Lower Falls

A cluster of boulders block the entrance to this long rapid. Scout river right. At typical Fall flows, it is fairly easy to get out and scout, but portage requires climbing over boulders, and then along an awkward cliff. The portage route basically ends a few feet before the rapid ends, so it takes creativity and courage to reenter a boat.. Good climbers can help others across to a ledge in the pool below. You should consider this rapid a mandatory run. The entrance is a short waterfall in the center. You can boof the left edge, but old timers just ran down the tongue and got away with it. There is a strong boil and outlflow which shoots you to the left.
850 cfs vs. 4500 cfs

Paddle across a short pool to the left channel and charge over a series of ledges. A very sticky hole occupies the right side of this channel at the bottom. Hit it on the left or swim. The right side channel looks ugly but has supposedly been run. The huge boulder seperating the channels at the bottom is completely undercut. The room visible underneath at fish flows is very big. If Patterson Bend is running it will not be easy to exit a boat and scout, so it may take a team effort to get one person out to where they can see the routes. Fortunately, at high flows, a clean route opens up against the left wall. Just stay in the chute against the left wall through the whole rapid.
at 4700 cfs