August on the Upper Upper

I first ran the Upper Upper Cispus last year and it quickly became the destination creek for the mid-summer low water runs. It typically comes in just as the Ohane drops out and holds pretty well for a while. This year, I've tried to get on it twice already but have been turned back by higher water than we were up for each time. BUT finally I made it up.

Rare and Random shot of me on Behemoth. By Rick Cooley

The last minute assembled crew was made up of Mike Long, James Bagley, Kris Litz, Rick Cooley, JD Gaffney, Charlie and myself. We had heard about a couple spots of new wood. The boulder garden right below the First Ledge and in the third drop in the boulder garden below Behemoth.

The lower water we had made the first spot of wood runnable, though a bit scary. Most of us portaged it. The second spot of wood is really not a hazard. The lines through the boulder garden is still right all the way down. The wood is easily avoidable. HOWEVER, in the class III runnout, be on the look out for a mank drop leading into a river wide downed alder. With the dropping water levels its a serious strainer and Charlie had some trouble, swam above it and, for a few scary moments was caught in the branches under the water. Everything came out ok but keep an eye out for this log!

Otherwise, check out some photos below and HERE

~Cheers!

JD on the First Ledge

Charlie finishing up Island Drop

JD at Behemoth