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USFS Catch 22

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First


March of the Mushrooms. Sony A6000 Samyang 12mm f/2

Early December rains filled the rivers in far Northern California. Consistent rain didn't make for good photography opportunities, but the paddling was fantastic; after six years I was reminded at how classic Slate Creek is at the right level, which is too hard to time. Good news, it's wood free at the start of 2015. Another highlight was deciding to run Squaw Valley Creek into the McCloud. Previously I'd gone in with flows around 1,500 on the McCloud River, this time it was at 3,800. We were still able to run everything although it had much more of a V nature in a few spots, while the majority of it was very fast moving class II-III that you certainly would not want to swim in. There are a few new pieces of wood, all below the "waterfalls" and most down under the bridges. None of it was hard to get out above or made for long portages. I'd be surprised to see it move soon as it was mostly large old growth spanning the channel.


Joseph Hatcher on Clear Creek (Klamath Tributary)

A true classic adventure and magical place, Jared Sandeen also on Clear Creek.


As the holidays came to a head the weather dried up and temperatures have cooled dramatically. Thus I set out exploring access to a potentially interesting and probably terrible stretch of water. As usual there was a lot of confusion over roads, as all the USFS road numbers are missing and Sierra Pacific has gates blocking USFS roads. It's like dropping a nuclear bomb, then declaring the crater a non-smoking area. Trees are an incredible renewable resource. Clear cutting in a mediterranean climate like California is not the correct way to manage this resource, but it happens. Then they close the area to public vehicles do to "environmental concerns". Oh the irony.

Research led to vague mention of a historic trail, once suitable for stock at the turn of the century. Then it fell under the classic catch-22 of the Forest Service. It's not used because it's not maintained, and it's not maintained because it's not used. It's still there, and really not in that bad of shape oddly enough, thanks to some people who cleared it in the '80s for an illegal pot grow. Strange that in this case illegal use of public land has done more to improve access than the people paid to do it. No doubt however that the USFS has done plenty of paperwork on it.

Often my writing is critical, perhaps overly so. Personally I'm an optimistic person, but tend to gravitate to reading critical writing, because it makes me think. Perhaps it's a reaction to the theme song for today's kayaking media; Everything is Awesome from The Lego Movie.

So to finish on a positive note, the New River Gear Bag by Salamander Gear is very nice, especially for $26. It's well thought out, has shoulder straps and a solid bottom but most importantly, an integrated drybag for base layers that closes with velcro. It's a well thought out gear bag at a hell of a price. I bought mine with my own money and was surprised by the drybag as it's not mentioned in the description.

Stars over Shasta




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