After a rainy and cold weekend of laying around the house and hammock, I decided I needed to take the last day of memorial day weekend and make the most of it.  I called up the cousins, they had recently found out about a release on the Moklumne.  I was game.  Only a 2 and half hour drive.  And, I was fortunate enough to be graced with Toby’s presence so I had some great conversation on the way there and back.  (As well as on the river).

 

I was a little nervous on the way out there when we passed Kirkwood and discovered 3-4 inches of fresh snow over the pass.  Kayak or snowboard?? :-)   After a quick snowball fight we continued over the mountain and through the woods. . .  to the river.  

 

The river turned out to be super fun.  My first time.  The first three miles were continuous Class III fun.  The first run was myself, Toby, and Matt. We took our time and still only took us about an hour and a half.  We would come to a horizon line, guess which was the best line, and drop in.  Everything turned out great with a boat scout.  The fun really started with the last two rapids.  Two super fun class IV drops.   On the second run of the day, (myself, Toby, and Steph) we discovered that the last drop can be ran just about anywhere.  Steph went left, Toby right, and I somehow ended up backwards, yet upright, right in the middle.   The second run we bombed in just about 45 minutes.

 

Unfortunately I don’t have pictures from that weekend.  Toby took some snow pictures, but you will have to ask him for those.   I was too lazy and didn’t have Stephen around who always has a camera somewhere. It was also a great reminder to myself that I need to keep with americanwhitewater.org.  We have to thank them for helping to arrange the release.  Keep it up!!!  Don’t forget there are about three more Mok releases. . . then comes the Pit!!!