Eagle Creek

The painted gauge at the takeout read 1.4 and we went ahead and launched upstream from Eagle Fern park. We've run it a lot higher but we wanted to see it at low flows to check out the wood situation which is a moving target.

Between Eagle Fern and Fish Ladder Falls there's a long section that I would rate class 3 at this flow because it's technical with rocks and hole that just don't let up for a half mile or so. It would suck to swim in that one. At least it's easy to get back to the road at the Fish Ladder.

The approach to the portage of the Fish Ladder is relaxed at this flow and the eddy on river right above the wall is easily big enough for two boats. The portage is longish but easy walking. It helps to know which trail to take, both going up from the Falls area, and down to the river. Fish Ladder Falls is much more runnable with more water.

Launching below the portage you are immediately into the lead-in to the Elbow. Several horizons reveal easy enough lines, but then when you get to the Elbow the bottom drops out and it is not obvious where to go. Sure hope you scouted ahead of time.

Even if you did scout it's not easy to pick the right spot to go over the edge. If you are reading water you'll be tempted one channel too far to the left, putting you in danger of dying under the log jam on the left. The best channel to approach the double drop center channel in the Elbow is blind and I missed it, again, went too far left, and had to scramble back to the right through a pile of rocks. Thankfully all three of us made the scramble but a drone scout might help me locate that straight shot line that is so blind.

We went on both sides of the Island rapid below the Elbow and both went fine. Below that is Cave, which still has a log jam across 2/3 of the river. You can run left then exit via the far left channel IF YOU CAN MAKE IT UNDER THE LOGS OVERHEAD which wasn't hard at 1.4 but will obviously get harder with more water.

Not too far below there is place where the current goes far left around a small island, and a bony right line is also possible. We took the bony right line and looking back upstream you can see there is still a giant log bridging the left line: still no go. After this island the gradient picks up and it's class 3 for a while, then back down to class 2 with lots of great play waves all the way to the takeout.

Still a favorite creek, and 1.4 was plenty spicy.