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| WARNING! – This creek is illegal to run because it is considered sacred ground to the local _____. There are multiple portages involving intense, advanced rope-work and technical climbing. This is 7 miles of non-stop class V+ drops with class V in- between. The canyon is completely committing, hiking out would push the limits of human survival. There are several vertical wall granite gorges that you are committed to running if you put on this creek. The road is a horrible, technical, muddy soup-bowl of a 4x4 road and to walk it would be a 12 mile hike in. This is a two day run with no safe place to camp in the middle. If you live through the trip: this run will leave you with an appreciation for life and a tale of survival. __________________________________________________________________ |
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| by Mike Fisher May 20, 2007 |
When I started kayaking three years ago, my training ground was the ------- -------- River
run. The run begins below the -------- bridge and ends at --------- creek with the option of
crossing the creek for a secondary take out further downstream. Ever since I started
paddling this section of river I’d heard tales of a 30 foot un-run waterfall about a mile
upstream of the confluence of -------- Creek and the ------ --------, but after 2 years I had
still not even seen this waterfall, much less what was in store further upstream.
After spending the summer in CO with the man who taught me everything about kayaking,
Mark Reed, I was back in Arizona ready to knock out some first D’s. I started out with a first
line on a rapid in the -------- River canyon, but this only got my mouth watering. After a
while I teamed up with Cody Howard who had recently returned from the Marines and was
starting up an old website huckinhuge.com. Cody spent his spare time combing topo maps
and finding the next big thing.
One night I got the call: the destination was --------- and the trip was going to be epic. The
plan was we would drive in to the take out at night on an interesting preRunner trail with
the last couple of miles a steep 4x4 path. We would then camp and put in pre- dawn for
the 7 mile questionably legal first descent ahead of us. (Tubing is legal upstream in the
town of ---------, but paddling anything other than the usual -------- run is illegal closer to
---------).
run. The run begins below the -------- bridge and ends at --------- creek with the option of
crossing the creek for a secondary take out further downstream. Ever since I started
paddling this section of river I’d heard tales of a 30 foot un-run waterfall about a mile
upstream of the confluence of -------- Creek and the ------ --------, but after 2 years I had
still not even seen this waterfall, much less what was in store further upstream.
After spending the summer in CO with the man who taught me everything about kayaking,
Mark Reed, I was back in Arizona ready to knock out some first D’s. I started out with a first
line on a rapid in the -------- River canyon, but this only got my mouth watering. After a
while I teamed up with Cody Howard who had recently returned from the Marines and was
starting up an old website huckinhuge.com. Cody spent his spare time combing topo maps
and finding the next big thing.
One night I got the call: the destination was --------- and the trip was going to be epic. The
plan was we would drive in to the take out at night on an interesting preRunner trail with
the last couple of miles a steep 4x4 path. We would then camp and put in pre- dawn for
the 7 mile questionably legal first descent ahead of us. (Tubing is legal upstream in the
town of ---------, but paddling anything other than the usual -------- run is illegal closer to
---------).
Team HH Member, Mike Fisher..1st D
We awoke to frigid cold temperatures and I
suddenly remembered stories of Arizona
creeks being deceptively cold. Regretting I had
not fixed my dry top I geared up in my shorty
and walked over to the sandy beach where
Cody awaited in his dry-suit. (Luckily I had my
pogies in my gear bag). We put on and
paddled downstream with icicles forming off the
brim of our helmets (no joke, the water turned
to ice on my boat and gear).
After about a mile and a half of knuckle
scraping we arrived at our first taste of what we
were in store for. I looked ahead as the
gradient dropped in an S-turn like fashion and
Cody got out to scout. He yelled over the line:
boof right over the first hole into the eddie,
then peel out and boof a clean 10 footer.
Peering over the drop from the eddie I hoped
the landing was clean below the golden brown
water and peeled out over the lip.
