Fist

Fist. Class-IV/V rapid with a Class-VI undercut. *****Fist has changed radically since the 2005 release season. A hole has developed that funnels directly into the crack. SCOUT THIS RAPID. The traditional release line is VERY SKETCHY now. The bail out is to scrape down the river left side into the big left eddy in front of the crack. If you trust your ferrying skills, the hairy ferry is the preferred local line. ****** There are 2 lines, the main line and the fire escape. Both start from the river right eddy. The main line is to ferry across to left of center and then work back right so that you clip the edge of the fan rock (Huge Roostertail) The fire escape is a sneak on the right and is easier than the main line, but just as dicey if you mess it up. What you have to do is to wait until a surge of water humps up over the semi-wet rock on the extreme river right bank. When it does this, bust ass and paddle as hard as you can so that you slide up onto the rock and down the side. If you screw it up, you will slide diagonally toward the fan rock and very possibly under the fist rock. My preferred line is the high and dry portage on the river left side of the river. It's a much easier portage than it looks and the only difficult part is going behind the fist rock. IF you start walking when the first member of your groups starts down the rapid, you can probably be back into the river just below the fist rock by the time the last guys gets through