66 - 8/21/2011 - Middle Sauk

Late August on the Middle Sauk is a rare treat. Usually, the river is just too low by this time of year. It wasn't high this time, but it was fine for small boats. I took my inflatable kayak and had a very good run.

As we ran the now-open left channel of the first rapid, we could see that the log that had been blocking the channel had been removed very methodically. The log had been roped off and then cut.

65 - 8/20/2011 - Skykomish

The Sky has always been scary to me - or specifically, Boulder Drop has always been scary to me. The first time I ran it, I flipped near the top and swam most of the rapid. As a result, I need to push myself to do this run at least once a year.

The rapids above Boulder Drop are challenging, but well within my abilities, so they are fun. At least I have been able to get to a point where I am calm enough to enjoy them. When we got to Boulder Drop, I waited while the others scouted. When they were ready to go, I got in my boat and followed. I did fine through the entrance, and then went down to the Airplane Turn eddy to help out in case the raft had trouble. I watched as the other kayaker in the group flipped in the main drop, but he got back into his boat. I got back into mine and finished the rapid with no problems.

After that, the run was easy and fun.

64 - 8/14/2011 - Middle Sauk

After the Poker Run, we usually run the Skagit on Sunday, but someone suggested that we run the Middle Sauk instead. The Middle Sauk is on the way home, so it was convenient and it's a more exciting run. I still had my little cataraft, and had a great run.

When we got to the end of the first rapid, running the right side route, we noticed that the log that had been blocking the left channel was gone.

63 - 8/13/2011 - Skagit

The annual WRRR Poker Run is always a fun trip. I ran my little cataraft on the Skagit for the first time, and had a lot of fun. I also helped out with the last poker station, so I got to see who the likely winners would be.

The potluck dinner was great, as always, and I won a couple of nice prizes.

62 - 8/12/2011 - Middle Sauk

A few years ago, we started a tradition of doing an overnighter on the Sauk before the Skagit Poker Run, but for the past couple of years people haven't been able to make the overnighter, so we just do a day trip on Friday. Usually, the Middle Sauk is a bit low by this time of year, but this time we had plenty of water for small boats. I had my 11' cataraft for this trip.

The first rapid on the Middle Sauk is split by an island. The more fun run is on the left side of the island, but it has been blocked by a tree recently, so we had to run the more shallow right side.

I had a good run the whole way down. I ran the hard lines whenever possible and never had any difficulties.

After the run, we headed over to the Skagit. We would have gotten dinner locally, but the bar and grill we usually go to had closed down.