Sitkum

Nice packraft run down the Middle & Lower Sitka.

We parked our car here (47.9465579, -124.1465961) and hiked down to the top of the waterfall on the NF of the Sitkum. We spent a while poking around looking for a way down to the base of the falls. We didn't find a route we were comfortable with without climbing gear. Remembering that Korb had mentioned an access a little further up the main stem, we set out to find that. We followed an elk trail on a bench above the main stem until the game trail headed down roughly around here (47.94471, -124.14478). We put on the river around here, (47.94473, -124.14427).

The rapids were clean. Little pistol looked like fun, so we both opted to run it. It would have been an easy portage on the left. I ran (and flipped) on cotton candy. Ariel portaged it on river right. We had a couple of easy portages over a couple river wide logs. There was one massive 7' in diameter tree that has been in the river long enough that a cobble bar has formed just above it on river left. We climbed down the log and passed boats down. The lower section was a chill scenic paddle to our takeout at Hyas Creek. Ended up clocking in at 7 miles and 2.5 hours on the river.

Flow was 1800 and felt boney. Would prefer it with more water.