IciWatch 2010!!!
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9367
Printed Date: 04 Nov 2025 at 12:37am
Topic: IciWatch 2010!!!
Posted By: jP
Subject: IciWatch 2010!!!
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2010 at 6:21pm
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So with the incredibly minimal snowpack on the eastside this year, we should make a community effort to watch Icicle like hawks.
It may go off early, and it may be breif. I've been talking to many folks who are expressing more interest in Icicle than they have in the past-- a lot of boaters have been improving their skills and want to sample this Gourmet chunk of boulder strewn whitewater.
So:
--Leavenworth Locals, we need you to keep the beta pipeline open and keep us apprised, if you'd be so kind. Maybe you could even make an extra effort to drive up and take a peak more often than you otherwise might, sooner than you might have--we'd love ya for it.
--Tumwater Commuters: maybe you can budget a little extra time to drive past Exit and go take a peak?
--And Leif- you said you were going there this past weekend. Got any beta for us?
The other thing I'll mention here:
Ici is one of my favorite runs in Central Washington. This time of year I always start lookin forward to the dry climate, sunshine, warmer temps, and fun whitewater.
I've gotten pretty familiar with most of the crik- so I'm extending an open invite to those of you who are interested in checking it out if you haven't already. I'd be happy to lead some people down for their first time. Get a hold of me if you are interested. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Replies:
Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2010 at 7:43pm
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Ha ha ah, oh boy, here it comes, I'm predicting more carnage this year than years past on my favorite carnage making rio. JP- open invites of this sort just seem out of step with your usual backwoods ways, mmm..... At anyrate, looking forward to seeing that carnage factor go up... heck it will likely be me again, but I'm sure others are listed ------------- |
Posted By: RemAcct2
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2010 at 9:12pm
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I did go look at Icicle on Saturday, before we went climbing. I don't have a good gauge on Ricochet, but it looked low but runnable. Upper Icicle needs another 20-30% more flow to be runnable. Based on differential between plain and peshastin gauges, it seems that several weeks ago there was more water coming in through Icicle, but now icicle has backed off a bit and more water is coming down from the upper inflow. There was still snow on both icicle FR and mountain home road, and still plenty of snow near the rive banks on icicle. ------------- |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2010 at 2:48pm
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cool-thanks Leif for the update.
Haha- yeah, Mike, your Humor isn't lost on me, I hear ya. Let me clarify my "invitation":
Those interested in taking me up on my offer should contact me before hand and we'll go form there. The fine print is that I obviously won't be leading down a huge pack of driftwood. 1 or 2 budding IV+ paddlers at a time, at lower flows, with another experienced paddler or two to help keep the ducks in a row.
The thing is, if you run UPPER Ici at lower flows, like 4000-5000 on the Wenatchee @ Peshsatin gauge, it's generally pretty mangeable. The water is moving slower, flowing between the granite boulders (that are normally covered over when I like to run it) and the greenwater pools and eddies are more abundant. You can portage Roadside Attraction and Log Limbo if you want.
Seriously if you have a solid roll and are no stranger to Low water Tumwater and B.D. on the Sky, Upper Ici isn't unreasonable at the lower flows. That said, it is incumbant upon those looking to "step it up" to do their homework on the run. And they should be driving up there to scout it in advance before I show up, so that they already know it's what they want to do. (Rather than just boating the lower Wenatchee, or Low water Tum, then getting in there car to drive back to the city or whatever--you gotta do a little footwork on your own.)
There's a lot of good class IV on Ici if you have the right flows.
Of course, nothing beats Upper Ici when the Wenatchee is 8000 or so! But then it's booming pretty good!! More like class V... (you don't wanna swim- it'll be a long one!) ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: RemAcct2
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2010 at 5:43pm
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If you are rejected because you are "driftwood" or lacking in "talent", call me...I know the lines on upper and lower...
------------- |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2010 at 6:17pm
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Oh Leif! Let's at least try to not perpetuate negativity at each chance we get, hmm? At least don't muddy the waters with implications and things you've misconstrued. Nowhere on Ici is there a place for "Driftwood". In other words, you do need to paddle. Occassionally you need to paddle hard. Floaters need not apply. And "Talent" is what you want with you any time you are running something that might be at the upper edges of your ability: someone who REALLY knows the lines. Someone who WILL look out for you and can rescue you and/or retrieve your gear should you swim. I like to surround myself with good hands on the river whenever I'm running anything that remotely sketches me out. But hey, folks can pick whoever they want to follow down the river. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: dave
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2010 at 6:39pm
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I like to float and then let the river take me where it will. Floating in space so peaceful is the beat-down I shall receive upon entering the no-boof zone.
------------- Nomad |
Posted By: RemAcct2
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2010 at 7:23pm
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Dave, you can always boat with me.
