Coquille, S. Fork

I just got back from my dream weekend (Elk/SF Coquille) and thought I'd add a bit while it's still fresh in my mind. First the hazards; this run is a bit more hazardous than your typical NW class 4, as the bedrock is sandstone that calves off the canyon walls in giant boulders in places. These soft sandstone boulders are then undercut by the current adding up to a large collection of sieves & siphons. This is no place to be swimming. If you find yourself swimming here steer clear of the upstream sides of these boulders if at all possible. (For example; I watched a friends carelessly dropped paddle head down the current then stop onto the upstream side of one of these boulders only to be sucked down and out of sight in a matter of seconds, not to be seen again.) Now the good news; this run is better and more beautiful than I remember it and worth every bit of the long drive. Also of note; with low snow levels we weren't able to investigate the short cut route to the Elk, next time.