paddling with a camera

South Platte River at Union Ditch Dam near Milliken in Weld County. This dam was rebuilt about 6 years ago. The old dam used to have a boat chute on the left.

The river was quite high on Sunday, April 1, 2007 - flow about 2000 cfs at Kersey, a strong current, some waves and boils. I paddled my Thunderbolt-X about 4 miles upstream starting at highway 60 and back.

I met to two local paddlers at my take-off. They are running a scout camp on the South Platte just upstream of the highway 60 and paddle canoes with kids starting from St Vrain River. They even trim some logs and strainers. And, they used to race C1 canoes on the South Platte with Jerry Nyre from Canoe Colorado.

It is the only stretch of the river when I see some canoes time to time except the spring joint club trip from Evans to Kersey.

Some information about the South Platte races from Eric Nyre:

I suspect you met Bernie Kendall. If so, he was actually the race coordinator and sponsored those races. He had a livery, ran guided tours, and helped with the scouts. The old course was either from the St Vrain to twin bridges (hwy 60), or Hwy 60 to a private take-out near Evans. I think it varied between the two. The last race was 1988 give or take, and all the dams were runnable back then.

- Eric

Related posts:

• 61 Boats in the Sixth Annual South Platte River Joint Spring Paddle Trip
• Thunderbolt-X and Rapier 20 in the Upstream Race on the South Platte River
• Incoming Kayak and Canoe Trips on the South Platte River in Northern Colorado
• Photographing Geese Flying over the South Platte River Valley
• Flow Data for South Platte River Basin in Northern and Eastern Colorado
• 12 Pictures and Reflections from Paddling with a Camera in 2006