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johnz1967

Glacier from the hand tram down is clear. For those that like the entertainment of adding in the Crow fyi there is a nasty full-width strainer just upstream from the hand tram that blends in well with the canyon wall. Exiting left is doable if done before the drop into it.

johnz1967

Probably widely known since it apparently happened sometime last year, but the woodpile at campground rapids has grown and took out the river right opening, with the river left opening a bit sketchy.

johnz1967

If you haven't seen it already, my post of runs done a couple years ago is viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5276

johnz1967

FYI there are some issues with access at what was the normal take-out (atv trail at bottom of steep hill on Yoder). Apparently that was private property and the new owner is apparently building a home/cabin as there is a driveway, a chain, and NT signs in place of that atv trail. Further downstream ...

johnz1967

Best info I could find online is a Icelandic WhiteWater custom google map https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Wf5q9tawx5uU9vB-fNORRVLyXSQ&hl=en_US . From what I could tell, and perhaps influenced by the high spring melt water encountered, the creator was not loose with class grading. So even s...

johnz1967

Campground rapids is now do-able, water seemed to raise up a few inches overnight. Expect a bit of butt-scooting and rock ping pong, but not a terrible amount. The right chute is the only one that allows for uninterrupted paddling. Just did multiple runs only of CG, looked like anything above would ...

johnz1967

Done it for short distances when somebody gets tired or wants a break paddling. Shouldn't be a problem for the most part on flat water. The only times it might get annoying is if, assuming the towed raft is lighter overall, there is a tailwind and the towed raft wants to overtake yours getting in th...

johnz1967

I have a predecessor to the Fjord Explorer that was retrofitted with a spray deck. The spray deck zips completely off if desired. I'm guessing that is how it would be with a new one straight from the factory, but double check that with them. I like the bigger size, to me it is more stable in ww, in ...

johnz1967

Have two older Alpackas still in use. One is from back when they came out of Sheri's shed off 36th and when the big one was called the "Row'r" (2005 or 06), retrofitted with a spray-deck, primarily used for mini-expeditions carrying gear or a bike. The other is from just after the move (2007 or 08?)...

johnz1967

So I'll post what I know now as it seems like earlier intel had disappeared. Red-gate to Shirley Town section... Put-in: Drive with the famed red-gate, left side as coming up HP road from Willow, approx 6.5 mi in, 3/4 mile past Susitna Sled and Kayak (which is on the right). This is private property...

johnz1967

Thanks!

johnz1967

Couldn't find any recent willow updates on here (correct me if I'm blind) for the red-gate to shirley bridge section. Anything new? Specifically access on the pvt prop at redgate and strainers, sweepers, and other things that might try to kill us.

johnz1967

also women's med drysuit. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kokotat-Drysuit ... 1344607412?

johnz1967

I listed an extra raft on eBay. Apologies, and I will remove, if posting that here is uncool. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpacka-Pack-Raft-/191344601078?

johnz1967

Ran last Thursday. Nenana @ Healy was 10.3 and I noticed the water was moderately low at the takeout pre-hike, thought it was going to be pretty bony boring higher up, but not to fear. Certainly not death-defying but 90 mintues of splish-splash entertainment. Minimal butt scraping. Hiked from Riley ...

johnz1967

The answer is: wide open! Thank you (presumably) chain-saw fairies or Mother Nature. Touch of wood about 100 feet down from where the footbridge used to be, a piece of steel railing or something in the middle just as the canyon closes in, otherwise all good. This really puts the icing back on the ca...

johnz1967

Does anybody know if this jam-up got cleared in the past year? Or got worse? If not will try to scout it from the bluff if possible today.

johnz1967

Did Juneau's Eagle River today. Hiked up Amalga Trail about 4 miles, bushwhacked a few hundred feet just past where the trail gets close to the river again after skirting around the swampy area. I don't know conditions above that point or whether can put in at the lake and start there, "Falls" on my...

