Boating Rio Grande near Taos
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Boating Rio Grande near Taos
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.
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.
Box
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
Bill
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.
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.
kayaking Vid
What, this is a vid of Kayaking? Come on Bruce!
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?
This looks like an interesting run. Can anyone give an aprrox. flow of the video footage?
"A canoe trip?" he said. "There ain't nothing to go down there for."
"Because it's there," Lewis said.
(James Dickey, Deliverance)
"Because it's there," Lewis said.
(James Dickey, Deliverance)
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.
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.
Rio Grande
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.
Race course
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.