The author portaging the only log we had to deal with.
The Table Rock Fork Gorge is not often run. Water levels are hard to predict, the run is short and it can not usually be linked with other sections. These factors along with the committing nature of the gorge proper limit how many people see this section every year. I, however, find myself running it once or twice a year as flows allow and boredom sets in. The run is relatively short, but a good change of pace, great scenery and it usually presents an opportunity to show someone a new section of water. The gorge never really gets beyond class IV, though this changes as the water levels increase. The crux drop in the gorge consists of a 4-6' ledge/hole that can be very retentive at higher flows. This combined with the fact that drop is jammed between smooth rock walls perhaps 8' apart can make for some exciting times.
On this particular day, Markus and I found ourselves fighting a very poor start to the boating season as many of the standard late fall rain storms had failed to materialize. In search of something to do, we decided to head up to the Table Rock Fork Gorge. Markus had never seen it and I am always up for taking someone new through the gorge. We drove up to the take out, which also is the put in for the 'Old Bridge' section of the Molalla. (This is the higher put-in option for the Three Bears run) We then did a quick, but thorough scout of the main gorge for wood and to check the crux drop to see how retentive it would be. Things looked good so we headed up to the second bridge to put in.
The author running a rapid above the gorge.
Things started out with some great technical class III boulder gardens. Things got bigger as we entered the gorge. I went first so as to set up and grab some pictures of Markus coming through the crux drop. I was in my playboat and got stuck in the ledge hole in the heart of the gorge. After some back surfing and clawing at the wall I was finally able to grab my paddle, get a couple strokes in and break free. Markus cruised through without trouble.
Markus running the crux drop in the gorge.
Markus finishing up the hard part of the gorge. (The crux drop is in the background, notice the wood in the left slot.)
We only had one log to contend with that should be portaged. It was another great day on the Molalla. If you do venture out on this section, be sure to scout the gorge before putting on. One misplaced log could spell disaster for you. If the Three Bears is getting marginal, the Table Rock Fork should be great. See you on the water.
Opal Gorge is a rarely run section of the Little North Santiam River below the well known Opal Creek run, though it is being run more often than in years past. It's not often run due to the high committing nature of the gorge, difficult whitewater and stories of unscoutable unportageable drops. The run is short measuring 2.5 miles or so. However, the river passes through a very tight, walled-in gorge section that makes escape from the river impossible. The run was pioneered in the winter of 1994 by a strong team after spending a lot of time scouting. You can read more about the history of this run on Jason Rackley's Oregon Kayaking site.
Looking upstream at Thor's from the put-in for Opal Gorge.
You can put on at the bridge near Cedar Creek for a longer run. Given the fact that neither of us had done the run we opted for the lower put-in to give us more time in the gorge.
Jim doing some pre-run stretches before we head into the unknown.
The river is pretty mellow as you pass around the corner below Thor's Playroom, the last rapid on the Opal Creek run. The water is class II-III before you come to the first significant boulder garden marking the entrance to the gorge proper.
Looking into the gorge from the bottom of the first bolder garden. You can see the horizon line for Mystery and the high committing nature of the drop.
The first major rapid is unscoutable and unportageable. Mystery, as it was named by the first descent team, is not the hardest drop on the run, but is easily the most intimidating of the drops we ran. The drop can be run on the left or the right. After some discussion, I went for it. What a rush. I drove off the left side and cleaned the drop. Jim followed with no problems.
A blurry shot of Jim blasting through the left side of Mystery.
Looking back at Mystery.
Below Mystery is a small drop followed by a long, deep pool that leads to the class VI Undertaker. Here the entire river dives below a finger of rock that blocks off the river. The only sane portage route is along a shelf on river right. It's significantly longer than the left, but far safer.
Jim in the pool between Mystery and Undertaker.
The scenery in the heart of the gorge is unbelievable.
Looking into the heart of the Undertaker
Jim ponders the ugliest class VI either of us had seen
The portage was somewhat long, but not bad given the scenery. After taking in the splendor of this fantastic place, we put back on just below Undertaker.
The boulder garden below Undertaker was one of the best drops on the run. Just around the corner Henline creek comes crashing in on the left side of the river marking the next big drop.
Looking into the boulder garden below Undertaker.
