This Strainer Warning is NOT on the Poudre. However, our readership is wide and these gentlemen deserve a huge Shout-Out.
A HUGE shout out to the Park Rangers down in Gunnison/Blue Mesa for their help this weekend freeing a stranded boat on a channel-wide strainer. If anybody who reads the PRR knows Ramon, Ely, or Brandon of the Nat’l Park Rangers out of Blue Mesa, give them a big thanks for us!! They were very responsive and helpful, even during a busy Gunny Fest weekend! And most important, they had a fantastic, positive and fun attitude!
STRAINER WARNING on the Gunnison:
If you are floating the Gunny, below the water park and Psychedelic Falls, and you plan to float past Neversink, stay in the main channel. Do not attempt the right channel. There are two channel-wide strainers impossible to avoid. The first Channel-Wide strainer we managed to get one boat up onto, and over the strainer. The second boat wasn’t as fortunate as we were still stuck on the only portion of the log that going over was feasible. That boat attempted to ram us off the log, and take our place. When ramming us failed to dislodge us, it spun them sideways onto the strainer with an instant flip. That 14′ Hyside, and all of its occupants went UNDER the strainer. VERY bad situation. Everyone is OK, with one helluva story to tell. I scooped up our stranded boaters, and their boat went down a little ways to find the SECOND Channel-Wide strainer. Either way- get out at Neversink (not a real take-out) or stay in the main channel and float on down to Wilson’s Landing. If you intend to get out at Neversink, it’s where there’s a bench and a small interpretive/educational sign, overgrown and NOT an obvious take out! If you find yourself there… GET OUT!
This PSA sent to you by your friendly PRR Staff!
