Big flows in a small town

Alright, here it is, my first attempt at blogging.

Indian Falls, Indian Creek @ 3200 cfs

Flows have been crazy here in Quincy, CA the past few days do to the massive weather system that has been moving through the northern Sierra Nevada's. Indian Creek was up to 6,000 cfs (16.5 feet) today, the above photo does not do the falls justice. Though the flows were a bit high for me to paddle the other day, we went down to the Dragons Back and watched a couple friends run the rapid. Not only have the creeks been overflowing their banks but the North Fork Feather River below Rock Creek Dam was flowing at 26,000 cfs. To put that into perspective, last spring the highest I kayaked the Rich bar-Beldon stretch of the NF was at 1,950 cfs, and earlier this fall we were scraping down Lobin at 280 cfs. One of my all time favorite runs in the area is Spanish creek, we paddled it yesterday at 1,800 cfs. It was by far the highest flows I have ever boated it at. The class three run was so fun and dramatically different with all the water. It was really pushy with big waves and lots of strainers to watch out for. After obsessively watching Dreamflows we caught it in-between flood level flows during a short break in the weather system and got to go paddle. Thankfully there was no wood in the rapids. Today, however, was a very different story. Hiked up to Cascade falls on Spanish Creek. It was going OFF. Flows peaked at 9,000 cfs this afternoon. It was nuts.

Lead into Cascade Falls, Spanish Creek @8500 cfs

Spanish Creek @ 8500 cfs

There was a little bit of wood in the creek. By a little bit of wood I mean a TON. There were large downed trees, branches, rounds as well as other debris that had been washed into the creek by the incredible amount of rainfall we have received. The eddies looked more like jostling Tom Sawyer rafts then pools of water. I never would have thought I'd see Spanish Creek at flows that rivaled what i saw on the Main Payette in ID this past summer. So crazy. In town Spanish was completely overflowing its banks. Out on Chandler Road the fields were flooded, appearing as though a large lake had formed where the pastures and fields usually exist. the road and bridges were impassable due to the high volume of water, when we tried driving out to the upper Spanish put-in we couldn't quite make it... Even the high lifted four wheeling trucks in town were out there in force trying to play around in the newly formed lagoon and having to turn around do to its volume. It was pretty entertaining to see the groups who were out there doing the same thing we were. I was seriously considering paddling through the fields in my kayak, just because it was possible.

Chandler Road Quincy, CA

I only have a week and a half left in CA before I head south of the Equator to Chile! With boating, film premiers, journals, a presentation and finals for classes, packing up my room and gear for the trip (hopefully getting my boat on the plane), as well as getting my first tattoo tomorrow; it should be a busy and fun last bit in the states. I am excited to see one friends that i haven't seen in a while and kick it in Quincy with all the awesome people here before I go, but the fact that i leave for such an awesome place so soon is rather distracting. The fact of the matter is: I am stoked to go down to Chile! For those of you that don't know, I will be spending most of my winter in Pucon raft guiding and kayaking as well as exploring as much of the country as possible. I am so thankful to be getting to have this experience. The 13 hour flight from LAX and 9 hour bus ride from Santiago to Pucon will be an adventure on their own. Long day of travel but definitely worth it!

Hope everyone out there is enjoying their winter and the wet weather!

Here is a video of the Cascades 12-2-2012 @ 8,500cfs. Enjoy!