Re: Deschutes
Jim, I haven't run the Deschutes in years, but I've done it countless times back when guiding it thru the 80's. If it hasn't changed much, and you have the proper boat, skill, and knowledge of the river you can run it in a sled from the mouth almost up to a ways below Shear's Falls. You can tow your sled down a long rough gravel road from the Maupin area and launch at the Mack's Canyon ramp, and the rapids both up and down from there are not as difficult to run as the lower several miles up from the mouth. It is among the most challenging of whitewater rivers to sled because it has so many boulders, many of which are difficult to see or read in the whitewater. There is also a lot of slabrock just below the surface that also can be hard to see or read. Some of the manuvers required to get around boulders in the larger rapids must be done quickly in heavy hydraulics. If you know what you are doing and take the time to park your boat and thoroughly scout rapids, both going up and before running back down them, you will do alright. That's how I learned it long ago. Going with a local guide will speed up the learning curve considerably. - Great river and great fishing! I stopped going after some foot operations, which made the mandatory hiking and wading less worth it. Good luck and wear your lifejackets! - RT
[This message has been edited by RT (edited 07-25-2000).]
|
Linear Mode
