Talk to me about Black rock at 500cfs

5039 Views 26 Replies 13 Participants Last post by stinginrivers, Sep 10, 2014

streetdoctor

Discussion Starter · Jul 17, 2014

Looking to paddle Dumont through Black Rock (and possibly all the way to Golden) saturday. Haven't done much on clear creek this year but have done Dumont at 900 and Lower at 600 for the first time last week. Have also done a bunch of other stuff this year and gotten fairly comfortable, mostly big water stuff though. Have yet to paddle Upper or Black Rock. I will probably walk Rigor but plan on running everything else.

General nature of BR rapid? The Narrows? What are some similar runs? How does it compare to lower boulder creek around 330?

I figure my success will make or break my mental game for Bailey. Any tips to styling it is welcome

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ACC

· #2 · Jul 17, 2014

Its a friendly level right now, but blackrock rapid had some rocks shift a bit with high water and has some sharp stuff now in the upper half.

My advice would be that if you are stepping up to the black rock run, you should just do that--i.e., put in at the normal put in a few pull outs above black rock rapid. Running dumont down will leave you tired when you get to the run, especially since it is slow and low now. I'd save the marathon run for after you have run black rock successfully and are comfortable with it.

As for the nature of the run, drive up and check it out.

Miller Time

· #3 · Jul 18, 2014

Narrows can destroy a newbie to that run but not always. I agree you will be exhausted coming from Lawson at this low flow.... Strong left to right on 1st drop of narrows. Right sneak line on 2nd drop until you dial it in. Paddle aggressive through Mr Bill with a late stroke. Nothing replaces scouting and making your own decision for your comfort level.

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KSC

· #4 · Jul 18, 2014

It's a step up from the runs you mentioned, but a logical next step up. You can always walk the top 1/2 of Black rock, walk the narrows to below the Hand and get a feel for it.

500 is a fairly friendly level for it. The first drop in the narrows still has a wave in the center, Mr. Bill still has the autoboof options off the flake in but you can punch the Hand if you need to. Black Rock rapid is less pushy now, but without all the rocks that exposed at lower water.

Probably you should put on and walk as appropriate depending on how you feel / how the scout looks.

DanOrion

· #5 · Jul 18, 2014

Blackrock: stay aggressive at top and go where you should. paddle toward the rock on the right, not the undercut on the left at the bottom.
Below Blackrock: stay attentive
Narrows: Right boof stroke pointing at the left stripe on the wall at the entrance, then the rest like Kevin said

There's more time on BR than bailey, but it's all-around bigger

hojo

· #6 · Jul 18, 2014

I'm with ACC. Just scout and run the BR section by itself before tagging on a good 18 mile warmup.

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Dave Frank

· #7 · Jul 19, 2014

Never gave much notice to the stripes before reading Dans post and looking last night.

I pointed the long boat at the right one and was just a touch too right, so that is a pretty good marker.

I redeemed my long boat rigor swim with a clean run as well, which was a big relief.

Any way, Nick drop me a line. Sounds like you're ready for this. Can you do an evening run next week?

-Dave
(Seven two 0) 298-2242

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zbaird

· #8 · Jul 19, 2014

Pansy ass highlands ranch rafters like stinginrivers r-1 it without issue and without portage through rigor at 500, so im sure a badass like yourself will do just great. Follow dave, he'll show you the swim line in narrows and rigor. Get out and scout often if you dont swim though or you feet might cramp up.

streetdoctor

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 20, 2014

zbaird said:
Pansy ass highlands ranch rafters like stinginrivers r-1 it without issue and without portage through rigor at 500, so im sure a badass like yourself will do just great. Follow dave, he'll show you the swim line in narrows and rigor. Get out and scout often if you dont swim though or you feet might cramp up.

haters gonna hate…

Do you R1 it or just swing from the balls of those who do? Go back and read that thread again and then calm down. Unless you're going to start asking questions about what bug bit you while paddling black rock... If that's the case you can go fuck yourself too

BTW I stopped reading after pansy ass highlands ranch. That's all you needed to say. At least I know he isn't a poverty rafter

Dave I'll be in touch. I'm paddling Bailey tuesday, I work all of Wed/Thurs. There's a chance I could pull off a monday evening lap or any time friday. I'll have to clear friday with the wife though.

