Topic: Nooksack Changes, Cl. III section Posted: 23 Jan 2015 at 10:49am
Got on the Class III section of the Nooksack yesterday (Douglas Fir Campground to the Green Bridge.) A few changes to report:
The most significant change is to "The Nozzle" which is the rapid you hit right as the river narrows down and enters the true canyon. (about 3/4 mile below Douglas Fir CG.) Before, most of the water went through the RR channel. Now, the left channel is getting about 1/3 of the flow and leads into a boulder garden that ends in a steep drop. No place for newbies! The RR channel is more difficult, too, as there's a hole at the top that pushes you further right into the fan rock (or rooster tail at higher flows) just downstream. Again, no big deal except for Class III newbies. However, I'm not sure you'd see if there's wood in-play at the bottom until after you've committed to running that side of the drop.
Here are some photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/doggievacation/NooksackCanyonTheNozzle#
There are changes in channels in the open braided section below the canyon, but no real wood issues, just some scrapey spots.
This rapid really worries me lately because at the right flows, the log-sieve is hidden from upstream, barely covered / not filled in and will look from the boat like the meatiest, funnest place to go.
At .. roughly below 1500, the wood is clearly visible once you start dropping in and if you are in control of your boat it is fine ..
At levels above 1500 (probably up to like 2000, before it fills in .. this is the level where it sort of scares me as a passive hazard that is easy to miss .. ) -- If you are a more advanced boater and not familiar with this situation you may find yourself really tempted to charge straight into the sieve unwittingly.
All you will see from upstream is a sort of laterally pressure pile on a stacked horizon line to the right. That is the hazard, go left of it.
I wish those logs would move so we could have that right-side to play in .. if it would open up we could add another bigger funner move or two to the creekplay on this trip.
Knowing is half the battle, scouting is half the fun. ɯɐǝɹʇsuʍop ǝɯ ʇuᴉoԀ puɐ ɹǝʌo ʞɐʎɐʞ ʎ
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