|
| Running through the valley at the base of Lutsen Ski area, the Poplar River is a run with a decidedly split personality. Above the bridge (top center in left photo), the river almost meanders through swampy looking meadow. As it reaches the bridge, the bottom drops out as it spills down an incredible cascade. Most boaters will be content to put-in at the base of this cascade. From here, most of the run is a great, technical class II-II+ boogie. Only a couple short stretches break into class III. Then, as one approaches a bridge (about the third or fourth you cross under) a distinct horizon line occurs. Scout Bialek's Surprise (and the canyon beyond) from the right. This long, sliding drop (shown above right) can be run pretty much right down the center, though a couple of diagonal wave/holes and some crowning to the rock early on may make this line less than straightforward to hit. A hole at the base of the slide precedes a short pool before the canyon. A complex series of offset holes and rocks to dodge make this a challenging class III-IV stretch. Beyond, the river settles back into much more reasonable class II-II+ most of the remaining distance to a golf-cart bridge which we use as our take-out. Just below, the river drops down a complex set of ledges and into a relatively deep gorge. While I have heard of runs of this lower reach of the river, most boaters are likely to be content to take-out before it. |