Hagen Creek: 5/17/08 snowmelt run


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Hagen Creek doesn't have much of a paddling history, so how and when it flows is still a process of discovery. In May 2008 we were sitting on a record snowpack, and after a couple of hot days it all started cutting loose.

I wasn't sure if Hagen would be going because the Washougal gauge only reading about 6.5 feet and 1,000 cfs ( you need about 8.5-9.0 feet / 3,000 cfs on the Washougal for Hagen to run during a rain event ). But, it turns out that all of the water in the North Fork was coming down Hagen and the North Fork itself; all of the smaller tribs downstream were more or less dry.

Josh Knapp was back from a two-year climbing hiatus and once again armed with a creekboat. This was his third time in a kayak in two years, I took him down Hagen and he sure did like it..

Josh Knapp, Hagen Daaz..

Euphoria was sooo much fun as usual! What a great drop. The top slide was super fast and chaotic, then on the bottom drop I plugged the hole and went so deep I thought I'd re-surface in China. I guess that wouldn't have been so bad, I could've helped with the earthquake rescue effort and stuff..

Josh Knapp, Euphoria..

Other Hagen info, from past trips:
Hagen Creek - Video of the second known descent
Trip report of the first known descent