along Mill Creek Road into FrenchtownClass V
2 Miles
Avg Gradient 275 fpm
Max Gradient 390 fpm
River DescriptionThis was described as one continuous, two-mile rapid, with lots of little drops, slides, and one ten-foot drop. "They're mostly Class-IV rapids, but because of strainers and must-make eddies, it's a good idea to have Class-V skills," read the description. In view of the Comment submitted below, it's clear that this stream should be considered very dangerous, full-on Class V.Also as the comment alludes to, there was a fatality on this creek in the Spring, 2002. You can read the eyewitness account here. As the Comment below points out, the combination of high gradient and constant strainer action makes this this a very dangerous creek, which most would consider not worth the trouble. Rather than being removed, it's being left in the River Inventory in order to warn paddlers who might otherwise consider running it.
In response to the Comment shown below, Cody Howard has sent the following to me. I believe it gives a good description of the creek. My name is Cody Howard. I ran the creek with Ryan when he died, and i would like to add to what Mr. Shawn Robertson wrote. I fully agree with him that this creek is really dangerous and not worth the effort unless you want to portage log jams all day. I think that this creek should definitely stay in the River Inventory to warn people of the dangers. Here's some info I would like to give about the run and some tips if (despite the warnings) you do decide to run Mill Creek. Lat/longitude coords are educated guesswork. There's a road that goes along the creek, so one could get a look at it and choose where to put in and take out. There are no map links in this page, because there's no reason to encourage people to go run this dangerous creek. StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2002-05-10 06:49:34
|
No photos found. You’ve followed a link to a topic that doesn’t exist yet.
If permissions allow (as a AW Member, you may edit River Wiki, for example) you may create it by using the “Create This Page Button” below by hovering your mouse over the edit wrench.
If you don’t see a wrench, you don’t have permission to edit or edit is turned off.
If you don’t know what you are doing click on the sandbox and instructions link off the create page link.
User Comments |
|
2002-05-08 14:55:08 (2313 days ago)
Shawn Robertson
My name is Shawn, I'm an instructor for
<br />
the University of Montana and an avid
<br />
creeker in the Missoula area. I wanted
<br />
to mention that a student past away
<br />
this spring on Mill Creek. In the 4 or 5
<br />
years since Mill Creek was first run
<br />
only a very small group of expert
<br />
boaters have paddled it and most of
<br />
the decents were done in easily
<br />
excapable ,creek specific inflatables.
<br />
The reason for this is Mill creek was
<br />
extremely tight, pinny and full of brush.
<br />
Though is not super steep this run is
<br />
in no way anything less than a class V.
<br />
In the past three years not a single
<br />
local that I know of has ran the creek.
<br />
There is many reasons for this, an
<br />
extensive logging project has made it a
<br />
strainer nightmare, there are no quality
<br />
clean drops to speak of, and the
<br />
fun/hazard ratio is rediculously skewed
<br />
toward the harzard end. I would like to
<br />
request you take this creek off your
<br />
listing entirely. There is no justification
<br />
for it being on. Though it was run a few
<br />
times years ago, it should no long be
<br />
considered a legitamate run for the
<br />
Missoula area. Thanks
|
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
River Alert
State News
River Links
River Info (mobile)
