SF Silver Creek (Autobahn to Icehouse Reservor, V)

South Fork Sliver Creek is CRAZY, but fantastic run. It is only 1.1 mile, but the average gradient is 590 fpm (>11%), that was almost four-times steeper than any runs that I had ever paddled. I did this run with Geoff Jennings, Chris Miller and James who guided us. James told me that this run has very narrow runnable window, only a week ~ ten days. Earlier or later than the very short season, it is too high or too low. With regard to this, I was so lucky. In this blog, some pictures were taken by Kim Luu, Geoff's wife. We thank her so much for her long waiting and taking pictures for us. Some infor. is available at dreamflows.com. More pictures are Geoff's web site.

Putin. Since as long as one day ago, I had been so nervous. Off course, my heart was beating so fast. I made lot of sighs in James' truck while we were moving to putin.


Autobahn. 350 foot slide.


Geoff.


James.


Chris is approaching Triple Slide.


Chris in Triple Slide.


James in the lower part of Triple Slide.


Triple Slide and the downstream rapids.


Chris is entering boof, boof, slide.


Boof, boof, slide from the downstream.


Geoff in the last rapid before Teacups.


There are 6 falls in total, 8', 12', 16', 3', 2', 10' in Teacups. James is running the thrid one.


Geoff is running the third one.


Me running the third one. Photo by Kim Luu.


James is running the last one.

Chris is running the last one.


Overview of Skycraper (upper half) and Offramp (lower half). Photo by Kim Luu.


Geoff is running Skycraper. Keep going!! I chickened out this rapid.


Geoff is running in the last drop of Skycraper.


Geoff in Skycraper. Photo by Kim Luu.


Geoof in Skycraper. Photo by Kim Luu.


James is running Offramp. Photo by Kim Luu.


James in Offramp. Photo by Kim Luu.


Me entering Broken Nose. Photo by Kim Luu.


Me in Broken Nose. Photo by Kim Luu.


Me in the bottom part of Broken Nose. Photo by Kim Luu.


Me in next rapid below Broken Nose. Photo by Kim Luu.


I have always been a photographer using disposable camera. But this time, Kim shot me a lot. I was so glad. This may be last oppotunity when I can put lots of my paddling photos.


Plastic Surgery. The second upper rapid above this scary drop has sticky hole in the bottom. We prepared to throw ropes in the last pool above the scary drop. In the bottom of the left half, there is hidden rock which might cause so serious injury if paddlers go into it. I portaged. Someone told me before that a decision not to do is valued more than the one to do. In next year, I wanna try both Skyscraper and Plastic Surgery if I can develop my skill further. PHoto by Kim Luu.


Geoff running Plastic Surgery. Photo by Kim Luu.


Geoff running Plastic Surgery. Photo by Kim Luu. Her camera can take 4 shots in a second.


James in Plastic Surgery.

Deer Creek (Lower run, IV~IV+)

Deer creek has two runs, upper (17 miles, class V) and lower (23 miles, class IV). I did the lower run with Jesse Costero-Good, Tom Hind, Andrew Guldman, Melody Schmit and Andy, when flow was ~500 cfs in the Memorial day weekend. The flow was a little low, and we needed 200 cfs more. For this run, we paid for a shuttle driver ($60 per vehicle). We took the driver to the putin, and the driver drove our cars back to his/her house. on the next day, the drivers left cars at the takeout. The putin road (Ponderosa way) was terribly bad road, which needed high clearance vehicle.

This was my first overnight trip on the river. Before this trip, I spent longer than 3 hours to pack slepping bag, sleeping pad, vivy, fleece pants, fleece long sleeves, foods, water, dry clothes, spare paddles, etc in two float dry bags. Jesse adviced me not to put anything in the front, because stuffs need to be located as close to my body as possible to make quick turn. It makes sense. Some infor for this run is available at cacreeks.com.

Nice view from the putin bridge.


Andrew in unknown class IV rapid. For a while, I could not get familier with the heavy weight of my boat by lots of stuffs.


Andrew.


I was pinned in front of the huge rock in the right half of this picture. The front of my boat went under the rock, and my boat stood vertically and fixed in the rapid. There was no way to escape other than swimming.


Andrew.


Tom broke his paddle in the bottom of the right drop of the picture.


Very nice beach for camping.


Andrew made nice roof with the green tarp and spare paddles. In that evening, we had short rain. In next time, I have to mimic his way.


Tom brought a big sausage. Looked delicious!


What creatures gnawed this branch? Beaver??


Melody entering onto the toungue in river left. The hole in the right looked sticky.


Jesse on the first boof of the Ishi falls rapids (V-).


This picture is right after the previous photo.


Double drop. The flow in the middle was a little low to run. I did not want to be pinned anymore. We except for Jesse portaged.


Jesse ran in the river right of the Double Drop.


Andy.

SF Yuba (49 to Bridgeport, V)

49 to Bridge port is my best favorite run. It is not so far from Davis (2 hours), has many exciting rapids and boofs in only 7.2 miles and great sceanic views. However, there are many strainers and undercuts, so swimming here is very bad. In 2006, I did this run three times at 500 cfs, 730 cfs and 730 cfs. 700-800 cfs would be perfect flows. There is also a CA state park at the takeout where the world-longest covered bridge is. River flow is nice flat water and many swimmers come to enjoy so clean water. Some infor is available at cacreeks.com.

Putin bridge on Hwy 49.




Corey Tucker in the last rapid in the boulder garden


25 feet waterfall. Portaged.


Brian Tupper entering Mr. Squiggly (IV+)


Brian on the El Boof (IV).


Downstream view of El Boof.






This and next rapids are consecutive. Making river right through left move is the first line. In the bottom of both rapids, there are nasty holes.


Making river right through left move is second.


Ledge #2 (V-). David describes in his web site that a river-wide, twelve foot ledge. The right side is ugly, junky, and has nasty hydraulics. The cleanest line is generally left of center, heading right to avoid the awkward seam on river left.


Corner Pocket (V). line is making right to left move and go over the ledge in the right half. However, there are nasty undercuts beyond the ledge. The right side has nasty sticky hole. When I tried this rapid for the first time, I could not make good right to left move and entered the right hole. Fortunately, I was not caught in the hole.


Corner Pocket