Deer Creek

Submitted by Jon Hindman:

Location: Lower Deer Creek, definitely below the Ponderosa Way Bridge, but above the last three more challenging drops in the lower section. Party launched at Potato Patch Campground for three-day trip. Launch date: late Saturday afternoon, May 20. Guage level was holding at around 4.13 the last time we checked flow. Was 3.95 when we floated past gauge on Tuesday afternoon. Group was very experienced, two of us were on our 4th trip down Deer Creek, and have tons of other CA runs on our resume, including multiple upper Mill Creek, Devil's Canyon Middle Feather, Bald Rock Canyon, and S. Fork Merced trips.

This drop looks like virtually nothing. I boat scouted it from the top, and elected a straight line down the right side, away from the large overhanging boulder in river center. Run was uneventful, and nothing in the water's surface characteristics indicated possible problem. Second paddler more or less followed my line, maybe two or three feet left at most, and was straight on and paddling easily. From my view position, it appeared as though the boat stalled in a small pillow wave, and suddenly back-endered as the water caught the back end which was loaded with self-contained trip gear. Boat slid under the submerged log and was pinned vertically immediately, with less than 1 foot of bow visible. Paddler was submerged for approximately 10 seconds and then emerged on downstream side of log, swam last part of drop into pool below.

Boat proceeded to sink further until just 6' or so of bow was visible. We were able to use a long tree limb with carabiner/ throw rope taped to it to clip in to bow grab bar. Subsequent attempts to free boat toward river right were unsuccessful, including a 3-pulley z-drag. This in fact may have wedged boat further into a tightening slot at river right end of log. Boat was left as darkness fell, and we camped above on a bench. Short work next morning with different z-drag pull from the top of the large boulder in center of river freed boat, although getting back up and out to boulder required considerable effort. Boat was badly bent, but not broken, and there was no loss of gear.

This log appears to be quite well 'seasoned.' It is approximately 16-24' in diameter and quite smooth, probably 10-12ft long and dead perpendicular to the current. At the level we were on, it was completely invisible. At higher flows, it probably does not pose a threat, and at lower flows may be visible and well-known. It caught us completely by surprise, and could be a death trap to a larger paddler unlucky enough to experience the same pin.

Hope this helps others. Email me if you have any other questions. Jon Hindman riverrrunnr@hotmail.com Jackson, WY