The Tumwater Canyon is one of my favorites, and I never feel let down when I can get all the way to the east side for a good run.  I paddled it a few weeks back and the river has come up a bit since that trip.  It is really fun to paddle something at one level, and then hit it again at a little more or less water.  The differences are subtle usually, but make for a totally different run.  Another great thing about boating... the river is never the same twice.

One of my favorite things about Tumwater Canyon is that it is totally roadside, but it is still epic whitewater.  If you had a problem in the Canyon, the road is never more than a 50 foot scramble away.  It also makes portaging easy, and gives an easy out for intermediates who realize they are in over their heads.  It also makes it possible to road scout everything before doing the run, providing a good opportunity to acquaint first timers.

Jon Dufay and Josh had never done Tum before, but 1000-1500cfs is really ideal for a first run.  1/4 Mile (The Wall) rapid is a bit more creeky at this level, and a lot less powerful and pushy.  At a bit more water, this one gets really pushy and being off line can kick your ass.  As it were Josh rolled in the very last section, hitting his face and getting a nice cut over his eye.  He and I now have matching paddling scars.

Jonathan Blum, Jon Dufay and James Amandus in the first series of The Wall.  Dave Morrison photo.

Jonathan Blum drawing away from the left rock wall about 1/2 way down.  Dave Morrison photo.

Jon Dufay and James Amandus dance together in The Wall.  Silly paddlers.  Dave Morrison photo.

The lower half of the rapid is a bit more mellow.  Dave Morrison photo.

James Amandus goes hard over the final drop in 1/4 Mile.  You can squeeze right between the shore and the boulders.  Dave Morrison photo.

Below The Wall (1/4 Mile) is a mile long lake followed by the diversion dam.  It is a concrete side, and at flows below 1500-2000 it will cheese-grater your boat.  It can be run safely ONLY on the far right side next to the concrete wall.  The other parts of the dam have rebar and concrete and are EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS.  If you are not sure or don't know, don't go.

The dam should only be run on the picture left side.  Portage on the picture right where the people are standing.

Jonathan Blum bow stalling at the top of the dam.  Dave Morrison photo.

John Fuqua runs it backwards.  6-10 feet off the wall is ideal.  He's the man.  Dave Morrison photo.

Jonathan Blum runs the dam.  Dave Morrison photo.

Below the dam is more fun action.  Even with a few more hundred CFS, this run is way more fun.  The last run I did was at 1030cfs and the extra 200 or so made a lot of the scraping rocks disappear, and made for more fun waves and holes in the smaller rapids.

Below the dam and the dam rapid is an awesome splat rock.  My first run ever was with Fuqua and his line on this wall was amazing.  He repeated the move for me on this trip while the rest of us flailed to keep upright.  Maybe I'll stick it next time.  Right below the splat is a great rapid that has two big holes as it goes between some really huge boulders.

John Fuqua runs the second hole between the boulders.  The great splat rock is just out of site behind the boulder on the left.  Dave Morrison photo.

Chaos Cascade was good at this level.  The pourover falls on the lower water run is more of a full pourover at this level (more water, less steep, bigger hole).  I went pretty deep and then cut back right behind the boulders into the eddy.  The boof on the larger hole down below was more powerful and the move is run center to boof left.  Its intimidating, so it was good to have John run first.

This crazy mess of boulders make Chaos Cascade and the rapid below it.  Dave Morrison photo.

Jonathan Blum in Chaos Cascade.  Dave Morrison photo.

This higher level also makes POW more pushy, although not that bad.  The holes that guard the left sneak are more of a problem, but the rocks in the bottom hole are more covered.  John Fuqua ran the hero line on the right side the whole way down.  This includes going right through the gut of two monster holes.  Props on that one.  Down below the main drop there is a 10 foot slide that rocks.  It can be run anyway you want, including the popular backwards option on this trip.  I'll walk up and do this one again sometimes.  Really fun stuff.

Fuqua runs the gut of POW.  Dave Morrison photo.

Fuqua down under the lower hole.  Dave Morrison photo.

Jonathan Blum running the tricky entrance to the left sneak in POW.  Dave Morrison photo.

James goes deep in the bottom hole.  Dave Morrison photo.

Joe goes even deeper in the bottom hole.. and he's padding a creek boat!  Dave Morrison photo.

Jonathan Blum running the sneak on the left before dropping into the lower hole.  Dave Morrison photo.

A few seconds later in the lower hole.  Dave Morrison photo.

Running the slide at the bottom backwards.  Dave Morrison photo.

The three musketeers after a successful run down POW.  Dave Morrison photo.

I didn't run Last Exit, as usual.  I am beginning to hate that rapid with a passion.  The next day on the Sky, the first question I got was "So, did you run Exit."  Here's the thing about the rapid:  Its not a hard move.  You start center, you follow the tongue down, its all good.  The consequences of messing up this simple move are death or similar.  I know at least one very experienced paddler who almost lost his life in the undercuts of this rapid on the right side.  I know the left side is also very undercut and sieved out.  I know there are lots of boaters who run this rapid almost daily without incident.  For me, its just not worth it.  Boat safe.

The Last Exit.  Run right down the middle tongue.  Don't get washed into the sieves or undercuts on the left and the right side.  Dave Morrison photo.

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