Austin Creek

After seeing this section added on a couple years back I've been wanting to make it out after a good rain. With the atmospheric river we're experiencing right now I finally saw the gauge bump up. The gauge was at 3.5ft and dropping when I put in, I wouldn't want much more or less.

Ran the lower drop at tumbling water and went through Culvert 1, this section was bumpy and woody but I think I made it down with only one or two portages until the second Culvert, which looked more fun but unfortunately had plenty of riverwide wood below it. I put in below site Z from the gravel pit on the river right side. Not much of a trail down to the creek, or a put in but if you've made it this far you might as well keep going. The creek picks up quite a bit of water at the confluence and the rapids get a little cleaner but there is still a ton of wood. Took out at the bridge before the golf course and walked back up.

Definitely a novelty run, glad I did it but probably wouldn't do it again. It's got fun whitewater but way too much wood to be worth doing unless you live in Sudden Valley and don't want to drive to Whatcom Creek. I say all this but I'll probably end up running this again at some point, especially if some beavers get to work

Photos

The confluence of Austin and Beaver Creeks just below Area Z

After the confluence with Beaver Creek there are a few small rapids and a nice slide. Just after the slide is a tight move on river left where the creek pinches down.

Tumbling Wawter Cascades