Well I am relatively new to rowing a boat in moving water. My experience is limited to the lower Sky, the Stilly and a very tame Wa. state Zipperlip river.

So when I travelled over to the OP this week for some steelheading, I brought along ReiterRat's Outcast Pac 900.

I had plans to float only the Upper Hoh about the Canyon and the Bogey because of limited to rowing experience. I had floated Morgan's to the Oxbow a couple years back with Bob and could remember that the entrance to the Canyon and the Oxbow were far from easy and beyond my capabilities.

Thursday moring I locked my bike at Willaboughy Creek and went put in at Spruce Creek. After the hardest water I had ever rowed in the Upper Canyon, I fished my way down. I came to what I thought was Willaboughy Creek (and later learned was) and looked around and it did not look familiar so I kept on fishing my way downstream. My heart sank and as I came upon the entrance to the Canyon and realized I had passed my takeout.

I scouted the entrance and decided to just pick my way along the right side as it had the lightest current and if I dumped the boat it would only be feet to shore. I maneged okay, bounced off one big rock and spun off another. I knew though, that the most difficult water was ahead of me.

I pulled out my trusty cell phone and thank God it worked. I immediately called ReiterRat and asked for his advice. He told me to secure everything down, wait for the boat behind me and follow them through. I waited and waited and waited and they were still above so I decided to just go for it. I probally walked the entire stretch of the Oxbow about 10 times and slowly plotting my course through. The left side looked by far the 'easiest.'

Everything was strapped down, I was scared sh*tless and pushed off. I tightly followed the left bank, where the rocks were fewer and the current not as strong. The river is funneled into a section that is about 15 feet wide and greets you there with about 3 HAYSTACKS. The drop from the left above the haystacks will shoot you perpendicular to the haystacks with only a split second chance to straighten the boat to hit them square.

I managed the drop with success and as I was thrown in front of the final nasty drop I hit the oars hard and did everything I could to row over to the right bank where the current was much softer the waves not as high. Now in a drift boat this would have been a deadly move but I had this option in the pontoon boat. Well I made it over far enough to the left, that even though I went through the drop at a 90 degree angle to the current, the current was weak enough to where it did not matter.

So I managed through it okay and decided to purposely float the Canyon the next to actually get some fishing in. Maybe I am making a much bigger deal about it then it actually is but it sure FREAKED me out.

Bob had just arrived to pick up his boat and was kind enough to give me a ride all the way back up to Spruce Creek. Thanks!!

So cell phone use #562 is too call up someone who actually knows how to row a river and ask him the way down that is least likely to kill you. Marker Tape Use #24 is to mark your take out so the next time you do not pass it.

Another lesson I learned last week was that the 8 mile bike ride from the Oxbow to Morgan's is one steep, hellish trip and the next time I need to give Ted Miller a call to turn me around.



------------------
Ryan S. Petzold
aka
Sparkey and/or Special

Hey, you're just a big wimp!!!! Man, I have floated the Oxbow and the canyon rapids in my old trusty float tube......LOL. It's not that bad, it's just tricky. I've done alot harder whitewater. Think that was bad, ask Bob about the upper Duc or try the boulder drop on the Sky (did it in my 9ft Steelheader). First BIG mistake is taking an Outcast through it, even if it was the better PAC 900. Only an experienced oarsman should attempt either in a PAC. Hit those raves just right and you'd flipped it. Their hulls just can't track whitewater like a continous curve hull will. Those rocker hulls just rock too much.

You know, they need a shuttle service on the Hoh, or is there one already???? I hate having to bring chasers and I WON'T ride a bike up the upper Hoh road!!!!! After a day on the oars that's the last thing I want to do.

You're right, you can put a cataraft in alot different places then a driftboat. It's a definite bonus.

When are you going again? It will be a lot easier next time! (NOT!)What a rush it is to be fairly certain that your going to get killed and then live! Coffee taste a little better this morning? Are you sure that was water you were draining out of your neoprenes?

GutZ

Hey Ryan,
No wonder you look so bad on Saturday,
and I thought it was the great company you were with!!!!
duckhunter

Jeez ... you saved me the time of making a post to poke a little fun!

First rule of floating ... know where you're taking out

Better the Canyon than the Hillstrom take -out at the top of Bear Creek float or the like!