Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 11:00:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Scott Reed <email not public>
To: Cascade Canoe Club <canoe@freeshell.org>
Subject: Re: JD questions // Tumwater at 5000 cfs

...

Here is my take on Tumwater falls at 5000 cfs. The
rest of the run remains mostly class 1 at this flow,
just very fast class 1.

There is a class 2 lead in around a right bend with
minimal eddies.  Once the basalt island becomes
visible it is time to get to river right quickly.  At
high flow, this island splits the flow roughly in two.
 The right channel is Tumwater Falls, a turbulent but
straightforward class 5. It looks similar to the Flume
on the lower Wind or the Narrows on the Niagara
section of the North Santiam. The left channel is a
class 4 series of three drops.  The first drop is
straightforward while the second pushes into a wall
that may be undercut.  The third drop is the steepest
and the hole at the bottom looks retentive.  At high
flow a sneak route on the right opens up that is not
there at 700 cfs. Below this the two channels merge
and enter a canyon that continues with about 1/3 of a
mile of a class 3 gorge.  At high flow there are no
distinct drops, but rather it looks similar to Mule
Creek canyon on the Rogue; turbulent but not
technical.  The full half-mile portage is best done on
river right.  Alternatively, if you want to run the
second half of the class 3 canyon, you could portage
high on the left bank and then pick from a few spots
to re-enter the river. The shortest portage of all
would be to land on the island that splits the two
channels, walk past the falls, and re-enter above the
class 3 gorge, however, there is minimal opportunity
to beach yourself before heading into the falls. The
only hazard after the gorge is the plethora of fishing
lines and power boats that will be sitting at the
bottom of the canyon.