The Green River Gorge is a classic and regular favorite of mine.  It has great rapids, fun play, and it is less than 40 miles from Tacoma.  Mike Harms and I put on after a day of work and school around 3:00.  It was really cold, and Mike had already done a first run earlier.  It was really windy and crappy out, but we wouldn’t have our spirits dampened by the precip.

We agreed that it would be dark soon, and that we should run really fast, so we pretty much bombed down the run.  We caught some good play at the first sharp right turn with two good standing waves.  Then there was some easy class II-III action before the first good rapid.  This is clearly marked with a giant red sign that reads “Dangerous Conditions, Experts only” or similar.  You can portage here on the left, or run down the middle of the rapid.  This rapid is right at the Kanaset Park put in, so if this seems too much for you, it is probably a good idea to call it a day here.  From this point down, the river gorges up and everything gets more difficult as it enters the gorge.

There are a few nameless Class III before you get to a large rock in the middle of the river.  You can run right or left of this, but don’t go over it.  At higher flows this makes an enormous hole that is backed up by anther rock below.  Right below this is Pipeline, another good rapid.  This wave is surfable at higher flows, or can be run right to avoid it.  Strong eddy lines below so watch those edges.

Powerlines overhead signal the entrance to Mercury and The Nozzle, two of the more difficult rapids on the river.  Mercury is best run down the left side.  The Nozzle is directly below where the river corners right.  There are three boulders that make the rapid.  The line is generally down the widest middle gap between the two largest boulders.  The right channel collects wood occasionally so approach this drop carefully.  There is a small eddy left above the drop that can be used to scout at this flow.  At higher flows this washes out so you are committed.

Below the Nozzle is a large boulder garden.  Go right or left of the large boulder at the top or go between the top and middle rocks.  About 10 minutes further down you approach the takeout at Paradise, signaled by the bridge high overhead.  There is great ledge (Paradise Ledge) between 1100-1700 cfs. 

The author at Paradise Ledge at 1400.  Simply beautiful.  Sandy Solomon photos.

Please try to stay on one of the established trails coming up from the ledge to reduce erosion and human impact on this beautiful area.

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