Gila

We did this section in IK's at 1000 cfs on Feb. 19th, 2017. The run started in a cottonwood valley with class I-II water. Lots of huge trees had fallen in from the banks but were easy to avoid. We worried about logjams in the box but it turned out to be clear. We would have been in big trouble had a tree somehow managed to get into the box. Fortunately, enough turns with gravel bars and tree combs strained out all the wood at high water level by the time we got to the box. The canyon begins to constrict in about seven miles down, building up to class II+/III- rapids, and then the box--sweet class III+ continuous pool-drop for about two miles, with perhaps one class IV drop. The box was made interesting by boulders. Once out of the box, it is more open river through a cottonwood valley to Redrock.