Hey everyone,

I'm a reporter in Centralia. I'm doing a massive news story on the Cowlitz. My boss is sending a reporter and me on a two week float trip from source to confluence.

Aside from it being mostly very flat and the best rapids being buried under years of sediment, I know very little about the river.

Any info you guys might have would be incredibly helpful, and, if you were interested, you could be a voice in the story.
I'd like to talk to anyone who's ran the headwaters (either the Clear or Muddy Fork, for example) or any of the lower stretches. I've heard there's some class III rapids around Packwood, but I have no idea what they're like. Can I get a raft down them in June?

Seriously, I'll talk to anyone, on record or off.

you can get ahold of me here, or at (360) 807-8237 or dpesanti@chronline.com

Thanks

The rapid we ziplined past:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dCwRhl2Yrw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be2uQQH1VB4

Edited by Travisimo - 04 May 2015 at 3:40pm

Lol

Posting the same question on washingtonflyfishing.com will probably get you more info on the lower stretches Of flat-water.

Also "A Mountain in The Clouds," "King of Fish," and "Salmon Without Rivers" do an excellent job of covering some of the ecological history of the river - particularly the political calculus behind the various dams, their impact on salmon stocks, etc.

I have ran the lower river from the Barrier Dam down to Longview many times in a jet boat for work and there is nothing to be concerned with in terms of rapids. 2 weeks seams an excessive amount of time.