Preparation for running Hailstone?

[Dis147]

I have been running some class II – III rivers and creeks trying to prepare for a run down the Hailstone someday. This will complete my run of the Buffalo all the way to its confluence with the White.

Can anyone tell me what rivers or creeks they would consider the best training ground prior to running Hailstone???

[L.A.paddler]

The middle section of the Cossatot from Ed Banks to the falls. Big Piney, Falling Water, Sugar, Jack, West Cedar, as well as any number of micro creeks. Those are a few that come to mind when I think of a simular difficulty. As you know from running the rest of the Buffalo walking out of the Hailstone is not an easy prospect. So just make sure you are ready when you decide to go, and make sure you have a good group around you and you should be fine.

TD

[Cowper]

Call me crazy, but I'd say Upper Richland.

Yeah, yeah, I know, Upper Richland is the harder of the two runs. But it is much shorter, and frequently run by top-notch boaters who will help show you the lines, and help you in other ways if you need it. You can selectively portage one or two key rapids. If you find you're totally in over your head, in a kayak, dragging out even from the mid-point of the run will still get you back to the put-in, or down to the take-out, before dark. In a canoe, you could continue towards the take-out, just portaging a lot more. A long day for sure, but an adventure, not the end of the world.

In saying all this, some very important assumptions:
1) If you're a kayaker, you should have a combat roll. Doesn't have to be "100%", but shouldn't be a 20% "maybe" either.
2) When you say you've been running Class II and III, that needs to mean doing things like catching the eddy at the Mother on Big Piney; surfing and side surfing on play waves, and just generally making relatively more aggressive moves, not just "getting down the river".

If that's not where you are right now, then plan to get down to Rockport and play aggressively on the waves and holes there this summer. You may not pick up the same eddy-hopping and other downriver skills, but you'll learn to really control your boat on moving water, not be flipped by cross-currents, and so on.

[Lupe]

This isn't really the preparation that you are asking about, but in addition to having a good group around you when you first go, also make darn sure you have an early start time! 14 miles is a lot of ground (er, water) to cover! This time of year with longer days is a lot better than the short days of winter, but you still aren't left with a lot of room for error before you can start running out of day light. And it's so gorgeous up there, you don't want to end up in a situation where you are having to bomb down the river at lightning speed - you miss too much A++ scenery that way! (personal experience)

Second, at least this was important for me, EAT and DRINK your way down the river! Again, 8 miles down with 6 miles still to go is a bad time to be fizzling due to not drinking or eating enough. I made myself drink and snack each time we stopped for even a short break and I felt it really made a difference for me. (But that may be more about my relative lack of fitness , but seriously, that is a long paddle, and it never really "lets up" so you need to stay "on your game" right through the end)

I saw that Boxley gauge go up yesterday, and so I sure am going to keep my eye on it to see if it might go again with more rain for this weekend! This would be a great time of year to run down the Hailstone!

[Lifejacket]

Second, at least this was important for me, EAT and DRINK your way down the river! Again, 8 miles down with 6 miles still to go is a bad time to be fizzling due to not drinking or eating enough. I made myself drink and snack each time we stopped for even a short break and I felt it really made a difference for me. (But that may be more about my relative lack of fitness , but seriously, that is a long paddle, and it never really "lets up" so you need to stay "on your game" right through the end)

14 miles of the drinking you mention, not sure my kayak can carry that many! I would probably think I could run class five before the day was over.

[Lupe]

LOL! Silly me, I forgot who my audience was!!!!

Let me rephrase that to say EAT and DRINK GATORADE/WATER!!!! (And those who paddle with me know, I prefer to drink only my trademark PINK RAIN Gatorade while on the river. Hey, it matches my helmet, and these things are important!!!)

is for AFTER, particularly on the Hailstone. Trust me, we had enough drama with everyone sober! :shock:

PS Happy Birthday Adam!

[Fish]

Call me crazy, but I'd say Upper Richland.

