Eel

We put on with the Ft. Seward guage reading 9,000cfs and took off at the end of the fourth day with the gauge reading 6,000cfs. Our group was a mix of rafts, kayaks, and packrafts. Several group members had done the run prior, with some on their fourth trip down. Plenty of surf waves to be caught on the fly and many class II rapids with a handful of class III rapids. The biggest two rapids on the run fell into the class III+ range. Island Mountain Falls we scouted - enter right, shoot two small horn rocks, and keep right to avoid large holes & waves on the left side. On running Kekawaka Falls more veteran Eel group members said the top was washed out, but the bottom hydraulics were a factor - enter far right and catch the flow pillowing left of the right wall. One other kayaker and I ran center left with left angle and managed to punch through but momentum was key. Veteran trip members felt that the rapids were more frequent and punchier than their trips at lower flows and too much higher would likely wash out. We took out at Fort Seward and one car in our group had the gas tank drilled and siphoned out - wisest to plan shuttles to arrive after you hit your takeout. Ours happened after only two hours on the river bar from drop-off.