Breitenbush

The river was very turbulent at this flow. It felt higher than I would've thought based on the gauge reading with almost all rocks covered. Will be interesting to see if the gauge gets re-calibrated in the future or whether it currently matches readings from the past.

We put in below The Slot down a steep trail to a good launch spot. Portaging The Slot without running the narrow bottom section probably involves going up to the road and then down the steep trail we used. There was one fairly easy log limbo about 3 rapids or so below The Slot. Only stressful because of swirly current so would be very straightforward at lower flows. There was an easily seen logjam in one of the slower sections a couple miles into the run. Ample eddies on the left above it and a fairly straightforward portage to the gravel bar below the jam. Barbell currently has a large logjam effectively blocking both the right and left standard lines. At our flow there was a tricky line far right or an easy portage far right. Barbell can be easily scouted from the road on the way to the put in.

The river is still quite pretty despite the effects of the 2020 fire and subsequent hazard tree logging.