Great memories! I ran this river with my boyfriend's company in 1976, I think. First river I ever ran, during spring run off. I was 22. It was very wild, and if I ever knew the cfs, I've forgotten it. We scouted just about every drop, because everything was a 5. We had to portage one drop, or we were close to doing so, IIRC. We didn't use helmets in rafting back then, the thought of which slays me now. I was injured when I got hit with an oar handle that was powered out of the oarsman's hand. We were crammed up against a boulder on the right hand side, up top (first day) I think, and he was trying to push off it. Big drama, I took it straight in the teeth. Somehow I kept them all. Took me a while to get back into a boat. I did the Rogue (pre-dam, pre-permit era) after that, often. Those were the days. Love hearing the talk again, seeing the action.
I have a desperate desire to row this river. Thank you for all the sharing you do. As a fellow outfitter I appreciate your work and look up to your conservation and expanding of this activity.
I really liked the commentary along with the visual. You're definitely proficient at the art of reading and rowing the current; I can tell you have lots of river miles on you. Your knowledge and the ability to share it is welcomed by many in the river community so, please keep it up.
Zach- on your American Whitewater article you mention you can take out of the Illy run at Oak Flat or can float a few more miles and take out on the Rogue. If one wants to venture on to the Rouge, what it is the suggested take out on the Rouge? Thanks!
Great stuff! I'm trying to do a trip at some point between January and March for steelhead and whenever the flows will be good, so it is fantastic to see which lines you ride!
Great memories! I ran this river with my boyfriend's company in 1976, I think. First river I ever ran, during spring run off. I was 22. It was very wild, and if I ever knew the cfs, I've forgotten it. We scouted just about every drop, because everything was a 5. We had to portage one drop, or we were close to doing so, IIRC. We didn't use helmets in rafting back then, the thought of which slays me now. I was injured when I got hit with an oar handle that was powered out of the oarsman's hand. We were crammed up against a boulder on the right hand side, up top (first day) I think, and he was trying to push off it. Big drama, I took it straight in the teeth. Somehow I kept them all. Took me a while to get back into a boat. I did the Rogue (pre-dam, pre-permit era) after that, often. Those were the days. Love hearing the talk again, seeing the action.
Great story - thank you for adding it!
I have a desperate desire to row this river. Thank you for all the sharing you do. As a fellow outfitter I appreciate your work and look up to your conservation and expanding of this activity.
I really liked the commentary along with the visual. You're definitely proficient at the art of reading and rowing the current; I can tell you have lots of river miles on you. Your knowledge and the ability to share it is welcomed by many in the river community so, please keep it up.
Thanks!
Indeed..👊🏻
This is the best video guide of the Illinois I’ve ever seen. This one is still on my “to do” list.
Beautiful river
Zach- on your American Whitewater article you mention you can take out of the Illy run at Oak Flat or can float a few more miles and take out on the Rogue. If one wants to venture on to the Rouge, what it is the suggested take out on the Rouge? Thanks!
I'm not sure. There are a few different take-outs after the Rogue and Illinois meet but you'll need to look at a map to get more specifics.
@@GearGarageTV Thank you Zach
Nice skills! Looking forward to a out and back backpack trip on the river trail this summer.
It's a cool trail but much of it is way above the river
Great vid
Thanks Zach, Excellent! What was the name of the guide book again - didn't quite catch it.
Handbook to the Illinois River Canyon - here's a link amzn.to/2H05kjD
Where is this and where can a person go to do this?
This is on the Illinois River and you can go do this on the Illinois River
Great footage. How do you mount your GoPro?
Attached to a paddle in the back of the boat
Great stuff! I'm trying to do a trip at some point between January and March for steelhead and whenever the flows will be good, so it is fantastic to see which lines you ride!
Awesome Zach, thanks for all the great videos! (Not making fun of you)😉
Thanks!
turbothrobulator