Wild Plum_Yuba_NF (IV ~ V-)_updated

Wild Plum run is also called Sierra City to Downiville, which is a 13 mile-long stretch from Wild Plum campground in Sierra city to Downiville. It would be a very long day if the entire run is done. We usually takeout at ~ mile 10 after the moss canyon or ~ mile 7 at the Union Flat campground on the river right above the moss canyon. This run goes along the highway 49, which are very close to each other at some points and makes our shuttle easy only by 15 min drive. When just in case incident happen, it is not difficult to hike out from any places. There are many classIV~IV+ rapids and a few V- depending on the flows. I have run it from 650~900 cfs. The river difficulty is quite different at 650 and 900 cfs. The river at 900 cfs was hard and juicy.

River flow below 700 cfs is good entry flow for first timers. Luckily, there was a chance to run at 650 cfs in June 19 of 2010, so I took my son, Ken-ya, here.

Pauley creek is usually done on the other day of the same weekend. When this run has 650 ~ 750 cfs and 900 cfs, Pauley has 190~250 cfs and ~300 cfs, respectively. I wanted to let my son run Pauley at 300 and Wild Plum at ~700 cfs in the same weekend, but which was not possible at all.

Putin. The initial half mile or so is very similar to that of Kyburz. ClassIV rapids are continuous.


At ~mile 0.5 or so, there is the first classIV+ rapid. 750 cfs. Breck Overall running it. Far left is the mellowest line.




Undercut is seen in the left edges. Chris Conlin running in the center. 750 cfs.


Alan Guttenburg running in the right.


Chris Conlin running Gillespie Dam at mile 3.




Larry Horne running Gillespie Dam in the right channel. This route is easier than the left channel. 725 cfs.








Kenya running the right channel of Gillespie Dam. 650 cfs. Photo by Tim Waring.


Photo by Tim Waring.


Brian running at the Highway rapids (IV+ ~ V-) at mile 6.3. 650 cfs. This came to be classV- ~ V at 900 cfs.




















Highway rapids from downstream.


Break Overall running Ladies Canyon rapids (IV+ ~ V-). 750 cfs. The rapids are not difficult to take a right line to avoid the ugly hole, but could have classV consequence. The hole in the left has strong back wash and very stickly.


Gavin Rieser running the Ladies Canyon rapids. 725 cfs.










Kenya watching his dad (me) running Ladies Canyon rapids. 650 cfs.Photo by Tim Waring.




Kenya running the Ladies Canyon rapids. 625 cfs.




























Alan Guttenburg running classIV rapids just above the Moss Canyon rapids.


Moss Canyon rapids that are very ugly and sticky and possibly causes classV consequence (IV+). Mile ~9. Far left is the easy entry line, but all of us portaged at 750 cfs.


Camping at the Wild Plum campgound. Kenya enjoying camp fire.


There is a small creek just nearby the campground.