This is the kind of trip ordinary people view as insane. "You're going to sleep out in the wet wilds with the temperature near freezing and then risk swimming in an icy river? You call that fun? I'm staying home for the Olympics, thank you!" South Fork of the Eel
February 8-10, 2002
By Eric RasmussenFortunately misery does love company and nine of us trooped into Richardson Grove late Friday evening. The van drive from Surrey Lane took about fours hours. First arrival, Gordon, opted for the wide open group site with its clustered tables and easy parking. During breakfast we agreed there was a lot of noise from the highway and chill from the river. So when the ranger stopped in and told us the group site fee would be $40 per night as opposed to $20 for two adjacent regular sites which were higher above the river and further from the highway, we quickly opted to move. Why pay more for less comfort? The move meant breaking down our nylon homes, except for Herman, who simply swung his emptied tent onto his back snail-like and walked up the road to its new site. Relocation delayed our put-in until 11am. Then the fun began.
This South Fork of the Eel is known for its humidity, darkness and ho-hum paddling. This weekend changed that. There was warm sunshine and real white water. A POST first here! Don led us to a put-in near Leggett and a whole new run, new even to Don!
The river was still high from recent rain and carried us quickly along canyons lined with mosses and ferns. Creeks and falls poured in frequently. Don noted that the flow doubles between Leggett and Miranda. The flow had been about 1600 cfs on Wednesday but had dropped some. When the canyon narrowed this heavy flow came together in wave trains often with 3ft troughs. Our canoes slapped from one to the next as water poured over the gunwales.
In one place, Slide Rapid, two channels form. Bob went right and rode his orange 'Outrage' over the 3' drop and through the hole below it. A little farther down a boulder garden turned our boats into pinballs. Just before takeout, a sharp left turn ended with a 'comma' shaped boulder. On Saturday all boats successfully cut left across the hard right push of the currant, but on Sunday's repeat run with 3" less water, Eric, who'd never gotten a good angle lost his paddle leaving bowmate, Gordon, no option but to crash head-on into that piece of memorable punctuation.
With Eric and Gordon swimming along with their gear and canoe, the other POST paddlers instantly became a team. Don's thrown rope gave Eric a quick exit. While Gordon swam to a rock, Bob picked up gear while Herman and Ilse and Joan caught and righted the swamped boat. In a few minutes the whole party was again headed downriver.
So the weekend witnessed only this one spill, a testimony to the skill and strength of the paddlers. And also to another aspect of POST paddling. An experienced guide first entered each rapid. On this trip Don or Bob set a safe course. The rest of us could follow.
Not unlike other Eel runs, we were all hungry by Saturday evening, and gladly gobbled organic treats offered by Jane and Eric, and brownies baked by Wini. Sunday's lunch was a bit short on drinks. The boxed drinks were left out on the camp picnic table during the Saturday run and when we returned to camp, ravens had perforated most of the containers! Well, what do you expect when a handful of loonies go into the woods to have fun in the middle of winter? It's for the birds!
Put-in: Turn West off Hiway 101 at Leggett 'Drive Thru Tree', Fort Bragg, Hwy 1 and after about 100 yards turn right into gravel parking area. Go through onto dirt road to beach. Road condition looks variable but okay even for cars this trip. Trip Info
Take-out: Exit from Hiway 101 from either direction on an off-ramp. From South identified only as "271". It is just south of Piercy and the "Standley Creek Overcrossing". Go east on 271 and turn left on the dirt road at mile marker 17.63. It is a rutty road down to the beach but do-able.
Good Sunday Dinner Stop: Fitch Mountain Eddies. Go East after exiting Highway 101 at Dry Creek in Healdsburg. Go past first light and turn left into shopping plaza parking lot just before second light.