Moose

Posted by Mike Fullerton on the VPC message board

This was a great trip! Weather and water combined for a mostly sunny class IV experience. The river was coming up as we put in and at first we were made nervous by a large mass of ice chunks and logs floating down from Victory Bog. We waited a while and it diminished, but our sweep boat kept a close eye astern ready to blow a long blast on the whistle when a stray log appeared. Proper caution got us all eddied out when one or two showed up.

The gauge staff was under water when we went by. The top of the staff is 6.3' and Mike Smorgans measured about a foot of paddle above that (this translated to 1000 cfs, according to the online USGS gauge). The water rose as we paddled. Rapids on the upper Moose are short, sweet and close together. Some were fairly large this day. Only two paddlers tested the waters and only for quick dips. The mid section, normally mellow and slow, was busy and before we knew it we were above the bridge for the final hurrah. The ledge above the bridge was darned big, but we found at least half a dozen ways to get through, all without mishap. The section below the bridge was complex with big waves in the center, but again, many routes were found.

-- Mike Fullerton

Note: this can be combined with the Lower section for an 18-mile run.

Flow Info:

5.3' -- low boatable class II (III).

6.0 to 7.0' -- the best play levels are in for good waves and some holes, and

really this is the best level for this run. The run is mostly III, with class II

through the middle portion.

8.0' and higher -- the upper section washes out, but the last rapid gets meatier.