After a disappointing drive to the Top Tye put-in and then a long overdue beating on the Foss River, I was looking forward to a relaxing lap on the Skykomish. The drive down to run the main section of the Skykomish, from Index to Split Rock, got a little more interesting after Sam Grafton asked if we would stop at one of the uppermost rapids and set safety for him.
Eagle Falls is the uppermost waterfall on the South Fork of the Skykomish River in Washington State. Located just downstream from the town of Baring; the “Falls” is less of a waterfall and more of a North Fork Payette style high volume cascade that empties into a massive pool surrounded by tall trees and a 60 foot smooth cliff on river left.
With the skykomish running high, Eagle Falls becomes a maelstrom of a rapid. It has three distinct drops:
The first ledge is manageable on the RR side, with what looks like a terminal hole at about river center. The next ledge, at this level, is more of a massive funnel that creates a disgusting wave/hole. The final ledge, maybe another 50-60 yards downstream is a river wide hole that looks like you could misplace a Buick in. And I’m talking old school Buick’s; pre-seatbelt era size…
We had a massive support group but with the Skykomish running at around 17,000 CFS and dropping, there was little in the way of support we could actually provide. The boater’s best friend in this scenario is the emerald green pool at the very bottom of the cascade.
As we arranged ourselves along the bank for a good view of the event about to unfold, it dawned on me that this is a rapid that I will never run. You can feel the rocks you are standing on vibrate with the force of the Skykomish being squeezed through a crack in a mountain ridge that is about a third of the size of the river bed immediately upstream and downstream of the Fall’s. The constriction in combination with the drop in elevation created a freight train effect in the Cascade we were standing above.
The first ledge is manageable on the RR side, with what looks like a terminal hole at about river center. The next ledge, at this level, is more of a massive funnel that creates a disgusting wave/hole. The final ledge, maybe another 50-60 yards downstream is a river wide hole that looks like you could misplace a Buick in. And I’m talking old school Buick’s; pre-seatbelt era size…
We had a massive support group but with the Skykomish running at around 17,000 CFS and dropping, there was little in the way of support we could actually provide. The boater’s best friend in this scenario is the emerald green pool at the very bottom of the cascade.
As we arranged ourselves along the bank for a good view of the event about to unfold, it dawned on me that this is a rapid that I will never run. You can feel the rocks you are standing on vibrate with the force of the Skykomish being squeezed through a crack in a mountain ridge that is about a third of the size of the river bed immediately upstream and downstream of the Fall’s. The constriction in combination with the drop in elevation created a freight train effect in the Cascade we were standing above.
Sam Grafton has been running the little run drop, named Eagle Falls, for a couple years now. He opted to just get it over with and geared up without scouting the rapid for more than a couple seconds.
Sam in Eagle Falls:
Sam in Eagle Falls:
Meanwhile, while we were all still cleaning out our undergarments from Sam’s run, Darren Albright decided to have a turn at the action.
Darren Albright runs Eagle Falls:
Darren boats with what can only be described as class.
Barley getting his face wet in the main ledge and then heading far right at the bottom ledge; Darren caused Sam to conclude that while his line went well, it didn’t go well enough. Sam wasn’t happy that he had rolled at the bottom so he decided to hike back up and give her another go.
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Photo courtesy of Scott Waidelich
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Photo courtesy of Scott Waidelich
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Photo courtesy of Scott Waidelich
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Darren Albright in Round 2:
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Photo courtesy of Scott Waidelich
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Photo courtesy of Scott Waidelich
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Photo courtesy of Scott Waidelich
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Photo courtesy of Scott Waidelich
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It's all smiles at the takeout while we get to shake hands with the chargers.
Here's a quick video I put together of Darren running Eagle Falls:
Stay Stoked. Stay Safe.
Nutz!!!!
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