Henline rapid begins with a five or six foot undercut ledge drop followed by a fast shoot into an undercut wall with a log vertically pinned mid-stream.
After a brief scout, I volunteered to run it first. The log had us both a little worried, but I felt I could clean the boof and make the necessary move above the log. I cleaned the ledge just about perfectly and began to charge to the left to miss the log. The current was a lot stronger than I had expected and it shoved me into the log. I thankfully bounced off and made it to the eddy below. Jim was up next and had a very similar line.
Jim getting ready to run Henline rapid.
Below Henline rapid is a narrow slot called Sierra. I didn't get any pictures of this drop for some reason, but we both entered on the right charging left. Neither of us even got our hair wet on this one.
Looking downstream from below Henline Rapid. Sierra lies just around the corner.
After Sierra, the gorge really starts to open up as you come to the last drop on the run. This falls looked horrible to us as the majority of the river thundered down on a large boulder before squeezing through a narrow slot next to an undercut. We quickly shouldered our boats and walked around.
The last drop on the run. To my knowledge, it's been ran twice.
Jim gets a little water out of his boat before we cruise on down to the take-out bridge.
This was a great run and as of April 14, 2007 is wood free. We ran it with roughly 660 cfs and this proved to be a very good level, though I'm sure you could add another 100-150 cfs without any real changes. We also had a dry day which is nice given how slick the rocks get when wet.
Flows:
There is a gauge below the take-out bridge on the river right. We had 5.4'.
Today we did the Sandy Gorge. The level was around 3,000 cfs or 10.3'. With a light rain at the put in and warm temperatures it was a great day to be on the river. We elected to put in upstream of the '64 logjam and take the easy trail down.
Ryan stretching at the put-in
The '64 Logjam
Getting ready to head into the gorge
Things were going smoothly, the river seemed to be at a great level and before long we came to the first big rapid. Boulder Drop. I probed ahead and got into a small eddy on the right. I then proceeded to climb up and check for wood. Things looked clean and good to go, so I signaled back to take the right shoot and then cut left. Jim fired it off first.
Jim coming through the right side of Boulder Drop
Things looked good until he got pushed to the left of the first rock and not to the right and subsequently flipped in the process. He managed to get one failed roll attempt before he was swept into the next slot. Oh shit . . .
The last shot I got before I realized that Jim had become pinned in the slot. If you look closely, you can see the end of his boat where he pinned.
Quickly realizing that Jim was pinned heads down in strong current, I dropped the camera and scrambled up the rocks leaping across to the next large boulder hoping that I would be able to get to him in time to free the boat. This apparently was a strong signal that we were in trouble as Ryan and Jason quickly headed downstream to assist. I had made it closer to where Jim was, but I couldn't jump to the boulder that he was pinned on, it was just too far. I could see things were very bad. Jim was pinned fast and I couldn't see any movement. Shortly after this, the boat broke free, but I couldn't see Jim anywhere. Panic hit me. Maybe he got shoved in an undercut or became otherwise entrapped. There was nothing I could do. Thankfully, moments later, Jim flushed downstream as Jason was rounding up his boat. Ryan helped Jim down to the next eddy and got him out of the river. It was as everyone drifted around the corner that I realized that I was somewhat stuck on this boulder in the middle of the river. When I had jumped out, I had also jumped down. This complicated getting back. The span was only maybe 12', but I now had the challenge of grabbing onto the rock rather than landing on one. I studied my alternatives, none of which would work and then went for it. Thankfully I made it without a problem. (No one could get back to me and if I swam we couldn't get back to my boat)
It turns out, Jim had pinned hard and even after pulling his skirt he still could not get free of the boat. But, he didn't quit and eventually came free.
The rest of the run wasn't without excitement. Rasp rock was a little on the sticky side and held me for awhile before I was able to claw free. Jim was understandably a little off his game and flipped but flushed through.
Jason scouts Rasp Rock and then runs the gut
Ryan scouts Drain Hole. Notice the sieve on the left, though there was a nice pillow today that made it easier to stay out of it
The last rapid on the run is Revenue Bridge. We bumped our way through without any problems. Everyone went right of center.
The author portaging the only log we had to deal with.
The author running a rapid above the gorge.
