Chris and I had headed up to the Farmlands section of the White Salmon to check out the runability for the season. We had heard from a lot of people that the run was "unrunable" from winter wood, or a "portagefest from hell". Turns out the run is very runable, just needs to be taken with a bit more caution with a few new logs in the river this year.

The biggest change that I would recommend is the put in. The normal put in puts you above the two most hazardous logs on the run. There is one major jam above Sidewinder and another in the run out of the rapid. This is particularly dangerous because Sidewinder is a difficult drop and anyone who swam there would undoubtedly go into the log. Unfortunately you cannot see the log in sidewinder until you have rounded the corner. I hope everyone gets the word out about this difficult to see hazard.

For these reasons I would recommend putting in at the bridge right below sidewinder. Please be respectful of the private land owners, who so far have been very cool about letting boaters put in here.

The log across the bottom of Sidewinder.

From here down, there are a few holes and ledges that are all good with a strong boof stroke.  Low consequences, very fun. As the gorge closes in, you approach a horizon that drops around the corner to the right. This is the Doorbell, the first of the significant rapids. The doorbell is a rock down at the bottom of the drop that is on the center left side. At low flows it sticks out pretty good, and has rang a few bells. Right below it is a clean 5 foot slide followed by another 7-10 foot dropping rapid. All three come very close together and are right above Little Lava Dam.

Little Lava is a river wide ledge that is quite sticky. The preferred line is far left with a strong boof stroke. The winter floods washed away the wood right below this rapid, but just 1/4 mile down there is a river wide log that you need to duck t go under. Beware of this one at higher flows.

After the limbo log, you round a corner to the right and will see a large horizon line with spray coming up, signaling Lava Dam, a sweet 14 footer with a cave tucked behind the curtain.  This drop is super beautiful, but has been known to stuff boaters behind the curtain of the falls. 

There is a very dangerous log in the leadin to Lava Dam. It is long ways to the current, and makes the ferry to the safe eddy hard to get to. Hitting one of the wood bumps on this log as you make the ferry could cause you to flip and potentially go over Lava Dam upside down or swimming. To be safe, catch the eddy above the lead in and eddy out on the river left to check it out. Its an easy ferry, but messing it up would be very bad.

There is an easy portage for Lava on the right, and the run is right over the flake on the right, heading toward the left wall.  The boof is pretty easy.  Just don’t miss.  The landing is totally aerated and soft as feathers. 

Jonathan Blum runs Lava Dam (previous trip)

Portaging at Lava Dam.

Below Lava Dam are three ledges, the middle has gotten easier this winter. Around the corner is another three ledge drop, the second one (nicknamed "steven's ledge") has swam many a boater... lots of speed boofing over the right flake is best.

Beyond Steven's Ledge, the river mellows until the 2nd Gorge. There is a section of river in here, that has 4 trees that have fallen in from the sides. You need to dodge back and forth through the Pickup sticks, avoiding all the hazards. Its not very difficult in a kayak, but could be troublesome in a raft. The 2nd gorge begins when the river constricts again, and springs come pouring in from the sides. This gorge ends in Off Ramp. This rapid is a tricky ferry across the top of the drop followed by a boof off the right side. There is a breaking wave/ hole that gets a lot of unsuspecting boaters. Scout left.

Scouting out Off Ramp.

Luke Neal running off ramp.

Luke melting in at the bottom.

From Off Ramp down the river is all clear. The last canyon and The Toaster Slot are good to go. Right after the toaster there are two ledges right as the Green Truss Bridge comes into sight. These are best run left and then right respectively. You can continue on here to run the Class V Green Truss, or use the rope on the right cliff wall to hoist boats out of the canyon.

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