Question:
Was the Kaweah one of those lousy runs that nonetheless made it into Cassady’s guidebook, like Stony Creek or Rio Bravo? Or was it a hidden gem, known only to elite Southern California boaters such as Charles Foster? It was our mission to find out. Camping near the river presented our first problem. All motels in the area were booked up, so bringing my family was out. Our campbook described an Army Corps campground on Terminus reservoir, but upon arrival it was full, and even if it hadn’t been full, the $14 fee (extra vehicles $7 each) was more akin to robbery than to public service. I’m not saying where we camped (illegally) but for future reference I recommend driving up Horse Creek Rd. (just past that campground) and finding something away from the highway. The Gateway bridge put-in has been closed. There are barbed wire fences on all four corners, big signs, and no public parking anywhere. All thanks to Beyond Limits, the commercial outfitter that formerly put up cones to stop traffic while carrying boats across the road. Word has it that Beyond Limits spent $100,000 to purchase land about 1/4 mile downstream. We asked them for permission to put in there, offering to pay, which they refused. Zoning regulations, they said. For sympathy, they said that locals sometimes throw rocks at them. They are as unpopular in Three Rivers as on this newsgroup. You are forewarned. My advice for now is to park in the shade across the street, and do an early morning commando put-in. Beyond Limits guides are busy cooking breakfast until 9:00. Don’t ask, don’t tell. This put-in is a bit easier than at Gateway bridge anyway, not being in the middle of a long class IV+ boulder slalom. Charles Foster says that there is one dangerous tree-choked rapid before Dinely Dr. We were forced to put in at Dinely Dr. bridge, which isn’t easy either. Three corners are posted no trespassing, but fortunately there is shady parking and a good trail down to the river. You can always say you didn’t see the sign because a kayak was on your head. Afterwards, say you did a seal launch from the bridge. The rapids on the Kaweah are lots of fun! There are many long boulder slaloms and some tricky hydraulics in the granite bedrock. Scenery is good until the S Fork confluence, despite the semi-urban setting. We met some locals, who were very friendly to us. As usual, people want to know how much those handsome self-bailing IKs cost. One man said he can understand why people throw rocks at Beyond Limits. The hole in the middle of Suicide Falls is frowning with keeper sides, although the center ski jump, if properly executed, is fairly low risk. I’d call this a V- with class IV sneak routes left and right. Just around the corner from there is The Chair, which in the 3rd edition (only) Cassady calls "a good surfing wave." This is very misleading. It turned out to be a very deep hole, in which we buckaroos could not stay mounted. The swim isn’t bad, though. If you scout this rapid, you may figure out how to circumvent the hole, if you wish. The Chutes, which Cassady calls the first drop of The Ledges, is only class IV at moderate flows (we had 700-800 cfs), but would be tight for rafts. The Slickies follows, which Cassady calls The Ledges 2nd drop. It is an unusual rapid, with a shallow granite slide on the right into a keeper hole at the bottom, and a bruiser vortex just to the left; I’d say it’s class V- for consequences. You have to be precise to make the correct line. However we chose a sliding granite falls left of center, which might disappear below 700 cfs. Rapids taper off suddenly at the N Fork Rd. bridge. For a challenging day, put in at the National Park boundary (2-3 possible portages before Gateway bridge) and take out here. Scenery worsens after the S Fork confluence. However it’s almost worth suffering the reservoir in order to run Washing Machine, a fun class IV where my paddling partner Andy did a nice endo in the hole below the bend. Unfortunately I was winding the disposable camera and couldn’t get a photo. Despite the crush of people at Slick Rock reservoir access, my bicycle had not been stolen or vandalized. It just goes to show that Hispanics are more honest overall than poor white trash. Overall we agreed it was worth the drive from San Jose, which was under 4 hours (unlike the Kings, the Kaweah is easily reachable from hwy 99). With the proper put-in, and assuming we could have survived the 85 fpm section, the Kaweah would have been even more rewarding– much more so than the Banzai section of the Kings. *** Three stars, Billy Bo Jim Bob sez check it out.
Response:
: Dan: can you please post how to contact the Rev. Regan. : Exactly where would one launch from his condo’s. Dan told me he’s headed up to Canada to run some rivers up there, so I’ll attempt an answer before this thread dies. The condos owned by "Rev. Henery Regan" are just uphill from the Beyond Limits parking lot. Whitewater Voyages guides are often hanging out there waiting for trips to start. They did not accept our offer to exchange money for put-in rights, but perhaps that was because we did not use the code, "Rev. Henery Regan."
Response:
Keith and folks- I will attempt to post Henry Regan’s phone number (Sorry for misspelling of Henry) and other info. I believe I have it somewhere. Dan
Response:
Bill- You should have called me. The "Reverend" Henery Regan owns the condo’s next to the river and above the launch area you describe. He is happy to let boaters launch for a nominal fee ($3 per person). A commando put in also looks possible below the bridge in the right Dan Dunlap
Response:
Bill- You should have called me. The "Reverend" Henery Regan owns the condo’s next to the river and above the launch area you describe. He is happy to let boaters launch for a nominal fee ($3 per person). A commando put in also looks possible below the bridge in the right Dan Dunlap
Dan: can you please post how to contact the Rev. Regan. Exactly where would one launch from his condo’s. Several years ago I got permission to launch from the back of the Gateway restaurant by promising to eat dinner there after run (which we did, I think….).
Response:
Was the Kaweah one of those lousy runs that nonetheless made it into Cassady’s guidebook, like Stony Creek or Rio Bravo? Or was it a hidden gem, known only to elite Southern California boaters such as Charles Foster? It was our mission to find out.
ETetc snipped out. Enjoyed your "foreigner" TR on one that is sort of local for us. A few comments: Camping: indeed a problem. There is, however, a great solution up North Fork Drive (turn left in the middle of town). Just drive the road, which follows the N.Fk. until it turns to dirt, and look for numerous turnouts on the left: you can car camp (undeveloped, BLM) at Cherry Falls (quick hike in to a beautiful 35′ falls with a great swimming pool below at summer flows) or at the site of the original Kaweah colony (a utopian turn-of-the century effort. Or just go to the end of the road and camp there, where Yucca Creek joins the NF. Great hikes and bikes around there. Which leads to the second comment: You would then be at the put-in for the NF Kaweah run. Don’t trust Stan and Hol for this one: it is a real gem. Eastern creek flavor: tight, trees, secluded, obscured, with some drops that will get your attention (don’t be tempted to run Cherry Falls; I have snorkeled under at low flow and you would not like the landing). The first time down it was raining and foggy, and I so much thought I had warped to West VA that I called one rapid "Almost Heaven". If you go with a virgin group, don’t run anything you can’t see or you are likely to get in a tree or into a place you don’t want to proceed from and won’t like the portage). It’s very sweet, but short season and narrow window. There is a paddler’s gage painted on the downstream side of the bridge that crosses the river on your way up. I don’t know the low end, but zero may be 6". 10" is just fine, up to 14" and above 14" gets pretty wild in places. Then, since you are in peak runoff season, you can go in the afternoon and do the Middle Fork of the K at 4600cfs– a big IV ride. And a final comment: I missed the run last week, but friends came back with great stories about putting in at the Hospital Rock campground on the Middle Fork, and confirmed what Norwood Scott posted last year: a California Classic: tight, blind, waterfalls, etc. You want 650-900 inflow to Terminus for this one. I’m hoping it lasts until this weekend.
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