Crooked Fork Creek

As of 10/12/2010, the right side of the island below Laymance Falls in the first boulder garden is now clear. A large tree was blocking it but it was removed today. The log had been blocking the right line for nearly 4 year.

Jim is standing on what's typically the flake that you want to boof off of. What's more astonishing is the fact that a sewage treatment plant discharges into this tiny stream. Photo taken during a drought (obviously).

As of 11/18/2006, there is a log blocking the right channel of the 1st boulder garden. Get out and look before you round the bend and drop into the entrance.

'Exiting the pool (below Lower Potters), stay river left and catch an eddy. You?ll see a big boulder in the center of the river half way through the next drop with a big pillow on it. You want to peel out of the eddy ferrying right, into the center and across the face of the pillowed rock into an eddy. This is a pretty cool move. I think the rock may be undercut, so don?t take it too lightly.'

Not only is this undercut, but its actually 2 rocks forming a sieve with wood jammed in it. There is a third boulder as well, just to the right and it is undercut in a BIG way!

Be careful out there.

Hittin the line at the big one!
3.8ft @ Hwy 27 bridge should be your MINIMAL! 4.5ft is prime. 5ft, it gets pushy. Tons of play below Lower Potters at high flows.
Jeff Richards running Potter's at 4.1 ft on the Hwy 27 bridge gauge.
Was a fun day.

An unnamed open-boater makes his attempt to freewheel, as not to be shown up by some butt-boater.

I am posting this comment for Karl Whipp:

Crooked Fork - Us 27 to Camp Austin, III-IV (V)

We ran this fun little stream on 12/15/02. The US27 bridge gauge was about 4.2. This was a fun level, but I would like to see it at about 4.5 - 4.7. 4.2 was a little bony with lots of screw-ya rocks in the boulder gardens below Lamance Falls and I would have liked to see a little more cushion at Lower Potters Falls. Other than the above mentioned, it was a pretty good level.

If you don?t already know this, the water quality pretty much blows on this creek. Just a heads-up and a plug for Coca-Cola. Coke will kill darn near anything you may swallow.

Do not go anywhere near those two boulders below the first drop.

Before the flood at 3.7 feet and during the flood of March 23, 1993. The Emory at Oakdale gauge was at 75,000cfs. You could feel the ground shaking. It was scary just watching it. Emagine the flood of 1927 with 195,000cfs.

Put-In beside Sewage Treatment Plant on US Hwy 27.

Water level is Emory at Oakdale gauge. This drop doesn't look so good at 3000cfs (Oakdale). Lower Potter's Falls is okay at this level if you don't miss your line too badly.

The river was pumpin this day. Just myself and Wade all day. The Upper section was great, play further downstream.

See other river photos at www.JulieKeller.com.

This photo was taken around 1895 of an old grist mill that used to set on the river-right cliff of LaMance Falls.

The paddler's gage for Crooked Fork Creek is on the Hwy 27 bridge, on the upstream river left pilon.
Parking for the put-in is actually the driveway for the town's sewage plant. So, don't block the access and be very polite.
You know its going to be a good day when the put-in is next to a sewage plant.