Who's run a driftboat down the Illinois?

I would like to get in touch with people who have hardboated the Illinois. I know a couple who did and I've lost the contact information for one person, and the other had a bad experience and refuses to talk about the Illinois.

I have a few questions, but would like to connect with someone first. 

Thanks!
Roger

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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on February 27, 2015 at 7:53am

I have a friend who was the river ranger on the Illinois for several years. He either ran a drift boat or his open canoe. I am not sure where he is right now as he often works for the government in foreign countries for months at a time. Last I knew of him was a job in the Marshall Islands. I just sent him an email to see if I can find him for you.

I don't know if you have had any luck with the BLM as they are the agency that oversees the Illinois, perhaps one of them now runs it in a drift boat. Dave also ran all the forks of the Oywhee River for years in his canoe and drift boat. I'll let you know if I find him and if he is available to talk.

Rick N

Permalink Reply by Roger Goth on February 27, 2015 at 11:16am

I've run the Illinois 20+ times in a kayak or raft, so I know this river very well.  My questions are driftboat specific.  I grew up in S. Oregon, I don't ever remember there being an Illinois River Ranger who ran the river on a regular basis.

Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Kurt Selisch on February 27, 2015 at 6:21pm

David Jensen replied to a recent forum about stacking drift boats. In his post he said they ran the Illinois in Keith Steele boats.....although it was 30 years ago. He may be a guy to touch base with.

Permalink Reply by David Jensen on February 27, 2015 at 8:34pm

We did do it ages ago, about 30 years ago.  4 or 5 wooden drift boats, and all boats and boaters made it out intact.  All were from the McKenzie River, in our 30's,  except 1 older oarsman from the Siuslaw River in Oregon.  Despite a successful trip, I do not think any of us did it again.  At the put in, a Ranger strongly counseled against it, saying the last trip to start in rafts was decimated in the first 1/2 mile.  It remains an unforgetable trip from a time during which we luckily made some other similarly edge of the envelope trips in wood drift boats, including Three Forks to Rome on the Owyhee.  If you want more, you can email me directly at jensens@rgisp.com.  My advice is to talk with anyone who has done it in any type of craft, get good topographic maps, and any internet river maps available.  Along with the rapids, there are hazards.  Unlike the neighboring Rogue, the trial along the river is often inaccessible if there is an accident.  I do not know, but I doubt there is much cell phone coverage.  So, be well prepared.

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on February 27, 2015 at 10:18pm

Roger, I sent an email to my buddy and found out that he is currently working in the Marshall Islands. I asked him if he ran the Illinois in a drift boat and his Mad River ME solo whitewater canoe.

Here is his response: "I ran both drift boat and canoe. But it's a rocky sucker. I don't remember my personal cut-off point to go with the canoe. I ran it at higher and lower levels. But there's definitely a flow where you leave the drift boat at home.
Not a real good source of information, I'd do about anything back then." Dave ran the Grand Canyon in his ME numerous times leading raft trips for the Air Force. He was pretty fearless.

Sorry I can't be more helpful. I also don't know when he worked down there. We started boating together in the late 70's and I lost touch with him for awhile.

Rick Newman

Permalink Reply by Roger Goth on February 28, 2015 at 7:33am

Rick,

Thanks!  I'm mostly curious how the drift boaters dealt with Green Wall and the levels they ran it.

Permalink Reply by David Jensen on February 28, 2015 at 8:56am

Roger,

Since you have been down there 20+ times, you probably noticed a little cove on the left just before the fall into the Green wall to your right.  We ran the boats into the cove, then unloaded all the dry bags, and disassembled the boats.  Disassembling was removal of the passengers' seat, the knee rest, and the the line deck.  Portaging the dry bags and boat parts wasn't bad, but the boat hulls were terrible.  I remember us passing them up, around, and over huge VW sized rocks.  Lots of bruising and scraping of skin and bone.  It took hours.  I think Steve Steele has in his Lebanon boat shop a picture we gave his father Keith (who built all the boats) of his boats in the boulders.  Keith had that photo, and one of the stacked boats being trailered home in his shop, until he died.  The photo of the stacked boats and boaters was taken in front of a liquor store on the Smith River in CA, where we stopped to resupply our provisions on our return to Eugene.  The sign in front of the liquor store said "Welcome Wild River Runners."  It referred to a kayak event going on on the Smith River that weekend.

Permalink Reply by Roger Goth on February 28, 2015 at 8:02am

Thanks David. 

I'm extremely familiar with the Illinois having run it multiple times at flows between 325 cfs and 4,000+ CFS (including coming out at 12,000 cfs). 

What was the river level at Kerby when you did it? 

What did you do at Green Wall?

Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Roger Goth on March 3, 2015 at 11:31am

Thanks for the replies.  I was able to find a ton of information through my facebook friends.  A plan is in the works..... 

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