Pinball / First Rapid

Pinball / 1st Rapid is the first horizon line you come to. Almost all paddlers run the opening left of center. At the bottom is a rock squarely in the most direct path. One option is to boof left into the eddy above and left of the rock; this is fairly easy. The other option (shown in the photo) is to angle right of the bottom rock. The challenge is a hidden underwater rock that you will hit if you cheat right too soon. It can pinball you into the bottom rock you are trying to avoid, which is much more of a problem at lower water levels. At higher levels, the pinball rock is farther underwater and you can move right earlier. Run the left-hand chute. The right-hand chute, which appears to be the obvious route, leads directly into a pinning rock.