------------- |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2010 at 1:41pm
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Bump. Just a reminder-- Ice Ice Baby is just around the corner! ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: chipmaney
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2010 at 2:58pm
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Not sure if I am interpreting this correctly, but snowpack looks to be slightly better on the central east side (75-100%) than the west side of the Cascade. Again, not sure what this means for Icicle, as the map below is not that specific.... The Olympics have well above-average snowpack this year....might be the year to hit those snowmelt driven rivers on the Oly, although I am not sure which rivers those are, if any....In addition, south looks better than central and north....looks like rivers draining Rainier and Hood might be near normal?  ------------- sitting all alone on a mountain by a river that has no end |
Posted By: chipmaney
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2010 at 3:11pm
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also....who wants to boat new mexico? ------------- sitting all alone on a mountain by a river that has no end |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:01am
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Went for a quick drive up there yesterday. Here is a look at Limbo at 1,580cfs @ Peshastin. The Upper was way too low and the Middle Section looked was definitely too low and the tree is still and issue. The tree is located across the first ledge of the boulder garden above the Flume
Limbo - - http://professorpaddle.com/media/photoview.asp?File_Id=5153 Log - - http://professorpaddle.com/media/photoview.asp?File_Id=5003 ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:02am
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The links don't work. I seem to have issues with link and this site so you will have to cut and paste. ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:08am
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Try these(maybe):
http://professorpaddle.com/uploads/bin/2/useruploads/423/5153.jpg http://professorpaddle.com/uploads/bin/2/useruploads/423/5003.jpg Mongo need computer lessons... ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:26am
| Where is that second photo taken with the log across the river? |
Posted By: chipmaney
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:31am
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Originally posted by H2Ohta Went for a quick drive up there yesterday. Here is a look at Limbo at 1,580cfs @ Peshastin. The Upper was way too low and the Middle Section looked was definitely too low and the tree is still and issue. The tree is located across the first ledge of the boulder garden above the Flume Limbo - %20 - http://professorpaddle.com/media/photoview.asp?File_Id=5153 Log - %20 - http://professorpaddle.com/media/photoview.asp?File_Id=5003 see above, james ------------- sitting all alone on a mountain by a river that has no end |
Posted By: chipmaney
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:33am
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it's supposed to be 73 in leavenworth friday....maybe that will be enough to bump up flows for saturday?
------------- sitting all alone on a mountain by a river that has no end |
Posted By: septimus prime
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:41am
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If icicle comes in this weekend, I will make the drive with my mom in tow. Bringing your visiting mom to the river to watch you boat is quality time, right? ------------- Jon Shell Bee |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 7:52am
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The tree is across the first ledge of the boulder garden above the Flume. It fell from the river right side and is river wide with about 1/2 of it under water right now. It is big and solid. Don't think it is going anywhere with out help and since it is under water it is harder to work with. It looks like a left sneak route will clear up will a little help from beavers but the rest will be a lot of work. ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2010 at 8:31am
cool, thanks for the update, Chris! ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2010 at 8:17pm
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Looks like on...
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?PESW1 - http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?PESW1 ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: ch3kayakchem
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2010 at 6:25am
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Just how friendly are the locals to wood chewing “beavers”? I need to get my creek fix (creek boat dry and dusty That being said I have never done icicle. So I would like to do a ELF run with a safari guide/group. I will even bring my beaver teeth. No problem doing getten busy (or S-turn…….grrr). -Thad |
) with two scopes of boulders please. Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2010 at 7:34am
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The only locals that may mind would be the Sherrifs... The tree in the Ricochet Section is going to be a lot of work, likely a full day but I am no logger so it may go faster. If the forecast holds out, I think the Ricochet will be Low by Saturday or Sunday and I bet the Upper will be in by Monday or Tuesday. ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2010 at 7:37am
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Oh, 425-466-8370 give a shout
I can't boat on Monday but Tuesday afternoon or later in the week. Wednesday should be fun and Upper Nason may go next week depending on how things melt. ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: ch3kayakchem
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2010 at 5:08pm
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Hey,
I am in I will call at 7:00 pm or until you pick up the phone.
I am coming from Port Orchard (Bremerton) (541) 760-0926 -Thad
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Posted By: huckin harms
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2010 at 7:35am
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Busted out the rounds on Richochet yesterday ... good low flow. We did a run down thru the Plunge, portaging Horseshoe and spot around boulder drop w wood.
Thanks D1 for ramping up for that first lap! Awesome time Ohta! Way to go Adrian -first time on Icicle and ran all the goodness. Cya next weekend! ------------- |
Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2010 at 8:01am
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Thanks for the run for sure!!! Way to pack in two runs the first day Icicle had water.
As far as the wood goes above the boulder garden, please proceed with caution!!! It is not in play if you are in control and there is actually a little sneak route on the left. STOP and TAKE a look as it would really SUCK to get stuff under a log... ------------- H2Ohta |
Posted By: TastyWaves
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2010 at 10:07am
| Thanks for showing me the lines guys, yesterday was awesome. |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2010 at 10:13am
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Thanks for the news, everyone... I really wanted to get out on Ici as soon as it was going, but lately Robe has been on the front burner. Looks like it'll be at least another week before I get over there. Oh well- no shortage of boof strokes where ever... ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |