I noticed that there is not a water level listed on the river page for the White Salmon.
I'd like to know when a good time to be running this river is? I ran a section of it a loooong time ago. It was a great intermediate stretch which ended with an easy short waterfall. I want to head back over there but I'm trying to time it just right.
I guess there is a lot of whitewater in this part of the world. From what I understand the White Salmon is broken up into three sections. Then there is the Little White Salmon (which I won't be running this year). Also, from there you can head on over across the Columbia and there is even some action in Hood River.
If anyone would like to chime in with some info, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Yeah. I guess I should clarify what I mean by easy - there is not a class IV/V rapid leading up to the waterfall and you don't have to deal with a class IV/V rapid after the waterfall. Lining up for the waterfall is pretty easy. And, the waterfall is next to a bridge and not in the middle of a canyon, which means a person with a cellphone and a throw rope could watch and help if you got in any trouble. But, you are absolutely correct Jed, in any drop there is always the possibility of a rodeo.
I would probably be running the middle section in a play boat which I believe starts at BZ corner and heads to Husum falls. I would bring my creek boat and investigate the Green Truss (that's a creek boat run right?), but I wouldn't hold myself to any commitments of running the Truss.
I'm thinking of running it some time soon, maybe even Memorial Day weekend. I can't remember when I ran it last, but I remember it was good weather and a sweet run in a play boat. Water levels were in the range you mentioned - 2.5 and 3.75.
You mentioned 'farmlands', is that a stretch on the Truss?

Hood would be a good option. What runs are you referring to? I'll check that river out when I get home this evening. I'd love to hang out in Oregon for the weekend. Not to far of a drive either.

Dee to Copper
Lake Branch
West Fork

Edited by Tobin - 19 May 2012 at 10:27am

I just drove up the East fork Hood the other day and it looked like fun.

By-the-way, thanks for all the info folks. This website and this community of boaters is trustworthy like that .

I've only run the Middle W/S recently during Hanzapalooza, so anything I say about the other stretches upstream is based on word of mouth.

Farmlands: some wood, but manageable.
Truss: tons of wood, tipping the effort to fun ratio
Orletta: a fair amount of wood, probably making it more gnarly than fun.

The Middle though, is in great shape. Raft companies have done some grooming. It had been clogged with a lot of wood, but when I was on it two weeks ago it was clean.

The Lower (from the falls to the bridge where Northwestern Lake used to be) is nice. Mostly II, maybe a few easy III's. Some nice surf waves, and some new rapids! Clean.

There was a Farmlands trip report on PDXkayaker recently. I think there were 2-3 wood portages scattered throughout the run. Didn't sound too bad but more than usual for sure.

pete

Ok, ok, ya got me. Its true, I was using the term "clean" quite loosely.
But, while the log below Top Drop is problematic for rafts, not so much for qualified kayakers. And plainly visible from the put in. Clean Enough if you are in a hardshell and skilled enough for the run.

The wood choking up the left two thirds of the Boulder Garden is messy enough. But still visible. The main raft line on the right is open, so I consider that somewhat clean.

You can ask about conditions on the river, but sooner or later you gotta log off and put on. If the Middle W/S is your target run, its worth the drive. I wouldn't bust a nut to drive down from the Emerald city for the Truss right now. Especially if ya gotta portage DoubleD. Its one of the best drops in there. The Truss is supposed to be a fun classic to rip down, IMO, and not an "adventure-portage fest".

Farmlands? I portage Lava Dam at various flows or when I'm not feelin it. And a convient wood portage isn't too much to bother with...but 3 or so is starting to dis-incentivize it for me. But, I already got enough laps in there to become spoiled and picky.

I think I'll leave this all up to whether or not I can find some paddlers to paddle with. I've been communicating with a local and she is pointing me in the right direction as far as getting connected with other kayakers in the White Salmon area. But, also, I may be able to hook up with some Portland boaters and follow their lead if they have a stretch in mind. It's not a terribly long drive but it's long enough that I don't want to end up walking my boat around sweet rapids because they are choked up with wood. So, hopefully I can connect with someone that's willing to show me the way down a sweet stretch. I think one of my favorite things about this sport is meeting people. I've met some characters that are about as gnarly as the whitewater we run.