OK, look, Cowper is crazy. I'm going to recommend less remote class 3 runs that will build confidence and get you ready for the Hailstone. Falling Water is perfect. West Cedar Cr. is ideal. Cossatot Esses section is very good. Jack Cr. (not so much Sugar Cr. though) is good too. If you can run those confidently, catching eddies, doing some surfing, etc., you should have quite solid skills for the Hailstone. Other keys to a good first run on the Hailstone:

1) Plenty of daylight - launch early as possible.
2) Warm temperatures - hard to come by, but an excellent idea.
3) Experienced group - who don't mind slowing down a bit for a first timer.
4) Moderate water level - 8+ ft at Boxley is no place for learning the river.

Despite Cowper's well meaning but perhaps a bit misguided intentions, Upper Richland is not in any way a warmup for the Hailstone. It is MUCH more difficult and still quite remote. Granted dragging your boat out of Richland is the lesser of the two evils, but that's a bit like saying getting poison ivy on your feet is not as bad as getting it on your butt. Both are experiences you'd like to avoid. So, while I know what's Cowper's saying, I have to respectfully disagree completely and totally. If you truly want the trial-by-fire approach to learning, then Cossatot Falls or EFLB's second gorge run would be better options than Richland Cr. Both are super easy to pull the rip cord on when things start to come apart at the seams.

- Fish

[Zach]

Fish, I could have sworn I heard those same words out of you . That you didn't want to get on Hailstone again with anyone who hadn't done Upper Richland. But I'm probably thinking of someone else :roll: .

[Lupe]

DOH! It's true, Fish! Those were words right out of the Fish's mouth!!!

"I think from now on my requirement for first timers on the Hailstone will be having done Upper Richland."

:shock:

Then again, I think I then said my requirement for running the Hailstone was going to be that I wasn't going to go without raft support!!! Well, I still stand by the assertion that raft support sure can save your butt out there!

Hear that rafters! for you at the end of the day if you come on a Hailstone run with me!!!! (Because "just in case" and "you never know" seem to be synonymous with "Hailstone")

[Clif]

Billfish, how'dyou get poison ivy on yer butt??

on second thought..... I don't wanna know.

[Fish]

Man, taken out of context by the eye-rolling crowd... That stings. :) OK, you guys win. Everyone should do upper Richland before the Hailstone. And they should run poison ivy on their hindparts too.

"I got poison ivy on my brain once. The only way to scratch it was to think about sandpaper." - S. Wright

- Fish

[Lupe]

Dude, I just had to give you a hard time after you called Cowper crazy. I mean, yeah, Cowper is crazy, but coming from the captain of Team Stupid, there's something here about a pot or a kettle and some name calling, or something!

PS - I've done upper Richland, so can I come with you down the Hailstone (again)? (I opt to abstain from any involvement with poison ivy, however)

[Dis147]

All,

Thanks for all the input, serious and not so serious, all is greatly appreciated. Some of this input, I know, comes from some very experienced boaters.

I am unfortunately away from home for a month or so and will not be able to run anything. I am just trying to plan and get prepared to knock out some future goals of mine.

Thanks Again for the all the Help….

[Dis147]

Upon further review, I detect the Hailstone creates a bit of controversy and probably for good reason(have read about a few war stories myself). I decipher from it all: have a good consistent roll, nail down boat control & eddy hopping, start early with a good group, be prepared for a full day(pack a lunch and maybe dinner :shock: ).

As fate would have it U. Richland is one of my goals also, I have looked upon several stretches of it, especially the lower sections(OHT). Maybe I can hook up with a solid group someday, after some additional training, and give it a go……… Until then I will look to improve on the other suggested training grounds…..

Thanks again, you’re an informative yet entertaining breed………

Over and Out

[RandyJ]

EFLB in AR, Pine Creek in OK. EFLB has a good trail if you need to walk out. Pine is an ideal step-up run from II+/III- to III/III+ creeking, and not that far from the Fort.