Thanksgiving Trip

[3hounds]

We are doing 4 nites 4 days with fully loaded kayaks over Tgiving. Is there any way we can hit the upper jacks fork?!? Most posts I've read on here indicate no way with the current conditions. The cfs is about 45 (hopefully going up!) and the Gauge is 1.5 to 1.55 at 17bridge. Weather indicates we could get 2-4 inches of rain from now ( wednesday the 20th) until our trip starts in one week. Anyone know what the minimmum we would have to get to enjoy the upper stretches?? Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance.

[ColdWaterFshr]

you'll be fine from the Prongs if you wanted to do it. Go and enjoy, just shorten your expectations of how far you'll go those first day or two and be prepared to drag a little. And besides, how much can you fully load a kayak and call that work dragging it anyway. Have fun!

[repocrazy12]

You will be fine. Water level is up real nice. In my kayak as long as the water level is above 1.4 feet at 17 bridge I will drag but not bad enough to have to get out. Where the water level is now you should be just fine. I would try to catch it while the water is still moving pretty nice.

Make sure you give us a report when you get back.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Where are you planning to take out bud?

[countryred]

Weather report , up here, is for cold weather. But a warm campfire and a good sleeping bag will do the trick.

[Al Agnew]

75 cfs or more at the Hwy. 17 gauge and you won't do much scraping until a few riffles between Bay Creek and Alley.

50-75 cfs and you'll do some scraping bottom throughout, but won't have to get out much.

30-50 cfs and you'll scape bottom in most riffles and have to walk some of them, especially the wide, gravelly riffles below Rymers to Alley.

Under 30 cfs and you'll scrape bottom in almost every riffle and have to walk more than half of them...and that's if you don't mind scratching up the bottom of your yak. If you want to avoid scratching it up, you'll have to walk everything.

Keep in mind that it's a narrow canyon with high hills and no bottomland. Rain this time of year can bring it up really fast and dangerously. The sun doesn't get to the river until late in the morning and disappears early, so it'll be colder on the river than the forecast says. And the days are short, so you can't cover nearly as much water in a day as you are used to covering in the summer.

[3hounds]

Thank you everybody! The rain last Fri really helped!! We are going from the Prongs to Eminence...looks like it will be running about 100cfs on Wednesday for the Prongs, which sounds about right. We are all prepared to be cold (or hopefully prepared to stay warm). Any nice campsites we should stay at before the Hwy 17 bridge for Wednesday night? By the way, this forum is wonderful!!!

[Gavin]

There are plenty of potential campsites now that the leaves are off the trees. Any flat spot will do. Most of the gravel bar spots wont have much in the way of nearby fire wood. Bring a saw.

[Terrierman]

I bet you don't see another person on the water. Have a great trip. You've got good weather for November to look forward to.

[moguy1973]

Supposed to warm up a little by the weekend. Should be a good trip for you. Have fun.