Tuolumne & Oar Towers | Gear Garage Live Show
The Low-Water Soapbox: Myth vs. Reality
Zach kicks off the show addressing the flood of anxious questions about low water levels on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Rogue River. His take? It's not actually that low:
- Middle Fork of the Salmon: Currently running at 3.2 feet, which is very close to average. A truly "low" water level would be down around 1.8 feet. Zach notes that anything between 80% and 120% of average is a good, normal flow.
- The Rogue River: The dam is releasing 1,400 CFS (with some diverted for irrigation), leaving about 1,200 CFS in the river—though it may drop to 1,100 CFS soon. It doesn't get truly "low" until it dips below 900 CFS.
- Zach's Low-Water Strategy: If you do end up running low water, adjust by bringing less gear so your boats aren't heavy, and potentially bringing more boats on the trip.
Introducing Submarine Hole
Zach introduces his new website, submarinehole.com. It is designed as a professional discussion board for river rescue instructors, rowing/raft instructors, and professional guides to share ideas and keep a lasting log of information. While there is a small section for private boaters, the primary focus is to serve as a resource for river pros.
Oar Geometry & Rigging Rules of Thumb
Answering a listener question about dialing in oar towers on a used frame setup where the rower sits on a dry box four inches above the frame, Zach shares his setup guidelines:
- Oar Tower Height: Stick with 8-inch oar towers. Moving up to 10-inch towers splays the oars out too much, which can inadvertently add up to a foot of length to your oar setup.
- Tower Distance: Place your oar towers roughly in line with your kneecaps. If they are too close, it’s incredibly hard to ship your oars; too far forward, and you’ll find yourself awkwardly leaning too far into your stroke.
- The 1.63 Rule: Multiplying your span by 1.63 to find your oar length is correct about 90% of the time, though exceptions exist based on your specific boat size and gear load.
Tuning Pins & Clips
When it comes to tuning your oar clips to your pins, skip the rubber mallet. Zach recommends using a dead blow mallet, a steel hammer, or even a heavy river rock to bend them.
You want the clip tuned tight enough that it takes a very hard, deliberate jerk to pull the oar off the pin, but loose enough that it stays on securely when you're just holding and leaning on it. He also notes his dislike for PVC sleeves over pins, as they wear unevenly and constantly change your tuning.
The Tuolumne River: Levels & Schedules
Zach reminisces about his guiding career on the Tuolumne River, which is completely unpermitted this year. He breaks down his favorite flows:
- 1,000 CFS (Zach's Favorite): Highly demanding and technical; perfect for rowing a heavy, 16-foot gear boat through tight channels.
- 2,000 – 3,000 CFS (Crowd Favorite): Big, splashy waves and forgiving, open lines. This is the epitome of classic Class IV rafting.
- 4,000 – 6,000 CFS: Highly challenging with fast-moving water, big holes (like the main hole at Gray's), and heavy consequences if you flip.
- April Trips: Zach highly recommends April on the Tuolumne. It usually runs around 2,000–3,000 CFS with spectacular wildflower blooms.
- The July Water Schedule: In the summer, water releases are dam-controlled to about 1,000 CFS for three hours a day. This puts boaters on a strict water schedule (e.g., the bubble reaches Clavey at noon and North Fork at 2:00 PM).
New Custom Gear & 3D Printing
Zach is actively printing and testing custom, purpose-built gear cases. Up first is a dedicated Tear-Aid container. While you can use cheap M&M Mini tubes or gelato containers, they don't clearly signal to other guides what's inside, and they tend to crack after a few years.
His custom containers hold 2 to 3 rolls of Tear-Aid, feature a rugged texture for easy gripping, and take 8 hours to print. He plans to sell them for around $25, styled in a "repair color" scheme of light and dark blue. Zach is also prototyping a bucket-mounted bracket to hold Mrs. Meyer's soap containers off the ground at camp.
Whitewater Accident Database Accuracy
When asked if the American Whitewater accident database misses many deaths, Zach praises Charlie Walbridge's thoroughness. He notes that while commercial companies sometimes attempt to minimize press surrounding fatalities, Charlie is incredibly diligent at documenting both commercial and private river deaths in the US. Zach admits he cannot think of a single US river fatality he's known of that didn't ultimately end up in the database.
