A plunge down Yule Creek in Colorado

Terminal Velocity

It all started so innocently. We were thinking about running the Crystal Gorge and were up in Aspen sussing things out. I talked with Charlie McArthur about the Gorge run and we discussed the 480 cfs and the run's character at that level. I was hoping it would come down...it was taking it's time. He was busy with Life and I kept trying to find someone I knew in the hood who could lead us down.

Not knowing the run and unable to find a local guide, we opted for other options. The Punchbowls and a North Fork Crystal run sounded great. We loaded up the truck and headed out of Aspen and up the Crystal Valley. Danny threw out the idea of checking out Yule Creek. "Who knows...maybe there will be water in there".

A short drive and even smaller hike lead us to the river left rim of the canyon. Looking down into the gorge, and seeing runnable levels, made us all

smile. Staring into the gorge below were the first 2 big drops in the final 4 - Ballcheck and Wallcheck. A double combo of vertical fun.

We walked downstream to check out Oriental Massage and Happy Ending and began our discussion about the run.

"What do you think. Should we do it?" This phrase was passed to the one another back and forth until finally someone spoke up and said "Hell Yeah!".

After that, we raced back to the truck and decided to drive to the bridge at the bottom of the run. It made more sense to cruise the river right (private land) side on a rim trail and jeep road. We could scout the other drops above the big 4 and make an easy walk of it. So we stuffed our boats with gear and headed off to run some of the wildest whitewater in Colorado.

The hike was SO much easier than I thought it would be and in no time, we were figuring out the put in eddy. Our run started off with some bony mank and the bedrock kicked in. I can't remember how many 12-15 footers we ran, I think there was also something a little taller...it was fun. I was laughing and hooting the whole way down.

Within no time, we arrived at the first of the 4 bigger lower drops that define the run...Ballcheck. This drop goes into a sweet pool that separates it from Wallcheck.

Ballcheck is a stout 30 footer that I ended up boofing on the left side. After landing in the pool and enjoying the position the drops give, knowing the 60 ft Wallcheck slide was right below really got me going. I hit the line and ended up doing a rock 360 on the corner at about 50 mph!!! Wow was that a fast ride.

The next drop was Oriental Massage - an even taller and steeper slide than Wallcheck. I hit the left-to-right current and went for the ride. What a blast. The final drop called Happy Ending truly was.

I'm still in Aspen so I think we're up for another lap tomorrow.

Here's a great look at the gradient of the last 4 drops with Oriental Massage in perfect view. Lovin it!!!!

Baker's Wonderland

Well...the rains finally mellowed out in the San Juans and the 90' temps kicked in causing the Animas to drop to levels conducive to run Baker's Box - a section of the Animas River upstream of Durango. A granite wonderland of slots, boofs, and holes all tucked away into a deep granite canyon. It's one of the best runs in Colorado and one of the most amazing places I've ever paddled. I went with the Professor and Eric and we had a blast. Guide books refer to the run as Pandora's Box.

The run starts with a cross country hike through ponderosa pines several hundred feet above the river. Land access is a little tenuous at the moment so stealth is the key word. Once at the put in, boats and paddlers are lowered down a sloping granite cliff to the first rapid. When your in...your in. Hiking out would surely suck although there are opportunities downstream.

This put in has seen many an epic descent with a few paddlers taking HUGE diggers here. Constant upkeep and attention has made the effort better and better over the years.

There's quite nothing like the view downstream from the ropes at the put in of Baker's. It's a gut check at first, then smiles across everyone.

The first 5 rapids in the run cannot be scouted and all are stout. The canyon walls rise straight up out of the water making getting out of your boat impossible. Swims here last a long, long time.

The thing about this run is there are sieves everywhere. You want to be online, paddling hard, and in your boat. The lower the river gets, the worse the sieves become. Each rapid has multiple boofs and many lead to slots no wider than your kayak where the full force of the water channels. Fun, fun, fun!!!! Baker's rips, there's just no other way of putting it.

With the Professor and Eric, we cruised the run talking beta and laughing our way down. With temps in the 90's in town, the water temp was warm. I wore a shorty for the first time ever and felt absolutely in heaven.