Morning panorama at put-in. Unfotunately those reflections in the placid pool mean that nature has rearranged the river bed and the main channel is in the distance on the other side of the gravel bar. Time for alternate put-in

Same panorama via Olympus Master 2.03. Notice more "fish-eye" distortion effects, than 2D flat-stitching above done with 'old' Camedia Master software, which Olympus no longer supports

Across the bridge and upstream, is the old put-in, now quite overgrown

While waiting for the shuttle, others with smaller boats, no equipment and more people chose to carry the boats across the gravel bar

Final rigging after Al and Jim did the shuttle

Approaching "Rumble Wall"

"Rumble Wall" has the almost constant sound of gravel and rock fragemnts sliding noisily. Makes one wonder how long before the whole bank collapses

Stop for some minor finger surgery, due to a fishing hook faux pax

Major side stream erosion

Rafting is thirsty work

Passing the USGS gaging station

Apparent take-out for day boaters mentioned earlier

Sunshine on Sauk Mtn.

Al works on inserting the garlic into the prime rib. 5:52pm

Prime rib is in the Dutch oven cooking (charcoal on top and underneath). Next batch goes on soon. 6:20pm

Campshot while dinner is cooking. 7:31pm

Looking at Sauk Mtn. 7:32pm

Temperature check. 140F target. 8:18pm

Finally carving starts. 8:36pm

Day 2 - The rain, which started at 5am, finally appears to be letting up. 11:46am

Fog shrouded Sauk Mtn.

I took a lot of abuse on this outfit, but it works!²

Floating out to the "new" Skagit confluence, several hundred yards below where it was last year

Al does his GW imitation while surveying the confluence

Major channel changes on the Skagit. Looking back upstream at what was a great fishing hole last year (left)

Al and Jim decided to take the minor channel to verify indeed the good fishing hole was gone

Houses along the left bank means the take-out is not far

Take-out arrival. 4:19pm

USGS Flow - 08/18/2007 12:30 3.41 1,690 CFS