[Osseous]

Anybody been down at this level? I've got a new boat I need to get wet-
I rowed it around 6 or 7 several years ago- but I cannot recall if the bridge below Rancho was an issue or not? Anybody got any beta for me for this weekend?

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[David Miller]

If you decide to go…..Park you car at Radium and walk the track out to the bridge where you can scout Yarmony Hole. Don't go in!

The Eye of the Needle is also a respectable hole to stay out of but harder to scout. Perhaps you could follow someone who knows the way.

 

[openboat]

Here's the recent thread that will help you out.

http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/...ing-upper-colorado-above-5-000-cfs-53103.html

Make sure you are FAR left before entering Yarmony, and get to the center after passing the big hole. There is a big curler at some levels at the Eye on river right that has been flipping some if they hit it sideways.

 

[aucaviedes]

I was there couple of days ago and it was rough. yarmony has a huge hole that sucked about 5 out of 7 boats. Be careful if you are going to do it. Send the most experienced guys first in case they need to rescue someone.

 

[BoilermakerU]

I was there yesterday with my family.

Eye of the Needle is starting to wash out. Still a hole on the left, so set up right of center and follow the green tongue into the wave train.

Yarmony has two options at this level - way left and way right. You can scout it on the river if you want to climb the bank of the river to the tracks. There is a huge, squar-ish bold on river right just above the hole, so when you see that boulder, eddy out and walk down the tracks to scout.

I ran it river right yesterday. At higher flows, I find it to be far less work than the left line. Just stay right as you come around that big boulder I described above, and then point the bow towards the hole. This allows you to keep pulling away from the hole as you work your way down the right hand side. I say work your way, but I hardly had to row at all once I got around the large boulder and got set up. Once you get to the hole, just point the raft into the wave train and enjoy!

The left line is still there too, but it seems to be more work. There are a couple of laterals above the hole that you have to keep pulling away from the hole. A small pile of boulders underneath one of them. Same tactic though, point at the hole, pull away from them as the laterals try to kick you into it. Once you get past the hole, you then have to quickly turn around and pull away from the wall that the river is pushing you into, and back into the wave train below the hole.

That's why I think the right line is easier at this level, once you are set up, it's a straight shot. I ran it in 2011 at 9,600 cvs this way too, and it was the same story, but the hole was wider making the left line even more challenging.

I am not sure what level the right line is no longer an option, so as flows go down over the summer, it's worth a scout if you want to try it. I'd be curious to know myself, because the right line will be my default lion as long as it is there...

 

[Osseous]

When I started this thread I braced for condemnation~ so many Upper C threads and such. Seems timely though, given the gap since our last high water year. Great info- and maybe a few who aren't ready for it will take heed?

I've got many many Upper C floats under my belt- I know the lines.....at 1100 cfs. A little diligence here to keep me honest. Looking forward to it now that I've got a little more understanding of the "current" conditions.

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[BoilermakerU]

Just re-read your post regarding the bridge below Rancho. We went all the way to State Bridge, nothing of concern in terms of bridges. There is a sign posted at Pumphouse regarding Two Bridges, those are impassable at these flows (I believe it has been posted here on the Buzz too as I recall).

3/12 hours with a slight headwind and a stop for lunch. I like high water Upper C runs because of that - the flows help push you through the winds!

Be safe and enjoy it while it lasts!

 

[Fuzzie]

At Yarmony, the right line disapears somewhere around the 6500 to 7000 mark. you could probably still do it but the need is not there. even at 7000 or a bit higher, the current is "slow enough" to go left of the big hole at the top and have "plenty of time" to get out to the right of the chunder at the bottom. As the flow gets higher and higher, say going over 8000 and up to 9500 or more (like in 2011) the bottom chunder comes at you so fast that the right side line is a better option because you are already set up to miss the chunder at the bottom (as mentioned above). Worth mentioning, as and if the water goes up over 9000, it is harder to get right because the water above the rapid is moving faster and faster with a small lateral coming off of house rock, so be prepared and committed to going right of the big hole! Hope this makes sense and helps

 

[SummitSurfer]

I ran Yarmony at 10,000 solo in my 16 foot oar frame and after staring at the lines for about 20 minutes opted to punch threw the small lateral to river right of the hole anticipating that it would push me back in line with the hole and over the falls, but it went suprisingly well and was easy. I would scout it, as its a very dynamic hole thats changes character with the slightest change in cfs. Ive run it 30+ times and it definetly commands respect and adequate assessment of your skills. I would not recommend running it solo at 10,000......I had a little luck in my favor that day and cant say I would do it again....but definetly scout it and form a game plane.

