This once popular after work run is now sadly very inaccessible. However if you're making the mission to
Tatlow then you'll be paddling out on this. Please email BCWhitewater if you have any photos of this run we can add to this guide!
Getting there:
Currently the only way to really get here is... Either park at Ashlu Falls (50-50), cross the closed bridge (which will sadly be removed soon in the future). And walk up 12km on an old abandoned road which involves some creek crossings. Dave's Bridge is still there at Pykett Creek to easily (but scarily) cross the creek. Expect a lot of fallen trees and overgrowth on the road. You can lessen the walk by a few km by parking near the Innergex Dam at the end of the Mine run, ferrying across and then walking up from there. Depending on fitness this may take you 2+ hours, and for added fun unless you feel like paddling the
Mine Run below you'll be walking out for 4-5km as well! Using an e-bike to shoulder boats can be good as long as the road has been cleared recently.
Level:
There is no gauge above the dam on the Ashlu so level inspection is visual, if there's flow coming over the dam (above 5cm/s) then it's probably a medium-high flow.
Description (From Claudia's Book from 2006)
The extended version of the run adds a couple of steep class III/III+ drops before arriving at the bridge and the lower put-in. The first half of the run is a scenic float with small II-III drops, the second half of the run is III+ with a couple of IV- drops (the first significant drop starts where the river makes a slight left turn and squeezes between two big boulders). The take-out is shortly after an island at a gravel bar on the left. The spot is usually clearly marked with flagging tape, but if it's your first time you may want to walk down prior to the run. Plan 20-30 minutes for the trail up to where you parked.