Narrows! Front Range MANK
I was able to sneak away from the incoming tourism business for my yearly commute to the Poudre Canyon. Andrew Waters came out of retirement with vengeance and we tackled some awesome runs in two days. Monday morning we left eagle county at 7am with dreams of the Big South’s beautiful views and awesome drops. We routed right through with a great dry hair day, and continued on through Spencer Heights thanks to the crew we met on the river. Thanks again for the shuttle and lines, (Nathan, Frenchie…name I can’t remember here, sorry)
With a goods night rest we decided we had traveled to this canyon too many times only to experience the Big South. So, on down the road we went to a MANKY Colorado classic, The Poudre Narrows. With no guide book, and no directions we decided to just put in from our camp site and figure it out as we went. We decided if we saw a sweet horizon line we should probably scout and when the rapids got smaller we would take out and hitch back up.
The Narrows did not disappoint. I have no clue the names so if you would like to respond with them that would be great. The first small drop looked like a hole, with a bunch of rocks that you didn’t want to hit, and one large one right in the middle. Yes, we knew we reached some beloved colorado road-side-mank. Here is me in said drop…
Andrew Waters givin’er
Next up it got even more nasty, with all major road side hazards you could place in a rapid…
Andrew, battling through the thick of it…
The lower Narrows dished it out too. We paddled right through the rest, continually impressed with how many rocks you could hit in a river. The last rapid after you pass under the highway was a blast! Definitely paddled much harder than we gave it credit for from the road. The Poudre Canyon is a great place and the Front Rangers are very lucky to have such a place so close to suburbia.
Nathan July 8th, 2010
Glad you guys got on it. I wouldn’t exactly call the Narrows Front Range mank, it’s relatively clean compared to other manky runs. First rapid is Super Collider, second is Whiteline, and the last one after the bridge is Lower Narrows. You’ll have to catch Spencer at a good flow next time you come up, it is a very good run.
admin July 8th, 2010
no way you can call it clean… crazy… Yeah Spencer looks like it would be awesome if it were crankin
Kevin Sloane July 13th, 2010
Hi Ross
remember your buddy, kevin. call when u r in my hood..