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Mystery Archive

West

Colorado Oregon Calfornia

USS Clackamas

Arkansas Buffet

Arkansas river, Colorado

There is a super powerful spot on the Arkansas river in Colorado on the
brown's canyon section two eddies above the canyon doors hole, it has
unofficially been named the pearly gates. I got sent so deep last summer
that I had three completely independent thoughts and came up about 30 yards
down stream of my buddies, I knew I got sent pretty good by the size of
their eyes when I finally came back to the surface.

You definitely can't drive to it, but you might be able to mtn bike to it on
the railroad tracks. It is a few miles down the tracks. I just boat to it. I recommend squirt boating the entire river as there is epic squirt play all over the place down there.
Eventually you do get used to the pain and discomfort, I swear! The entire trip is 5 to 7 hours total and I squirt it every weekend in the summer, it can be done. The river is near Buena Vista Colorado.

Thanks to the Unknown Squirter!

Clackamas river, Oregon

There is a fun winter play spot on the Clackamas River in Oregon, though not really a real mystery venue. It is upstream of the Bob's Hole rodeo spot, at a rapid known as "Big Eddy", half-way through the Fish Creek to Bob's Hole run (class 3 play run with one class 4 drop). Big Eddy can be assessed directly for park and play at a roadside turnout, where the out house is (or was...not sure if the Forest Service rebuilt it after someone blew it up with dynamite!) I can't give driving directions from Portland, Oregon (about an hour and a half drive) but it is in any OR white water river guide. Just look for BOB's

The deal at big eddy with squirts is that at about 3000 cfs (high winter flows) there are these dynamic exploding whirlpools that you can get real vertical spins in...just like the W. Nealey cartoon with the view out of the eye of the whirlpool from 3' under...you set up on the eddy line, wait for a surge, and throw the bow down into the whirlpool, brace, and hold on for the ride....full flotation pfds recommended. sometimes it sucks you in bow first, sometimes stern first...dealers choice. mystery’s are possible here, but this is a very dynamic spot!

The same place has great pulsating eddy lines for screwing and mushing around, but have not had much opportunity to explore without the pfd...kinda intimidating at these higher flows.

There is a mild mystery spot behind a rock wall outcropping just downstream on river left. this is a safe mystery spot, short couple-o-second head deep moves, but not epic (i.e., not worth the drive just for these mystery’s)

By, Michael Tehan

The Buffet, Greater Portland, Oregon area

From Portland, Oregon take I-205 across the Columbia River, where you go east on Washington HWY 14. Go past Camas, toward Washougal, and take 6th street left, or north. There is no light or stop at 6th street, just a small sign. Go through the stop, over the tracks, and turn left (west) at the light at the Kentucky Fried Chicken. Go thru one light, cross the Washougal River on a bridge, and turn right on Sheppard road across from the bowling alley. Go upriver on Sheppard about a 1/2 mile to the park on your right. This is a suburban neighborhood 8 miles from my house. There are houses on both sides of the river, so we are trying very hard not to piss off the local residents. Please do your part in that, fellow roamers!

On the lower Washougal River, less than a mile above the Columbia River confluence, is The Sandy Swimming Hole, a Washougal city park, complete with rest room’s, parking spaces, and a deck cantilevered out over the high water zone. This is a long, deep pool with a shallow rapid entering at the upstream end. There are two rocks sticking out at low water, with fun at both spots.

These rocks are the high spots on a hard rock ledge at the top of the pool. In the winter (this is a low elevation, rain fed winter run river)a seam forms as currents converge below an island just upstream. To get the FAT goods, we're entering the seam, sinking to head disappearing when the bottom of the slab falls off the underwater ledge. We're doing an underwater eddy turn to keep smoothly dropping with a last couple o' strokes, then letting go of the paddle when it pulls, and spiraling smoothly, slowly down with the gloved hands to 6, 8, 10, 12+....

Leveling off and flying is fairly easy, once having spent enough time underwater to maintain composure. Consistent 10+ second rides, and plenty of epic rides approaching 20 seconds or more. The 30 second ride is there, no doubt. Many times have I hit the up button, out of breath, still 6-8 feet down. We are using goggles, and 15' visibility is common in the cold water. NOT A SINGLE THING IN THE ROAMING ZONE- TOTALLY SAFE!

Since discovery in January, 7 people have copped my charc and roamed heavily. Only one had ever had any deep, long rides.

It happens during most moderate winter, rainy weather flows- half the year. That would be the cold half- bring a hood!

There- the cat's out of the bag!
Email me when visiting and I'll help ya find the charc!

Tim H.timh96@attbi.com

By, Tim H.

N.Cal Salmon: Below Inga's Hole: River Right eddy line that breaks out in the main flow about 150 yards down stream from "Inga's Hole"( approx. 1.0 mile below Butler creek) on the Butler Ledge section. This can be accessed from the Salmon River road at the bottom of "Inga's". Float down from the road access. The best levels are low and around 1-2.5 ft on the Somes bar gauge, but be prepared for a wild ride at any level. At this level you won't have to worry about other river traffic. The eddy line is deep and cleean but it does run out against the river left wall. It works good for back cuts as well straight on.

