Boating Rio Grande near Taos

[eubie]

First time to go out there, trying to get as much info as I can. I'm a solid class III open-boater (Ocoee, etc). Does Eastern class III equal Western class III?

I've been told the Pilar and Racecourse are fun and not too hairy, but the Boxes are serious stuff. Any help would be appreciated.

[billhay4]

Did the Lower Box, the easier one, some years ago with good water. It's a run that a competent class III-IV open boater can handle, but it doest have a few spots you'll want to scout. The Upper Box is a different matter.
Bill

[cadster]

Pilar and the Racecourse are the same run.

You can see video from last weekend here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkNZF4bcarg

The Racecourse is short if you don't play much whereas the LTB makes for a long day.

Flows less than 1000 CFS are technical, between 1000 and 2000 CFS easiest, and above 2000 CFS big and pushy.

See http://www.newmexicoh2o.com/index.php for flows.

[AJ]

What, this is a vid of Kayaking? Come on Bruce!

[cadster]

The disappearing kayaker makes you wonder if an open boat could do a mystery move in Souse Hole. Want to give it a try AJ and have your photo posted?

I might be able to come up with an OC photo in Powerline to satisfy the peanut gallery, stay tuned.

[Tiggy]

Nothin like a good stern squirt in powerline rapid when the lightning is zapping the overhead powerlines....

[eubie]

thanks for the help. Right now flows are over 3000cfs. I'll probably take my boat and hope the water goes down some. I prefer technical to pushy.

[Taniwha]

Hey, folks, come on. Kayaks can do it, rafts can do it, so where's the problem?

This looks like an interesting run. Can anyone give an aprrox. flow of the video footage?

[eubie]

Hey,if there's someone around to grab my boat, I'll swim anything. I swam most of the Ocoee (so my shins remember) my first time there.

My pump is working, so let's go!

[ezwater]

But that's the point, Eubie. I'll be out there in a week, with only my trusty shuttle bunny, and I won't have anyone I can trust to pull me and my boat out of a mess. So, I stick to runs like Pilar and easier. I ran Pilar in c-1 back in the 90s, at a "technical" level, and had no special difficulty. But CO and NM have been enjoying an embarassment of riches recently, so much water that us mere mortals are holding back.

Check out the lower Chama, from the monastery to Big Eddy. Class 2+ and not tight in places like Pilar. Very pretty run. Shuttle Bunny can pray for your safety in the monastery.

[eubie]

Ezwater: Thanks. Finally a sense-talker. No one has mentioned that stretch yet. I'll check it out.

If you see a white 94 suburban with a teal Dagger Prophet on top, wave me down. We'll be out there next week but have no definite plans as to where and when.

[Chris S.]

My brother and I ran the lower TB, the section with Souse hole in a tandem inflatable canoe a few years ago when there was at least one flush drowning. It was very high...maybe 5k, don't really remember. I do remember watching souse hole flip 18' rafts end over end and wondering how our little boat was going to hold up. It wasn't that hard to hit toward the left end which made it possible for me to grab the back end of the hole and pull us out before getting chundered. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to be in my OC1. We did the lower chama and it was a pretty run and not difficult.

[laeljon]

You'll be fine in the race course. I ran is at 3000 csf..in OC1 no fun...below 1800 great. Run Souse hole middle to left.