San Joaquin

This is the first big drop in the Horseshoe Bend section of the San Joaquin. At 1,000 cfs, rafts must portage over the rocks in the middle, but kayaks can push and scrape through the narrow slot. This is the worst spot on the river for low flows, but 1,000 cfs is a low flow for the whole section.

This rapid becomes runnable at about 1,500 to 1,600 cfs.
At 1,600 cfs everyone was willing to run this rapid. The slot is still tight for all the rafts, even for this small 12 footer.

Kayaks could run this route or a route on the right side. At higher flows, the line on the left opens up.
All of the rafts hung up momentarily and and tipped up at this slot, but even the 14 footers made it through fine.

At lower flows rafts will have to be dragged over the rock at this same spot.
Tim Schiller swimming the right side route for the second time on his inflatable river mat (hypalon).
Little Dog is a technical rapid that immediately preceedes Big Dog. There is little space and fast current in between, so set safety to rescue anyone who swims in Little Dog, so they do not flush into Big Dog.

Dale (rowing the raft)complained that 1,600 cfs was only marginal for rafts and that 1,800 to 2,000 cfs is a much better flow, particularly at Big Dog.
This scene is typical of the many sections of flat water with small horizon lines. The drops may be small, but they often have sharp horizon lines so you can't see the line through the drop untill you are on top of it or even in it.

Granite cliffs line much of the section. This picture is about 1/3 of the way into the run, approaching a particularly beautiful area.