Rat

Ran the Rat when the Peshtigo gauge read 19.8'. This was a good level for the run, the fact that the first set is rather continuous with lots of wood does garner the class III rating. We were able to make it under all of the foot bridges at this level and “wake up hole” did not require much effort to punch in a creek boat. We were able to clear most of the wood, however there was a tree growing in the middle of the very first slot. So I think the river is still in the recommended range up to probably 20-21' on the Peshtigo gauge, then the one foot bridge at the island might become a mandatory portage.
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If you don't feel comfortable asking at the put-in you can hike in from Harper road on county land, looks like about a mile as the crow flies, a little more if you follow what look like ATV trails from the satellite photos. We did talk to one of the cabin owners who has had bad experiences with kayakers and other trespassers in the past and is a vigilant watchman of the first island. He recounted a group of kayakers leaving behind a broken paddle and other garbage, probably the result of a nasty swim, but none the less irritating to have trash left behind on his property. The owner also indicated that the island is deeded land and there are burial sites on it, so stay off the island to best respect the sites, as some previous kayakers had heeded natures call at one of the burial sites. Please be as courteous as possible for the many cabin owners on this stretch of river.
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The beginning gradient portions of this run is great fun. Once you make it through the first few pitches that tend to hold wood, the rest is boat scoutable. Just keep a close eye on the level of the foot bridge on the left side of the island as it required a full duck to get under. The left side of the island carried more water and had better lines at our level. The “wake up hole” drop is a succession of 2 drops one a a couple feet with a nice flat surf wave and the second a steep drop in to “wake up hole” separated by about 10ft. We had several beaver dams/wood pile ups that required bouncy runs or portages. I would imagine there would be quite the ice dam build up here as well making this run unlikely shortly after ice out.
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We opted for paddling right into the Pesh and running the roaring rapids section. It is all flatwater from Harper Rd to the start of Roaring Rapids.

First part of the boulder garden, just after your see a house on the right bank

no idea what this drop is named

one of the last rapids before the rat meets with the pesh