Yampa River Trip

Ric could not go with me on this trip so my good friend Nancy and I left for the Yampa June 4th. We drove in a rainstorm from Heber to Western Colorado to our put in site at the Deerlodge Park Campground. The river was at flood stage. The campground had to be evacuated the week before due to flooding. The river had dropped but was still licking the banks. The rain let up long enough for us to get our tents up and then went back to raining. The next day was very cool with rain off and on. After shuttling our cars to the take out, we began our trip. The river was really moving fast and we only had 4 miles to go which was nice since it was still raining. Again the rain let up enough to set up tents and then it poured. I thought for sure I would be sleeping in a puddle, but the tent was stayed dry and I slept like a rock. Next morning we awoke to sun and dried out the gear. It stayed sunny but very cool (like in the 50's). The water was colder which I discovered from personal experience later in the day. With the river so full, the flat water had riffles and waves and the two class 3 rapids that day were really big. Teepee Hole had big waves and a big hole but I was able to get through it with only a surge of adrenaline. However at Big Joe, it was really turbulent and big. Valiantly, my ducky (an inflatable kayak) and I paddled forth like David facing Goliath. I made the mistake of not scouting the rapid myself and was told to just stay right of center. I didn't know that the river turned to the right and since I was in the really huge waves, I got too far to the left. There were to big lateral waves breaking off the wall of the gorge. I crashed through the first but there in front of me was a huge rolling wave which just flipped me over like a twig. I hung on to the paddle but there was too much current to get to my boat. Meanwhile, I am not seeing my rescue boat which was caught in the current and couldn't find an eddy so they could rescue me. It was a long, cold, bouncy swim. I was glad I had my hydroskins and drytop on. Dave, my hero and rescuer, said I was in the water about 5 min. which is pretty long in cold water. They finally fished me out. I was pretty cold and drained but otherwise in good condition. No ducky was showing up however. We waited and waited but no boat so being as stubborn as I am, I hiked back up the gorge looking for my boat while Dave and Roland waited at the raft. After offering a prayer of thanks for my safety and plea that I would be able to retrieve my boat, I hiked up about a mile along the steep wall. There down a gentle slope along the bank sat my ducky. Upright with all my gear in place, was my kayak ...just like someone had left it there for me. I hopped in and paddled down to my buddies who were relieved at the happy outcome. I gave everyone a break the next day by not paddling the class 4 which was really huge. I found my true calling...which is ballast (extra weight in the front of the boat which helps it break through the big waves). I was able to run Warm Springs twice acting as ballast in a 14 foot the first day and a second day in a 12 foot raft when the river had dropped slightly. Both rides had their exciting moments. I videoed some of the rafts going through Warm Springs but they don't do justice to how big the waves and holes were. Catherine, a fun gal from Louisiana said she looked down into the hole and saw China. I believed it! It was a great trip, with awesome food in true river trip tradition, and I met some really nice, fun people. I had so much fun I am talking Ric into buying a raft for our fleet. I keep assuring him he will love the Rogue River in Aug.