Calvin,

Good to have you in the area!!

There are a load of folks that live up in the Everett / Snohomish zone, and you should have no problem hooking up with folks that are in your skill/interest level. This area has everything from class II - V+ and you will find local boating groups that are hot on everything in between.

Plan on making the skykomish a frequent stop since it will most likely be your standard after work run, unless you are in the DEA which would make sense moving from Columbia to Everett. In that case your after work run might be around granite falls after taking down the local meth labs which would be much appreciated by all the paddlers.

In any case... have fun and welcome!

yo Calvin. I grew up paddling back east (Yough/Cheat/Gauley ect.) and while I miss it and all of the incredible runs back there, Washington has more to offer year round, and tons of quality and variety.

I'm not from Colombia, only spent the last year and a half there. Paddled quite a bit the first few months, then got tired of getting sick from the bacteria in the water. My buddy and I found bones every time we went out.

what kind of bones...

Yeah. definitely one part of the world where paddling remains a true adventure. 

Not to be a pain in the @$$ but ole wetmouse has me in a pretty frisky mood since he has been so active in his posting lately...

The sky is one of our largest river systems in the state. Perhaps the longest season and also one of the largest in rough area covered. When people say were running the sky it usually means they are going to the Boulder Drop run, starting at Powerline\cable drop and going down to split rock (Class III-IV). Lower sky is usually from split rock down to big eddy (Class II-II+). If you hear someone say were doing the whole sky it usually means those two runs together.

Now for the mixer. When the snow is melting folks will often say were running around the sky. Meaning the tributaries of which there are many, and in nice close proximity. Here is a list of them to explore.

Beckler

Rapid River to S.Fork Skykomish

II-III

Money Creek

Upstream of Money Creek Rd. Bridge

IV-V

Rapid

Road end to Beckler River

IV

Silver Creek (Sky)

1. Upper - Hike in to Quartz C

V

Silver Creek (Sky)

2. Quartz Creek to North Fork Skykomish

IV-V

Skykomish, N. Fork

1. Jackson Wilderness to Bear Creek

II-V

Skykomish, N. Fork

2. Bear Creek (Drumbeater) to South Fork       (5)

IV

Tye

1. Surprise Creek to Alpine Falls (Upper)         (10)

V.3

Tye

2. Alpine Falls to Beckler River (Lower)

IV+

Then of course you have the standard stretches of the main river.

Skykomish	1 - Index/Powerline to Railroad Bridge         (8)	III+(IV)
Skykomish	2 - Railroad Bridge to Big Eddy	II