Nooksack, Middle Fork

There is a rather primative but possible hike in or out at Cheese Grater. It allows a class 2-3 boater to run the river and do the last mile or so of Class 2-3 suring and rapids. The trail is also an access point below the gorge that allows for escapeing the canyon for rescue purposes.

All jams are downstream of the bridge.

This is the first half of the very first rapid you encouter
on the upper middle fork.
This is the second half of the first rapid you
encounter on the upper middle fork.
The lead in to this rapid is trickier that it appears.
Use caution.
This is a tight slot with a tricky lead in and a tight
landing.

Since the floods this last thaknsgiving the middle fork has changed again.

All of the rapids have cleaned up with the exception of Hawaii five O. Scouting would be a good idea here.

S-bends no longer has the annoying pourover rock and has a nice snake like tongue through it. The log at super boof has shifted and is further downstream making it less of a consequence. Unfourtunately the 8 foot by 8 foot root ball is only hanging on by a small tree on the cliff wall. I am sure one group of paddelers will find it in the center stream someday.

4500 cfs. The dam is under this. Not paddled.

Lead-in to the dam @4500 cfs. Not paddled.

Careful! This rapid seems to change with every flood, and the latest rendition seems to be the hardest.