NF Feather (Tobin;V, Lower Tobin;IV)

There has been releases of 1,000~1,400 cfs from Rock creek dam for this run and from Cresta dam only in last weekends of July~Oct of recent years. I tried Tobin run for the first time in Sep of 2004. Tobin and lower Tobin have ~2 miles of classV and IV for each, but 0.3 mile part of Tobin is rated classV+ with 150 fpm gradient. It is because paddlers cannot see rapids or lines beyond boofs in front and also scouting is not easy. Swimming is not very good because there are many strainers. I had a bad swim at a very sticky hole in this section. It was very pitty that the spot was only quater mile above the Tobin takeout. Since I could not have room to take pictures in the V+ section, most pictures were taken in the first 1~1.2 mile section.

Below this bridge, classV rapids began.






Paddker is Chuck. He and I swam at the same boof later.














Rock creek powerhouse at the lower Tobin takeout. Just in front of this powerhouse, there was a sticky hole which looked like not bad and is known to some paddlers. I had second swim here. This was bad luck day for me.