Arkansas

When in Canon City for the Open Canoe Slalom Nationals, I organized a quick morning trip through the Gorge.  A local kayaker named Hoka Bob, led another kayaker, Marty from Wisconson, Jerrod and Mike from Alabama paddling plastic OC1's and me, in an Empty Canoes FH (kevlar Ocoee).  Team Alabama was impressive to watch!  Launching off of rocks and doing 540 spins.  Going everywhere I was trying to avoid.

My class III+ paddling had been infrequent the last 2 years but still convinced myself that this was an oppurnity I should not pass up.  I watched some YouTube videos of kayak runs from 1200cfs down to 350cfs.  I was under the impression that the level was around 800cfs, not 1030.  If I had read the trip report from Paxton Jones, I might have thought better of the plans.  Happy to report that everyone, myself included, stayed upright and unscathed.  I would agree with Paxton that it is a bit more serious than the AW discription implies.  Perhaps that is an open boater's perspective.  Perhaps my rusty skills were a factor.  I did seem a touch harder than section II of the Lochsa at similar flows..  in my opinion, a comparable run.

Awesome trip!  Glad I did it!!

Alan B.

Missoula, MT and Bellingham WA