photos/18/0621_FloatPoudreRiver/:

By Alan Silverstein, ajs@frii.com (page updated Wed Mar 16 18:14:20 MDT 2022)

Parent directory/folder = photos/18/

After a few years of desire, I found an opportunity to kayak the Poudre River through Fort Collins again. It happened to be on the solstice (longest day of the year). I covered 8.9 miles in 5.0 hours from the Aztlan Center (just east of US-287 and downstream of one big diversion dam) to the Swetsville Zoo (east of I-25), where Cathie met me with the truck.

I thought I needed 700 CFS for a good ride, and went on a day that it dropped from about 530 CFS to under 500, but as it turned out, that was still pretty hairy in spots. I had to scout and run carefully the first two bridges near Old Town, portage three diversion dams (and accidentally paddle over a small one I didn't see coming), plus also portage a narrow, tree-choked spot by the Environmental Learning Center. After all of that, the remaining run was simpler and merely fast!

Image files (Kb): (click on any image for next)

  1. A_AboutToLaunchAtAztlan.jpg (938)
  2. B_BreakOnSideBranch.jpg (977)
  3. C_CareNeeded.jpg (917)
  4. D1_FirstDamSign.jpg (966)
  5. D2_TopOfLongPortage.jpg (790)
  6. D3_LooksPeacefulUpstream.jpg (721)
  7. D4_NotPeacefulAtDam.jpg (744)
  8. E1_PortageLaterDam.jpg (789)
  9. E2_BelowLaterDam.jpg (944)
  10. F_BelowFourthDam.jpg (731)
  11. G_MustPortageELC.jpg (792)
  12. H_UnderI25.jpg (999)
  13. I_OtherSideOfI25.jpg (767)
  14. J_MuddyRiverbankSpring.jpg (1058)
  15. K1_ArrivalAtSwetsville.jpg (863)
  16. K2_PartOfSwetsvilleZoo.jpg (771)
  17. K3_WaitingAtEntrance.jpg (911)
  18. L_KayakInTruck.jpg (726)