Ogden river (June 9, 2011: 1620cfs)

(edit: just using this thread now to correlate cfs to feet; the feet gauge is much easier to read for small variations)

1,300 04-23-2011 01:30 MDT, 6.62 feet
1,320 04-23-2011 00:30 MDT, 6.65 feet
1,440 04-23-2011 13:30 MDT, 6.89 feet
1,460 04-23-2011 14:30 MDT, 6.93 feet
1,470 04-27-2011 19:30 MDT, 6.94 feet

1,520 05-02-2011 17:30 MDT 7.04 feet
1,540 05-04-2011 19:30 MDT, 7.08 feet
1,550 05-02-2011 18:30 MDT, 7.10 feet

1,620 06-09-2011 11:30 MDT, 7.22 feet.
It hit 7.3 feet on June 7th. ~1660cfs.
Flood stage is 7.3 feet.

1,510 06-10-2011 23:30 MDT , 7.22 feet<< does not make sense! Felt more like 1620, which was the previous cfs level for 7.22 feet.

*

No real idea what level they've done it at, but the old timers in their Dancers, that would hand paddle the North Fork at over 3,000, have done this run many times at very high water. The mid 80's saw crazy flows 4 years in a row. I'd be amazed if they didn't run this quite a bit higher.

I think Christian, and Jo did it at 1150. As far as the old timers hand paddling the North Fork. We always have to give respect to the guys that did it first, and did it the hard way. The moment we think we are bad ass hucking water falls or running big water think about the guys that laid the groundwork for us. Running stuff in 13' Fiberglass, boats with 90 degree offset wooden paddles.

Off the subject, but some links to respect the old timers of the sport.
Devil's Canyon Alaska
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fWx9iP7ZJU

First Legal Descent of Niagara Gorge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89dDpHpMhYQ

This is not the oldest video, but I think it is from the 90's
http://vimeo.com/14789616?ab

Another good resource check out the Grand Canyon of the Stikine first descent.
http://exchile.com/kayakchilehistoricalvideos.html

Any other old photos, articles, stories, or rumors about high water Narrows descents?
I didn't see any hand-paddlers today :-) ; didn't see anyone paddling actually.
What can be scouted from the road looks good to go from Pineview.
1,460cfs 04-23-2011 14:30 MDT, 6.93 feet
Thats the second highest flow since 1989 (start of the record), according to the USGS gauge, the highest being:
2006 Apr. 29, 2006 7.03 1,530

http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/peak?site_no=10140100&agency_cd=USGS&format=html

Some more boaterless video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7YCSzONvuU
About that Alaskan inn bridge wave; I noticed that not only is there no eddy service, the banks look like private land. Still looks interesting tho. If I can get rid of this cold, could be up for the Pineview section tomorrow.
I missed getting a photo of a massive stump that the last high water crest had somehow placed on top of the rock in the Pineview crux. That rock is now the wave at 14 sec.
1:04 at normal flows is the left wall eddy above the wall drop.

In all good faith. Talked to one of my mentors. He has been somewhat fascinated by the "OMG" posts about running the gnarrows at 9 to 1100cfs. His take was"We didn't even go there until it hit 1100cfs" it would take pinedale bursting to nail a "gnarrows high flow" record.

How high did they run it?
I wonder if there was an old gauge at a different location, before 1989.

Thanks for the video Bill. Looks like there's some full on class 5 going on along the W Front other than the Eggs. Zach?

If I run it I wont tell you and I wont post the video. I'm not interested in record settings. I just want to have fun.

Peace.

I am interested in the history of the run, and I respect others accomplishments and skills. Its not about a record (whatever the record is doesn't seem to even be recorded :-). Seems similar to first ski and snowboard descents; its hard to even know whats been done, especially a decade or two ago. There is also a similarity the way things change so much with water (and snow) levels; and the way there is no physical indication of a prior run or descent. Whereas rock climbs (if bolted or with pitons placed) have a bit more of an indication if it was ever done before.
this board sure is quiet.