 

[swedgen]

First get a large bucket boat. Say 16' Avon. Then put water in it and hit the meat. Good clean fun. Over the rock is the way. The worst thing that will happen is you will swim. We did it a couple of days ago. Then picked up after all of the others that did swim.

 

[Osseous]

Ran left at Yarmony today. 8700 cfs. It's pretty impressive! Definitely a different look to the Upper C right now. The chunder at the bottom left is very nasty right now- pulled hard toward the middle after the hole- there's time to do it, but don't dawdle.

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[melted_ice]

Was driving away from radium today and noticed an upside down boat in the river. Stopped to look for people but never saw any. Assuming flip happened in needle eye? Anyone know anything about it? Also some fellas trying to drown themselves swimming back and forth across the river (no PDFs) from the camp just below hot springs

 

[Osseous]

Was the flipped boat grey w a yellow chafer? We saw those guys at the put in and they didn't show up again. We ran into everybody else along the way, but not them. Good group on the river today- folks were looking out for each other.

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[Andy H.]

At current levels when you get to Yarmony your swim will typically start in mid channel. You'll probably come up thinking you've just been tossed off the boat, you'll probably get pulled under a time or two in the tailwaves but then you'll see something that looks like your boat and start making your way over expecting the folks to pull you in. Then you'll realize your boat is upside down and look around to see heads bobbing up with wide eyes. And they thought they were out for a spashy day drinking beer on the river!

Tell your wife's friend who had those fancy sunglasses at the put in that she'd doing great and will be OK, and to swim to shore on the left. That friend of your brother's that you didn't really like talking to? Don't worry, he'll never talk to you again anyway after this. Hopefully your wife will talk to you again after this. Between gasps for air you pray those kayakers you talked to aren't far behind because your boat is really moving downstream fast! Uh oh, your wife's friend is now on that island on the left. Hopefully that party of drunks behind y'all will pick her up and bring her down. She'll be ready for a shot of those dirtbags' cheap whiskey after what she's been through! Somehow that can of fat tire floating next to you isn't nearly as important as a beer in the water would've been a little while ago...

So keep swimming and you may be able to catch up with the boat!

 

[JessaQ]

Well put, Andy H! I feel like that is a tits on description of at least 4 boats I saw Monday, except maybe for the girl with the missing teeth- I wonder if she'll ever again talk to her friend who talked her into that trip.

 

[canoedog]

Our group saw the flipped raft at radium. we got it to shore when bobby, one of the guys on the boat showed up. we got it flipped back over and he said everyone was alright.

 

[spider]

ran it in 2011, good times. I think it was around 9500 or so. Was in the spider boat, followed some more experienced guys in big cats. All solo, nice guys, showed me the right line at yarmony and eye. Big ass holes at that level, sweet wave trains. Bigger than I thought it was going to be. Hot times.

 

[melted_ice]

Our group saw the flipped raft at radium. we got it to shore when bobby, one of the guys on the boat showed up. we got it flipped back over and he said everyone was alright.

Good to hear!

 

[openboat]

ran it in 2011, good times. I think it was around 9500 or so. Was in the spider boat, followed some more experienced guys in big cats. All solo, nice guys, showed me the right line at yarmony and eye. Big ass holes at that level, sweet wave trains. Bigger than I thought it was going to be. Hot times.

I was there then as well - snow coming down at times that day. I sat on the shore above Yarmony for about 20 minutes worried about putting a raftload of college kids into the drink. Made it fine, and then rescued several hypothermic fisherman below Island that day.

 

[Osseous]

I wanted to call out the guys on the bank yesterday doing safety. Not sure if they were working or part of a private trip- looked like they were working to me. Very nice feeling to see those boys at the ready with their throw lines- thank you gentlemen.

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