Pilchuck Creek
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11400
Printed Date: 26 Sep 2025 at 2:48am
Topic: Pilchuck Creek
Posted By: Wiggins
Subject: Pilchuck Creek
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2011 at 6:08am
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It has come in a couple of times this fall. Has anyone been on it? What is the wood situation like?
Kyle ------------- I smell bacon |
Replies:
Posted By: RPMMAX
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2011 at 8:52am
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Paddled PC on 11/14. Three logs on upper that we portaged.
The level on stick 3.7. We didn't do the lower, the last time I did the large tree spanning the entire river was still there. Bill P ------------- RPMMAX |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2011 at 3:58pm
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Yeah, on the lower (still talkin upstream of Hwy 9, right?) The log you refer to is in that narrow section, if its the same one.
If it is, my advice to those who find themselves there: Space your group out before that section narrows down, eddy out ( there is an eddy on R. Right at the Top of this narrow section). One by one drop down to the two boat eddy or so on R. Left. This is immediately above the spanning log, though, so be careful. While it only requires class III+ skills, it should be taken seriously. You can't screw it up. Make sure the eddy is clear before you peel out from up above. Have someone down there who is out of their boat who can competently provide safety and signal for others to come down. That's called "traffic cop". S.o.p. Those who haven't done it, Pilchuck creek is an awesome III+/IV- run when it is moderately juicy. It flashes though, so you gotta be quick on the draw to catch it. ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: Nborelli
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2011 at 9:59pm
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Is the spanning log on the lower the one that has been there for years or a new one?
Also, tell us more about the 3 up top. I ran both 2 years ago, and there was only a spanning log on the lower, well below the falls that needed a carry. |
Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2011 at 8:40am
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I think the one that spans the channel on the lower has been there. In a narrow canyon stretch with rock on both sides of the river.
I don't recall the upper portion above the falls and haven't been on it as recently as these guys have ------------- 🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋 |
Posted By: RPMMAX
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2011 at 5:40pm
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While none of theb logs on the upper were
difficult, above the first one there are continuous III+ rapids. If a swim were to occur here it might be bad. Around the corner from the first log comes the second which was easy to portage on the left. The third is a ways past here crosses the entire river some of it is out of the water, the rest is under the water. At 3.7 it seemed like a good idea to portage at higher levels it would be easy to paddle. To give a comparison the level is around 7.5 today. I have paddled it around 6 where it really screams around every corner. We used the stick and the rock upstream for our gauge. The internet says around 5000 cfs now. bill  ------------- RPMMAX |