Tuolumne, 1300 cfs

Report

Account This was a one day trip on the Tuolumne River from Meral's Pool to Ward's Ferry Bridge. Flow was about 1300 cfs which is low but adequate for rafts. For kayakers the flow is very forgiving, though with lots and lots of manuvering. It was relatively easy to eddy hop down almost all of the rapids. In the morning the air was thick with the smoke from the Foresta Fire in Yosemite. The smoke kept the air temperature cool, till late afternoon when hot upstream winds blew the smoke eastward. The water temperature was cold even in late summer. The water travels through tunnels from the high elevation reservoirs and does not get much chance to warm up. Paddling a kayak with only shorty wetsuit over a rash guard shirt, I got cold fairly quickly. Once I put a splash jacket on, I was comfortable again. The rafters were not wearing much of anything. As the air got hotter late in the day, the rafters jumped in the water to cool off. I took just a few pictures to show some rapids and give a sense of the scenery. The cliffs along the river are very pretty and impressive boulders litter many of the rapids. most of the rapids are very busy and many rapids are very long. I did not get any pictures of the really long rapids.
Reporter
Author Of Report
Paul Martzen
Fresno, CA 93728
Phone: 559-441-1383
River
Tuolumne [CA]
4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge IV
low
00h39m
[detail]
Reported Level
Gauge Reading Given 1300 flow
Photos/Videos page 1 of 15

Smokey launch morning

Detail Trip Report  Smokey launch morning  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (784.42KB .jpeg)

Rafts in Rock Garden rapid

Detail Trip Report  Rafts in Rock Garden rapid  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (894.49KB .jpeg)

Rafts in Rock Garden rapid-2

Detail Trip Report  Rafts in Rock Garden rapid-2  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (894.88KB .jpeg)

Final drops of Rock Garden rapid-2

Detail Trip Report  Final drops of Rock Garden rapid-2  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (905.62KB .jpeg)

Wide view of Rock Garden rapid-2

Detail Trip Report  Wide view of Rock Garden rapid-2  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (868.75KB .jpeg)

Two rafts entering Sunderlands Chute

Detail Trip Report  Two rafts entering Sunderlands Chute  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (584.69KB .jpeg)

Meet & Greet in Sunderlands Chute

Detail Trip Report  Meet & Greet in Sunderlands Chute  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (601.59KB .jpeg)

Hey! Let's party in the bottom hole!

Detail Trip Report  Hey! Let's party in the bottom hole!  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (594.31KB .jpeg)

Thread the Needle rapid

Detail Trip Report  Thread the Needle rapid  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (793.09KB .jpeg)

Exit from Thread the Needle rapid

Detail Trip Report  Exit from Thread the Needle rapid  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (863.10KB .jpeg)

Hidden Hole

Detail Trip Report  Hidden Hole  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (875.04KB .jpeg)

Easy rapids

Detail Trip Report  Easy rapids  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (1003.09KB .jpeg)

Bright Cliffs

Detail Trip Report  Bright Cliffs  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (1012.49KB .jpeg)

Afternoon Glare

Detail Trip Report  Afternoon Glare  @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (1.08MB .jpeg)

Tuolumne scenery

Detail Trip Report  Tuolumne scenery   @Tuolumne 4) Lumsden Campground (Merals Pool) to Wards Ferry Bridge, (995.74KB .jpeg)


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