South Sauty Creek

An 8 foot river wide ledge usually run on the river right side where it is a straight drop.  The middle is more of a slide and the far left side is avoided.

Somewhere before Welcome To Sauty is a rapid commonly referred to as 'Tits' which looks totally harmless and unremarkable from the top.  There are two rocks in the middle of the creek and the right bank is ledgy and exposed.  The right rock will be covered at levels around 12 inches, but the pillow should still be visible.  Left rock will be visible at most levels.  Run in between the two rocks, do not go to the right of the right rock  It pinches against the bank on the right which is undercut with just enough of a gap to form a sieve that loves to collect logs.  A few close calls here just due to not knowing the hazard and line.

A noteworthy rapid for sure and definitely one to scout for a first time.  Eddy out river right near the top.  The majority of the flow at the bottom of the rapid goes straight into a whale sized rock with a gaping mouth that tends to collect wood.  Low water closes off a rocky right channel, forcing you to stay in the current longer, although there will be less push.  At levels 8 inches or more though, and especially above 12, it's easy to get into this right channel and avoid the whale by the widest margin.  Walking is easy on river right.

After the roughly 100 yard pool below Lower Minefield, you will come to a short rapid marked by a huge 50 ft x 50 ft rock laying at a 45 degree angle on the right.  It can be run by staying left, or by starting right, going through a slot (not the Slot) that runs diagonally from right to left.  You really don't want to end up pushed to river right if doing the right to left line.  It apparently changed around 2003 becoming quite dangerous and forming a sieve against the right bank.

Where this bottom drop hits the pool is a good, deep spot for enders.  I have also seen otters here more than once.

As of January 2016 Bone Crusher has changed as a result of heavy rains.  You should get out and scout this section BEFORE running.  At the current moment there are several new rocks and the final boof does not appear to be an option as it was previously.  There is also a tree pinned between rocks at Bone Crusher Rock.  Please help me update this with a solid description of the new lines.

Somewhere shortly after Bonecrusher, the creekbed drops into the karst/porous base rock of Sand Mountain.  If it's been awhile since it rained, you will lose quite a bit of water here.  There are large sinkholes in several spots.

Unfortunately from Bonecrusher to Bucks Pocket is around 2 miles.  Some III and III+ is in here, but after about a mile, you will find yourself boating through a thicket of saplings growing directly from the streambed.

This is where you will be punished if you are paddling less than 6 inches.  Still, it's usually possible to boat through this section without getting out anywhere.

Although I have seen the total length of the run listed at 7+ miles, I have measured it pretty repeatably on Google Earth at 6.3 from above Matheny's Ledge to the parking lot in the Pocket.