This is Larry Lempert's report of the more exciting half of a Sunday "pickup" trip, the other half of which with 6 paddlers went to the Thornton - running at a beefy 10 inches.
8 of us today: John S, Mike M, Miki K, Barb B, Linda B, Jim L, Virginia D-R, and LL from the Pickup list, plus Court O & Lou C (on their own but with us for much of the way, except that they took at the hatchery).
2 pins at different points in the bottom half of the run, but all are well. Mike's was a fluke, just wasn't paying attention; Virginia missed a move and pinned on a rootball, requiring somewhat elaborate rescue by Mike, John, and Miki. Put on at 11:15, approx. 510 cfs, took out at 4:00, aprox. 460 cfs. And the group split looking for the crucial left channel below the Fish Hatchery. Mike, Barb, Miki, and I guessed wrong and had to portage to avoid a big strainer. The correct channel, taken by the others, was a little further downstream. One total strainer, all had to portage. One close duck under a log further on, but all made it.
Exciting level!