After an exciting afternoon on Upper Upper Icicle Creek, I headed back over Highway 2 to the Skykomish, which was running at a good level (highest I’ve seen it in years!). We got on pretty late and the wind was blowing the frigid rain everywhere. It was one of those days where you get sprayed in the face by the water every time a wave crashes. Really cold. The Sky gets really fun as it pushes through 5-7,000, so the waves were big and continuous.

Travis and Catherine below the Index Bridge.

The first rapid in Index.

Looking up into the misty mountains.

Index Town Climbing Wall.

The first rapid on this section is the Llama Ledge, which have lots of ways to go at this flow. I like the right side because it has a few sweet boofs and an awesome rock slide.  Run right or left.

Below the Llama Ledges is Snaggletooth.  This one has moved around a lot in the past few years, and has gotten a lot easier.  Run left of center, but be careful of the down trees near the top.  These will eventually get stuck somewhere downstream, so don't get snagged.

Catherine running SnaggleTooth.

Below that is the Confluence Rapid, which has two large, easily avoidable rocks at the bottom.  You can go between them, which is fun.  At this level they are two sizeable hole.

There are some boulder gardens and wave trains before Anderson Hole and Class IV Boulder Drop.  Anderson Hole begins to get big at these flows, so run right to be clear.  Boulder Drop is directly below, and is signaled with large boulders marking the entrance.

The enterance to the drop begins to get pushy at this level, so be on your game and stay upright before going over the Needle.  You can still eddy out above the picket fence at this level, but the water is moving a lot faster than it does at lower flows.  The bubble pool is less of a pool for sure.  I was leading Travis down the drop, and accidentally went over The Needle, thinking it was Ned's at this flow.  I hadn't seen it this high in years, so I mistook the line.  It was pretty funny when we got down to the bottom, and I realized my mistake.

Boulder Drop, rock by rock... 5,500cfs

For other reports on the Skykomish, check out:

Skykomish River, WA - III+ (IV) (3200cfs)
Skykomish River, WA - III+  (2500cfs)
Skykomish River, WA - III+  (2500cfs)
Skykomish River, WA, III+  (1790cfs)
Skykomish River, WA, III+ (1700cfs)

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