Yaak

Couple substantial strainer hazards as of 5/9/24 at ~1500. The most note worthy was almost river wide (kayak sized gap) about a mile in on the first sharp right hand bend. It has the potentially to be stuck in there for a bit and move into worse places as the water fluctuates. Be safe out there!

On Friday May 23rd, 2014 we rafted this section at 7.1 feet, ~4900cfs.
2 paddlers and 1 oarsman.
Since we were solo we stuck to the inside of all corners to stay out of the big hydraulics on the outside of turns.
We caught the last river right eddy at the top of Stone Chess, then scraped down the right side after determining the terminal holes down the left were not worth navigating without safety. New wood was prevalent down the right side.
The run out below Stone Chess was IV+ with a 15 foot curling wave just around the corner which was missed by going left.
All boulders at Good to the Last Drop were submerged creating a series of huge waves and breaking laterals.
We ran this starting left missing the top waves then charging center right.
Powerful water buried the boat on at least 2 occasions. A missed line or angle when taking on the holes would have been devastating as no recovery zones exist until the Yaak confluence with the Kootenai.
At this level a river wide ledge exists just below GTTLD which requires gutting.
We were able to skirt the meat of the next ledge by going far left.
For pictures and video please go to oregonraftingteam.com
Tim Brink

yaak river ; having lived on the yaak for 12 years. the area of rapids below the falls is known to old timers as China Downs or drowns, due to friction between the mining intrests along the yaak a story or two has it that a times the 'unwanted' chinese workers were found dead after 'falling' into the river along this stretch.
mskyle6@yahoo.com

R2 Yaak Falls on June 28th 2009. Dan McCain and Aeric Reilly

This shows the falls at a potentially hazardous level. They are much more manageable at lower levels.

new online whitewater guide for montana area paddling - check it out!
www.montanaeddyhop.blogspot.com

After missing the top eddy, we chose to at least
scout the bottom half of Stone Chest

A guy at the put in said this was a weir made by
Chinese miners. I think he was nuts.
Last class III rapid on the Yaak before a long flat
stretch. One of the few places where it is relatively
easy to hike into the gorge.
Top half of Good to the Last Drop; the last rapid on
the Yaak. At low flows (like this), it is just a big
boulder dodge.

A quick shot of Will running the last drop of the Yak. More pics and video available at www.middlebury.edu/~nvandal

Upper Stone Chest rapid at low water.