Salt Fork Kayak Trip for tomorrow March 29 in Jeopardy, but we have alternatives in Indiana. Leave Rich's Restaurant in Ogden at 10AM

[Mike Metz]

To All,      AWWW!!    I hate doing this..... but after checking gauges this afternoon, I found that the Salt Fork Gauge has fallen over a foot in one day. Yesterday the gauge was at 4.5 ft which is my max comfortable reading, and already today it is at 3.5ft, which is my low comfortable reading.  We have done it in slight desperation at 3.2 ft with moderate dragging of the bottoms of our kayaks. At this rate of falling, it will almost surely be at 3.0 ft or lower tomorrow. Again, last year out of slight desperation we tried paddling it at 3.0 and it was horribly almost constant dragging  [ no fun ] .  So here are our options.  Big Pine Creek near Attica,IN. is at the low possible point of water where we can comfortably paddle the upper section , the one with the most rapids. Also known as the shingles, which are a half mile of constant Class 2 rapids, which means " no Beginners ".  But if it goes below this point overnight which is totally possible. There is a ten mile section further downstream. Which is still full of fun class 1 rapids and good for novices on up. Big Pine is an hour and 15 min. away so we will have to start earlier. So if you are still alright with coming along. We will need to leave Rich's Restaurant by 10 AM. This should get us off the river by 4-5 PM. Sorry!  But these are the times when we trip leaders have to do what is best .  So,  I will read gauges tomorrow morning by 7AM and make a decision and send an e-mail on which section of Big Pine we will paddle. Again, Please! no beginners on the upper section. Please let us know if you plan to join us by 7:15 AM and if you need boats. Thank you for your wonderful patience. Please dress for 65  degrees and bring extra clothes in waterproof container.    Mike & Anja Metz