The problem was not the hole (which looked pretty benign at this level) but rather the lead-in which had a guard rock just above the lip blocking the right side. While looking at the drop from the cliff above, I started to have second thoughts about running it. I left my boat next to shore, and quickly scrambled over the rock cliffs to give it a quick scout. Since the level was fairly low (and I had run it at higher) I was pretty sure I would give it a go. The general rule is that the hole at the base is pretty sticky above 1000cfs, and only gets worse with more water. Not far downstream from here lies Big Fluffy, a 15' waterfall and the largest single drop of the run. Jason in the bottom right slot of Big Ugly. Next, Jason followed the same line but hit a nice little rock boof in the bottom slot after landing on edge in the seam he was flipped, but he followed it up nicely with a quick roll and a smile. Eric went first, and after making the move from right to left he lined up the slot, shot through, and was pushed into the left wall at the bottom, but was still able to make it through without flipping.
Everyone in the group decided the same, except the Emerson brothers who decided to give 'er. Although the left side slot had enough water to run, horror stories from the past of underwater pins in the slot at low water convinced me that the easy portage on the river right was the best option. On this day, the water happened to be too low for that, and created a high likelihood for pinning. Typically however, I tend to run the right-side sneak which sends you bashing down and through a couple of boulders. I've run this drop using just about every line imaginable, and with a variety of results. Jim runs the ledge below the vertical rock walls.Īfter a few bends in the creek we were sitting in the eddy just above Big Ugly. After pondering the flow, I walked upstream to take some more photos and just enjoy being outside, as this is one of the most beautiful places in Oregon. Whatever the case we were here, and would be paddling it regardless. I'd paddled it down to ~1000 cfs in the past (on the internet gauge), but this seemed more equivalent to say 800cfs or so. In fact I was pretty sure that this was the lowest I had ever seen it. The first thing I noticed as I walked down the stairs toward the bottom drop of the rapid was how low the level was. Since we were the first ones to arrive I grabbed my camera and decided to take some photos of the Three Pools rapid, or as it's known to the kayaking community "Thor's Playroom". After approximately an hour and a half of driving we pulled into the Three Pools parking lot, the take-out for lower Opal. After picking up Bob and meeting Jim at the Best Buy parking lot in Springfield, we headed towards the creek to meet the rest of the crew, which consisted of Eric, his brother Jason (who was visiting from out of state), and Brandon.
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