johnz1967

Ran this last night just as the water was rising from the ice-dam breakup, around 10 on the Loop Bridge gage. Didn't have many rocks to worry about as they were almost all washed out, nice large (for a packraft) waves. Put in at the glacier via the ice-cave trail, minimized time at the glacier due t...

johnz1967

There is one freshly downed tree in the right chute at Campground Rapids. Its not very big, but it is strategically located. A two-man crew approaching from the "other" side with safety rope and a handsaw could make short work of it. I had no problems getting to the left chute with today's low water...

johnz1967

if i thought Montana would be a little mellow at a moderately low 5.24 on a nice sunny fall day (Friday Oct 4) for somebody that has run it a few times already, I was sorely mistaken. Rocks come out to play havoc with maintaining balance and direction. Upside down entering the canyon, had to abandon...

johnz1967

I think my knowledge of the area along with internet searching already gives me the answer, but I'll throw this out there.. Looking for a day trip around Sedona, during fall (yeah, I know, dry season, this is going downhill quickly), class iii -ish. Maybe Flagstaff area? Most of what I see in Kayake...

johnz1967

Hey, for those familiar with the Crow put-in of this run (about 1/2 mile above the hand tram) and the footbridge to a mining camp that was at the put-in point, that footbridge apparently managed to get washed away during the spring floods. It has now set up shop as the focal point to a full width bl...

johnz1967

Some additional notes, including those from a raft on bike shuttle to bike on raft float perspective... Contrary to hopes of high terrain tundra to bike or hike on, the area around Paxson Lake is full scale brush so the only realistic access from the Paxson Campground to the outlet is to paddle. To ...

johnz1967

Six mile is open for business, first canyon anyway, no non-naviagable wood. Low water either made for holes I don't remember from higher levels, or I still suck at this. Anyway, it owned me (again). But it didn't feel life-threatening, and I think you better paddlers than me (just about everyone) ou...

johnz1967

Add Echo Bend rapids to the list of things still with snow bridges on them. Upstream is (mostly) clear, although buttscraping low in places, for anyone wanting a leisurely hike and float. Hike up from ERNC not too mucky. Hiked to Icicle Creek today but didn't see any reason why even further up would...

johnz1967

I can unhappily report that as of today, April 25, Sixmile is nowhere near doable. Was hoping to shake the rust off in some low water conditions, and the scouting at the put-in gave me hope, but there is still much snow covering it in the first canyon section. Still maybe two weeks out (pure guess o...

johnz1967

Not being able to follow conventional wisdom, I hatched a plan to get to Knik Glacier via an "easy" route of parking at the old bridge, biking the nice paved Knik road until it ends, and walking/riding/whatever up the drainage from there. Everything went splendidly early, obviously the pavement bike...

johnz1967

Hats off. Simply amazing photos and I doubt they do justice to reality. These guys ever in the same bar as me they can keep their wallets in back pockets. Hope the kayaker ok and gets back on the horse.

johnz1967

Will have a couple of days in October in Tacoma, WA (Gig Harbor to be specific). Won't have time to do an all-day expedition, but wondering if there's anything short, sweet, and close to that area. Just in case the packraft makes it into my luggage and it convinces me to ditch family activities.

johnz1967

I can't add anything to the trail situation other than two things: I think any ATV trail in that area is going to be a bog-fest and be cognizant of private property in that area, especially some of the hunting/fishing camps. Its been a few years since http://packrafting.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&...

johnz1967

After having a place down the road for a few years now, multiple hiking/scouting missions, and at least one episode of chickening out at the put-in while staring at the falls, I finally summoned enough courage or stupidity to put on my big-boy pull-ups and introduced my own (lame) version of "paddli...

johnz1967

Your up to the minute report.. Water level is at a definite heartrate raising sweetspot, about 26.7 today. FWIW reminder you are missing out on the best part of this run if you put in at the handtram (although that is the safer option). From an unmarked trail-pointer post about a 1/2 mile up from th...

