shapp Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 (edited) Trip: Kalmiopsis Wilderness - Upper Chetco River Date: 6/9/2012 Trip Report: Just got back this morning at 1:30 am from an unbelievable trip through the Kalmiopsis wilderness. Traveled to the Baily Mt. Trailhead on June 9, packed in June 10, June 11-14 decending the river, took out about 2pm June 14. Six of us horse packed our boats in 9 miles through the bisquit fire burn area (3 boats per mule) and all our other stuff on our backs, paddled IKs from Carter Creek to the Steel Bridge about 25.5 miles through an incredible series of Class IV gorges. There was probably 150 to 200 individual rapids rating Class III to IV+, with about 30% in the Class IV range. Awsome turquoise blue crystal clear water, cliff jumping, excellent fishing, great deep water soloing potential, even some good looking single pitch rock climbing. Might need a few stitches on a gash my shin from a nasty little swim yesterday, waiting to see if it permanently stops weeping. This is a very wild place seen by very few. The full story, many photos and vids to come in the next few weeks. Gear Notes: Aire Lynx I kayaks, mules Approach Notes: mules, 9 miles on the Babyfoot Lake/Baily Mt. Trail Edited June 15, 2012 by shapp Quote
ivan Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 your spring runs are becoming quite the annual event pix or it didn't happen! Quote
shapp Posted June 15, 2012 Author Posted June 15, 2012 a few pics from my camera, which is crapy, waiting to get pics from those with the SLR. Quote
ivan Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 sleeping in yer inflatable kayak - genius! who says there's no black folk in oregon? Quote
astrov Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 awesome. saw the oregon field guide feature on this a few weeks ago and it piqued my interest. did you go with the guide featured in that story? Quote
shapp Posted June 16, 2012 Author Posted June 16, 2012 No, Allen hasn't guided that river since the bisquit fire in 2002. I have never beenon a guided trip. If you have the skills to paddle this section (solid class IV) then you don't need a guide. Also, there is currently no guide with a forest service special use permit for this run. Quote
luvshaker Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 SWEET!! Glad it went well! any portages? The rapid in the 6th photo looks pretty Gnar. Can't wait to read the full account! Quote
shapp Posted June 18, 2012 Author Posted June 18, 2012 No, that was a portage and un-runable at that flow with a boulder seive at the bottom with no way through. We fully portaged 2 un-runable rapids at that flow, and partially lined 2 more. Quote
boadman Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 Awesome! Almost makes me want to learn how to Kayak. Quote
shapp Posted June 28, 2012 Author Posted June 28, 2012 Bunches of photos with comentary, check out some of the rock with emerald waters below for deepwater bouldering Quote
dhrmabum Posted June 29, 2012 Posted June 29, 2012 Yowza! Beautiful and amazing! Good work on you guys for putting that one together! Quote
shapp Posted July 2, 2012 Author Posted July 2, 2012 Brain is getting a good start on his Chetco story of our trip http://riverlog.blogspot.com/2012/06/wild-and-scenic-chetco-day-1.html http://riverlog.blogspot.com/2012/07/wild-and-scenic-chetco-day-2.html Quote
shapp Posted July 13, 2012 Author Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) Can someone embed these videos, I am electronically challenged My First look at the Chetco The Magic Canyon just downstream of the putin Brian exiting one of the first long Class IVs Edited July 13, 2012 by shapp Quote
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