Mokelumne

First time on this thanks to a shuttle from a local dude who lived out of his car. Refugees from the Paradise fire at the put-in told some harrowing stories. I wouldn't do this in any boat again at this level; 500 would probably be a better minimum.

With no real description of rapids or what lied downstream other than whats mentioned above from the 70's, we headed for the river. This turned out to be an excellent day with flows around 1,150 cfs as well as a great addition to the Electra Run below the powerhouse. Myself and my buddy Daniel had fun on this 3 mile section of the Mokelumne. The run served lots of great boof opportunities and a handful of fun class III rapids. This is a great intro to Tiger Creek just upstream. Maybe Tiger Creeks cub haha! The first and last rapids were the hardest. We scouted the first rapid but nothing else. Scouting was possible on everything but not without a hike through the brush.

Note: Due to water diversion of this run there were trees growing into the river bottom and extremely bushy river banks making swims hazardous. At our flow the water was in the trees. Class III boater with solid roll required.

I highly recommend this run if your heading to the Electra section below. Put in was easy with a high clearance vehicle.

4th rapid (III) .5 mile, This rapid came in two parts, the first part was down the middle through a few holes. It then veered to the left slightly with a pour over on the far left creating a decent size hole. The right side pushed water up against a rock. We took center all the way down. Recovery pool below but next rapid is in short order. Scout right.

Blind Island (III) 1.1 mile, The river bends around both sides of an island neither of which you could see the other side and scouting would be an ordeal. The left channel takes you through lots of brush and then cascades were it eventually ties back into the right channel. The right channel had the most water moving through it making route selection easy. The right channel bends left through some fast splashy water and then the second part was dropping through a boulder garden. We ran center through the right channel. The second drop we ran left of the middle rock and zig zag through the rest. You can also boof middle rock. Scout right.

Chute (III) Rapid 3 .4 mile, Lots of brush in the river making route selection a bit nerve racking. Shallow with some gradient making a swim here painful. We took the left channel straight down the middle and through the splashy fun wave train at the bottom. Recovery pool below but next rapid is in short order. Scout left.

Rapid 5 Class (III) .8 mile, River bends left and drops fast into a few big waves and finishes with a wave train. Middle is the best route.

Blind Island (III) 1.1 mile, The second drop we ran left of the middle rock and zig zag through the rest. You can also boof middle rock. Scout right.

Put in at the old bridge

Electra Powerhouse (2.4 mile) stay left

2nd Rapid (III) .2 mile, This rapid follows shorty behind Bridge rapid. Its a nice drop you can boof the hole on the left or a rock on the right. An easier route down the middle tongue is also an option. Nice recovery pool following this rapid. Scout right.

Dam (2.9 mile) Run right slot or seal launch off the top

2nd Rapid (III) .2 mile, This rapid follows shorty behind Bridge rapid. Its a nice drop, you can boof the hole on the left or a rock on the right. An easier route down the middle tongue is also an option. Nice recovery pool following this rapid. Scout right.

Bridge (III) .1 mile, This rapid starts immediately after put in pool with no time for a warm up. I recommend scouting the first rapid and call that your warm up. The entrance was easy with a few moves throughout. We entered left moving center and exited left around a middle rock that have flipped both of my buddies, although both sides of the middle rock are a go. Then some boogie water to the next rapid. Nice recovery pool following this rapid However, a swim at the entrance will be long and bumpy. Scout right.

2nd Rapid (III), This rapid follows shorty behind Bridge rapid. Its a nice drop you can boof the hole on the left or a rock on the right. An easier route down the middle tongue is also an option. Nice recovery pool following this rapid. Scout right.

Bridge (III) .1 mile, This rapid starts immediately after put in pool with no time for a warm up. We entered left moving center and exited left or right around a middle rock. Scout right.