Eel, S. Fork

This is my fourth run of the class IV South Fork of the Eel. The 3 previous times, we got to the Eel via Branscomb. This time, we got there via Ten Mile Creek. Ten Mile creek is quite brushy and gets more technical with rocks, trees and willows toward the end as it get closer to the confluence, but a class IV boater should be able to handle. Getting to the SFE via Branscomb remains the easiest and safest path in my opinion, but Ten Mile Creek has more to offer for those interested in a more technical approach and who get quicly bored on class II. Going through Branscomb is more of a 1 hour float with some brush to navigate, whereas Ten Mile creek is more technical (in the second half). This time, on the SFE, the Class V rapid 'Double Drop Where Slots Don't Match' had wood in the left and center gates and we portaged. It was a fun run with class IV rapids all the way to the end. It tooks us 4h30 to run from the Ten Mile Creek put-in to Big Bend Lodge.

I have ran this section at flows of 3,500 cfs, 7,000 cfs and this time 2,300 cfs. I though 2,300 cfs was a lot of fun, with many rapids having more teeth than at 3,500. I preferred 2,300 cfs to 3,500 cfs because I felt the rapids were actually spicier.7,000 cfs (we approached via Branscomb) was exhilarating, with the benefit of having lots of brush and trees covered by water, and big holes relatively easy to see and avoid.

The South Fork of the Eel is a beautiful run, top notch scenery.