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January 12/13, 2008 Smith River Trip Report


River Equipment
Clavey
NRS
Cascade



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OregonRafting.org
P.O. Box 1351
Ashland, OR 97520

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Flows on the Smith are difficult to measure due to the lack of gauges at the mouths of the various tributaries coming into the Middle Fork of the Smith (Main Smith). At the North Fork of the Smith's mouth, there is a foot-gauge that has been spray-painted onto one of the pipes. On January 12th, this gauge read 14 feet precisely. By using the gauge at Crescent City, one can estimate flows on the various forks of the Smith. Most say that Oregon Hole (Middle Fork Smith) represents 50% of the flow at Crescent City. This is calculated based on the assumptions that the North Fork is 33% and flows at Patrick's Creek are 17% of the total flow at Crescent City. Below is the gauge at Crescent City, the highlighted yellow section represents our time on the river:

Smith River Flow Level

Based off of the assumptions mentioned above, the flow at Oregon Hole on Sunday was around 5,500 CFS. Note to self: the view from the road gives a dangerously decieving perspective. It looked big but not that big.

 

 
Smith River Rafting
Cal-Trans Rapid, M.F. Smith
Photo by Dan Thurber

Smith River Rafting
Cal-Trans Rapid, M.F. Smith
Photo by Dan Thurber


Smith River Rafting
Oregon Hole Gorge
Photo by Dan Thurber

Smith River Rafting
Oregon Hole Gorge
Photo by Dan Thurber
Smith River Rafting
Cal-Trans Rapid, M.F. Smith
Photo by Dan Thurber
Smith River Rafting
Oregon Hole Gorge
Photo by Dan Thurber
Smith River Rafting
Oregon Hole Gorge
Photo by Dan Thurber
Smith River Rafting
Dan surfing it up (N.F. Smith)
Photo by Will Volpert
Smith River Rafting
Oregon Hole Gorge
Photo by Will Volpert
Smith River Rafting
Bottom of Cal-Trans Rapid
Photo by Will Volpert
Smith River Rafting
Kayakers on the North Fork Smith
Photo by Will Volpert
Smith River Rafting
Scouting Oregon Hole Gorge
Photo by Will Volpert
Smith River Rafting
Group on the North Fork
Photo by Will Volpert
Smith River Rafting
Todd scouting on the N.F. Smith
Photo by Will Volpert

 

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