Whitewater Forum: Proper Yellowjacket levels??

Proper Yellowjacket levels??

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Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
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URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9372
Printed Date: 15 May 2026 at 5:25pm

Topic: Proper Yellowjacket levels??

Posted By: tiziak
Subject: Proper Yellowjacket levels??
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2010 at 7:55am

There is no data on the river page (for flows). How do you judge levels? Is there another drainage that you can guestimate off of?

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If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616

Replies:

Posted By: JoesKayak
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2010 at 8:11am

I think most folks use the Cispus gage...which most likely doesn't give too great of a comparison but it the best available. On the AW page there's links at the bottom to Cascade Classics trip reports at a variety of levels with photos which gives a nice visual guide.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_2277#zzqhdlvn5p2m8o5RiverMainGadget22

Also I believe those trip reports referred to the old Cispus near Randle gage which is no longer operating.... and it was downstream of yellowjacket. The current Cispus gage is upstream from Yellowjacket, so it reads lower than the old gage. Good luck.

Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2010 at 8:53am

check the bennett book. if i recall, when mccoy is good yellowjacket is low. you might also consult PDX.

Posted By: franzhorner
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2010 at 1:35pm

It depends on the time of year, temps, and snow level. Cispus guage at 2K should be good to go. Above 2500 and you are looking at a burly run....

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MORE RAIN PLEASE

Posted By: tiziak
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2010 at 8:29am

Thanks Franz.

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If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Daniel Patrinellis
360.434.4616

Posted By: franzhorner
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2010 at 1:30pm

I would like to get in there with my cat boat and make a whole weekend of it. I got pummeled in there years ago. Godzilla is no joke at big water.

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MORE RAIN PLEASE

Posted By: wallyworld
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2010 at 2:13pm

Not sure about rain, but we run McCoy during snowmelt when the Cispus is around 3K. Yellowjacket has a nice medium feel at that level. We figured 700-900 cfs visually at the takeout.

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let's go get it

Posted By: jondufay
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2010 at 3:46pm

Here is what I remember from a trip two years ago in the middle of June (average snow pack)...

Mccoy = medium

Johnson = high

Clear Fork Colwitz = high but in

Yellow Jacket = med/med-low

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ahh, f--- it dude, lets go boating...

Posted By: Tobin
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2010 at 4:12pm

Originally posted by jondufay

Here is what I remember from a trip two years ago in the middle of June (average snow pack)...

Mccoy = medium

Johnson = high

Clear Fork Colwitz = high but in

Yellow Jacket = med/med-low

Wait....... Is that Johnny? I thought he was ubducted by aliens?
Must be an impostor!

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Sure?

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