How High Has Richland Been Run?

[FarPastGone]

Not talking about how high you got before you ran it, stoners.

Anyone know the highest level Richland has been run at? Who did it, what
was the level, and when was it? Dale, Lance, Cowper, Scott?

From those that were a part of it, how awesome was it?

- Matt

[ARzach]

Not talking about how high you got before you ran it, stoners.
- Matt

Sounds like discrimination to me...

[ScottH]

Not sure who has the highest level, I know Dale and Tommy Winger probably have a pretty high mark. Lance has a lot of days (I think he is over 150 days) and so does Cowper so they surely have a pretty high mark. A few years ago a group of rafts and kayakers put on at a higher than optimum level and then it flashed even higher. Stories include lost boats/gear and some hiking through the woods, and vows to never try that again...

About 10 years ago, Jason Mellor and myself launched with water coming over the put in bridge (couple inches to maybe a foot?). I can’t remember USGS gauge reading or how high it was up in the parking area but we launched from the dirt road. We were in playboats (for the time) and completely missed Knuckle Buster running down the river left through that shoot along the wall/bank. Did not even know we passed it till we looked back up. The surf wave between Knuckle Buster and Richland Falls was incredible.

I was scared to float into Richland Falls, but ran it on the far right and it went fine. River left was terminal. Biggest holes I remember were Lower Confluence (rapid below where Twin Devils comes in) and Apple Pie. Approaching LSU, Jason asked if I wanted to scout. I said nah, pick a door. We ran door #2 and it was fun. I don’t think either of us even rolled on this trip. The trip was fast, I think it took an hour? Maybe and hour and a half?

When rocks in the river get moved and the dirt sides on the take out bridge gets washed out it is a lot higher but not sure anyone has been on it at those levels. Usually the boaters go higher up the mountain on something steeper. But I love big water. We should go there and do it really big. And really soon!

[canoe]

Way back in the OCA days, John B, Franklin R Bursk, and I ran, and got caught in a flash. Don't know how high it was, but the bridge at the campground takeout was under water when we got there. The other biggest run I remember was the aformentioned raft/hike when it was high when we got on, and really came up. At one point Andy Monfee and I were hung on a rock on the river right, in a shredder, on far river right just above the Island that you normally scout the doors. Andy wanted to spin the boat and go on, I looked over my shoulder, and where the BIG Rock on river right below LSU shold have been, I could only see a huge Diagonal wave. We walked. dale

[LOREN]

Really, REALLY,High. Not to sure the level though.....It was somewhere between here or there, dude.

[FarPastGone]

I was scared to float into Richland Falls, but ran it on the far right and it went fine. River left was terminal. Biggest holes I remember were Lower Confluence (rapid below where Twin Devils comes in) and Apple Pie. Approaching LSU, Jason asked if I wanted to scout. I said nah, pick a door. We ran door #2 and it was fun. I don’t think either of us even rolled on this trip.

That sounds like a blast. I was really bored and contemplating what it would be like at high levels, where the holes would be really bad, and I didn't even think about Apple Pie. I figured Cindy's Hole would get nasty (that sounds dirty).

I looked over my shoulder, and where the BIG Rock on river right below LSU shold have been, I could only see a huge Diagonal wave. We walked. dale

Awesome story, I am sure Richland was showing some teeth that day.