white water ????

Dan Christopher · 11-19-2002, 07:26 PM

ok you white water buffs i got a bet going with a buddy and i am wondering if i can get an answer here.

white water class of rapids.. class 1 2 3 4 5
whats the lowest(no rapids)?
whats the sandy( below oxbow)??
whats the clackamas(below the dam)??
whats the wilson (below the guide shop)?

come on i got 25 bucks rideing on this.

please only answer if you ( know)..

WheresMyBobber · 11-19-2002, 07:35 PM

Class 1 is the lowest.

Sandy below Oxbow, 2.

Clackamas below the Dam, 3 maybe.

Wilson , 2.

This is my opinion based on "normal" fishing levels.

I can give you a text book definition of the classifications if you call or email me at work tomorrow.

Dan Christopher · 11-19-2002, 07:43 PM

great i win..he he he .thanks bud this is good enough. i got them all right.thanks again...

Rock Stick or Fish · 11-19-2002, 07:57 PM

I don't know if they have a drift-boat equivalent, but for kayakers ther is a book called "Soggy Sneakers" that has put ins and take outs for many of Oregon's creeks and streams along with difficulty and things to look out for.

RSF

[ 11-19-2002, 08:59 PM: Message edited by: Rock Stick or Fish ]

Rock Stick or Fish · 11-19-2002, 08:03 PM

Mciver down 2+
Oxbow down 1+

Lower Wilson isn't rated, but from mm15 to mm8 its very dependent on water levels 2+ to 4.

Soggy Sneakers rates their rapids pretty low.

RSF

24 on/ 48 off · 11-19-2002, 08:31 PM

Whoah!

Time out. The Narrows (falls) at MP 13.5 are UNRUNNABLE in a DB.

--spud-- :smile:

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 11-19-2002, 08:41 PM

What I found

"Class A: Lake water. Still. No perceptible movement. met. Even nor

Class I.- Easy. Smooth water; light riffles; clear passages, occasional sand banks and gentle curves. The most difficult problems might arise when paddling around bridges and other obvious obstructions. classification

Class II.- Moderate. Medium-quick water; rapids with regular waves; clear and open passages between rocks and ledges. Maneuvering required. Best handled by intermediates who can maneuver canoes and read water.

Class III.- Moderately difficult. Numerous high and irregular waves; rocks and eddies with passages clear but narrow and requiring experience to run. Visual inspection required if rapids are unknown. Open canoes without flotation bags will have difficulty. These rapids are best left to canoeists with expert skills.

Class IV- Difficult. Long and powerful rapids and standing waves; souse holes and boiling eddies. Powerful and precise maneuvering required. Visual inspection mandatory. Cannot be run in canoes unless the craft is decked or properlyequipped with flotation bags. Advance preparations for possible rescue work important.

Class V- Extremely difficult. Long and violent rapids that follow each other almost without interruption. River filled with obstructions. Big drops and violent currents. Extremely steep gradient. Even reconnoitering may be difficult. Rescue preparations mandatory. Can be run only by top experts in specially equipped whitewater canoes, decked craft, and kayaks.

Class VI.- Extraordinarily difficult. Paddlers face constant threat of death because of extreme danger. Navigable only when water levels and conditions are favorable. This violent whitewater should be left to paddlers of Olympic ability. Every safety precaution must be taken. "

I believe that a anything 5 or higher you must wear a helmet in Oregon

Rock Stick or Fish · 11-19-2002, 08:51 PM

Yeah. what's runnable in a kayak can certainly be off limits in a drift boat. And that is a really good point when to have in mind when you look at a kayaking book for your drifting info.

"This is a good time to stop and scout the narrows -class 3+ at moderate flows- because a swim at the first drop might mean a swim through the narrow slot that is only about 6 feet wide."

The only time I seriously considered running the Wilson in my Kayak the water was really high 15-17ft and the guy who knew the river was looking a bit manic. My boat never went in the water that day.

RSF

Dan Christopher · 11-19-2002, 08:53 PM

thanks ***

i guess you are good for something

:grin: just playing...... thanks again

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 11-19-2002, 09:07 PM

Madwizerd

you so funny... [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] :grin:

Flatfish · 11-19-2002, 09:14 PM

Wiz,
what *** said.
Sandy below Oxbow

.

I thought upper McCeiver was a class 4. But I am wrong most of the time so don't take it to heart.

Lower Wilson-Hmm how do you classify bumper boats. What class is it if you have no less than 17 boats to dodge in every hole? Is a driftboat considered an obstruction of it is pulling plugs? Or only if it is at anchor?
Hope ya win that 25.
Mark and the dog.

