Skykomish River, Money Creek to Baring, WA
By Jonathan Blum
  Class:  II-II+
Trip date:  4/8/2006
River flow:  1,500cfs (virtual)
Length:  5 miles

People:  Jonathan Blum, Clay Ross, Mike, Jenny (2 students)
Boat:  Bliss Stick Mystic

 

This run was the third and final day of an Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking Class I was teaching for the Outdoor Adventure Center.  Mike and Jenny were both pumped for the trip, and had done really well the day before, so it was looking really good for the afternoon.

We put in at Money Creek Campground on Hwy 2.  There is a good path down to the river from the gravel parking lot at the Money Creek exit.  This also allows you to leave you car along the main highway, something I would recommend in this area.

The river starts pretty slow and has some fun riffles.  This is a great stretch for second or third day beginners who aren't quite ready for the Railroad to Big Eddy, but want something exciting.  There are numerous Class II rapids with good pools below them for picking up the pieces.   There was a log hazard that crossed the river about a mile down, but that blew out in the last flood.  There are still some unstable trees on the right bank, so there may be more wood on the way.  After this section the river bends hard right and goes down a fun wave train.  There are swirly eddies in the pool below so watch those edges.    

It is then fun small boulder gardens, gravel bars, and riffles until the last few rapids.  The third to last has some big wood parked up on rocks on the left side.  There is a wave train with a hole at the bottom center and bottom right.  You can go between them, through them or whatever.  Mike and Jenny both swam here but come up smiling and we got them back going really fast.

There was another rapid with a good rock to practice eddying out on the right side as houses come into view on the far bank.  There is a beautiful new log cabin on the right bank as the river bends hard right into the metropolis of Baring.

This is the final rapid before the takeout at the bridge.  It is a good wave train along a rock wall.  The suspension bridge comes into view below marking the takeout.  There is a small path on the downstream side of the bridge.  Respect private property here so we can keep using this good access.

To get to the takeout, go through Baring and turn right where you can see the suspension bridge going over the river (I think this is NE Index Creek Road).  Park on the roadside, but stay off the lawn of private owners.  Really easy place to hitch shuttle if needed.  I've hitched this one successfully every time I've run it.

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