Skykomish

We had a beautiful day on the lower Skykomish with Megan, Randy, Candice, Chris, and myself. Our group included three rafts paddled as R1s, along with two whitewater kayaks. Randy provided coaching for Candice and Chris in their rafts, making the trip both a fun outing and a productive training session.

We launched at Split Rock. The put-in beach is now covered in woody debris deposited by last month’s major floods. It was not too difficult to navigate to the launch area, but we did have to climb over one medium-sized tree and step carefully through a scatter of smaller logs and branches. The most striking flood-related feature we saw from the put-in was a large log jam and wood pile perched high on the bank at the railroad bridge on river left just downstream. It was a clear visual reminder of how high the water had been. It also appears the floods have altered the actual Split Rock feature itself.

Once everyone was on the water, we headed downstream. The first rapid at the railroad bridge was very straightforward at this level. The flow felt like an ideal medium level for instruction and training, with well-formed features that are engaging without being overly pushy. Some rapids might feel a bit large for true beginners, but overall the run provided a great balance of challenge and approachability.

Fisherman’s Rapid was also straightforward. We passed a couple dozen anglers, mostly on river right, especially near the fish hatchery at the bottom of the rapid. The river corridor showed clear signs of the recent high water. Along stretches where houses line river left, the high-water mark had come very close to structures. Vegetation below that line was stripped bare of bark and foliage, leaving pale, scoured trunks and exposed roots.

As we continued downstream toward the Highway 2 bridge and the Big Eddy takeout on river left, more flood deposits were evident. Sand and sediment had accumulated at the takeout, requiring a short scramble up a sandy bank. Still, it was manageable with rafts and kayaks, and we were able to reach the vehicles without much difficulty for loading gear.

This is a short run, and we spent about an hour on the water. The weather was mostly cloudy, with the sun attempting to break through for much of the trip before finally shining briefly toward the end. Between the coaching, the ideal flow level, and the visible changes left behind by the floods, it made for a memorable day on the Skykomish.