The shuttle

I've posted a new map at the top of the blog:  it is the shuttle route.  Click on "terrain" to get an idea of the shape of the country we will be driving through on Saturday and at the end of the trip.  I also included a side trip to the Jordan Craters Wilderness--I would suggest that we visit this, either on the way in or out.  Out would be easier, as we will have all the cars.  

Anyway, just so you have some idea what to expect.  Fill up gas in Jordan Valley for sure, whatever we do!!

5 days out!

Time to start thinking about travel plans.  I included two maps on the blog--one from Northern California to Rome, the other from Missoula to Rome.  We need to all meet up at Rome on Saturday.  From Missoula, it is about a 12 hour trip with stops, etc.  We will leave Friday night and get whatever miles behind us that we can.

I don't see us all arriving at Rome until late in the afternoon on Saturday.  Then we have to run the shuttle--this is 70 miles each way over ranch roads.  I would guess 4 hours to run the shuttle, especially if we stop to check out the Jordan Craters Wilderness.  We'll be eating late on Saturday night.

Looks like we will have enough rigs to easily do the shuttle, so that is good.  We will sort out shuttle logistics on Saturday.  Please check/update the gear list if you need to.  

More later!

Current weather, streamflows, and planning

Hi folks,

We have the roster almost ready to go--waiting for one more person to confirm this week.  I've started a google docs page with a table for getting our gear together--make sure you visit the page and fill out the table with what you will bring.  Also indicate how many meals you will cover and what they will be so we can have a good variety!

Here's what NOAA says about the current conditions in Rome (the put-in).  This is about what we had last year, maybe a little warmer.  The winds in the forecast are light--this is really different from last year!  The forecast was from March 13th, 2010

The river is currently running a measly 484 cfs.  We need a 1000 minimum.  The Owyhee fluctuates widely.  Here's the graph from the USGS, also on March 13:

Check out the Google Doc (I emailed the invite to this page) and fill out the table!  Excited?  I AM!!!

March 1st: roster and planning

Check out the posts below for information on the river trip.  Lower Owyhee, launch date March 28.  Take out April 3, 2010.  Drive times around that to be discussed.  


Order a map and check out the BLM website for the Lower Owyhee.  Cheers!

BLM Regulations for the Lower Owyhee

This link takes you to the BLM management site for the river.  You can order a map for $10.  There is a .pdf of the map here.

Planning

Ok, so the trip is from Rome to Leslie Gulch.  This is about 65 miles, with several hot springs and fun rapids along the way.  Green Dragon Canyon is a trip highlight (image to left), as are shorebirds, decrepit homesteads, and a remote moonscape.

We need to know who can drive, how many canoes their rigs can carry, what safety gear they have.  We will eventually have to plan food and camp gear.  For the moment, know that if you are in a canoe, you need a wetsuit.  You will be unhappy without one.  Rafters, you should be just fine.

It looks like we will have a couple of rafts and then a bunch of canoes.  Awesome!  Talk to me, folks, let's get this planned!

I will be calling this week--have your excuses ready if you aren't coming on this trip!

BLM river ranger--new regs

Today I talked with Dave Steele, the Owyhee river ranger for the Vale BLM district in Oregon.  He's a canoeist and driftboat runner.  He told me about a new reg this year on the lower O.--no burning the wood that is there.  This really isn't a big deal, as there is not any wood there to burn anyway.  We should bring some duraflames, charcoal, and whatever else we want if we intend to have fires.  Lanterns would work as fire replacements, too.

The river is low now, as usual.  Dave thinks our planned launch date is spot-on, as he expects an early runoff this year.  There's precip in the forecast, and the snowpack in the Owyhee watershed is about 84% of average right now.

Dave also suggested that we plan on takeout at Leslie gulch rather than Birch Creek.  I agree--the Birch Creek road is heinous--only for 4WD and even like that with high clearance.  If it rains, a tank would have trouble getting out.  Leslie means that we have an extra day, but this is a river trip, right?  Takeout shouldn't be the most dangerous part of the trip.

Finalizing the roster

Folks, we need to figure out at this point who is going so we can plan for gear and so forth.  Please respond to the gmail invite, or email to this link to tell me that you will be joining us on this awesome trip!