OC1 adventures on the Cossatot

[canoe]

Got off call Sat. morning, and changed plans from Richland to Cossatot, due to low unexpected levels on Richland. Pam and I got a room in Mena on the way down, good thing due to the Turkey Track Bluegrass festival outside Waldron. Hooked up with Scott and Renee, Jessica and Shuan, and several other K1ers. Cossatot was a big Fluffy level. Did well till line at Over the Top at The Machine was a little Slow and not enough angle left, had problems getting into the eddy on river left below the Machine, finnally catching the eddy behind the last set of rocks below the machine but still above Whiplash. Elected to run the cheat down the left side of Whpilash. The last time i can remember running that line was in the early 80's, when the Tot was about 10,000, and that WAS the Line.
Sunday, Andy Monfee came down, and we puton at 10:15 at Ed Banks, and did not see anyone else on the creek. Everything went well, again till the Machine. For some reason, the jet of water below BMF just wouldn't let Andy get all the way to river left eddy above the Machine, so he elected to run the Around T he World Move without the 180degree pivot ussually required, and ran the meat of the Machine backwards clean. I jumped after him, and had a bumpy ,but clean run from the the traditional route right to left. After some debate, we carried our boats back up for a second try. This time, I decided to run the left chute into the Machine, and cleaned it with a few rock bumps. Andy decided that he needed to work on his ferry move river left to right. Again, he got blasted down stream too early and was poised to enter the Over The Top Move , but 1 slot to the left of the usual OTT, move. I think he could have made it, but he elected to back up and run the left line, and ended up almost making it, but not quite, and doing some gymnastic moves thru the left entry to the Machine, including at least a couple of somersolts. I tried to chase his boat down, but ended up running the left cheat at Whiplash again for the 3rd time in 30 years. Everything else worked out well, otherwise just another day at the Cossatot. Dale

[Renee H]

It was good seeing you guys and paddling with ya. Thanks to you and Pam both for the help w/shuttle on Saturday - it was nice not to have to drive back down. We missed you about 10 minutes on Sunday putting in. Glad you all had a good run. Scott got a couple pics of you in the Esses. I posted them on Facebook, so get Pam to pull them up for you.

[CSH]

Dale, thanks for letting me follow you down, and thanks again for offering to show me the cheats for the falls. I'll take you up next time.

Pam, thanks for the ride to Ed Banks.

Renee, Scott, all the other kayakers, thanks again for letting me tag along, and thanks for the photos.

Chris