The next thing I knew I was staring back
upstream looking at the most “mini” mini-gorge I’
ve ever seen. Cody gave the thumbs up and
soon enough came paddling over the ledge
himself. We were stoked with the prospect that
more of the same lay ahead. This was
unfortunately followed by a section of boulder-
mank and more knuckle scraping before we
reached a 20 foot sliding fall with an
outcropping ledge on the left. I decided to play
probe after concluding the ledge would not be
an issue and the pool looked clean.
suddenly remembered stories of Arizona
creeks being deceptively cold. Regretting I had
not fixed my dry top I geared up in my shorty
and walked over to the sandy beach where
Cody awaited in his dry-suit. (Luckily I had my
pogies in my gear bag). We put on and
paddled downstream with icicles forming off the
brim of our helmets (no joke, the water turned
to ice on my boat and gear).
After about a mile and a half of knuckle
scraping we arrived at our first taste of what we
were in store for. I looked ahead as the
gradient dropped in an S-turn like fashion and
Cody got out to scout. He yelled over the line:
boof right over the first hole into the eddie,
then peel out and boof a clean 10 footer.
Peering over the drop from the eddie I hoped
the landing was clean below the golden brown
water and peeled out over the lip.
The next thing I knew I was staring back
upstream looking at the most “mini” mini-gorge I’
ve ever seen. Cody gave the thumbs up and
soon enough came paddling over the ledge
himself. We were stoked with the prospect that
more of the same lay ahead. This was
unfortunately followed by a section of boulder-
mank and more knuckle scraping before we
reached a 20 foot sliding fall with an
outcropping ledge on the left. I decided to play
probe after concluding the ledge would not be
an issue and the pool looked clean.
With a surprisingly hard hit at the bottom I pulled the old-school shoulder dislocater landing
and couldn’t help but laugh. I motioned Cody to tuck and he came plunging over with another
smack to the green. We realized that we would want footage if the run continued this way
and it was then we found the camera was broken. Content to stick with photos we moved on.
Downstream we found sieved out 10 footers with marginal lines and boat scouted a V+
bombing session. After a couple of portages around unrunnable crap we came up to another
horizon and gorge.
We got out and saw the gorge go through a narrow drop before it plunged over a large
horizon. Hiking further and further along the ridge we came to where we could see the gorge.
A narrow granite gorge which opened up into a clean plunge pool 30 footer. Cody wanted to
go first, but didn’t listen as I tried to get him to notice just how narrow the section above the
falls was. As I stood at the ready with the canyon above the gorge I saw Cody come flying
through the sluice barely keeping his paddle and staying upright. Regaining his bearings he
hucked the falls in perfect form and made getting a perfect shot easy work.
With clouds rolling in, it became very hard to judge time and we still had a long ways to go.
We didn’t even look at the next mini gorge we came upon (I believe it to be the cleanest
section of fun 5 to 10 foot boofs in the run due to canyoneering photos I saw of this creek
that I didn’t recognize), we just walked it to save time. We also knew that there was an 80 foot
slide which was undetermined as to whether or not it was runnable (We would find out
sooner rather than later).
and couldn’t help but laugh. I motioned Cody to tuck and he came plunging over with another
smack to the green. We realized that we would want footage if the run continued this way
and it was then we found the camera was broken. Content to stick with photos we moved on.
Downstream we found sieved out 10 footers with marginal lines and boat scouted a V+
bombing session. After a couple of portages around unrunnable crap we came up to another
horizon and gorge.
We got out and saw the gorge go through a narrow drop before it plunged over a large
horizon. Hiking further and further along the ridge we came to where we could see the gorge.
A narrow granite gorge which opened up into a clean plunge pool 30 footer. Cody wanted to
go first, but didn’t listen as I tried to get him to notice just how narrow the section above the
falls was. As I stood at the ready with the canyon above the gorge I saw Cody come flying
through the sluice barely keeping his paddle and staying upright. Regaining his bearings he
hucked the falls in perfect form and made getting a perfect shot easy work.
With clouds rolling in, it became very hard to judge time and we still had a long ways to go.
We didn’t even look at the next mini gorge we came upon (I believe it to be the cleanest
section of fun 5 to 10 foot boofs in the run due to canyoneering photos I saw of this creek
that I didn’t recognize), we just walked it to save time. We also knew that there was an 80 foot
slide which was undetermined as to whether or not it was runnable (We would find out
sooner rather than later).
