Make note that the Salmon la Sac slalom and downriver events are June 6-7. Like the Ball, might be better to do a different weekend. In addition, even if snowmelt is early, the cooper is likely to be too high for regular folks to run that weekend. The later you do it, the more people will be able to run it under 1200 (I don't care about the flow so much, but like being as inclusive as possible)

Edited by chipmaney - 27 Mar 2014 at 4:12pm

This is not a thread about planning an event. I just want to hear when folks think the inflow will be in this range with the cooper being the primary contributor. To be honest I am not planning an event at all but I do plan to invite folks to join me when I go and that be around a 2k flow for optimal smiles and piles.

It did two years ago......

What say you guys about a good progression for running the Cooper?  What is a good first-timer level?

1400, IMO a little better padded out. And a better "all inclusive flow for me at least- I'm not sure I'd rally for it at 1200. Then again maybe I'm still not familiar enough w/ the cooper guage but I thought 1200 was boney. Seemed to me that 1400 was a good medium. Not pushy, not too boney.

For example, "The Butt Buster Boof" is a little fluffier for your duff with that extra 200 cfs. Not to mention that the lil' "Boost-A-Boof" in the approach to Norm's is like a delicate, dainty european pastry.
You also get less stern slam boofing the taller ledges with that little bit of extra juice.

As far as which weekends its gonna go off, ect.
Well I just think it is way too early yet for such speculation. A lot can and will happen between now and then, as far as weather patterns go. Lots of back and forth yet.

Edited by jP - 27 Mar 2014 at 9:24am

Im just dreaming about that boof flake above Norm's. I cant wait for Cooper season.

Nothing like sitting in the Eddy below Norm's and then seeing your buddy rise up above the horizon line, disappear and then come flying down the slide.

I find that in early melt years China Gorge is out by June 6. if it's to be early melt, then Cooper should be in by then.

Drove up to Salmon La Sac yesterday and there is still a ton of snow up there. Thought with all this warm weather we've been having in Ellensburg that we might be able to get in to the Coop early this year. Not yet though! Definitely stoked to get back in there.

Has a Cooper Race been brought to the table yet? Considering the run only takes 10 minutes if you rally at flows around 1500, it would be a pretty sweet venue for a two person team style event. After racing the Wind and with the NWCC and Robe races coming up, racing has been on my mind. Not that I have any intention of winning any of these events, its still cool to see the paddling community gather in the masses. The Cooper would be a sweet, relatively easy, early summer addition to the race series. Any thoughts?