Hello,
I got my boat back yesterday, Friday. I
found
some topographical maps on the internet and found
a BLM
road down to Lolo Creek. When I got there the
ranchers
had the road all posted no trespassing and
there
was a
Buffalo ranch at the top. I spoke to the rancher
and
we knew some of the same people so I was good
to
go.
He warned me not to get out of my truck because
Buffalo
are wild animals and the bulls will charge you.
Anyway
after a series of gates, I hopped on the Honda
90
for the
last couple miles. I got all the way down to
Lolo
Creek. From there I walked, climbed and
crawled
upstream for 1.5 hours, no luck. Then I
repeated
the
process in reverse back to the Honda.
Tim said my boat was just below the Big
Schmidt
Rapid on river right. Big Schmidt was an ugly
Class 5
even at the lower level. I had walked, climbed
and
crawled downstream for 2.5 hours. Eventually I
gave up
the search and started back. I caught a
glimpse
of
orange in the water on river left in Big
Schmidt
Rapid.
My kayak was on the other side! There was a log
that
formed a bridge about a quarter mile below my
kayak.
The log was wet and slimey located just above
white
water and just above a huge drop and hole. I
slithered
across the log and back upstream to my kayak.
I
found
it to be in pretty good shape with exception of a
bent
nose. My 4 piece breakdown paddle was still
inside to
include all four floatation bags. I was pure
hell
dragging it upstream through brush, rocks, and
over
logs to a place I could ferry across. I never
could
have got it across that log with the kayak. With
no
PFD or spray skirt I ferried across.
Eventually
I made
it back to the Honda and drug the Y up the hill
to
the pickup.
I was beat!
James
PS: Thanks for the information everyone!
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