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Here are some notes and river updates from a weekend trip. I took several photos of the site of a fatal accident, at Flatliner Falls, to try and further understanding of where/what happened.
High water this spring has also moved a few things around and put wood in unfriendly places, so I tried to note that as well. Clicking on any photo should open a larger version.
I think paddlers familiar with the Upper Blackwater will notice other subtle changes in rock positions and some scouring effects in various parts of the river. If you have noticed any other changes you think people should watch out for, please feel free to comment on them below
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Great view from Backbone Mountain on the way over to the river.
Beautiful Blackwater Falls, from the overlook at the put-in parking lot. 220cfs or so. The usgs Gauge at Davis may be reading 20 or so cfs low, maybe more at higher flows. Time and more runs should develop a consensus on any changes.
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Adam Johnson finishing up Tomko. The standard left line ( a 6 or 8' boof, driving right) on the bottom falls has a log in it. It is covered at higher flows, but in the low 200cfs range we had, it sticks out into the line. We ran center.
Wide view of Flatliner Falls, the site of a fatal accident on October 1. The line is to boof straight, off the furthest protrusion of the ledge. You are fighting the flow and gravity as you come around the corner and drive to the point. At the time of the accident, there was aproximately 400cfs in the river, almost double the flow pictured here.
From above, showing the tilt of the ledge to the left.
The pin spot/pocket is in the center of the photo. There have been several non-fatal pins here prior to Friday's drowning..jpg)
Log in the Turncoat boof crack, on the far right entrance to "My Nerves are shot, I can't take it anymore" Its good the crack is filled, but the log could definitely spoil a line if you are unaware of it.
6 comments:
Post Script I thought I should add: If you need access to scout, or need egress from the canyon, there is a very steep but easy to follow trail flagged and cleared from Pinball, on river right, all the way up to the road. It gets to the top at a picnic area pullout across from some new state park cabins. Its the last pullout before the Pendleton creek overlook parking area.
Great post, I know lots of people know there is a pin spot and the history there, but many don't know exactly where it is. Hopefully, this will prevent future accidents at flatliner. Also great photo off of Backbone.
Thanks JB - good photos of Flatliner. I am always thinking "drive to the point" there. Good to know about the wood at the bottom of the second drop of Tomko as well. Glad you got out.
JB,
Don seems to think that the gauge might actually be reading ~20cfs higher than what it says...
My account, the gauge is spot on. There has certainly been some rock movement from previous high water periods; thereby, exercise caution at lower water levels.
Cheers,
-Adam
WhitewaterFreestyle
Thanks so much for going back in there and taking some shots. I've used them in explaining the event numerous times. Its nice to see the ledge a bit more at lower flows. Even so, it still doesn't look like something that could take a life. But looks can be deceiving and the river is the ultimate decision maker. At the very least, the images make me respect the river more.
Thanks again,
Susan
Susan, I thought it was important for people to know the spot, and AW didn't have any pictures of the rapid.
Those rocks in the landing area are shaped just right for the bow of a boat to wedge in there. The more people I talk to, the more incidents I hear of in that pocket.
I hate that it was a drowning that prompted the conversation about this, and that you guys had to go through that experience. And I'm truly sorry that Carl lost his life there, just trying to have a fun. I don't know how to amply express that.
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