Oh Be Joyful Creek

Entrance WaterFall

This is probably well known, but seems like a lot of injuries happen every year on the 25 footer when people go too far right. If you run this falls you want to be left of center. A big ledge lays just beneath the surface on the right side. Be careful and have fun!

Open canoe firing up the big drop on OBJ

Colorado Camping

point n shoot

This is the 80 footer at the bottom fo the avalanche chute. This is at really low water; it makes a great place to play around on a hot day. There was a porcupine just out of frame on lower right here.

Nice entry angle

Well, Ed Hansen wanted a name for the rapid in the picture above ('Shotgunblast, photo # 1508). I asked the crowds at rec.boats.paddle and at Boater Talk to 'Name that Rapid!' Everyone's got an opinion. Read on!

From RBP:

Last Shot

Flush lever

Thundering Tower

Amen

Last Dance

Oh Be Grateful

Had to Go

Chiropractor Falls

from BT (http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/147717):

Hallelujah

Praise God

Rise up

Gonna Fly Now

Nirvana

Hey you get off of my cloud

Come Down

Last Drop

ER

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Ode to Joy

Hands to Heaven

White Angel

Angel Falls

Smirk

Angel Hair

Angel Hair Pasta

White Chocolate Crunch

Orgasm--especially since it's the *last* rapid and the *climax* of Oh, Be Joyful Creek

Cosmic Debris or

Zero The Hero and if I'd been on the run with them maybe:

I Walk Alone

Got Cajones? or

BYOB (Bring Your Own Balls)

Men or Mice

Gummy Bear or

Cupcake or

Pansy or

Mary Poppins....or

Scared as Hell

Maybe Next Time

Mangled Human Remains

Drift and Die

Poseidon's Revenge

Kraken's Spatula

welcome climax

Steve

Reap the Rocket

Cleanin' House

Homo-destructus.

But 'BigHelmet' sez:

'It has a name many already know, 'The last rapid on Oh-Be.''

Me, I kinda like the ones like Ode to Joy and Amen. And I like 'Cosmic Debris' for the wood-choked rapid (# 1506); Jesse Kodadek suggests 'dumber 'n shit' or 'big stiff woody' for that one.

The decision on the rapids' names will doubtless be up to those who run the crick.

Probably the most scenic takeout in the US.

the hike up is the hardest part

I cant think of a better way to start a quality run
I think this line turned out flat....

This is a video composition of the bigger rapids on the run. There is some good carnage too.

Goto http://filebox.vt.edu/users/cdgorman/index.html for more SE creeking videos

Best drop on the run at the right level

First descent striding, I believe.

This is the largest vertical fall on the creek at 25'. There is a shallow rock shelf on the right side, but the left is deep. The hydraulic at the bottom can get pretty mean but it's thrashings are usually brief.
For perspective look for the boater at the bottom right. This is the slide at the bottom of the avalanche path, and the first BIG slide on lower OBJ. The log jam at the bottom is not as bad as it looks, it is clogged up with sediment and small branches so that almost all of the water flows over the top. But I have seen a boater pin badly going over the log jam in the main flow (bottom left).
An insignificant in-between rapid on the OBJ.
The first big slide on the upper 1/2 of OBJ. It is in the series of falls directly above Dead Zone.
This is the first waterfall, it's about 18'. Most will put in below it as it is on a corner and has rocks in the landing zone.
This is the 2nd to last slide, and the biggest overall. The hole seen at the very bottom of the photo is the stickiest on the whole creek.
The second waterfall on the upper section, just below Ankle Breaker. This is the easiest of the big waterfalls.
This is the biggest log jam below the avalanche path.
One of the scariest looking slides around...
This is the very last fall to run on the creek, ironically there is nothing left of OBJ but quiet pools and beaverdams after this!
This is the micro eddy you need to catch to scout Avalanche Falls.
Typical OBJ fun...

this was taken just after i tumbled (and swam)the slide

Stuck in the woodpile.

Some of the bigger drops and a little carnage.