The Chelan Gorge was first run by kayakers back in the year 2000. Six kayakers got exclusive rights to the Gorge for 3 days in July. They were tasked with showing that the riverbed was navigable by modern recreational water craft.
This was only allowed because it was part of a larger hydropower relicensing process that American Whitewater negotiated with the Chelan PUD.
A group of paddlers have been going into the gorge for the last 3 years to complete a flow study, proving to the public and the governing body in Chelan, that the Gorge is a viable boating option and should be available to the boating community at large.
Fast forward a decade from that first descent and Tom O'Keefe, with American Whitewater, have fought for and won our right to get recreational flows for one weekend a year in September. This year (2012) will be the landmark year.
The Chelan PUD will be releasing water into the Chelan Gorge again this weekend, September 15th and 16th. There is a scheduled release of 375cfs on Saturday and 400cfs on Sunday, with 400cfs getting juicy! We will only get one weekend this year, unfortunately, so we need to make it count.
This year is a little different from the previous three years of the flow study; there is no minimum boater criteria. That being said, I do not think they will let in a solo boater, for safety reasons.
They have also slacked on the "no rubber" rule this year. We have three raft teams signed up so far so this coming weekend will see the first ever raft descents of the Chelan Gorge.
While we are out of the forest with the whole flow study process, we are still not out of the trees; the Chelan PUD will still have a tight hold on the weekends activities, but not in a negative way. Prospective boaters still need to be signed up, online, by Friday at 5pm.
Link:
Here’s a couple videos and a picture dump to raise the stoke.
Hope to see a good crowd this year!
Chelanigans Video from Matt Kurle:
Chelan Carnage Fest from Chris Totten:
My version of the events:
Pic dump:
And to finish it off; Matt Kurle destroying Super Boof: 
So come out and enjoy the gorgeous weather, Senior Frogs, and epic carnage that always takes place!
Hope to see you there.
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