SEASON: After rain during the fall. Look for it in late October. For the longest possible
trip you'll want to go during hunting season when the gates are open.
ACCESS: Take out is located at the gate below Jack's Creek. Follow Bennett's directions
up Kalama River Road. You can continue up river if the gate is open (gate is open until dusk during
hunting season) to a variety of putin options, depending on the length of run you desire. The gate
provides access to the Weyerhaeuser Mt. St. Helen's Tree Farm. For current information call 1-866
-636-6531 (hit 2, then 2 again, and 5). I like to putin at road 7300 for a ~11 mile trip. The upper
putins may be too boney at lower flows.
DESCRIPTION:
Fun rapids, scenic canyons, and an easy shuttle make this a great fall run. Depending on
where you launch, the run starts with wide, shallow class II water. The first defined drop below Rd 7300
is a nice class III boulder garden (
photo), with some decent gradient. Slowly, the run steepens and canyons up, and
the rapids pick up (
photo). The rapids build to consistent class III rapids, (
photo) with a nice variety of small ledges (
photo) and boulder gardens (
photo). Waterfalls and steep
side streams add flow throughout the run (
photo).
After passing under a the bridge at Wolf Creek, you are a mile or so above _Double_
_Drop_. This drop can be scouted on the left, and the first drop could be arduously portaged on the
left at low flows. This rapid begins with a class III lead in as the river narrows to a tight channel and a
powerful ledge. Below the ledge, a midstream boulder forces a choice: left is cleanest, right will take
you through some big holes. There is a long recovery pool below the drop.
Below _Double Drop_, class III water continues as the river gradually eases to
class II as you approach the takeout.
_With contributions from Brian Vogt_
for additional information see:
- Bennett, J. and T. Bennett. 1997. A guide to the whitewater rivers
of Washington, second edition. Swiftwater Publishing. Portland, OR.
-
Upper Kalama trip report 23OCT2004 on
Riverlog