I was looking over my maps trying to come up with a back-up plan if the Hoh isn't shaking this Friday that I might be able to salvage the trip by heading elswhere. I have always wanted to do the Queets so I started looking at a map trying to determine put ins and take outs for this river and I noticed their was a named rapid just above the ?Hartzel Ramp? on Queets River Rd. called Lyman Rapids. Anyone have any exp with this stretch of water that would care to comment? If its named and is on the map then I tend not to get a warm feeling about it. I was thinking of doing the stretch from Streeters down to the Clearwater takeout 10mi. Looks like their may be a ramp between Hartzel and Streeters that could shorten it to a 8 mile float. Does that ramp actually exist? And is it worth chasing after Kings that high up in the river? And one final question I read a comment about the Clearwater takeout requiring a 100ft of rope to get your boat out, is this true? What can I really expect at that takeout. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Hartzell and Streeters are both gravel bar launches that require 4 wheel drive to get close enough to the river to launch. The pullout at Clearwater sucks at best, a 50 ft shale cliff and another 25 30 ft to the river before that at the present levels. I guess it depends on how bad you want it, but there's tons of bank access and at the current levels you can walk most of it.

There's no tough spots on the Queets concerning rapids but the river does change course alot so you always have to watch out for sweepers and I believe the take out by the Clearwater has been shut down to the white sportsmen.

Lyman Rapids can be really nasty, get out and scout! The Clearwater take-out is the most difficult on the peninsula.

Not worth drifting until 2,000 cfs.Good luck STRIKE ZONE

Qwik,

I don't wish to argue with Spike, but I don't think Lyman Rapids is dangerous. It is a rock garden that requires navigating through, but I think it's passable for any experienced boatman. Like Spike says, tho, if it's your first time there, get out and take a look.

All launch and retrieval sites on the Queets are unimproved, and the gravel bars move around from season to season. So the best one to use can change from one year to the next. If you retrieve at the Clearwater bridge, you will need a rope, but I don't think it has to be 100'. However, you'd better have gluvit or a skidplate on your boat, as it is nearly a vertical drag.

The riffles are skinny right now, so be prepared to get out and drag. Or maybe the showers forecasted for tomorrow might raise the river just enough . . .

Sincerely,

Salmo g.