zbaird

· #10 · Jul 20, 2014

Not sure what I was hating on..... I said I'm sure you'll do great

If you stopped reading after pansy ass HR not sure how you knew about the r-1, but I just swing from the balls of those who do. I R-2 it, until someone falls out, then i guess i do. Not sure what you want me to re read, but I'm calm. Just feeling a little ornery since i'm stuck working and thought if anyone deserved some shit it might be you. Just doing a little ribbing since you've been giving people a lot of shit lately and figured anyone that hangs out with dave ought to have some thick skin. Hope you can clear it with the wife so dave can show you the swim line in rigo.

streetdoctor

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 20, 2014

zbaird said:
Not sure what I was hating on..... I said I'm sure you'll do great

If you stopped reading after pansy ass HR not sure how you knew about the r-1, but I just swing from the balls of those who do. I R-2 it, until someone falls out, then i guess i do. Not sure what you want me to re read, but I'm calm. Just feeling a little ornery since i'm stuck working and thought if anyone deserved some shit it might be you. Just doing a little ribbing since you've been giving people a lot of shit lately and figured anyone that hangs out with dave ought to have some thick skin. Hope you can clear it with the wife so dave can show you the swim line in rigo.

A swim would probably do me some good!!!

Your anger and hostility is respected but misdirected! Please find the nearest cooler/trailer/rope/bug bite/poverty raft thread and commence said hatred!!!!

and I'm actually a delicate flower... hahahah

Phillips

· #12 · Jul 20, 2014

stripe on the left wall? In all my BR runs I have never noticed that. Enter right drive left above the lip with a 10 to11 o'clock angle and you will be pushed right where you wanna be. In 2016 when I return to CO I will have to check that out. 500 is a perfect level. What line on bills are you calling the hand? Left meat line?

Miller Time

· #13 · Jul 20, 2014

The Hand is the next drop after mr bill. It has two offset rocks, like a miniature scissors

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Phillips

· #14 · Jul 20, 2014 (Edited)

Miller Time said:
The Hand is the next drop after mr bill. It has two offset rocks, like a miniature scissors

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Awww. . . Ok. The boof rock or the sneak around the left when she's big. So fun. Who named that?

Anybody name the vortex hole at the top of rigor yet? That thing will suck you down all the way to sedona

Roy

· #15 · Jul 20, 2014

Phillips said:
Awww. . . Ok. The boof rock or the sneak around the left when she's big. So fun. Who named that?

I believe it was originally "Mr. Hand", as in Mr. Bill's nemesis in the old SNL skits--the guy who always brought out the Oh Nooooooooo! It's since morphed into "The Hand" (of the king?).

I'm gonna keep an eye out for these "stripes" this afternoon...

ShredwardBoofington

· #16 · Jul 20, 2014

Not worth your time. Second worst run in the state right behind Bailey and quickly followed by OBJ.

Phillips

· #17 · Jul 20, 2014

ShredwardBoofington said:
Not worth your time. Second worst run in the state right behind Bailey and quickly followed by OBJ.

What else are you gonna do when you got a little free time? One man's heaven is another man's hell. Sorry your on the wrong side

Phillips

· #18 · Jul 20, 2014

Roy said:
I believe it was originally "Mr. Hand", as in Mr. Bill's nemesis in the old SNL skits--the guy who always brought out the Oh Nooooooooo! It's since morphed into "The Hand" (of the king?).

I'm gonna keep an eye out for these "stripes" this afternoon...

Line em up Roy. Let me know how it goes. . .

streetdoctor

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 22, 2014

Running it tomorrow if anyone wants to play tour guide. Dave I sent you a message, would love to have you join.

streetdoctor

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jul 23, 2014

ended up running upper through black rock rapid. Scouted narrows and decided against it without having someone there who ran it before. Heading down the canyon saw a group take 3 separate lines- sneak far right, punch the middle of the tongue, and over the rock in the center with a rightward boat angle. Didn't notice any stripes on any rocks though. Running the flake rock with a rightward angle seemed better than punching it. I'm guessing that won't be an option by next week when I have another chance to get out there if it even still goes. Monday anyone if it's still in?

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