Matthew Geyer's Page

Matt- I've spent lots of time poking around rivers and creeks and Lakes in Central CA, including the headwaters of the San Antonio- creek walking and swimming the wild and senic section of the Arroyo Seco (a three day trip with dry bags only), climbs up alder creek, carpoforo, salmon creek, in big sur.  I also like creek walks up in upper lopez.

 

I try to walk/crawl/swin the arroyo seco every summer-  we bring about 20 lbs of gear in dry bags, and forage crayfish and trout along the way- sleep on sandbars.  There are great waterfalls, some water slides and general river wildness to experience- no boats, just your feet and your swimming ability.  Its a great three day trip- starts from indians station and ends at the horse bridge on the lower arryo seco.

 

The big thing that limits my trips is my two year old daughter, a full time job and a second part time job, so trips are few and far between. 

The Naci trip looks great!!! Where did you put in???   What kept you from portaging around the brush pile and getting all the way to the narrows??

Thanks Matthew, really appreciate the input!

Michael

Yes- It was good to be back on a river after being off of them for over 7 years. (been mostly doing ocean stuff)

We went from Sycamore Ave Atasc- to just south of Templeton by the HS- there are some nice bedrock bumps, between Sycamore Ave, and the 41 bridge where you put in.

I think 14 ft @ the gauge is about the lowest you can float it- It was mellow and fun- also we wandered around the gravel bars and found a great rock with whalebone fossils in it too!! Next time, I want to float it from the rocky canyon crossing.

Thanks for the news- it looks as though the Salinas will be @ around 600-700 CFS- a bit bony/brushing  but possibly doable.    We would probably do it in a canoe.  Was it doable at the lower levels, except for the pipe-strainer???

 

I used to do multiday trips down simialr year round brushy, rapid rivers in Oregon (Mackensie, Willamette).  You are on the aqua-conveyer belt, and you are just trying to get out of the way of whats in front of you.  We would do 30 miles easily,  just riding the water- 

always

Hey Matt,
We were hoping you'd join us up the Salinas yesterday.........
We started uder the Santa Clara bridge at the end of Santa Clara St. in Atacadero. Started out nicelywater was moving about 2-3 miles an hour for about1 mile then we started bush wack'n as the river turned into a 5ft - 8ft wide fast moving stream actual white water and elevation changes 2 -3 ft. drops over large rocks and shooting between chunks of concrete ducking under branches and skimming past the vegetation growth. At times the Salinas would widen to 12 or 14 ft then narrow down again. Like you had mentioned, it turned into a class lll at times. It was great...We all loved it. We as in Tiffany, Kathy, Doug and I. So much more but gotta run......