Lochsa River Madness high water kayaking and rafting 2022

Steve Dent
Steve Dent
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Published 2022-05-31
The Lochsa means rough water in the Nez Perce language and this spring it was pumping above 18,000 cfs the first day we were there, then it dropped into the 14,000 range on Sunday. The carnage at Lochsa Falls is a sight to see as these brave souls battle the beast and it might be generous to say about half of them made it. The kayaking was also epic at one of my favorite rivers in the world.
All Comments (21)
  • @seanbaskett5506
    The choral version of Seven Nation Army with this video was spot on
  • @whaleshrimp111
    Around 30 years ago I floated that stretch of the Lochsa at higher water in a flat ended, 14 foot long Hypalon raft that had a "non self bailing floor" glued to the bottom of the cross thwarts. I loaded up the front section with water then headed into the Beast! No problem! the raft just pushed on through. I learned this from a very scary high water run through West Water Canyon of the Colorado River in the spring (May or June) of 1974. The raft loaded it's self up with water by the time I got through Funnel Falls. We headed into Skull with a big load of water. One 2 X 6 inch frame board broke and 2 D rings were pull off but we made it up the wave hitting the rock cliff separating the river from the Room of Doom and off to the left! Some of that old equipment was pretty bullet proof.
  • @terryknutson3202
    It is so Wild that the "waves" are going every direction with such force!!! Thank you for showing this !
  • @lucasnugent2346
    Blue boat with the pink paco checking in. Surfs up! Great video and even better weekend. It was good to be home on the Lochsa.
  • @travismickelson9011
    It blows me away how easy you make this look. I been white water rafting for 25 years. Been to the lochsa river madness 3 times have a 17 foot Aire cougar cataraft. I been in a hard shell kayak one time on the Salmon River. I almost drown 3 feet from shore in calm water with the owner of kayak right beside me. One more thing is a helmet came does no justice in videos to the size of the waves in person. Their twice as big if not more in person. In a kayak these waves on the lochsa at this flow are like a two story house! I know kayaks will go threw unbelievable shit but only if the kayaker has unbelievable skill.
  • @nevalozturk
    Wohooo ......Awesome!!!!! That goes to my bucket list to do. Thanks for sharing. What a rodeo!!!! Loved it! Great song choice too.
  • @ChrisTuller
    What a great river. I miss it very much. Used to paddle my squirt boat there in the early 90’s.
  • @bennyblanko3
    That was awesome ... had me pulling on my mouse a little, so you know it was real ... and great tunes too!
  • @puddlecruiser81
    Glad I wasn't the only one who got wrecked at Lochsa Falls. Big water great year!