Mike on Admission Falls aka "the ledge boof"
Sure enough we approached a large horizon followed by a narrow gorge. We got out to
realize it was the 80 foot 99.999% unrunnable slide with a 4 ft wide gorge downstream with
two 10 footers. Realizing the amount of water being constricted into this canyon would make
the holes at the base of the two drops below the slide horrible at best, and the fact that there
was a log across the second drop creating an even bigger logistical challenge if we were
forced to run this gorge. Just so we’re clear: this was an 80 foot slide into the gorge, so the
gorge is 80 feet deep making our portage options limited, very limited.
We rigged up a zipline for the boats across a steep ravine entering the creek on the left
since merely walking past the ravine was sketchy enough. Unfortunately, the zipline failed
resulting in multiple sketchy repels and free soloing on my part and complicated rope work
on Cody’s part. This whole ordeal was very scary because we were seriously wondering if we
were going to have to shoulder our boats down the log choked ravine and run the death
gorge as our only option for escape. Luckily, we made it past the ravine, and traversed our
boats to the ridge above the gorge. We went as far as we could go, which was merely just
past the second drop with the decapitation log before we had to repel 80 feet back into this
narrow gorge and swim our boats to the nearest granite outcropping. It was… cold.
realize it was the 80 foot 99.999% unrunnable slide with a 4 ft wide gorge downstream with
two 10 footers. Realizing the amount of water being constricted into this canyon would make
the holes at the base of the two drops below the slide horrible at best, and the fact that there
was a log across the second drop creating an even bigger logistical challenge if we were
forced to run this gorge. Just so we’re clear: this was an 80 foot slide into the gorge, so the
gorge is 80 feet deep making our portage options limited, very limited.
We rigged up a zipline for the boats across a steep ravine entering the creek on the left
since merely walking past the ravine was sketchy enough. Unfortunately, the zipline failed
resulting in multiple sketchy repels and free soloing on my part and complicated rope work
on Cody’s part. This whole ordeal was very scary because we were seriously wondering if we
were going to have to shoulder our boats down the log choked ravine and run the death
gorge as our only option for escape. Luckily, we made it past the ravine, and traversed our
boats to the ridge above the gorge. We went as far as we could go, which was merely just
past the second drop with the decapitation log before we had to repel 80 feet back into this
narrow gorge and swim our boats to the nearest granite outcropping. It was… cold.
Cody "Striking Gold!"
With this 3 hour epic portage behind us
we boated through some unportageable
drops with vertical walls on either side of
us. Good thing they all went (I don’t know
what else to say). We were now in
another bombing session trying to make
it to the last big drop before an Arizona
flash flood, or nightfall. Finally, we saw
the large boulder jammed into the
canyon walls with a large horizon marking
what I had heard to be a thirty footer.
As Cody and I approached the lip we
realized that this was much larger than
30 feet.
“That’s at least 40, probably 45; this is
huge.” “I’m walking, well repelling, but it’ll
go, I think.”, Cody said.....with my
response... “I’ve done enough sketch
repels today, I’m just gonna’ huck it.”
we boated through some unportageable
drops with vertical walls on either side of
us. Good thing they all went (I don’t know
what else to say). We were now in
another bombing session trying to make
it to the last big drop before an Arizona
flash flood, or nightfall. Finally, we saw
the large boulder jammed into the
canyon walls with a large horizon marking
what I had heard to be a thirty footer.
As Cody and I approached the lip we
realized that this was much larger than
30 feet.
“That’s at least 40, probably 45; this is
huge.” “I’m walking, well repelling, but it’ll
go, I think.”, Cody said.....with my
response... “I’ve done enough sketch
repels today, I’m just gonna’ huck it.”
Cody repelled and I lowered his boat as he set up for the picture. Earlier Cody had
recommended I put water in my boat to keep from over-rotating, so I did. As I paddled to the
lip my heart was pounding through my chest as I took the ever committing left stroke over
the falls. As I tucked and fell off the face of the earth I felt the water slush from the stern to
the bow increasing the rotation.
