Open Boats on the Kalama River, WA

[milkman]

This is my second try of a video of the Kalama and I still haven't made the definitive video by a longshot. This is a run only open during hunting season (about 6 weeks) when Weyerhauser opens its gates. The river has so many playspots I fall far behind and have to try to race to the front to catch a few people running the drops. I gave up about 1/3 the way down the river and put the camera away. I need to go with a group into more play next time or into being video stars.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3IwalZlIws

[oopsiflipped]

Is the Kalama in Bennett's book? I don't remember that one. Looks like some good play spots there. Where is it in WA?

[milkman]

The Kalama is described in Bennett's book (Whitewater Rivers of Washington) and generously enough in Paddling Oregon, but not Snoggy Sneakers. If you look at a map of SW Washington, the river crosses I-5 just north of the town of Kalama. Using one of the uppermost put-ins, you have 2 miles of mostly continuous rapids then it turns to pool drop with lots of cool rapids you can break into sections by eddy hopping and lots of catch-on-the-fly surf waves and some with excellent eddy service. There's no gauge, but if the East Fork of the Lewis has around 800 to 1500 cfs, the Kalama is good. It holds water better than the EFL, so it's great on a falling gauge.

[jatakasawa]

Nice vid. I always thought Blues was the perfect, complimentary soundtrack to WW but could never find any good stuff on Youtube. Love the way that guitar twangs off the tips of those waves and the music flows with the soul of the water. The river looks like a fast, bouncy run as well.