Soooo ... help me out. Are these good levels? And, if so, do you expect them to hold for the weekend?

I wouldnt call the cooper juicy at all. Monday it was medium/low. Pretty much what that picture looks like. 1700 on the cle elum inflow this time of year is not the same as 1700 in July. Still a good level right now though Christian.

Cooper was definitely not medium low today. One line at s turn was to ride the shelf on far river right that is usually high and dry. The sharks tooth was completely covered too.

Either way really fun today. Should stay fun through the Weekend.

Fenix I guess it is a preference thing. If the right shelf at S-Turn was High and Dry I would consider it way to LOW at those levels you are going to be taking plastic off at the ledge above voodoo in the rock entry and several other places would become less than smooth. There are those that prefer to bounce off rocks, and there are those that prefer to clean over them...

I think the description of the water over the right ledge was a great piece of Beta... Unlike talking about un-descript rocks, wet or dry, that is an easy to identify area that can be easily described... how you view the level is up too you but certainly one of the better features to compare the level with...+1

We could pull a hoover and paint a nice non-descript gauge on the wall so you can walk up and easily see what the level is... but I fear that locals/party teens would see the paint as approval to start tagging and putting graffiti everywhere. If that was the case I would prefer to leave it to guessing.

anyone going to be there this coming Friday? want to start the ball early. nice of i don't have to take the mini bike.

Basically the only way we can ever establish what is low/med/high for these runs is by having the sort of discourse we are having now. Sure it is subjective and preferencial, but by discussing it and coming up with popular averages we can define these flow ranges over time.

Its what the color coding on AW's and PP's river pages are all about. The important thing is not to be too personally invested in one's own individual interpretation vs. what the bulk of the local paddlers have agreed to be a sort of average.

Like, so what if Rob, Darren, Sam, and Ben or whoever consider Robe above 6' to be "medium high" or not. The average avid Robe paddler who is truly knowledgeable of the run seems to agree that 6' marks a certain transition from medium-high to high. Subjective perhaps, but collectively agreed upon by that community of boaters.

Similarly, as Jiminy Creek-it and Ellingferd weighed in on the Cooper's flows, it should be taken into account that both paddlers have avid familiarity with the Cooper as well as a proven history of avid attendence in the sport for several seasons. So it's important to hold their opinions in some regard.

That said, unlike Jiminy Creek-it or Ellingferd who are at a skill and experience level where they can cassually run the Cooper higher, many attendees of the Cooper are not as experienced. The Cooper is for many a stepping stone or, heheh, a "step ladder" kind of run. It is also user-friendly for the weekend warrior who wants to keep creeking more manageble. Boating it at some of Ellingferd's prefered flows might chomp some of these paddlers if the step out of line at, say, Norm's Resort or S-Turn.

Yet another factor is the boat one is paddling. Remember me in my off-the-couchier days, Jiminy Creek-it? When you and I did the Cooper kinda high? We had that sketchy scout at S-Turn and you saved me from slipping right off that slimy rock into the hole...
Ok- I admit I was gripped that day even though most of the run was just fine. But Norm's was stomping too.
The Diablo is a fine kayak but its edgier. Slicey dicey pointy. About 67 gallons, I think.

Man, an 80 gallon Shiva like I got now would eat that sh*t up at those same flows, especially with the jP that is driving it these days. Seat time makes a huge difference.

All this to come full circle to say that the whole flow range is good, one's personal preference is good, and should be appropriate for where you are at w/ your paddling game. 'Cuz it fluctuates. If you paddle as much as Ellingferd on the types of runs he does, you probably want more juice too. I know I do. But take me outta my boat for a few months, or take away my years of river time, and I'd have to back off the spigot accordingly. Because I don't like high water swims (unless its a highwater swim I already took and survived).

a little off topic but i heard the Cle elum is free of wood. so if one found the coop too roosty they could run the cle. this info is third party but likely reliabl. cheers.

Good quote. "If you love a run, and more water." That a good rule to play by for the most part... as long as you can account for terminal holes...

I think I'm heading out that way Chris. I'll be rallying up the wifey, so she'll be with me. Should be a killer weekend.

Ill be out there all day thursday. Looks like it should be primo.