Trip Report: American (South Fork "Chili Bar" - 1500cfs) - October 22, 2005

Run: Chili Bar to Marshall - 1500cfs) - October 22, 2005
Difficulty: III+ to IV-
Flow: 1500cfs

Standard run from Chili Bar. The season is pretty much over so the parking lot & put-in at Chili Bar was closed, meaning that we had to park in the upper lot and walk down which isn't a big deal. Seemed boney even at 1500cfs.

Maya had a great surf wave going as did First Threat, so I got some good surf time. By 3pm or so the water was dropping quite quickly so by the time we hit Troublemaker it was even bonier. The eddy was moving and a bit harder to catch than normal, especially for novice to intermediate paddlers. The tongue you need to catch out of the eddy was very small and right next to the big munchy hole in the middle of the rapid so was a little sketchy. The ferry over to the right of Gunsight was also tricky and probably preferable compared to going over Gunsight at this flow. Some folks in the group just avoided the eddy and came straight down left of center to the right of the hole then off to river right completely avoiding Gunsight altogether. Probably my line the next time at that flow.