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LqdSlvr
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 31, 2005 - 04:41pm PT
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I'm gonna be in the Valley next week for some climbing and will have the family with me. While I am off having another go at SFWC et al. (anybody remember the big rain in May? Yeah, that ruined my column attempt), the family want to do some rafting (they have their own). According to the nps site, rafting is only permitted if the combined water and air temp is over 100. Anybody have a source for the water temp, or should I bring a basting thermometer? Link? Werner? Anybody have a source for knowing if they're good to go?
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
one pass away from the big ditch
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Oct 31, 2005 - 09:53pm PT
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that water is cold
that air temp is cold
more power to ya on the climb
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WBraun
climber
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Oct 31, 2005 - 10:06pm PT
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I thought rafting is allowed when NPS deems it's safe. I don't know how they determine that but I do know we had more river rescues than ever in history this year. YOSAR was called at times up to three separate incidences on any given day during the peak to respond to people rafting in places that were closed. With peak traffic and running high speed code three responses in congested areas created an extra potential hazard in itself.
People just stop thinking and don't realise the power of water.
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LqdSlvr
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 31, 2005 - 10:26pm PT
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Guys, the NPS site says:
"Rafting is permitted on the Merced River between Stoneman Bridge (near Curry Village) and Sentinel Beach Picnic Area between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.. Rafting is not permitted whenever the river stage (depth) reads 6.5 feet or higher and the sum of air temperature and water temperature is less than 100°F. You must have a personal flotation device immediately available for each occupant of the raft."
I think they are looking just to paddle around a bit with the kids and in calm water. They just want to know if they should pack the raft since it'll be tight packing.
Rhodo: I tried google first, but came up empty. I tried the link you posted and it has lots of flow info but nothing on temps that I cold find.
Werner: Were those rescues in the area described above at times when NPS said it was open? That's worrisome, if so. BTW, we tried calling NPS info, but my brother got caught in a temporal causality loop. "Press 1 for info. Press 6 for a Ranger. Press 1 for info. Press 6 for a Ranger."
Thanks for the tips guys.
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WBraun
climber
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Oct 31, 2005 - 10:30pm PT
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They were mostly above Stonemans bridge when rafting was open. A lot of them were at the same place every time. One time a girl would have died if the response was just a wee bit less.
You are right they want people to just paddle around in calm water. Most people that get in the river in the valley do not really know what they are doing. If those rules were not in place I guarantee there would be a high number of fatalities and and exceedingly high number of responses to river rescues that divert an exceedingly high number of resources away from normal duties.
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Rhodo-Router
Trad climber
Otto, NC
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So the time we rode the giant log from the bridge through the Meadow was illegal? No wonder it was so much fun.
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Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
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I have not been up to paddle or even look at the river in ages but the Merced is only running about 40 cfs right now - very low.
see: http://www.dreamflows.com/suppr-canv.html
You could probably walk down the river more easily than raft it. There should be nice pools to paddle around in, but you will probably have to drag or carry the raft to go from one pool to another. Seems unlikely that the rangers would worry about you with the flow so low.
Looks like air temps have been in the 60's up to 70. Water temp is likely to be in the high 40's or low 50's. Just guessing here as i can't find any data. But it should not be less than 40, so combined water and air temps should be over 100.
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LqdSlvr
Trad climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 1, 2005 - 08:05am PT
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Thanks, guys, that's useful. I'll pass it along for decision on whether to bring the raft. Thanks again. Hope to see some of you in the valley next week.
Jimmie
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| Messages 1 - 9 of total 9 in this topic |
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