Warm Springs (Full)

Warm Springs Rapid is one of the West's classic whitewater experiences. Located in the deep canyons of Dinosaur National Monument on the Yampa River, the rapid is both feared and loved. Nearly 50 years ago, heavy rain produced a large debris flow that burst from side canyons and into the river creating what we know today as Warm Springs Rapid. River rafting was still in its early days at that time and one of the first boatman attempting to navigate the Warm Springs was thrown into the rapid and drowned. Since then the rapid has mellowed but still occupies a position of fable and nostalgia in the stories of river lore. Alongside the rapid the Yampa River has also seen many of river running's early days. From early do it yourselfers to now, Warm Springs is a story full of history, culture and a river that has captured the heart of boatmen and women for generations. And this only the beginning.

[adsteel]

What a cool video. Thanks for sharing.

[logancundiff]

Why am I only finding this channel now?

[jimwebb]

I was there, we only made it to the old hermitage across from Deerlodge Park the first night. At Mantle Ranch a ranger told us that something very big had happened at Warm Springs....where tied our boats to the bases of the box elder trees at the top of the rapids the week before, we tied them to the tops of them that afternoon. We scouted the rapid and saw the rock that had been against the far shore now in the middle of the rapid, the dirt and such on the far bank having been washed away. Large boulders were settling in the river and at the shore. We sent one of our army surplus boats thru and they made it safely but the rangers came upstream and told us what had happened earlier that day and we ended up lining our other boats around the rapid. Where there was a hill overlooking the rapid the week before was then a bed of boulders. Absolutely amazing!

[SegoMan]

Did the Grand in "89" with the Web we called him the floating river dictionary.
5:00 brother to "Rachet Azz" Did a split trip with him and his shiny new self bailing AL Dorey, funny as hell watching him explain to the ranger why only a roll of duct tape was needed for the repair kit .
9:08 1/2 Real Rangers Dino hired the rest were f'n jerks, (stopped going there because of them - and I live only 25 miles from it.)
Did a WestWater with "Hard Tach" Glade (2/2 real Dino Rangers) and George Wilkins, they showed up with their "Vintage" gear. The new gen boaters were like WTF that night at the put in the entire group was at our camp fire listening to those 2 telling Retro Hatch stories.. Priceless

Thanks for the jog on the river memories

[davidalbrecht]

This is absolutely fascinating! I had no idea that there was footage of Warm Springs literally within hours of the slide. Thanks for a really interesting video.

[Acrossutah]

Great video -- very well done! I'll be running the Yampa at the end of May with a group and this video just got me really excited.