Pauley Creek (IV+)_updated

Lower Pauley creek is one of my favorite run. The difficulty is class IV below 250 cfs and gets more difficult but slightly at higher flow of ~300 cfs. Even at not high flow, this fantastic creek attracts many class IV ~ V+ paddlers. More info is available at UpperPauley and LowerPauley. The putin for the last half ~3/4 mile of upper Pauley creek is reachable by 20 min hike-up, which deserves to do and is a little harder than the Lower Pauley. Lavezolla creek, a twin sister of Pauley, runs just nearby, but I like Pauley creek much better. Many people do this Lower Pauley creek for two laps in a day.

In 2010, my son, Ken-ya, has developed his paddling skill to classIV level. I have been looking forward to the day when he can run the Lower Pauley creek safely. The day has come! Because his performance had appeared to be good at some classIV runs, I decided to take him to this run. He loves this run as well. Pictures were taken in different dates/years when flows were 170/240/310 cfs, and 190/210 cfs with my son.

The first rapid of upper Pauley (Below 2009, 2010 putin), 300 cfs


same rapid, 210 cfs


300 cfs


300 cfs


300 cfs


Larry running on the shelf in the right channel, 300 cfs, The bottom on the left half looked sticky and ugly.


300 cfs


Larry running the last rapid just above the putin for the Lower Pauley. 210 cfs.


Upstream view from the putin for the Lower Pauley. What a fantastic creek!!


The Gorge (IV)


In May 2010, there was a hazardous log in the Gorge. Wonderful people removed it for next coming paddlers. I am proud of being a buddy of them.


The log bridge just above the Federal falls


Federal falls (IV+), 170 cfs


Federal falls (IV+), 300 cfs. There is a hole just 10 feet upstream than the main drop. This becomes sticky hole at 300 cfs (not a big deal at 250 cfs or lower).








Larry running the Federal falls, 300 cfs.


Double Drop (IV), The bottom on the left gets sticky. I have seen someone broke his paddle in the left bottom. We want to enter in the middle of the first drop and move to right for the second drop.


Slide (IV) shot from downsteam, the bottom on the left is sticky hole. Finish this rapid at the right ledge.


Jim entering the second falls (IV+). 170 cfs. This is the second hardest rapids of the lower Pauley creek run. Easy to enter, but easy to make boat flipped and stuck in the bottom. Enter in the center to right. Boats and swimmers tend to be pushed on the right bank after the drop.


My son, Ken-ya, running the second falls. 190 cfs. In his third run of this rapid at 210 cfs, he got stuck in the hole and swam. This was his first swimming since he had started paddling with hardshell boat.














Larry running Slip and Slide (IV+), 300 cfs. We want to paddle towards center to left. Otherwise, boats go into the bottom very straight, which makes boats flipped.





Ken-ya running the Slip and Slide (IV+), 190 cfs.






















Finishing this drop in the right = boat's going deep = boat's jump.


Dave running the last drop before the Pauley falls. 190 cfs.





Pauley falls (IV+). I would NOT run it below 250 cfs.


170 cfs.


My son and me at the takeout of Pauley falls, 190 cfs. Photo by Dave Wilkinson.