September 18, 2004
| Reporter | Frank Garrett |
I love this section of the creek! I put in about 100 yards south of Hwy 90 and Brown Mtn Beach Rd intersection where the river turns left away from the road. I pull out at the top of the gorge. It's easy to recognize the pullout by the stone chimney that is located on a small beach just before you reach the take out. There is also a noticable change in the river as the banks start to turn into rock walls rather than grassy hills.
It is easiest to stay to the right of all the islands/forks you come to since the left side tends to be more shallow. All the rapids are easily scouted as there are pools that form at the tops to allow bankside access for viewing. There are only 3 that need to be looked at before you run them because the approach is blind. The first is called 'Lunch Stop'. You will make a straight run/drop under a bridge to a large pool. You will be able to see the top of the rapid and watch it disappear to the left. The water is pushed down the rapid and piles into a slightly undercut rock directly in front of you. Once you run the chanel and hit the small drop at the bottom you will need to paddle hard left to pull out of the current in order not to be pushed up against the rock.
The second rapid of challenge is marked by a very large boulder sticking straight up that looks like a spade. You will hear this rapid before you get to close to pull out and scout. The best eddie is on the right side up against the boulders. You will also see a path on the right that leads up to the road. This rapid is a solid class III that is a vertical drop of about 4 feet. If the water isn't flowing straight over the top between the spade boulder and the chanel on the right...think twice. I have seen boats get stuck in the right chanel. The water at the bottom of the drop in center is about 6 feet deep and clean at the base. On the right there is a large pillow that hides, waiting to flip you.
The last rapid is also a boulder garden that has a tricky far left entrance into a shoot that angles back to the right. There is a good sized pillow at the base so a quick left turn is required.
Watch out for fishermen and there lines. There are lot's of em'.