ladies on your raft, they're a life saver!

 

[teletumbler]

Lets not turn this into another debate on the class rating of numbers; we've all read a dozen of these and I for one am over the argument. While I am dying to run numbers, I don't think the chica will be willing (its reputation has her spooked and she hasn't been on the river much this year).

I am pretty familiar with the Ark in the BV area, but am curious for more info on what’s below Salida. The CRC2 doesn't say much about the area between Salida and Pinnacle, the map on page 41 shows a bunch of rapids but no description of this stuff. I'm trying to pick a 3-6 hour section with maximum fun.

For now I think I'm planning on Pinnacle as described in the CRC, but I'd like to make it a longer trip if I could. How's the Gorge at this level? How does it compare to Numbers under current conditions?

Thanks for the help
Lucas

If anyone is interested in joining us on Sunday let me know 303.931.8756

 

[DanOrion]

Gorge is less technical but more pushy at this level than numbers. Plus if she hates it, she can't hike out. Play in the Gorge is lots of fun. I've heard that the section above parkdale is fun class III with surf opportunities. I've looked at the section between salida and 10 miles down from the windshield and it had a II/III look, but with some fun surf waves.

 

[COUNT]

Rincon to Cotopaxi is a fun run. It's been a while, but I remember a number of II's and a couple of III's. I think I remember Badger, Tincup, and Cottonwood being the biggest ones. Pinnacle Rock/Parkdale is fun lots of good play and tons of splat opportunity. Good to go right now. Brown's is III. Numbers is a IV- under 1000. Ditto on: the Gorge is less technical but definately a lot pushier than the Numbers at this level. You could also consider Granite to Pine Creek (minus the rapid and the dam, of course). Have fun. And yes, always have fine ladies with you.

COUNT

 

[CUkayakGirl]

Hey Lucas,
We met last night at the Oct. Hole, I think.
I still vote gorge.
She can walk sunshine and then there is really only two more that would give her any trouble and if she swims any of those she has time to recover on the paddle out. I have done both and I think the numbers seems scarier, if she walks anything on the numbers she will probably be walking most of it...that would be lame for her, probably not much fun. I think the numbers at low water is a lot like the rock garden on Foxton and that is a lot closer
Have an awesome time on whatever you decide dude!

Have fun. And yes, always have fine ladies with you.

Count...dork, you fail...respect the ladies dude. Are you coming to Golden w/ us tonight for some drinks? Waterton Sunday if you wanna go.

 

[COUNT]

No disrespect intended. I have the utmost of respect for all the fine ladies out there. Yeah, I'll be there tonight. Saturday and Sunday are still up in the air; we'll talk.

Royal Gorge is a small step up from Brown's and maybe a little easier than the Numbers. But the issue is that where there are rapids, a lot of it is gorged out. You can walk Sunshine (not a bad walk, but not a good walk, either). I don't know if you can walk Sledgehammer or not: the walls are pretty steep and, with the lead in after Sunshine, it's a decent length rapid. The other place of concern is Wallslammer. Last week when we were there, the girl we were with flipped in the hole and pinned pretty firmly (i.e. boat not moving at all) on the wall just below and had to swim out. This is a shitty place to swim as the wall on the right is sheer and the left bank consists of the concrete viaduct wall. There are not a whole lot of great eddies, and there's a good amount of solid III boogie before and after.

I'm not trying to scare you away from the Gorge, it is a beautiful run, but I just want you to have the information you need to make an educated decision. The Gorge is a committing run you don't want to take someone down who's going to decide halfway that they don't want to be there. If she's a good sport, comfortable in her boat and in the water, and won't freak out on you, the Gorge is the way to go. Have fun.

COUNT

 

[DanOrion]

Spooked a big 'ole rattler on the Sunshine scout last week...not to mention it's a tight-rope walk along a big metal pipe. I was more comfortable in the rapid then on the scout. Gorge is pretty in that "I hope knowone drops a penny on me" sort of way.

 

[teletumbler]

Thanks for all the beta, we are running Pinnacle through the Gorge on Sunday. CUKayakGirls description of the Gorge was enough to hook both me and the chica. I am hoping someone will join us being that we will only have one car. I've made another post specifically about the trip, but for those of you reading about it here is you want to come for 17 miles of water lovin fun then let me know.

Lucas
303.931.8756

For those of you who haven't check up the October Hole it’s worth the drive. Props to those that put in the hard work to give us some late season play.