I've got a lovely little 4+ run that should be jammin here pretty soon. Granite/Ruby is a killer run for class 4+ paddlers who know how to manage tiny eddies and can keep their cool in a small creek environment with some wood hazards.  Up until this last summer, I've been paddling with my old man, (since the age of 9; actually,)  but since his cancer got serious there's not much paddling he can do and that leaves me without a paddling buddy...   I am familiar with the run because I've done it at various flows different times of the year, so I can pretty much lead the whole thing, but it would be killer to have somebody along.  It's one of my favorite washington creeks; (reminds me a lot of the chilliwack, and a bit of the golden canyon stretch of the S. Fork Clearwater.)

I'm in, too.

I love this run... I haven't done the "upper Granite" run yet, but I've hit the lower "Granite Ruby" a few times. I seem to hit it only at high water (8000 on Methow) or low (2900 on Methow)... I'd like to see it medium.

With the snow we have and the high elevation watershed, I think we'll have good water well into July this year.

the twisp river isn't much of a run, there are some wave trains and "supposedly" a fantastic play wave (a wave which I have never seen,) but the story is that it flows into the woods (read about it in "A guide to the Whitewater Rivers of Washington.) So I've never run the Twisp, but the Chewuch does have nice little stretch that will keep your blood pumping.  The "Upper Section" (Andrews Camp to Camp Four) has been clogged with wood for years, and we're still waiting for a big flow to clear it up.  I wouldn't come to the methow to run the chewuch, but if you're passing through and want a quick jaunt, it's worth it.  I'm not sure what the status is on the wier that was there (they were supposed to do some work on it,) so I'd do some research. The Lost is supposed to be an epic run; but because of the hike in I still have yet to run it.

I'm going to refer to the link at the bottom and personal check-ups to gauge when the run is prime.                              

Hey Swinseat-- I REALLY want to check out Granite/Ruby runs. Any and all of it. Mostly need to be clued in to the best time to hit iit up, But I'd also really like to paddle it with someone who knows it so well--makes for a fun trip that way.

Hawthorne and I got on the Upper a couple months back when it was 4k+ at Methow.  I have no idea what this run is like at lower bone flows but at this flow the upper was solid V with V+ sections thrown in to keep it exciting.  The saying "it's like running through the woods and the trees are trying to kill you" came to mind.  Good amount of strainers in some bad spots.  We portaged 2 BIG rapids as well.

Edited by PaulGamache - 04 Aug 2008 at 9:48am

I would be interested in next week, mid week.

Huh. So we didn't miss the Granite/Ruby flows, huh? I guess I'd still be interested in checking them out if they we still in the medium-ish range. Otherwise I'll have to pass till next year! At least I finally got up to check out the Cascade...

I ran the lower (granite ruby)  july 5th and 6th and it was really low - very abusive to the boat.