This is my second post on the 2008 Wyoming Outback Challenge, 44 mile paddling race on the North Platte River from Saratoga to Fort Steele (I-80 boat ramp) and, probably, not the last one. You can check the race results from 2007 and 2008 in my previous post.

1. Race Start at Saratoga Hot Springs

7:00, May 25, 2008. The 2nd Wyoming Outback Challenge started at a boat ramp just below Hot Springs. We could enjoy the high water this year (7000-8000 cfs at Dugway).

2. Pick Ditch Diversion Dam

As soon as you leave Saratoga you are approaching the first river attraction – a diversion dam taking water to Pick Ditch. It is always runnable. Depending on water level the drop may be hardly visible or you can see big waves as we did at high water.

My GPS track does not show it but I run the dam very close to the right shore avoiding most of the standing waves. John and Steve in tandem Spencer canoe without spraydeck run through the middle. It took them a while to empty their boat. They caught and pass me miles below Pick Bridge.

3. Pick Bridge

After paddling 12 miles of turbulent river along some high cliffs you are reaching the Pick Bridge. It was practically the only access to the race course this year. I reached the Pick Bridge in 59:45, 2 minutes behind the leading group.

4. Three Channels

In the middle of paddling between the Pick Bridge and Eagle Nest you will be provided with a choice of three river channels. The middle channel is the “right” one. The left channel is luring with a false shortcut, but you will run into a shallow rock diversion dam.

This is a favorite route of Scott Cummins. He took it last year portaging the dam, and he did it again this year, but he run over the dam damaging his Fenn surfski. Despite the crack and leakage he managed to win the race.

I am not sure if other paddlers followed Scott into the left channel. I couldn’t see them, but I took that tempting channel too. However, I didn’t run the dam. I paddled into the ditch and portaged.

Mike Lesnik: And yes; I and the Great Falls double followed Scott! The Missile never touched, the double just ticked their kick-up rudder. Note for next year: don’t follow Scott when he goes left around a big bluff just downstream from the multiple lodge/cabin fly fishing operation.

5. Eagle Nest

Eagle Nest – a spectacular cliff on the right shore and a diversion dam with a rapid below. The rock diversion dam is often modified by adding more rocks, so, normally, it is recommended to stop there and scout the rapid. Last year, I visited the Eagle Nest before the race (10 miles of driving on rough range roads from I-80), but this year it was not possible due to wet weather. Jerry Nyre’s track got stacked in the mud as soon as they left payment a day before the race.

It seems that the dam looks the same as it was last year and the Google map shows it pretty well. The main chute is on the right side just next to the entry to the irrigation ditch. You need to stay very close to the cliff, otherwise, you may end up on rocks in the middle of the dam if water is low. At high water this year it was possible to run the dam anywhere but through big waves.

I stopped upstream of the dam on the left shore (next to a white rectangle sign on the cliff) and then took a calm water route around the dam on the left. I believe that most racers went on the right or in the middle. Rob Bean did some swimming in his Spencer X-treme there.

You can have a better look at the Eagle Nest rapid at lower water in my 2007 pictures.

6. Headwind Allee

A few miles above I-80 crossing there are some long, straight and open river segments. It is where you can fully enjoy the Wyoming headwind. Guaranteed!

7. Finish at Fort Steele (I-80 Boat Ramp)

Finally, the finish at the boat ramp just below I-80 freeway. It was a pretty fast race for me: 4:27:36, ~22 minutes behind Scott Cummins, 5th place overall, 3rd (and the last one) in solo double blade class, ~52 minutes faster than last year.

I would prefer to paddle a few miles further to the Dugway Area which is much nicer and quieter, but, I believe, the race organizers have some conflicts with BLM and the event with cash prizes.

I mounted my waterproof Pentax Optio W30 camera on a bow of my Thunderbolt-X kayak using a sticky pod (suction cup mount). I setup up the camera in an interval (time lapse rate) mode and was shooting pictures automatically every 1 minute during the race. I taped a temporary hood to my camera to protect the lens against direct sun and water splashes.

This setup worked pretty well, although, I was gathering water droplets on the lens in some rapids. I should shoot pictures more frequently than 1 minute (10 seconds is the lowest limit) to capture more details around interesting spots.

Related posts and links:

7 Landmarks and Highlights of the 2008 Wyoming Outback Challenge