Anyone have any idea of what conditions will be like at Mokelumne River below Electra Powerhouse? I haven't done this run before but am looking to do it tomorrow. What time does the release usually happen? Will it be crazy tomorrow? Any advance or input is appreciated :)

Thanks!

For those interested:

The flow was perfect! Right around 1000 cfs and all the major rapids were in prime condition. We put in at Electra per normal and took out at Middle Bar. We did the run twice.

This run starts off fun and stays that way pretty much non-stop till the longerish flat water section before take out (I personally thought it was a great "cooldown" before taking out).

The first major named rapid is The Chute, but there a few upstream with decent size holes. On particular has a flat rock with a clean spill straight into a fairly large hole. Good stuff! The Chute is obvious when you get to it as the sound greets you as a warning. The chute has a slight left hook and a very obvious partially submerged rock on the right. The 1st time we ran it, I approached it slow with little momentum and found that it was much easier on the second run with a full head of steam. The chute is basically a two section drop with a large wave at the bottom and a boiling pool with a sharp eddy line on the right. One of our group made the chute only to roll after he hit the sharp eddy line on the right.

The next major rapid is S-Turn and once again it is a left side affair. It is easier than the Chute IMO. You basically drop down a fast channel that has a bend to the right at the bottom. After the initial drop just aim slightly right and you'll clear fine. Immediately after S-Turn is a short swift section then a right bend that turns into Bridge Piling Rapid. A fun fast stair step drop leads to a large wave at the bottom and then a long wave train.

You'll hit the 49 bridge quick after a few smaller riffle affairs, then immediately have a quick left rapid that is fun and fast and then sets you up for Devil's ToiletBowl. Man this rapid is FUN! A steep drop leads to a tall standing wave that towers over your head as you plow through it. It does little to slow you down though and pretty soon you are blasted from each side by diagonal waves that knock you around pretty good. By far, this is the must-do rapid! We had someone spill right at the start and swim it. He said it was clean turbulence, though it did bounce him around a good amount.

From here the run slowly tapers off in difficulty till a flat water paddle to the take out. The 1st run where we had a few spills and eddy'd out after most of the rapids it took 2.5 hours from Electra to Middle Bar. The second run we did not stop at all and had no spills and it took us 55 minutes. A bomber run where you just went aggro would probably take 40 mins or so.

IMO this run is fantastic and I highly recommend it. It was a welcome diversion from the madness of South Fork. We were suprised to only see two other group of kayakers the whole day. Strange considering how sweet this run is! I got some pics that I can hopefully post in a few days.

I felt The Chute and Bridge Piling rapids were slightly harder than anything on Coloma to Greenwood, S-Turn is on par with most of the Class IIs on the CtoG run of the SF, and Devil's Toilet Bowl was significantly harder than anything on CtoG of SF. I would say it would probably warrant Class III- at ~1000+ cfs at PAR (conditions today).

Sounds like you had a blast.
Looking forward to seeing those pics!

We have been looking at this run, we are class II kayakers looking for the next step up and think you helped us with your great report!

We have been looking at this run, we are class II kayakers looking for the next step up and think you helped us with your great report!

thanks! Heres a pic of the Chute:

http://www.boof.com/photos/data/500/1810moke-med.jpg