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BEWET
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Tieton (III) - 2011 Trip Packet
Tieton River 2011
September 10th & 11th
Trip Leader
Contact: Tom Hemm
Mail Code: 08-78
Cell number: (425) 971-8859
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mail Code: 08-78
Cell number: (425) 971-8859
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
River/Trip Stats:
Miles on river: 11 miles
Appx hrs on river: 2 hours
Drive Time: 3 hours
Appx hrs on river: 2 hours
Drive Time: 3 hours
River Description:
The Tieton River is dam controlled; the Bureau of Reclamation opens the spill gates at Rimrock Dam
and turns up the water volume to a September blast. At this time of the year, this is the only rafting in
Washington, so everybody's here - private boaters and commercial outfitters alike - which results in
lots of river traffic and congestion at the Put-In and Take-Out.
Running the Tieton is like roller-skating a staircase! It will be fast and steep (45' per mile) without
much chance to stop. There are 11 miles of continuous II+ - III whitewater (and paddling) all in less
than 2 hours. There is a low-head dam at the mid-point of the run that is generally run-able, left-of-
center. Below the dam is High Noon (or Pinball), a tough class III right maneuver, followed by Waffle
Wall, a narrow chute above a concrete wall grid that has 2 holes at the bottom that must be avoided!
Pre-Trip Work Party:
The pre-trip work party will be the Thursday before the trip at 5:30pm at the Club Garage.
Since BEWET is a club and not a commercial outfitter we are able to provide rafting services fairly inexpensively. We are able to do this because we rely on our members and their guests to support the club by helping to share the work involved. By sharing the load, we reduce the burden on club organizers and guides. You can help. Before each trip, we tune up our equipment to insure that it is in good working condition. You are not required to have any prior knowledge or experience, just be willing to help. The tasks you will be assigned will be doable by you. We have Work Party Captains whose job it is to decide what tasks need to be done and to instruct on how to do it. If you are willing to help, please contact your Trip Leader. Work parties are a good place to meet other club members and to learn about club equipment.
Driving Directions:
Driving Directions to Put-in: Destination is near Rimrock, Wa.
From Seattle take I-90 Eastbound to I-82 (exit 110) toward Yakima. Then take exit 31A/31B for US-12 W toward Naches. The Put-In is about ½ mile below Rimrock Dam on US-12 between mile marker 166 & 167 on the Riverside of the road.
From Seattle take I-90 Eastbound to I-82 (exit 110) toward Yakima. Then take exit 31A/31B for US-12 W toward Naches. The Put-In is about ½ mile below Rimrock Dam on US-12 between mile marker 166 & 167 on the Riverside of the road.
Camping:
We will be camping at Hause Creek Campground. It's right off of Hwy 12 below the put-in.
Camping is available on Friday and Saturday nights, with a fee of $9/night/car which applies to all drivers -- even those who do not pay to raft with BEWET (try to carpool). We have the four walk-in campsites reserved 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Parking will be tight and a parking pass is required for all cars (or prepare to be fined by the campground host). RV campsite #5 will act as a BEWET "Registration Post" to coordinate parking passes (and to park the trip leader's truck camper RV). Please check in and pay for and receive your parking pass at this registration post first and then proceed to make camp at sites 9-12. Please let the trip leader know beforehand if you plan on camping so we may pre-coordinate with the campground host accordingly. Late arrivals (after 10pm) should obtain passes first thing the next morning but may run the risk of a fine. The camp hosts have take the parking pass rule very, very, seriously in the past.
Parking will be tight and a parking pass is required for all cars (or prepare to be fined by the campground host). RV campsite #5 will act as a BEWET "Registration Post" to coordinate parking passes (and to park the trip leader's truck camper RV). Please check in and pay for and receive your parking pass at this registration post first and then proceed to make camp at sites 9-12. Please let the trip leader know beforehand if you plan on camping so we may pre-coordinate with the campground host accordingly. Late arrivals (after 10pm) should obtain passes first thing the next morning but may run the risk of a fine. The camp hosts have take the parking pass rule very, very, seriously in the past.
RV's should reserve a separate site, at their own expense, as the parking for the walk-in campgrounds are for cars only.
If you have wood, please bring some for a campfire. Sometimes, during late summer on dry years, there may be burn ban but so far it is looking good for camp fires. There will be a late night area (located around the campfire) and a quiet area at the campsites.
As common courtesy please pick up your campsite accordingly before you depart for home. Those that don’t want to camp can either drive both ways from home or make their own camping or hotel arrangements.
Dress:
Always be prepared. Bring all your cool weather gear-just in case! Even on warm or hot sunny days wetsuits and booties (while not required) are the standard apparel of whitewater rafting. You can rent a “farmer john” style wetsuit and neoprene “booties” from local dive shops. Poly-pro with a windbreaker can be an alternative.
In the early season, bring wool socks to wear inside your booties. Under your wetsuit wear a quick-drying swimsuit or lyrca shorts and top. Over your wetsuit, plan to wear wool, polypropylene, fleece or nylon pile. Don’t wear cotton shirts or sweatshirts. They hold the cold water and chill you through.
Add layers for the coldest conditions. Your outer layer should be a paddling jacket or nylon windbreaker, rain jacket or mountain parka. You may want to bring a ziploc bag to store any small items that need to stay dry. Hats are also great in maintaining body heat. Also, if you wear glasses, be sure to bring a “croakie” to protect them from being washed off your head.
Most wet suits can be rented for $15-30 for the weekend. Suggested rental locations can be found on the BEWET website at the following link: http://bewet.org/wetsuit.htm.
Schedule:
Friday
- Drive to campsite
- Campfire (if allowed)
Saturday
- 9:30am Arrive at put-in
- 10:15 Run Shuttle
- 10:45 Safety Lecture
- 11:15 Launch
- 1:15 Arrive at take-out and everyone helps break down and load boats in to truck
- 5:30pm – Pot luck and BBQ. Bring something to BBQ and your favorite dish to share with the group.
- Campfire (if allowed)
Sunday
- 9:30am Arrive at put-in
- 10:15 Run Shuttle
- 10:45 Safery Lecture
- 11:15 Launch
- 2-3:00pm Arrive at take-out and everyone helps break down and load boats in to truck
- Drive home
Shuttle:
There will be a Shuttle Coordinator designated by the Trip Leader who will organize the shuttle and lead drivers to the Take-Out which is the bridge above Windy Point Campgroup. A Department of Fish and Wildlife parking pass is recommended as a backup in case all the put-in parking spots (between mile markers 166-167) along the river side of US-12 are full.
Raft Assignments:
Assignments will be coordinated at the put-in.
River Food:
No alcohol is permitted on the river.
We will probably not stop for lunch on the river so plan on bringing food that can be consumed on the river. Glass bottles are not allowed on the river.
We will probably not stop for lunch on the river so plan on bringing food that can be consumed on the river. Glass bottles are not allowed on the river.
Camp Food:
There is going to be a pot luck and bbq back at camp. Bring something to grill for yourself and your favorite dish (be creative) to share with the group.
