Beaver
3. Taylorville Section
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWorth noting that Mindscrambler has a habit of making inexperienced paddlers smack their heads on a rock as they flip in it. Ran it twice, smacked head twice. I spoke to a local guide, who said that you could paint a target on the rock where it happens, and get quite a few bullseyes per release. Wear a good helmet.
This is a great section of slide-after-slide-after-slide. If you put in as high as possible, you can warm up with a Class 5 move that gives better-than-even odds of kicking your butt. Putting in lower will line you up for a giant slide 60-70 feet long (not high). It's not really that easy, either, although it kind of looks like it should be. From the pool below, there is a choice of two routes, then a cavalcade of small slides and drops that will freeze your face into a permanent grin---or at least an all-night grin. Your fun-meter will be pegged at redline, for sure.
Eric Adsit
This section of the Beaver can be run at much lower flows, down to 700 cfs I believe. It is very scrapy and less enjoyable but still runnable. It makes for a great afternoon run in the summer after a decent rain.
So, I standing there with my friend, telling her that the hole is supposed to be really sticky, but on my previous 2 trips there, I've never seen anyone get stuck. We start talking about how much water is flowing back into the hole from upstream and I say, 'You know, that really may be pretty sticky.' About that time, the carnage began. Green boat(email me with your name and I'll either add your name or delete the video, at your pleasure) dropped into it. The next few boaters took a beating in it. That hole is sticky.
Yellow boat dude. Email me.
acreekfreak at gmail dot com
Red boat dude, email me at acreekfreak at gmail dot com
The hole at the bottom isn't sticky, is it?
We drove up from the south in search of the Beaver.
Along the way we found the Fish, and had brownies for dinner.
I flipped at the bottom of this rapid on my previous run and had my paddle ripped from my hands in the hole. I was able to hand / rock roll up and had to carry back to try it again... this time it worked out alright.
Big Fun!!!
This rapid has alot of confusion as to the size, height, etc. We came to the conclusion that it was roughly 30 degree slope, at a 40 ft. drop, and over 200 ft. long. Either way, it got your undivided attention.
There are 2 waves at the end of this section. The first one is a tad shallow and irregular, but definitely surfable.
The is the 2nd of 2 waves at the end of the Taylorville Section.
It is more of a hole than a wave. Very even and easy to spin. Vertical moves may be difficult at this level, but at higher levels it should be deep enough.
There is a small waterfall at the end of the last rapid before the waves. It is about 6'. Run it left of center or you will get munched.
The Great White Slide on the Taylorville Section of the Beaver River. Rock-n-Roll!
Check out more of Karl's Nealy-inspired drawings at http://www.ne-ww.com/kayakpics.htm.
Check out more of Karl's Nealy-inspired drawings by clicking here.
Check out more of Karl's Nealy-inspired drawings by clicking here.
The names of the drops are not in any way official. We must pick some real names for these soon!