There was nothing I could do but bury my face in my arm as I felt my stern swing over my
head. With a jolt from the side wall throwing me off center I hit the pool having rotated a full
120 degrees from my starting position landing just shy of an upside down boof. I felt a large
impact on my right hip. As I felt myself floating downstream I rolled up looking back up at the
falls.
It was an easy 50 feet. Even with a horrible over-rotation, I was stoked. It was my biggest
falls and it meant we had only a mile of class II knuckle scraping to go.
recommended I put water in my boat to keep from over-rotating, so I did. As I paddled to the
lip my heart was pounding through my chest as I took the ever committing left stroke over
the falls. As I tucked and fell off the face of the earth I felt the water slush from the stern to
the bow increasing the rotation.
There was nothing I could do but bury my face in my arm as I felt my stern swing over my
head. With a jolt from the side wall throwing me off center I hit the pool having rotated a full
120 degrees from my starting position landing just shy of an upside down boof. I felt a large
impact on my right hip. As I felt myself floating downstream I rolled up looking back up at the
falls.
It was an easy 50 feet. Even with a horrible over-rotation, I was stoked. It was my biggest
falls and it meant we had only a mile of class II knuckle scraping to go.
The Effin Portage
We pulled our sprayskirts and the sun (behind the clouds) disappeared behind the
mountains. As I drove back to the road I suddenly remembered how horrible it was. Being in
my parents’ car I was extremely nervous. To make things worse, it was pouring down rain.
When I got to the 4x4 section I let Cody off to begin his bike trek back to his suburban. I
turned the car around and was going to try to get it up the hill a ways, but soon found out
that the ground had turned to soup. I put my head down and tried clicking my heals, but to
no avail; I was stuck. Soon enough Cody arrived, on foot; to tell me he got his truck
impossibly high centered about a quarter of a mile back. I explained to him the
situation and we began our frivolous attempt to free my vehicle and get the hell out of
there. After an hour we determined we were going to have to stay the night and hike the 9
to 12 miles out in the morning.
Lucky for us, our camping gear was in his truck. We retrieved sleeping bags, a gallon of
water, and four apples. Not nearly enough for what was ahead of us. We were fortunate
enough to get horrible reception within a random 2 foot radius we stumbled upon to warn
our loved ones we were in for the long haul and set up a ride for the next day. We decided
we would call them from ------ and wait to be picked up. The next day we hiked out of the
road and finally were able to hitch hike into ------ after about 2 hours of thumbing.
A couple of days later Aaron took his massive truck out and retrieved our vehicles. Over all
the experience was epic, unforgettable, and definitely something I intend to go back to.
mountains. As I drove back to the road I suddenly remembered how horrible it was. Being in
my parents’ car I was extremely nervous. To make things worse, it was pouring down rain.
When I got to the 4x4 section I let Cody off to begin his bike trek back to his suburban. I
turned the car around and was going to try to get it up the hill a ways, but soon found out
that the ground had turned to soup. I put my head down and tried clicking my heals, but to
no avail; I was stuck. Soon enough Cody arrived, on foot; to tell me he got his truck
impossibly high centered about a quarter of a mile back. I explained to him the
situation and we began our frivolous attempt to free my vehicle and get the hell out of
there. After an hour we determined we were going to have to stay the night and hike the 9
to 12 miles out in the morning.
Lucky for us, our camping gear was in his truck. We retrieved sleeping bags, a gallon of
water, and four apples. Not nearly enough for what was ahead of us. We were fortunate
enough to get horrible reception within a random 2 foot radius we stumbled upon to warn
our loved ones we were in for the long haul and set up a ride for the next day. We decided
we would call them from ------ and wait to be picked up. The next day we hiked out of the
road and finally were able to hitch hike into ------ after about 2 hours of thumbing.
A couple of days later Aaron took his massive truck out and retrieved our vehicles. Over all
the experience was epic, unforgettable, and definitely something I intend to go back to.
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