After meeting up, we tossed ideas of an impromptu Royal Gorge trip but settled on Big Kimshew and Bald Rock. We didn't count on the gates....
Gate#1: Jeff and James try for a way around
Gate#2: Jeff the ghost.
Gate #3: We could still hear the riverAfter hours of driving around on forest roads we gave up at about 1:00 am Saturday morning; we camped at Gate# 1 deciding to hit Bald Rock in a few hours.
Saturday
In the morning, on the road and a few phone calls later to some locals, we were told that Milsap Bar gauge was reading low, the level was already near the recommended max and it was raining and our local wanted nothing to do with it. We ran shuttle, and put on at noon. I think we were all pretty nervous till after the portage around Atom Bomb Falls. Lots of solid V drops, lots of bank and boat scouting, a few portages including Curtain falls and we finished the run about 6:20pm. I can easily say I have never dodged so many sieves and undercuts in my life and my heart was pumping the whole way down. No photos in the rain and the time crunch. James shot some video so hopefully he puts somthing together!
We were all pleased to be at the lake, in a limited sort of way. Happy to be at the bottom safe, happy to have had safe lines all around... no so pleased looking forward to the 4 hr, 13 mile paddle out. At 10:30pm Saturday night we stumbled up the steep bank by the van, made some food, toasted our arrival and went to camp at the put in.
Sunday
Up at the crack of 9, on the road by 10 searching for access to Big Kimshew again. This time, more dirt roads, and deep Cali red clay stopped us. No photos: I was too busy trying not to get stuck and helping James not to slide into the ditch. In the end, we were skunked on Sunday.
Big Kimshew will have to wait till the next trip when we figure out the gates down there. I'll post more pictures then.
-EJ
Saturday
In the morning, on the road and a few phone calls later to some locals, we were told that Milsap Bar gauge was reading low, the level was already near the recommended max and it was raining and our local wanted nothing to do with it. We ran shuttle, and put on at noon. I think we were all pretty nervous till after the portage around Atom Bomb Falls. Lots of solid V drops, lots of bank and boat scouting, a few portages including Curtain falls and we finished the run about 6:20pm. I can easily say I have never dodged so many sieves and undercuts in my life and my heart was pumping the whole way down. No photos in the rain and the time crunch. James shot some video so hopefully he puts somthing together!
We were all pleased to be at the lake, in a limited sort of way. Happy to be at the bottom safe, happy to have had safe lines all around... no so pleased looking forward to the 4 hr, 13 mile paddle out. At 10:30pm Saturday night we stumbled up the steep bank by the van, made some food, toasted our arrival and went to camp at the put in.
Sunday
Up at the crack of 9, on the road by 10 searching for access to Big Kimshew again. This time, more dirt roads, and deep Cali red clay stopped us. No photos: I was too busy trying not to get stuck and helping James not to slide into the ditch. In the end, we were skunked on Sunday.
Big Kimshew will have to wait till the next trip when we figure out the gates down there. I'll post more pictures then.
-EJ
2 comments:
Nice working on getting down here that week. Current Kimshew situation is open roads but no water. Doesn't look like she will go unless it rains a bunch and goes for one day.
Royal, road is snowed in 6 miles from the put-in. Was reportedly 4' deep drifts on Thursday of last week (4/26) It had the flows though...
Lets all pray for rain then!
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