Low Winter Flows

I had to run up to the river to retrieve some rescue gear we keep at the river during the summer and decided to take a camera to show the river at winter lows. Our summer flows are typically between 1800 - 2000 CFS (cubic feet per second). Current flow is about 6oo CFS, quite a difference. In the middle of the above picture on the left side of the picture is the Souse Hole which at summer flows offers an awesome whitewater hit. At current flows you would have a hard time getting splashed.

Time for Winter

Well the warm weather is definitely on its way out. Snow has fallen on the mountains and they are gorgeous. They make for an inspirational bike ride to work. One of the things I love about Bend is that the mountains get all wintery but town typically stays nice. The Upper Deschutes has effectively been "turned off". For those that don't know we only get the awesome summertime rafting flows because of the need to irrigate farmers fields. Irrigation season is from April 1st through the end of September. Now they are trying to build up water reserves in Wickiup Reservoir so there will be enough water for farmers next summer....which also means water for rafting!!

Those of us that kayak are trying to get our fill of kayaking Benham, Dillon and Lava Falls before they get snowed in for winter. These falls are all class V in the summer but ease up a bit to only class IV this time of year... Benham still has more of a class V flavor but nothing like the frothing Chaos it is in the summer.

Thank all of you that joined us this summer. Though the recession was definitely felt it would have been much worse had you not come out to play with us.

Don't forget photos are available online @ www.suncountryrafting.photoreflect.com and if you have any trouble give us a call at 800-770-2161. If you went rafting on our All Day Adventure on the Lower Deschutes you can check out your photos at www.deschutesriver.com.