Sweet!! Thanks for that - cool footage.

We caught Marsh/MF at around 6ft in '08, but I'm still not brave enough to take my raft through Dagger. Maybe next spring.

Did you get any footage at Velvet? I'd love to see POV on that move.

Leland

What day did you put on Shelly? I put on May 21st. Good water and great weather.

We ran the Middle Fork for the last 2 years at these flows.  I have run Dagger falls 2 times now and watched a bunch of people do it.  I have noticed that the people who have trouble are either pointed straight over the first drop, or, slightly towards 1 'oclock.  I haven't seen anyone go over that thing with a left angle toward 11 oclock who flipped.  I even saw one raft go right into the hole in the middle of the first drop and make it. 

You definitely want to be pointed a little to the left anywhere on the left side.  I follow just to the river right of  the eddyline coming off of shore and aim to go over the drop about 2 boat lengths off of shore with an 11 oclock angle.  Both times I've done this my head didn't even get wet.

Watch out for the big wave below the second drop of the falls!  You want to hit that baby in control and straight!!

Video from 2 years ago is in my PP photo gallery.

I recommend having lots of safety around the corner.  We waited until the area above and below the falls was loaded with boaters.  If you plan on camping at Dagger you should consider what will happen if you flip and can't get to shore until its too far to camp with your group.  Remember at these flows the river is cranking and their aren't many eddies.

I have been super nervous before running my loaded boat over that piece.  Just keep your "cool like Fonzi" and "eye of the tiger" and follow just to the current side of that eddyline, keeping your 11 oclock angle.  Hang on to those oars!!

My buddy Lennon rowed a few boats from other groups' trips over Dagger for wine, beer, and other fun stuff.  Next year he might just camp out there and offer to row rafts through for money booze or drugs.  I think he's about 10 for 10 on that drop......

You need to make sure that HD is turned off in the vimeo player otherwise it just sits there with a black screen.

what helmet cam was used for the footage?

So does anybody know at what level that left line at Velvet opens up? Last time we were there it was 5.9'. I tried to run the main line and got jacked up - me and the dog got recirced in the hole together. I'd rather not repeat that one and would LOVE to know if it was cool to go left.

I think I'm gonna try Dagger next time. We usually camp there and carry the gear up, so the boat would be empty and easier to stop if I flip (I usually have ~3 people's gear on board). Last time we had one guy who let us all off easy and rowed 4 of our boats through, as well as one from another party.

Next time I might not get a pass like that, and it sure sucks portaging that thing.

We deal with Marsh wood by sending kayakers ahead with radios. On our 2008 trip the kayakers were able to radio back to us about the wood that was on both sides of an island MILES downstream while we were still at the put in. They were out with ropes to help us stop, and the wood was dealt with pretty quickly and easily as a team.

I have heard 6' is where the Velvet sneak comes in, so didn't want to chance getting stuck on the left. Our whole party ran the meat that day, and out of 5 boats we had two flips plus my swim. Somehow my raft landed right side up, although it was 50+ yards downstream when we finally came out of the hole. I'd love to know precise beta on when that sneak is good - if it's in down to 5.8' or something that could make a huge difference in my pucker factor when putting on.

Thanks for the info!

As a note, I hit the hole at Velvet dead square straight and giving it hell and still got launched airborne and past vertical. Witnesses confirmed that - we have no idea how it landed upright. The boat ahead of me also hit it straight but with very little speed, and I got front row seats to its aerial inversion. Maybe I would have stayed focused and hit the line if I hadn't been watching the show.

I guess I'll be skipping that hole above 5.5 from now on.