I understand. I saw my name out there in this post and I didn't like it and I'm not sure why. Maybe because I know there are many boaters in this state that are much better than me. I also need to point out that running the narrows at 1180cfs is by all means not a significant historical event. As a point of reference, it was Jo's brother first run of this season. This guy hasn't ran anything since last year, gets on his boat and runs the narrows at that level like it's nothing... with no poggies or gloves!

Also, I guess there has always been interest on historical events. I guess that's human nature. But how does knowing who ran what at the highest level going to affect my day in the river? I don't know the names of the "best" kayakers that are in movies. I don't know who ran the highest waterfall ever. I don't care if another person breaks that record. I do know I had a blast today at the bear, for example. I do know the best reward of boating is being with friends and trusting them. Also I know that I don't enjoy running rivers when I'm scared, but sometimes there is a moment when you realize you can do it, and then you are not scared, you are just nervous. And when you do it, finally, you feel great. That happens all the time. It happened the first time I hit a roll in a pool, the first time I hit a roll in a rapid, the first time I ran a class 3, it happened for a long time running class 4s. I feel really happy when I see people making these smalls but huge accomplishments. But that's how I feel and I understand if people feel in a different way about historical records in kayaking. I respect that as well.

As far as the narrows goes, I think the limiting factor will be the bridge clearance. I remember thinking that brigde was pretty close last time we ran it.

Also the narrows at this level makes me nervous. I would probably need a decent paddle as well that would give myself more courage... or don't get one yet so that I can have an excuse to not run it at this level, haha .

I saw a guy hiking solo laps on the Narrows @1200 in 2006, so I know its no big deal for class V boaters.
I probably wouldn't be thinking about this stuff if i wasn't sitting at home with a sore throat all day, wishing I could paddle something That, and the Ogden is as high as I've seen it in the 6 years I've lived here, which is also the 6 years since I started boating again. I like just walking along the Ogden right now.

I know there are many boaters better than me in this town; probably on this block. ha ha!
All records are lost eventually; civilizations come and go. After a lifetime on this earth, hopefully we have learned something we can take with us.

What people did in fiberglass boats was total swag. I respect the people who came before but despise the attitude of "When we did it, it was way more significant". What people do today makes the "pioneers" look like they were pool boys in beverly hills. The Narrows is not that crazy right now, you guys would have fun, big water IV+/V- in your boat, big water V consequences if you're out of your boat, so watch out for swimming. Eggs is awesome at this flow too, but you are very exposed if you swim in the upper. If you are super confident of the upper then you should'nt have a problem in the drops b/c even if you swim there, you are'nt too exposed. Just go left-center-center, instead of right-right-center at the holes. It is easy to get rejected by the 1st hole on the right side. Both are a little scary only b/c of the exposure of a swim. As far as the difficulty I think you guys would slay them.

I see the S fork Ogden is also at a good level; 472. Anyone looked at that? The wood probably got stirred around after the *South Fork* had 1100cfs :-)
1,110 04-18-2011 23:15 MDT

the Ogden below Pineview has only been over 1100 3 of the past 11 years.

1,520 !!!
1,520 05-02-2011 17:30 MDT 7.04 feet

1,550 05-02-2011 18:30 MDT, 7.10 feet. That is a new high for this gauge (since fall of 1988 is all, but still :-)
1,540 05-04-2011 19:30 MDT, 7.08 feet
( Looks like it was 7.15 feet when we ran it on our second lap this evening, May 4; ;
Also, should mention that the Pineview section is really good at this level (from the Oaks down anyway; above there is rather flat; with one very low bridge). Reminded us of BV at medium flows. We put in at the normal Pineview putin, and saw no bad wood.
Heads-ups include:
1. a low black wire behind the Alaskan Inn, where the right pourover hole is; wire is low on the left bank; go center-left and you are good. Or punch the hole right.
2. A limbo pipe (fairly easy at 1400) in the crux. If the level rises much more, that pipe could be an issue.

Bump, only because I'm using this thread to correlate cfs to feet, because the feet gauge is easier to read.