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Lower Spokane River, July 28, 2002

By Brian Burns

Beautiful weather assured a good turn-out for this popular SCKC trip. Fourteen boats carried a total of 18 Club members: Jeanette Mageo, Bill Taylor, and Marlene Williams paddled inflatable kayaks; Laura Carbonaro, Susan Luchesi, and Jerry Williams were in whitewater kayaks; Kevin Barker, Michael Barker, Jerry Cesaratto, Dick Sutter, and Larry Wright did solo canoes, while the Haralam family, Jill and Bob Kassa, Jim Harless and I paddled tandem canoes.

The water level (2040 cfs) was ideal for a mellow, Class II float, with a little Class III excitement sprinkled in courtesy of the Bowl and Pitcher and Devil's Toenail.

Kevin Barker practiced swimming a couple of times while surfing the Dagger Ovation he was trying out. The best recovery award went to Larry Wright who managed to hit the very first rock at the entrance to Devil's Toenail. His Dagger Genesis spun around wildly, giving him the interesting prospect of running the entire drop backwards. Instead, he "abeamed" his way across several large jagged rocks, and finished the rapid going forward, just like he planned!

Two boats attempted the left channel at the Toenail, hoping in vain for a clear, deep water chute. Lots of rock scraping was observed...