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Nisqually River: Yelm Powerhouse to 6th Ave, Sunday Nov 15
Tandem and solo canoes, kayaks. Moving water, Class I–II.

We’re running the 9-mile September trip again, this time with fall water. Expect more current than last time, which should suit tandems better. It’s still a remote, scenic stretch with eagles and salmon. Chum season means anglers and possibly nets, so give them room.

Meet: 9:30am at the WDFW 6th Ave fishing pier, 11642 6th Ave SE, Olympia, to leave shuttle cars. Then we drive together to the put-in at Nisqually Park at the Yelm Powerhouse, 14024 Yelm Hwy SE. We’ll launch by about 10:30 and need to be off well before the 4:30 sunset.

Go/no-go: I’ll make the call by 6pm Saturday. We go if the McKenna gauge is under 2,000 cfs and flat or falling. If it’s higher, we postpone.

Required:

Drysuit
PFD worn at all times
No cotton
A complete change of clothes in a dry bag
Boat Flotation (airbags)

Strongly recommended: helmet, a warm layer and a hot drink.

Bring: lunch, and a Discover Pass if you’re leaving a car at the take-out.

Good to know: the banks are tribal, military and private land, so we’ll keep our stops to gravel bars. Use the restroom before launch. In September a downed tree blocked the whole channel near the end. It may be gone or may have moved, so plan on a possible portage.