Verde River Kayaking

I wanted to get some float time in, but I didn't have anybody to paddle with, so I did a little self supported shuttling up and down the Verde River (near Camp Verde). Mind you, river paddling alone is not recommended, but I felt pretty secure in doing http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthis river solo.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I left my place in Phoenix a little after 5:00 am, and made it to The White Bridge in Camp Verde at 6:45. I quickly dropped off my kayak, paddle, PFD and Skirt down at the river, and secured it to a tree with a my bike lock.

Then I shuttle down to Beasley Flats via Salt Mine Road, 10 miles down river. I pulled out my wife's super awesome bicycle, and pedaled it the 11.4 miles back up to the top. I definitely set no land speed records on the way up. It took me an hour, but that included me taking the time do some staged video shots (all for my vanity). The difference in elevation from the top of the river where I put in and where I pulled out, is literally only about 100 vf, but the road http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifute had me doing about 1,000 climbing. This was due to two kinda big hills I had to go up and over. Oh yeah, and the temps were starting climb...

I got back to my kayak, and everything was still there. I locked up my bike, near the parking lot (up above). Then I set out down the river about 9:15. This were going pretty smoothly, and as planned.

I was hoping for more water in the river, but it was flowing below 70 CFS . The was even less water than the last time I came down the Verde a few months ago. I knew it was low, but I still had my fingers cross that a storm would pass over before I got up there. No such luck.

The river was really slow and the pretty boney in some place, but I only had to get outta my kayak once. And running aground there was just a mistake in not seeing the were all the water was flowing too.

The 10 mile paddle down the river took me 4 hours, and I had to do a great deal of paddling to do it in that time. I suppose that much paddling would've turned some people off, but I still had a pretty freaking good time. I was off the river by 1:15. It was crazy hot at that time, and there definitely thunderstorms crashing on the ridges on both sides of the river.

Oh yeah, the wildlife. I saw no alligators or lions or wildebeest, but I had a pair of osprey squawking at me, and I followed bald eagle down the river a couple of times. Actually that same eagle took flight just as I saw a doe and two fawn came into view. The deer were just chilling down by the river, and felt very secure in me floating by.

Good time, and I look forward to repeating this adventure, but I can only hope I do it with a little more water.




Here is a dorking vid of the day: