Piedra

The Piedra, the old fallback. Nothing else is running yet? Do the Piedra. Everything is scary high? Do the Piedra. Despite its long shuttle, and paddling 8 miles of flatwater for one mile of whitewater, somehow it is still worth it. The one mile of whitewater is one of the best miles of class IV in Colorado, and the flatwater actually moves pretty fast with good flows.

A couple weeks ago we went up for a beautiful Piedra day and hiked about 1/2 mile up the First Fork to a drop that I had scouted with low water. With water in it, it was only about a six foot ledge, but it was clean and fun. Drew boofs it.

Unfortunately there were about 5 log jam portages between the ledge and the put-in, so it probably won't be repeated, but at least we were warm for the actual paddling portion of the day.

Once the rapids kick off, they are powerful and fluffy with big easy lines.

Boof!

The Eye of the Needle is by far the biggest rapid on the run. Though technically easy, this one always gets the blood pumping due to the powerful constriction and chunky run out. I recommend always scouting this one because I have seen several different woof configurations in the runout. Never content with the standard line, Kevin drops in switch.

The paddle out is long but scenic and the water moves fast. Stop at the hotsprings on river left if they are not already full of naked hippies.

Black Boxes of the San Rafael

The Black Boxes of the San Rafael is a classic, very hard to catch, and totally worth it wilderness run in central Utah. It runs through two slot canyons in the San Rafael Swell and is rarely run due to the absence of water and the fact that it is in the middle of nowhere. While it contains loads of mellow water and desert scenery, it demands an expedition mindset due to sandstone boulder piles forming sieves in most rapids, one scary portage/seal launch in the first Box and a couple of blind solid class IV drops in the second Box. That said, if you are willing to put up with a little hardship and alot of flat water, the Black Boxes are a great experience.


We did the Black Boxes in two days, car camping 1.5 easy miles above the river between the two Boxes. This run would make a great self-support two-day run or could be done in one very long day.


We had 450cfs, which is close to the recommended minimum, but I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of scraping. It really was an okay level. More would be better, but I would not shy away from the run at this level. This run rarely has water due to the farmers in central Utah using just about every drop of the San Rafael for irrigation. We caught it with 240cfs released from Joe's Valley Reservoir to make room for an an expected unusually large runnoff and a bit of release from other reservoir and low elevation runoff. It should run for a bit at low flows and may run higher if Joe's Valley spills later in the season.


For no particularly good reason, we decided to cut off the first 8 miles of flatwater with the "shortcut" hike described in the New Testament. This involved a strenuous and kinda dangerous climb down to the river that I cannot recommend. This is how it looks from near the top:

Once in the canyon, the rapids start gradually. There are a few nice Class IV rapids while the gorge is still open. Scouting is easy and times are good.

After several rapids, you come to one of the ugliest sieves I have ever seen. Kevin takes the prefered high left line on this one:

Soon, the gorge closes in and you arrive at a couple more significant rapids, including the Weeping Wall Rapid. At low flows, the right line is good. The piton to left sieve line is less good. Russ runs the preferred line.

Eventually the gorge narrows and you approach Rockfall, which at 450cfs is definitely not good to go. Even the portage is sketchy, with potentially dire consequences for a slip. This thing might be good at 1000 but you would be shooting for the 100cfs that does no go underground. Teamwork makes the portage go better.

The real crux of the portage is the seal launch. In my mind, this is what makes the Black Boxes not an intermediate run. It is a roughly 10-15 foot seal launch where some assistance from a buddy really helps. The pool below is quite boily and only one of the two exit slots go. Props to Russ for taking one for the team and volunteering to go last with no help getting in.

A couple more rapids follow as you exit the spectacular first Box.

After great camping. much flatwater follows before the second Box, which begins with Swasey's Leap.

The second box contains some nice water in an intimate setting. I won't spoil the surprise, but teamwork will make it much more enjoyable, and the blind drops seem to go pretty well by just following the main current.

The Black Boxes is takes alot of driving, alot of paddling, and tolerance for a just a bit of sketchiness; but if unique desert creeking is your thing, it is totally worth it.

Deer Creek

Deer Creek is the first self-support multi-day trip I have done and it really exceeded my expectations. Deer Creek runs out of the Ishi Wilderness in the northern Sierras. Due to its lower elevation headwaters, it has a short season, but we were able to catch it at a great flow in early May. Deer Creek is divided into two halves. You can do just the lower or both sections, but just the upper only is not recommended due to an extremely long shuttle. The upper section is harder, and also better than the lower, and both have great scenery.

Most of the Upper section is fast Class IV through a forest, with read and run lines, an surprisingly little wood. One big exception to this is Fishladder Falls, which is a pretty much mandatory portage. You portage on the right and there is a nice trail about 50 feet above the creek. There is probably also a better way to get to the trail if you stop further upstream, but if you go to the lip, the climb is pretty steep and slippery.

Re-grouping post portage.


Typical upper section scenery.


Lots of this.


Around mile 12, we began looking for the great campsite noted in some of the online guides. We floated through a canyon with spectacular rock spires, but no apparent campsites. Around 7 PM, we floated though a vertically walled-in rapid and past the point of no return for the section described by cacreeks as the "V+ Maxi-Gorge." After another large, but clean rapid, we had a brief meeting, where group members expressed opinions such as "there is no way I am sleeping in this fucking gorge tonight." Fortunately, the gorge was only about five rapids long and not V+. This was actually the best section of the run with surprisingly clean drops considering the geology (large volcanic boulders). We ran the first four rapids and portaged the last. The last drop looked alright, but we were in a bit of a time pinch.

The only photo I took in the gorge.


We eventually found a place to camp right as dark was falling. The next morning, we woke up and after an alpine 11AM start, ran the Antipenultimate, Penultimate, and Ultimate section of rapids. I am not sure which was which, and it seemed more like five rapids, but this was a very nice section of whitewater. Less boxed in and more continuous than the gorge upstream, but also very clean.

Kevin somewhere on the morning of day 2.


Soon, we crossed under the Ponderosa Way bridge into the lower section. The first mile of this section contained good Class IV, which eventually mellowed. Class III and IV rapids are scattered throughout the next several miles. It should be noted that there is a bad wood hazard about 5 miles into the lower run. Scout carefully in this area.

Mellow section.


After several miles, there is a final flurry of action with several class IV-IV+ rapids, and Ishi Falls, the largest rapid on the lower section.

Ian boofs into Ishi Falls.


The river eventually mellows into a long and scenic paddle out. We camped somewhere in this section and paddled out on an easy day 3. Overall, I thought Deer Creek was a fantastic run. The upper section is better than the lower, but the combination makes for great trip. This run could be done in two reasonable days with an early start or a guide. We about 600 cfs for the entire trip, which seemed like a really good level. 450 is probably a reasonable minimum. More than 600 would be great if you could catch it at that level.

South Yuba- 49 to Bridgeport

49 to Bridgeport has it all, crystal clear water, smooth granite, and lots of big rapids. We ran this section the first time at 750 cfs an then later in the week at 570 cfs. The higher flow was better but it was still fun lower. This run is a busy 7 miles. Our first trip scouting every horizon line took 6 1/2 hours. This time can be cut down significantly once you know the run.

Idylic view at the put-in.


The action starts immediately with a series of Class IV rapids followed by a portage. Andrew in the early rapids.


After a short lull, you enter a bedrock gorge with many great IV-IV+ rapids. Ian on one of the first of these.


The author runs another typical rapid downstream.


Ian again.


Kevin runs "the waterfall."


After the class IV gorge, the run beefs up a bit with more big rapids, and notably a set of beautiful granite slides.


Below this the big rapids just keep coming with several more drops before the takeout. This is one of the best runs that I have done and I highly recommend it if you are in the area.

North Yuba- Rosassco Canyon

Rosassco Canyon is a short but fun run on the North Yuba just downstream of Downieville. This run is a nice change from the low volume bounce of Pauley and Lavezolla Creeks. The action begins after one recommended portage and consists of three nice IV+ rapids. The paddle in and out are fast Class III. This is a good run to tack onto the end of Pauley Creek. We had about 1400 cfs and thought is was a good flow.

Working through the portage.



First rapid after the portage.



Looking down into the last major rapid.



There are nice (pay) campgrounds all along the river downstream of Downieville.

Pauley Creek

Pauley Creek is a very popular run in the North Yuba drainage with good reason. It is a pristine forested creek with a few great, low stress drops. This creek is separated from Lavezolla Creek by just one ridge, and the shuttle road goes right up the ridge. The regular put in involves trespassing right past a private residence, which is apparently okay. On the last of our three runs, we hiked up about a half mile past the regular put-in. This adds a cool mini-gorge that is similar to Lavezolla Creek. There is beginning to be a well worn trail to this put-in, and I highly recommend it.

The first drop is sloping 12 footer that is a mandatory plug on the right (at lower flows). This is a very fun drop to lead first timers into blind. There is a paddler in there somewhere.

There are a couple more fun smaller drops and then the best rapid on the run- a slide to ledge of about 15 feet. This is a very photogenic rapid, where you can run laps pretty easily. Also recommended is accidentally knocking your friend's boat off the center rock so he has to jump after it into the pool below.

From above.


And below.


The take out falls look like they would be fun with more water, but would hand out a lot of abuse at lowish water. Be careful on the small ledge above the falls. This would be a bad place to swim. Overall this is a great little run, very popular (read: easy to find a shuttle) and a good way to spend a couple hours in Downieville.

Lavezolla Creek

Lavezolla Creek is the first splash of water we got after an overnight drive from not so sunny Colorado. Though rightfully overshadowed by its next door neighbor Pauley Creek, it is a beautiful run with some nice Class IVish rapids. The water is crystal clear and the scenery is great. We did it at low water (about 150 cfs). More would be better.

Kevin early on.


Brian contemplates his next move.


More typical Pauley scenery.



This run is a nice little creek, but does not get run too often due to the other great options in the area. Still worth it if you have come for Pauley Creek and want some variety.