Escanaba, M.Br.

Explored this area in late summer 24 after moving to a camp upstream by Greenwood Res, and all of the land on both sides of the river in this stretch are now posted private property. Do not approach White City Falls (or the downstream Second Falls, Islands, Half Dome, or Granite) if you're not sure you'll make it through the falls without leaving the water. Owners on river-left of the main falls were less than welcoming.

This seemed to be a pretty good level. The first 3 features (IV) were a bit pushy, but the rest of the river, except Middle Finger, was a bit boney. White City Falls was a class IV at this level. River left was a boiling hole and there was a recirculating eddy on river right. You needed to boof the center and land with a left angle then paddle. Second City had an entrance whole that made it more challenging. Granite Canyon needed a good scout. We walked Middle Finger, there just didn't seem to be a way thru it staying right side up. Half the river was hitting the finger and turning 90 degrees left. Right of the finger the water seemed to be piled up in a pool like it was behind a dam and below the dam was a hole. And we were tired and it was a 30' portage. The 'sweet/semi-gutsy line' described in the Middle Finger description was discussed, but there seemed little room for error.

It was running 250 cfs on the AW virtual gauge. It was a little low. Jumblewood Sluice was pretty boney. So was Lower 5-6-5 and Island Falls. We opted out of Island Falls. Plenty of mosquitos and black flies, though.

Running 'Second City Falls'