Forks of Salmon to Nordheimer Creek: A good 3,5 miles of whipping eddy line turns. A usual beginners Class II surface run that has no "real " rapids,but the nature of the run is wild, deep ,boiling eddy lines/walls, good splat rocks and general squirty mayhem. Good at all levels, but gets really BOILY at below 4 ft on the Somes Bar gauge.

The water quality is as clear as Gin and nearly as intoxicating. These are only two of a multitude of spots available here...we need more squirtist here to probe some untouched goods.

To get to the Cal Salmon; Take US299 east from Arcata, Ca (about 350 mi. north of SF) to Willow Creek, then go 45 miles North on HWY 96, crossing the Klamath River, past Orleans until Somes Bar, turn right on to Salmon River road and proceed about 10 miles upstream to Inga's Hole. The forks run is about 15 miles upstream from here. The closest "town" is either Orleans, pop. of 2-300 or so, which has a good little grocery store, and a bar; or Willow Creek, pop of 1000, has pizza, groceries, bar etc..

Arcata on the Coast or Redding in the Valley are both a couple hours drive so stock up there. Arcata is the 'cosmic center of the universe' (read: bring your bong). Redding is the "red neck capital" of the world. Take your pick. Also, you can come over from Yreka via HWY 3, be careful on this road as sudden snow storms can close it in the winter.

somes bar gauge:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv/?format=img&site_no=11522500&period=4&PARAmeter_cd=00060

Salmon River review:

http://creekin.net/salmon-m.htm

So. Fork Smith River, Ca.(This run is choked full of potential spots!!!!)
Vortex: Big whirlpools forming river right with cones about 3 ft deep (at 7k on the JED gauge) below the "G" spot about 1/4 mile. Various levels will go...Usually the water is VERY cold when it is working. I have not spent much time here due to my aversion the bone chilling water and HUGE whirlpools...but man oh man...Drop in.

Smith River drainage is about 20 miles north of Cresent City, Ca on HWY 119. This area is possible the most spectacular in California. You will drive up to the Smith thru Giant Redwood trees. Stop and check it out... give me a call and I' ll meet you there! Take a right from the 119 heading east on the South Fork road. Go about 7 miles upstream until you cross the second bridge. Look for a turn out on the river left. The "G" spot is right there..."Vortex" is between there and the rapid you can see from the second bridge. Like I said there only a few have probed the depths of this one so proceed with caution. "G" spot is beautiful p/p hole that is squirt friendly at levels around 3.5k and up on the JED gauge

JED gauge:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv/?format=img&site_no=11532500&period=4&PARAmeter_cd=00060

So. Smith Review:

http://creekin.net/smith-s.htm

Please don't think that this is all we have. It's just what I feel safe about letting out, and probably the best around here. The Smith has a multitude of fun on several forks and tons of creaking too!

By,Tyler Robertson

tyler.robertson@watermarksports.com

WaterMark, Inc.

Arcata, Ca

The Sandy River--- Portland, Oregon

There is a summertime spot on the Sandy River just 15 minutes from downtown Portland Oregon that gives up sweet mysteries and blasts (cool clue spot, too). Take 84 East from Portland to the Lewis and Clark Park exit #18 (just after you pass over the river leaving Troutdale). Take a left at the river and go less than a mile to a stop sign at a bridge. Park next to the bridge and take the trail to the river.

The spot comes in at low summer flows (800 cfs,??), when a house size rock on river left forms an pourover shoulder/eddyline for sinkin'. There is also a small blast hole just in front of the rock, and another in the pourover as flow comes through the split rock (can clue in with head under). There are four hazards here to watch out for: 1) check for large trees that may wedge in the eddy as flows recede; 2) when the salmon and steelhead are running, this is a prime fishing hole...be nice to the locals, ask them what is biting, and you can trade sinks with their casts); 3) fishing jet boats can rip by (rarely); and 4) this is a popular sandy beach sunbathing spot, and you might need your mirrored goggles on bright sunny days when there is more than just the sun in your eyes. Enjoy!

USS, Cache la Poudre River,Co

Near Fort Collins CO on the Cache la Poudre River. Head up Rt.
14 from intersection with Hwy 287 about 14 miles. Go past
Mishawaka Inn, and it is about 3/4 mile on the right (if you get to
the tunnel you have gone too far). It is on a sweeping left turn
(going up canyon), which is probably posted with no parking signs -
ignore these. On the other side of the river you will see a slab of
rock sloping into the river and a nice pool with boils. Usually enter
from river left - work you way up along the rock and cut into the
current entering the pool. Works from about 1.5 to 2.75 feet on the
rock gage at Pineview ( around 300-550 cfs at Canyon Mouth, but
there are diversions that make this number not as reliable as the
painted gage), with optimum from 2-2.5 feet. Deep, smooth spot
with no major worries, except possibly the rock at the end of the
pool (but only if you are getting looong rides).