johnz1967

Hey Roman (if he's listening) or anybody... Kennicott/Nizina/Chitina (takeout at Chitina), particularly the Kennicott/Nizina part. Bike-on-raft friendly or a bit too sporting? Trying to avoid a 1/2 day drive just to retrieve a bike at Mccarthy. I don't mind swimming (not that I really want my bike t...

johnz1967

drats

johnz1967

Middle Fork... from the falls. Anybody beat me to this? (I know, stupid question with this crowd but maybe...) Short teaser http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2juSTrbfRY. Left most undone for a future day with more time for scouting (and bushwhacking). Big drop from the first pool may be runnable if on...

johnz1967

4-5 hours is probably a good estimate of float time for a packraft, as stated above headwinds would throw that out the window.

johnz1967

Just a little report on the last section of the Chulitna since at least the two books I reference don't have much on this section, calling it a take-out for likely more adventurous runs upriver. Was looking for a mellow relaxing day trip to shake the winter rust off and this fit the bill. Nearest ga...

johnz1967

Hiked along the rapids from the campsite up to the bend today. Water level is of course low, but the channel is snow free and for the most part appeared runnable except for the opening boulder garden. I wished I had my raft with me, actually looked like fun, in a ha-ha fairlly safe rock avoidance ki...

johnz1967

Just rode my bike to the cg to scout. CG rapids is now open, and both chutes are probably (barely) runnable, but looks like a lot of rock avoidance and general scraping and scooting. The approach looked even worse for rock scraping. Maybe more fun by weekend or next week?

johnz1967

Just a little update, ran today at around 26. Bloody perfect. The 2-3 minutes above the tram hard to beat for ease of access and closeness to the city for a sweet little intermediate ride. One fairly new sweeper just above hand tram (visible from scouting around the tram overlook) blocking 3/4 of th...

johnz1967

Thanks Tim! That helps me make up my mind. Hate constant entry/exit!! Really looked sweet from the trail, but I figured something that small in a heavily forested area couldn't be all good.

johnz1967

Just went "biking" up Johnson Pass (still a bit of snow on Anchorage side). Seems like the same melting snow and high water level affecting the six-mile festival could be making Bench and Center creeks up the Pass possibilities. Lower parts of Bench (along the trail) looked definitely do-able and fr...

johnz1967

Tonsina Trip Report, Squirrel Creek (Richardson Hwy) to Edgarton Hwy: May 24-25, gauge about 8.4 (low-moderate). Shuttle is 22 miles, enjoyable biking. River mileage 25 per Embick. Having only Embick's book for beta, I assumed that early season water flow would make for a casual splashy camping trip...

johnz1967

With some of the saddest displays of creek paddling ever put on display, along with a 100 foot portage around the most marginal of the rock strainers near the beginning, I pronounce echo bend rapids open for business for the spring. Even with the low water levels, there's enough force going through ...

johnz1967

Thanks for (inadvertently) helping me out. When I found out it was still winter at my planned float trip, needed an emergency substitute. Always wanted to do Kenai but not while playing "hookie" with the combat fishing crowd. Didn't know fishing was closed month of May. Made a nice bike up from Hidd...

johnz1967

Questions for those that have done the roll (congrats btw)? Think its possible with gear strapped on top? How much harder, if any, is it to "escape" if need be with the straps and such on? Opinions on actual usability in ww situations? ie pr doesn't glide through stuff like a kayak might, more bounc...

johnz1967

While being in a group has a huge advantage for rescue/first aid/bears/etc, I think in some regards, boating alone can be safer. You go at a pace that is comfortable to you, scout what you want to scout, and portage what you think should be portaged. Your concentration might be a bit more focused wi...

johnz1967

Hadn't looked lately to see if its open, maybe the Knik from the old bridge to the new? I don't have any winter pr experience so I am clueless to any additional concerns/hazards, but I am curious also.

johnz1967

If possible, and haven't to my knowledge met either one, can I defend both parties? From somebody who is trying every kind of exercise and physical therapy possible to get a bum knee to a working point of being able to even think about doing what is a major dream of mine, the wilderness classic, I c...

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