Snake

Let's Make A Deal at 19,000 cfs. The 'doors' are the lower 5 channels in between the 4 rock pillars. The two large upstream islands (bottom of the photo) are not part of the 'doors.' Numbers start counting from the left. Door 1 is always a no go. Channel wide sticky hole at most flows. Door 2 is always the safest option when there is enough water. Door 3 can be run if you miss the bus sized hole below it. Door 4 also contains a channel wide sticky hole. Could be possibly run at lower flows. Door 5 is the farthest right run. It is the only option when flows get under approximately 2,500 cfs and is run within feet of the right shore. The rapid can be scouted from the top of fantasy island (The big island above the rapid in the center of the river). Land on the gravel bar on the upstream side of the island and climb to the top. The safest high water line is just to the right of fantasy island (not too close, there's a hole) and over into door 2. The red line in the photo shows this line starting from the scout location.

Click here: updated map with pins for the Murtaugh.

Toilet Hole in the Connection Rapid. 21,000 cfs. Easy to miss. Great eddy service on this feature for catching big air, until you time it wrong.

Click here: Updated map with pins for the Murtaugh.

Ran it at 13,000 cfs on 4/16/2011. Huge, big water class IV!!! Lots of fun, but a bad level to swim. I recommend bring a breakdown paddle in your group when running this section at high flows.

We ran the Murtaugh section at 2600 according to gage mentioned below. Excellent run, class IV with Duck Blind and Lets Make a Deal (depending on the 'door') probably with higher rating. At this level you can run multiple 'doors' at Lets Make a Deal, including door number 2, which is the easiest and other doors which are much more difficult.

The wrong gage is listed for this stretch. Use the following link: http://www.usbr.gov/pn-bin/dfcgi.pl/?sta=MILI

Also, the minimum level for kayaks (and certain rafts) is more like 1000-1200. There's excellent play at opium hole (mid way through the canyon) and Troll Holl. At flows around this level, the river is confined to the inner rock channel. Overall, the nature is pool drop class III/IV with 2 class IV+/V- rapids (Let's make a deal and Duckblind.) The hole in duckblind, combined with the rapid acceleration of water behind it, and the ledge create a potential for good beatings.

Chad Maxwell and John Dewell avoid the retainer on river right