Stanislaus NF (BoardXing to Mckay's Pt, IV-V)

Stanislaus NF (Board crossing to Mckays point) is very beautiful run, which has 5 mile class IV section from Board crossing bridge put-in to Calaveras Big Trees State Park and 2.5 mile class IV+ with two classV- rapids. I have run it for several times since 2006 when flow was 500 ~ 850 cfs. 500 cfs was runnable flow, but it was boring. My son, Ken-ya, started his classIV kayaking this year (2010) and is rapidly developing his skill, so I took him for his first classIV+ run when flow was 650 cfs. At 650 cfs, two classV- rapids in Mckay's section came to be easier, but this run was still fun. More informations about this run are available at cacreeks and A wet State. In this blog, I combined photos at 850 and 650 cfs river flows.

We put in below Sourgrass Ravine (V to VI) rapids. 650 cfs.


Kenya putting-in.


Beginner's Luck (IV+) at 850 cfs.


Beginner's Luck (IV+) at 850 cfs.


The slut (IV) at 850 cfs.


Kenya running a fun class IV rapids, which is more donwstream than "The thing". 650 cfs.










Tom running Upper Sequoia (IV~IV+) 650 cfs. Three of us, Tom, Ken-ya and I paddled together on that day. This rapid is just above the last rapid shown below.






Kenya entering Lower Sequoia (IV), which is the last rapid in the upper class IV section. There is a bridge here and some galleries visiting the state park were watching us. Below this bridge, classIV+ McKay's section begins. Some people take-out here.
























Geoff entering Devil’s Horn (IV+ to V-), which is the first serious rapid in the McKay's section. 850 cfs.


Larry running the last part of the Devil’s Horn rapid, 850 cfs.




Kenya entering Devil’s Horn rapids from far right channel, 650 cfs.












Ken-ya hit rock in the hole at the last part of Devil's Horn rapid. 650 cfs.






Tom running the last part of the Devil's Horn rapid.




Kenya flop in the middle of Goalposts (IV+) rapid. He was going through the last part of the rapids up-side-down.


Ken-ya trying Eskimo roll. No swimming on that day.


Tom at the last part of Goalposts (IV+)








Ken-ya running Fake Waterfall (IV). 650 cfs.


Fake Waterfall (IV). 850 cfs.


The Waterfall (V-). 850 cfs.






Me running The Waterfall (V-) at 850 cfs. Video by Geoff Jennings.