The Upper Clackamas at 6,500 cfs is big water. On this run in my Super Puma there's a high-water swim and a good recovery. It's also the first video with SOLWYRX branding.
Video: The Upper Clackamas at 6,500 CFS, By Jacob Linkhart on the SOLWYRX Paddlesports YouTube channel.
Disclosure: SOLWYRX Paddle Gear sells Sawyer and Oar Snubber gear, and I earn money when you buy it here.
What 6,500 cfs means
At high flows the Upper Clackamas changes completely. Familiar holes get bigger or wash out, eddies shrink, and recoveries take longer because everything moves faster. Toilet Bowl alone goes from a surf wave at moderate flows to hole-like around 3,500 cfs (Oregon Kayaking), and this is nearly double that.
The swim and the recovery
When someone swims at high water, the clock matters. Get the swimmer to a boat or shore fast, then deal with gear. That's what swiftwater rescue training drills into you; see How Private Boaters Can Learn to Row and Rescue.
The rig
Super Puma with a frame, Sawyer DyneLite XD MXS oars and an Oar Snubber. At big water, the Snubber keeps an oar from jumping out of the lock and floating away (see the Oar Snubber guide).
Source: Oregon Kayaking, The Upper Clackamas
Personal trip report: flows, wood and hazards change, and what worked for me that day isn't a rule for your boat or group. Check current conditions, scout, and boat within your training.
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Updated October 28, 2026 · By Jacob Linkhart, owner of SOLWYRX Paddle Gear · Spot a mistake? Email me and I'll fix it.
