Too early to float down the bow?

[3g4u]

Thought with the nice long weekend comming up here that i might go floating down the Bow this Saturday. Does anybody know if the water is too high still or if there are any warnings out saying not to?

[B17a]

I would say wait a bit longer. Flow rates are still over 200 cubic meters a second or roughly double what they would be in say August.

[dimi]

Buddy took my boat and went from Banff to Canmore. He said most of the time was spent paddling cause of the high waters. The water is apparently freezing cold up there too. I'm gonna hit up Elbow from the dam to the 4st Safeway and enjoy some beers instead.

[Jlude]

ya I'd say wait a little bit... although the weather is perfect today!

[teg_boya]

last year i was enjoying some beers on the elbow in august and then had police that were watching from the banks tell us to get out of the water. they made us dump our beer and ticketed us for open alcohol in a public place or some bs along those lines

[GQBalla]

owned ^^

news said to avoid the bow river right now since its too fast or something.

[a social dsease]

These guys are pussies. I've already floated the Bow 3 times this year!
Went last Saturday (21st) and it was great. Water is a bit high, but its flowing nice and fast, not too much paddling required. Very little debris too.
Its also quite warm for June, we were swimming/jumping from the Southland pedestrian overpass for a good half hour and I didn't get cold at all. Like I said though, the current is pretty fast so if you aren't a strong swimmer best to stay in the boat.
Where do you usually raft?

I'll be out there on sunday, we usually put in at blackfoot and get out at 22x. Remember to bring sunscreen, bugspray (for when you get out) and lots of cold beer.

*edit* oh yea, dont forget to bring lifejackets. you dont usually have to wear them, just make sure there is one for everybody on the boat. the firefighters occasionaly patrol the bow too.

[GREENBOY]

It's not a question of being a pussy. It's about using your brain.

[ExtraSlow]

I belive the safety boom above the wier has washed out again this year. Haven't heard when they'll be re-installing it.

Make sure you pull out plenty upstream.

And, for reference, here is the Alberta Environment flow data:
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/ap...ionID=RBOWCALG

[kaput]

.

[gretz]

do it up - high river is still worse than the bow. My buddies did it the other day - super fast and cold.
if your thinking of doing high river, there are about 25 going on saturday

[ringer]

went last sunday. wicked time.

[DeeK]

Plenty of people on the river today. Didn't look like they were your typical family river floater party though.

I'd say it should be fine. Just wear your lifejackets. the Bow is notorious for undercurrents that can easily pull you under if you arent a really strong swimmer.

Otherwise stick to the elbow.

Elbow is nice early in the year because the high flow rates keep you high enough to not scrape bottom, bow is better in the late part of the year when its relaxing.

Just IMO.

[Supa Dexta]

Originally posted by DeeK
Plenty of people on the river today. Didn't look like they were your typical family river floater party though.

I'd say it should be fine. Just wear your lifejackets. the Bow is notorious for undercurrents that can easily pull you under if you arent a really strong swimmer.

I'm a pretty good/strong swimmer. used to be anyways, got out of lessons at the life guard level... I almost had it one day in a wave pool.. haha.. i was drunk, combine a couple waves at the wrong time, and a breath at the wrong moment and all of a sudden panick sets in.. But I've also saved a few people back in the day too, couple little kids and one of my buddies in the ocean. Just watch out whatever you do, things happen fast..

[Jay911]

Wear the lifejacket. Not wearing it and thinking you can put it on when you need it is like not wearing your seat belt and thinking you can put it on when you're in the middle of crashing your car.

As mentioned, the booms are not up, so get out long before the weir.

Those of you who have been down the river (any river) in years past and think you know where all the eddies, deep spots, weird places, etc., are, remember we had massive flooding and stream flow in 2005 which changed the rivers' paths and topography drastically.

[semograd]

no did it last week, it was fine