No trees to speak of as of two weeks ago
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Bogan Canyon Crystal River - Conditions and Paddling Partners
Going to be camping at Bogan flats this Thursday through Saturday. Wondering what the conditions are of the run (wood) and how hard it is to find people to paddle with. I know it's a little low, but I'm going to be right there and it will be a shame not to paddle. Thanks.
Mike
Mike
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I was part of the crew who lost our friend on 5/31, who drowned after swimming into a strainer. I haven't written the incident report yet. The body is still missing after our initial 4 day efforts with local search and rescue, and all this time until now. During the search multiple obvious strainers were torn apart with rope crews and heavy machinery.
Wood certainly could have moved. Since then we've paddled Bogan around 1200 cfs, with no new strainers besides the usual debris and logs. This stretch of river should require very attentive paddling and scouting, on the sides of the river in particular there's hazards to keep clear of. Sorry, I don't mean to sound paranoid, but I've got a different outlook on even class 2 to 5 water. The Crystal River seems to be less frequently cleaned out.
Keep posting in this thread or private message me if you decide when you're going to paddle. I might be able to join you if it's after 8-5 work hours. Thanks and stay safe.
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Wood certainly could have moved. Since then we've paddled Bogan around 1200 cfs, with no new strainers besides the usual debris and logs. This stretch of river should require very attentive paddling and scouting, on the sides of the river in particular there's hazards to keep clear of. Sorry, I don't mean to sound paranoid, but I've got a different outlook on even class 2 to 5 water. The Crystal River seems to be less frequently cleaned out.
Keep posting in this thread or private message me if you decide when you're going to paddle. I might be able to join you if it's after 8-5 work hours. Thanks and stay safe.
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I think the flows are on the very low side as of today 400 ish. That being said this is a very tricky section of river so low flows would be good. I paddle mostly class III, cause I am an IK'r, but will do class IV at the right level. Have wanted to do this run for many years but blind corners and wood issues always kept me away. Just don't know about the difficulty of the drops and such. Hardest stuff I've done is upper, upper Taylor and didn't like that much. Would consider it if other kayakers would compare to the upper, upper Taylor (lottis rapid, and check damn hell). Levels will be real low by Sat. which is only day I could come.
Thanks for the info guys. I don't really have a super set paddling schedule. Mostly up here with the wife and dogs to camp and hike, but thought I'd squeak in a run or two as well. Since we are camping at Bogan flats, I was thinking of just doing the top 1/3 of the run in putting in at Marble and running the 4.5 miles or so down to Bogan flats. You think a better / less log choked option could be the lower 8 mile section from Bogan flats down to Redstone? At least most of that is road side from what I can gather. Which section do you think is harder, as I have never been to the Crystal area. Thanks again for your advice.
Mike
Mike
Bogan is the harder section but there really isn't any wood problems ( as of two weeks ago) since the strainers were cleaned out after the accident.Thanks for the info guys. I don't really have a super set paddling schedule. Mostly up here with the wife and dogs to camp and hike, but thought I'd squeak in a run or two as well. Since we are camping at Bogan flats, I was thinking of just doing the top 1/3 of the run in putting in at Marble and running the 4.5 miles or so down to Bogan flats. You think a better / less log choked option could be the lower 8 mile section from Bogan flats down to Redstone? At least most of that is road side from what I can gather. Which section do you think is harder, as I have never been to the Crystal area. Thanks again for your advice.
Mike
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The Eddy Flower website has a very good description of this run, that's why I go to this site alot. It also has better info on safe flows for runs and put-in and take-out for each run. Overall Eddy Flower has much better info than AW.
Jeff, I would not say that there are no strainers or wood issues in the canyon. They may have been broken up during the search, but many have moved down river and into the braids below Bogan Canyon campground. There are many more on the bank, both on the upper and lower sections of the canyon proper, that could get caught up in nominal flow changes. Wood in the lower HWY section tends to get caught up on the tunnel tubes. I would urge caution on this run because of these hazards. The overall nature of the whole run is class III with a few notable class IV sections, but the run is most defiantly a IV based on semi remote nature and the wood and moving wood hazards. I'm not sure of lowest flow for a kayak, but in a raft, we stop going under 1200. I'm sure that it "goes" lower than that, I just really enjoy the canyon when it is bigger.Bogan is the harder section but there really isn't any wood problems ( as of two weeks ago) since the strainers were cleaned out after the accident.
Ok agreed there is wood in the canyon but isn't there wood in all creeks in Colorado? If one is to attempt a Class IV run there should be a reasonable acceptance that if there is no riverwide strainers (which there isn't in Bogan right now) that there is no real wood problems for a competent boater. If the OP is not a Class IV boater he shouldn't be running it. I stand by the comment that there is no real wood problems right now because the water is dropping and the wood is fairly minimal and not moving.Jeff, I would not say that there are no strainers or wood issues in the canyon. They may have been broken up during the search, but many have moved down river and into the braids below Bogan Canyon campground. There are many more on the bank, both on the upper and lower sections of the canyon proper, that could get caught up in nominal flow changes. Wood in the lower HWY section tends to get caught up on the tunnel tubes. I would urge caution on this run because of these hazards. The overall nature of the whole run is class III with a few notable class IV sections, but the run is most defiantly a IV based on semi remote nature and the wood and moving wood hazards. I'm not sure of lowest flow for a kayak, but in a raft, we stop going under 1200. I'm sure that it "goes" lower than that, I just really enjoy the canyon when it is bigger.
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Mike, if you can get me info on if there is enough water to paddle, I could be there by 9 or 10 a.m. tommorrow. But would probably want to scout all portages and serious drops. Cell-phone coverage is bad there, but my contact is 970-497-6512, or leave me a p.m. Thanks! If not tommorrow Sat. would be better, but flows will be lower yet.
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