What is a good first-time flow for Robe and Ernies
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=11005
Printed Date: 17 Jan 2026 at 11:46pm
Topic: What is a good first-time flow for Robe and Ernies
Posted By: horton
Subject: What is a good first-time flow for Robe and Ernies
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2011 at 9:11pm
|
I'd like to make a trip up from PDX and hit both here in a week or so. I'm also wondering how those flows would compare to something like the Little White at a medium (~3.2-3.4) flow? Thanks!
|
Replies:
Posted By: jondufay
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2011 at 9:35pm
|
For Robe, 5.2-5.6ft would be reasonable...Cannot comment on Ernies. I live near Robe and am off all summer, so feel free to send me a message if you want to go and run it
Jon
-------------
ahh, f--- it dude, lets go boating...
|
Posted By: JD_G
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2011 at 11:40pm
|
Robe will be pushier than LW at those flows.....more like 3.5...though the lines are wider and less technical. Ernies will also feel pushier.....real flow would be 500 to 600. You could drop that to 400, which will reduce the push, but also not get you as much of the true Ernies experience.
|
Posted By: Ellingferd
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2011 at 1:36pm
|
I agree with the doof. 5.2 to 5.6 are good for first timers who are boating the LW. 5.6 is actually easier, in my opinion. It seems to be harder to stay on line around 5.2 because the currents in rapids seem less linear or straight, if that makes any sense. But, 5.2 is less pushy and less consequential, particularly at Faceplant (btw, run the mainline, dont let anyone talk you into the new middle/right line cop out, unless you dont want the true robe experience).
As for ernies, 400 is doable, acutally totally fine but not the true ernie's experience I suppose. But, even at 400 it is still Ernie's. At 600 be prepared to be real focused from start to finish as it is, I think, harder than the LW (unless you are running everything on the LW, then it is just a different kind of hard). Definitely wouldnt call 600 a first time flow. Toilet Bowl becomes the real deal, maybe others would disagree, but I really dont like that rapid.
|
Posted By: fiddleyak
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2011 at 2:56pm
I'm always telling PDXboaters that you should come to Seattle and hit the Robe/Ernie's combo. It's worth the drive and they are usually both in at the same time, although during snowmelt (like right now) Ernie's runs high while Robe is not too high.
I disagree that the "real" Ernie's experience requires sufficiently high flows. Sure, the run is better at high water, but so is Robe, but noone is saying that you have to run Robe at 6.2 to get the true experience.
350 is a fine first-time flow for Ernie's, and probably the safest, although the chance of pinning in the in between rapids increases. 400-500 is a medium flow.
The cool thing about Ernie's at 600 is you can run Toilet Bowl on the
right. This means I'm actually less nervous putting on at 600 than 500.
It's not done very frequently but it's an easy rappel of a tree on the right if
you want to portage. Toilet Bowl is probably the most consequential
drop on the run.
|
Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 7:45am
Big nasty is the psychological crux for me, at any flow. Dude, 300 is fun, just keep your nose up!
-------------
If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616
|
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 8:43am
|
Originally posted by Ellingferd
I agree with the doof. 5.2 to 5.6 are good for first timers who are boating the LW. 5.6 is actually easier, in my opinion. It seems to be harder to stay on line around 5.2 because the currents in rapids seem less linear or straight, if that makes any sense. But, 5.2 is less pushy and less consequential, particularly at Faceplant (btw, run the mainline, dont let anyone talk you into the new middle/right line cop out, unless you dont want the true robe experience).
[DIV] [/DIV]
[DIV]As for ernies, 400 is doable, acutally totally fine but not the true ernie's experience I suppose. But, even at 400 it is still Ernie's. At 600 be prepared to be real focused from start to finish as it is, I think, harder than the LW (unless you are running everything on the LW, then it is just a different kind of hard). Definitely wouldnt call 600 a first time flow. Toilet Bowl becomes the real deal, maybe others would disagree, but I really dont like that rapid. [/DIV]
Sweet. All these inputs are good, horton. Ellingfords post is packed with insight, as usual. Ben has his preferred perspective but is "fair and balanced" unlike FOX news...
JD's is the voice of experience.
Robe-a-Dobe and L Dubbidy are apples and oranges, or, perhaps, Gnomes and Elves.
One thing is for certain: with such knowledgeable paddlers online to provide some good beta, everyone can be spared the "true jP online experience". Frees me up to boat.
Me n Ici got a date today.
-------------
🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋
|
Posted By: horton
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 9:04am
|
Thanks for the advice, all! Definitely good info. I definitely am keen to run 'em, maybe Robe more so, but Ernie's seems like it's really rad as well. Hopefully I can put a fire under someone's ass down here to make the trek with me within the near future.
|
Posted By: James
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2011 at 9:46am
Horton,
Another piece of advice, you will get naysayers talking mank talk on Robe starting around 5.2 and below but it is still worth running from 4.9-5.2, just not ideal as it is starting to show it's bones. People seem to still run it from 4.7-4.9 but it starts getting that boat bashing feel to it where every rapid seems to make you want to say sorry to your trusty steed. I mention this because when Ernies is at a nice entrance flow Robe might be in those levels and you should still go get it if your up here.
|
|