[ 11-19-2002, 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Flatfish ]

Dan Christopher · 11-19-2002, 09:31 PM

ya *** is a good guy he is just so fun to pick on. :tongue:

flat fish

Quote:

Lower Wilson-Hmm how do you classify bumper boats. What class is it if you have no less than 17 boats to dodge in every hole?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">we were talking about that too..some times i guess it could be a 4 with all the boats.

i said lower sandy 1
oxbow down 2
dodge to oxbow 3-4 wont see me there

lower clack most 1-2 with some spots pushing 3 depending on flows

wilson 1-2 without all the boats on a saterday morning in dec.with the boats sometimes much higher depending on how many idiats are in them.
:shocked:

ampersat · 11-20-2002, 05:58 AM

as seen from the soggy sneakers index found online:

sandy oxbow to dabney: class 1
clackamas mciver to barton: class 2
wilson MP15 to MP8: 2.3 (not sure where the guide shop run starts on a map)

Flatfish · 11-20-2002, 06:59 AM

Amp, the Wilson's highest put in ( for a driftboat) is Vanderzandens at MP 9. I have been told there is a slide around Kansas Creek. Not sure if it is true let alone how to get there.The guide shop is a days drift from Vanderzandens.
The Clack thing throws me. I have heard some colored stories from friends about McCeiver. I guess I'll have to run it and see for myself.
Mark and the dog.

NEUTRON · 11-20-2002, 07:24 AM

Hey Mad Wiz, no pipeline for you???? Ya big weener, even my tupperware boat has done that....once.

Flatfish · 11-20-2002, 07:30 AM

Tupperware. Ha ha. Thats a good one. Now I think I will run the pipeline too. Might as well. Hey FWF,you have run this stuff before e-mail me .
Mark and the gooseinator(except he is staying at home on sat,but he don't know it yet.Shhhh) dog.

gottawayagain · 11-20-2002, 07:56 AM

I heard the minefield below McIver is class 3. I ran it this summer at about 10.5 and would NOT recommend it. I new it was going to be rough when the boat I asked for advice said "head straight for the boat wrapped around the rock and the pull left". Not a pretty sight at that low of water. Needless to say, I'll be putting in below from here on out. No damage, but a couple of thunderous booms against the bottom of my DB.

foxer · 11-20-2002, 08:07 AM

Even in the summer Mciver is a 3+. I have rafted the Wilson in the spring and if I remember right, there were some that were at least a 2-3. I have done the thompson up in BC and hit a few 4's and a 5'. Serious pucker factor..but fun. Dont know if Iwould want to do that big in a DB though

Rock Stick or Fish · 11-20-2002, 09:28 AM

Pipeline would be REALLY exciting in a driftboat. In my kayak I'd always try to eddy out left before running it... On the other hand if you miss that eddy you'd be in SERIOUS trouble(Its fun watching your friends get stuck... In kayaks). I'd walk down and pick a point in the middle and hit it as fast as I could, maybe boof the drift boat off a rock at the top and try to hit the pool below nice and even. Come to think of it... I might not do it at all.

McIver is 2+. Level 2 skills but it looks harder. At the upper boat ramp the initial rapid can be pretty exciting(I might call it 3 if I weren't a gnarly Oregon boater), miss the big rock on the right. Later take the time to plot a course through the garden well before you get into it(I've seen people stuck there too).

RSF

Miss B Haven · 11-20-2002, 09:40 AM

24 on/ 48 off - The falls are runnable in a drift boat, lots of folks have done it. :whazzup: The thing is not all of them made it any farther (at least not while still in the boat!) :shocked: :grin:

PS - I remember hearing a rumor years ago (15?) that Buzz R. lost a boat on the bottom here.

[ 11-20-2002, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Dan Christopher · 11-20-2002, 10:04 AM

NEUTRON
you went though the pipeline shoot. ya right .

.i would love to do that even row it but not in my boat its to nice..so who on this board has an old **** that we can all play and take turns going over that spot to get are practice. :whazzup: any body want to step up here?? :grin:

does any one on this board run the pipeline to oxbow drift????come on e mail me i wanna go this year.

ampersat · 11-20-2002, 10:17 AM

there was a guy last year that would pull into the ramp at oxbow in an aluminum drifter. it was pretty beat up to begin with so i guess he didn't mind beating it some more. mostly, you'll just see the big catarafts pulling in. maybe clackacraft would let you have an old *** they'd let go of cheap to bang up on that hole. if anyone wants to try it, i'll take pictures.

