Royal Gorge Video Hardest Fow 3400 cfs

4544 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by cbrobin, Jun 19, 2014

cbrobin

Discussion Starter · Jun 12, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOVoZItB7po

This is my best video. I hope everyone enjoys it.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

rockinRio

· #2 · Jun 12, 2014

so just wondering. Your title is hardest flow. Does that indicate the hardest flow you've done it at or what you would consider the hardest flow period?

Just wanting a clarification, cause a bunch of us did it at like 4,200 a couple of years ago and it looks very close to what we saw.

Wondering if there are differences between the 800 cfs. Those flows don't come around very often.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQEhesGYe3M

cbrobin

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 13, 2014

First: Nice video. I liked the surf in Sledgehammer. A little nit pick, what you identifies as Wall Slammer is actually the Narrows. Where the Funicular train come down is the Fish Bowl and that leads directly into the Wallslammer.

Backing up a bit. I've run the Gorge above 3000 cfs over 25 times with over 100 gorge runs. I wrote the Gorge page for AW American Whitewater - 11. Parkdale Launch to Canon City, Arkansas Colorado, US
unfortunately some one "fixed" it. I'm still trying to repair the damage. I also paddle the run with Ed Hansen who easily has 50 high water runs. He did Parkdale through the Gorge on Tuesday at 3900. So, we really know the run.

My high water run is 4700cfs last week. I put up a video in 2008 of our 4200cfs run https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH89_1i8150

There are only three rapids to truly consider at high Flows. Sunshine, Sledgehammer and the Narrows. Sunshine definitely starts to get a bit smoother over 3500 the V wave and the lateral past it just seem a bit more straight forward. I have to work a lot more to stay on the line I want at 34,3500. At 4700cfs I was able to enter in the center.Sledgehammer gets easier for sure. At 4700 it was very simple, get center and ride the big waves. The narrows is tough for me to judge. I got flipped in the same spot just above the descent into the Fish Bowl both times during otherwise clean runs. It was bigger at 4700 but it didn't feel harder. Some other stuff gets bigger, higher and couple of things wash out.

Please come back at 3500 and try for yourself. It may still come back this year.
My film at 4700 is unwatchable. I was quite upset. Maybe next year.

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blutzski

· #4 · Jun 13, 2014

I had the same feeling. I've only run it at 4200 and 3600 and felt that 3600 was alot bigger and more defined than 4200. So much fun.

cbrobin, any chance your doing it tomorrow? Would love to hook up with you. I went down it with Ed at 3600 and it was nice to have someone who knew where the holes were so you could gut everything else.

How does the level now (3000?) compare with 3600 and 4200?

tew

· #5 · Jun 14, 2014

I had fun in the Gorge on 6-1 4500cfs follow the link for the footage:
https://vimeo.com/97597805

Thanks to all the guides for watching out for us!!!!

Reactions: 1

rlins

· #6 · Jun 14, 2014

Great footage.

yetigonecrazy

· #7 · Jun 14, 2014

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GoodTimes

· #8 · Jun 14, 2014

I've both rafted (rowed and paddle guided) and kayaked it at about that flow...absolute BLAST...can't remember a time I was on it over 3,500 though. It just seems to get better and better with more water!!!

tallboy

· #9 · Jun 14, 2014

GoodTimes said:
I've both rafted (rowed and paddle guided) and kayaked it at about that flow...absolute BLAST...can't remember a time I was on it over 3,500 though. It just seems to get better and better with more water!!!

Does that mean you are a guide? I love how so often that gets mentioned into every conversation by "guides."

GoodTimes

· #10 · Jun 15, 2014

What gets mentioned in every conversation? Young buck "guides" puffing their chest???

No dude...I'm not a "guide"...but I was rafting the Ark when I was in diapers (1978 was my first parkdale run...probably 1980 through the gorge). I've been down it hundreds of times...I was merely supporting the OP's post that it's f'n awesome at 3,400 no matter what you're paddling.

livin_tll

· #11 · Jun 15, 2014

So the Royal Gorge is just a big wave train?

justin.payne

· #12 · Jun 17, 2014

Soo....How do you know when a raft guide walks in a room?

GoodTimes

· #13 · Jun 17, 2014

When hot chicks and good beer arrive...

rlins

· #14 · Jun 17, 2014

How do you know if your sitting next to a raft guide in a bar?

rlins

· #15 · Jun 17, 2014

......They tell you.

cbrobin

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 19, 2014

I just got back on the grid after several days paddling around BV and Salida.

Blutski-I was on your 3600 cfs run. I have a great little video of you running Sunshine while the train goes by. I contacted you once about getting a copy to you. The offer still stands. The year? 2008?
I remember 3000 still being a lot of fun. I usually catch it on the way down.

livin_tll said:
So the Royal Gorge is just a big wave train?

Short answer, YES. Sunshine is lot more complex than my video shows. BUT lean forward, paddle hard and stay in the boat.

The First Rule of Gorge Club is: You can't swim in Gorge Club.
Second Rule of Gorge Club is: You can't swim in Gorge Club.

Rlins put up a great video of his 3500 cfs run. It's longer and more complete. He was on our 3400 run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akYj7PxqsMw&list=UU_riiFp8krEsfGDIFPfacIg

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