The next rapid was definitely Class IV+. There was an evil hole on the left and a sinister sieve a couple hundred feet below it. If you were to get stuck in the hole, I could see no way for a swimmer to avoid the sieve. Fortunately, there was a relatively easy 5ft slide on river right that would allow for plenty of distance between you and your death. It didn't take long for me to decide where to go. I made a somewhat difficult ferry to the right and ran the slide while Josh took a photo from above. Things didn't go quite as well for Josh. He fumbled during the ferry and almost rolled above the hole. He managed to straighten out and got a few strokes towards the right side of the hole where he was able to punch it. I watched from below, unable to set up safety from the sieve, and perhaps caught off guard by his mistake. He brought me the camera and a frightened face. I took a photo of Jason running it right.

There was another fun drop below here that we ran far right. It may have been IV+ given the flow. It involved several small drops but no hazards to speak of. Once again, we could see no portage so we began to wonder whether the flow was a tad bit too high.

The guidebook says five nice Class IV to IV+ rapids so we knew that we were getting close to the end. Wait a second, what about that 6 to 7-foot drop that plunges into a burly hole? Hey, this might be it.

There was a ledge ahead of us that looked like it might drop 6 to 7-feet. I couldn't really tell from my boat so I battled a difficult eddy upstream and managed to get a good look at it from the left shore. It dropped a measly 3 feet but the hole was quite burly on the left. Jason boofed a rock on the right while I took a photo. Josh ran it far right and I ran it center.

Below the roar was unmistakable. This had to be it. I caught an eddy on the right and the Hummels eddied out on the left. A couple hundred feet below was the 6 to 7-foot drop. I scrambled the right bank until I could clearly see where not to go. I stood at the top of the drop for several minutes wondering what the heck I was doing there. I could see the Hummels through the mist but our communication was limited to hand signals and facial expressions. I couldn't tell much from their hands but I could tell by the look on their faces.

Burly would be an understatement. I've seen my fair share of IV and IV+ but this drop was definitely Class V at this flow. The majority of the current went right off the 6 to 7-foot drop. I saw two problems with this line. First, there was a diagonal reversal at the top of the drop that would eliminate most control and speed you may have had up to there. Second, there was a large cliff opposite the drop preventing most current from escaping and creating a massive whirlpool whose bowl was 2/3rds cliff. I got back in my boat with the full intent of portaging. Unfortunately, I had to ferry back left to the anxiously awaiting Hummels.

To make a long scout short, we thought we saw a line far left. We stared at this thing long enough to agree that far left should work. Jason was getting anxious so he went first. The eddy where we put in was less than 50ft above the drop. I had my camera fixed on the drop when I saw a curious object float through the frame. It was Jason and he was upside down. #%*&. At that point I couldn't tell which way he was headed. Right and he would most certainly die, left and he would get banged up. Either way he had, at most, a few seconds to decide. I took a photo as he rolled. Fortunately, he came up left.

Ok, so he might not have died had he gone right and it really wasn't up to him to decide which way he went. I'm not really exaggerating though. I'm just trying to portray what I felt at the time. So far it was bad but it was about to get worse.

Jason screwed up and he knew it. He also knew that it was too late to go back and try again (or portage for that matter). He dealt with the situation as best he could. The only problem with his roll was that he came up backwards. It's difficult to know what was going through his mind, "I'm toast, why did I do that?" or "No biggy, I'll just pretend I did that on purpose." Hopefully the later.

Jason went over the first 3-foot drop backwards. He managed some nice rodeo in the froth until he was spit over the second 3-foot drop, also backwards. Far left was were he wanted to be. He was there, only backwards. He managed to catch some current and was quickly swept through the remaining holes, backwards of course. Talk about recovery.

Who's next? Heck, if Jason could make it down backwards, Josh and I shouldn't have any problem going forwards, right? I'll go.

I turned around, got in my boat, and did what little I could to prepare myself for the scariest moment of my life.

There is a small hole above the diagonal reversal that you see in the above photo. That is what flipped Jason. I made it through the hole ok and punched the reversal no problem. I was headed left for the first 3-foot drop and boofed it with what little speed I had left. It must not have been enough because I backendered against the boulder on the right. I went over the next 3-foot drop with no speed hugging the boulder on the right. Then it hit me. The massive whirlpool that I mentioned earlier swept me to the right and beneath the falls. I felt myself get stuffed to the bottom of the riverbed (my hands and paddle were hitting rocks). Fortunately, I was upside down or else my skirt would have blown for sure. It held me there for a several seconds before letting me loose. By that time I was out of air so I pulled. The first breath came just in time. Another second and I would have swallowed water. Unfortunately, there was no current to be found. I was headed back for another cycle. I was able to grab hold of the vertical boulder in the middle of the drop but my boat and paddle weren't so lucky. I watched my boat get worked beneath the falls for a few seconds before I turned around and felt my paddle in the mix. I chucked it towards the current hoping that it might escape.

At that point I didn't have a plan. I couldn't touch bottom so my feet were drifting towards the falls. I couldn't traverse left because the 3-foot drop was in my way. I couldn't climb out because I simply couldn't climb out. Besides, where would I have gone? I fell a couple times trying because climbing out still seemed like my best option. Each time I had to grab hold of the bottom edges to avoid being swept back beneath the falls.

That's when I noticed Josh on the left shore. It's funny how I completely forgot about who I was with. The thought of being rescued hadn't even crossed my mind. Anyway, Josh had his rope. We made eye contact. He threw it and I caught it. I let go of the rock, kicked back to get around the 3-foot drop and he pulled me out. Once to the left, I was quickly swept downstream. I let go of the rope because there were no eddies to pendulum. My heart was still beating off the humanly scale so I had some trouble breathing amongst the remaining holes. When I finally reached the pool I turned and saw Jason. He recovered my paddle and was getting in his boat to chase after mine.

I got out of the water as quickly as possible. I sat on a rock until Josh came down. He ended up portaging the main drop on the left. He went after Jason and I said that I would be down shortly. I knew there was a lake at the end so I had no reason to worry. I continued to sit. There came a time to stand, walk and eventually swim but at that point I was simply thankful to be breathing.

Jason caught up with my boat about 1/2 mile downstream. Josh hiked back up to make sure I was ok and we continued downstream together. There wasn't much left of the river but there was plenty of lake.

We paddled over 2 miles of lake before Josh and I went to shore to see what was across the gap. The lake was low so there was actually two sections. I could see a white dock on the other side of the north section but Jason assured me that it was further up the south. We got back in our boats and paddled east. I was ahead of the Hummels when it got dark. I paddled a good 2 miles further before realizing that I had passed it where Josh and I had originally stopped. I backtracked, crossed the gap and paddled another 10 minutes before reaching the white dock. This wasn't the actually take-out but it was close. The boat launch along with my truck was further east. It was dark so I decided to walk. I passed a gate that was locked and figured my truck was locked in as well. It was only 6pm though well past dusk. I saw some headlights and it turned out to be a park vehicle. Josh was in the passenger side and I was given a ride back to my truck. I loaded my boat and we were on our way.

Turns out Josh and Jason got out somewhere beyond my farpoint. I must have missed them when I turned around. Josh hitchhiked about 5 miles back to the park. Nobody would stop so Josh ended up jumping out in the middle of the road to stop a lady who was taking her kids to scouts. She asked if they were good boys and figured they were after seeing the kayaks so she gave Josh a ride.

Anyway, Josh and I still had to pick up Jason and finish the shuttle. It was a pain but I considered it trivial after what I had been through.

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