NEUTRON · 11-20-2002, 01:21 PM

Hey Mad Wiz, the warden is lookin for ya. Did ya bust out long ago ? Violate parole? :grin:

:tongue:

Dan Christopher · 11-20-2002, 06:10 PM

ya ,i got it and sent one back at him."you will never take me alive warden".

hey,i did know of a guy once that got a ticket for "molesting salmon". :shocked: :whazzup:

( snagging in washington)...:boy you guys got a dirty mind..but the ticket said "molesting salmon"right on it.does that make him a fishafile? :grin:

NEUTRON

i just think it would be a fun little float for some winter drift fishing.after you take the plunge.i will meet you at pipeline and you can pick me up. :grin:

[ 11-20-2002, 07:16 PM: Message edited by: MADWIZERD ]

Flatfish · 11-20-2002, 08:31 PM

Well that blows the pipeline idea.why go to the trouble when ya can't fish from the boat.If I wanted that, I'd go to the Deschutes. Upper Mcceiver will get run this year, so if ya wanna go Wiz, I will call you after I get down it the first time. Unless you want to be my front seat guinea pig?
The nice part of having a clunker beat up drifter is you don't care if ya scratch her. Just get to the stupid fish.I'll keep ya posted when I figure out the levels and such.
Mark and the dog.

NEUTRON · 11-20-2002, 11:27 PM

It ain't that bad, just do it in high water. ya can't fish from a boat so why bother. I don't think it is worth it myself unless you were planning on bobber fishin for springers. I don't plan on doing it again soon, but for you Dan; I might make an exception.........The Sane
or insane Wiz.

Wardendog · 11-20-2002, 11:39 PM

Hey Madwizerd,
Did you get my email a couple of days ago?

Dan Christopher · 11-21-2002, 12:17 AM

me a guinea pig??? im game.let me know

Captjohn · 11-21-2002, 06:59 AM

Everyone please be careful, I hate to post a class rating but I can say,

2001 Water Rescue totals

5 - McIver to Barton
10 - Barton to Carver
6 - Carver to Riverside
14 - Riverside to Clackamette

6 - (Sandy) Dodge Park to Oxbow
7 - (Willamette) Falls to Portland
4 - (Mollala) Fryer to Wagonwheel

Everyone be safe!
Captain Oliver

Mad Mikey · 11-21-2002, 12:06 PM

The guy on the Sandy in the old aluminum is probably crazy Leo the garbage man. #1, he is very good, #2, he always goes alone. #3, he has sunk his boat three times at Pipeline.
Dodge down is best for rafts. I do it occasionally in my 8ft Southfork but I always eddy out above pipeline and walk it around, that's almost a guaranteed flipper in a little boat.
Upper McIver rapid is no big deal, looks worse than it is, approach on far right, make the first drop, yank hard to miss the big hole on the right and go right down the middle.
That rapid used to be scary at the bottom in flows over 3400cfs or do but last year about 6 or 7ft of the right bank got chewed out and filled the bottom of the rapid up. I did it once about 2 years ago at 4000cfs and the bottom trench was HUGE!!! Pushing through the bottom I had the DB vertical twice, guys in the front hanging on to the bow to keep from falling on me. But now, even in higher flows the bottom is very smooth.
I'd have to give the minefield at least a 3, water 3000cfs or above you can sneak right down the left bank, make sure you've got the rods laying down because you'll be going under trees.
I've seen guys run the center of it but I never have tried. Easier to just walk the boat down the left side and save some wear and tear on it.
I've flipped a raft once(see avatar!) and plan on never flipping any craft I'm rowing again. Testosterone is not a good replacement for common sense.

ssteelheadsteve · 11-21-2002, 07:50 PM

Hey Mikey, be careful who you call crazzy !
Leo is a friend of mine from way back. We were running DB's through the pipeline hole BEFORE most of you knew what a DB was.
Leo's boat was BORN at the bottom of the Pipeline hole. Crazy not. Fearless
OH YEAH !

Beaver1 · 11-28-2002, 07:33 PM

Okay, I have to come clean on this topic.

I have started drift boating the fall of 2000. Well, after one fall, winter and spring on the river I started to feel pretty confident on the oars. It was early summer/ late spring of 2001 and wanted to try the Sandy. Hadn't EVER floated anywhere on it before but had heard there were fish in the river and it was a nice weekend. So I buddy of mine and my girlfriend decide to try the dodge to oxbow drift, cause fish were suppose to be higher in the system. The river was extreamly low, but we put in anyway. We barely managed to get to just above the pipeline shute with the river that low. I saw what we were in for.... :shocked: :shocked:
So I pull off to the side and after about an hour of deliberation and looking for a runnable route we decided it wasn't possible at that time. I was confident on the oars, but is just didn't seem possible. You were going to be pushed directly at some boulders and then needed to make a hard right while droping 3 or 4 feet. All that with no water to get your oars to bite into. So....I swallowed my pride :depressed: and we drug the boat back up river. You ever trided to push a 16 foot drift boat 1/4mile UP river? If it hadn't been so funny I think my friends would have killed me. But regardless to say, my boat still floats and we are still alive. :grin:

So....sure would love to try it when the waters a bit higher...