Middle Fork Flathead - Beta Request

[Powderfin]

I'm planning on going 15th-17th of August, in a group which will have one person with little whitewater experience (maybe). Any info is appreciated!
- What is the river like at 3000-3500?
- Are the rapid easily scoutable/portagable?
- What should we expect on Granite Creek (will probably use that put in)?
- Any wood/mank that we should be aware of?

Thanks!

[RootSkier]

1) Low

2) Yes....well...maybe, but the spruce park series might be hard to portage. Easy to swim, though.

3) Umm...That is going to be a seriously long hike in. I doubt you will have any luck floating on Granite in August. We did it in June when the MF was like 12,000 and Granite was 6 (or more?) miles of low volume, sucky class II with lots of wood. And that was after the 4 mile drag in.

4) All of Granite.

Good luck? I always thought you had to fly in to Schaeffer at that point in the year. Are you bringing a raft? Maybe I am confused and there is another route to put in near Granite.

[sethschmautz]

Nah, Root is right. August will be impossible to float Granite. I've only done it really early in the year. Otherwise it's simply too low. It's too low even when it's high enough.

Your only option is going to be to fly in, and in August, from what I understand, it's pretty mellow. Raft companies take people down in IKs and the majority of the action is at the end of your fly rod. If you need some local contacts on how to fly in, let me know. I know of at least one company that does it commercially.