Home › Forums › Middle Fork of the Salmon River Beta + Questions › New Middle Fork Blowouts August 2023

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 23 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Posts
  • August 3, 2023 at 5:07 am #8014
    Zach
    Keymaster

    This afternoon (August 2nd) there was another blowout on Lincoln Creek just downstream of Boundary Creek. Some big logs are in the river but the Lincoln Creek blowout is passable.

    August 3, 2023 at 4:12 pm #8017
    Zach
    Keymaster

    This new logjam is at the end of Hells Half Mile. You can see the Spike Creek blowout from 2022 in the distance.

    Hells Half Mile Logjam

    August 3, 2023 at 5:48 pm #8018
    Zach
    Keymaster

    Got this from the forest service. They said: “the picture is of Velvet. A Helfrich guide estimates that there is a 10 foot drop around the bend and is now a class five rapid that could possibly kill someone if they chose to run it.”

    Edit – This blowout is at Sulphur Slide Rapid (not Velvet).

    Velvet Landslide

    August 3, 2023 at 6:21 pm #8019
    Wild_Bill
    Participant

    Thanks for sharing! In the 2nd photo, is the blown out creek Spike Creek then?

    August 3, 2023 at 6:37 pm #8020
    Zach
    Keymaster

    That’s my best guess. I’ll post more info as it comes in.

    August 3, 2023 at 6:54 pm #8021
    Wild_Bill
    Participant

    Hmm, doesn’t seem to quite match up with the velvet area in my head/google earth, but I figure we’ll find out eventually. Thanks for keeping the updates coming! My group has an August 12th launch date but it’s looking like Indian Creek will be the only option for the foreseeable future…

    August 3, 2023 at 7:26 pm #8022
    Zach
    Keymaster

    More photos – This is at Sulphur Slide Rapid. Gardell’s Hole Camp is under water.

    Gardell's Hole #1

    Gardell's Hole #2

    Gardell's Hole #3

    Gardell's Hole #4

    August 3, 2023 at 7:27 pm #8023
    Zach
    Keymaster

    These are from the bottom of Hell’s Half Mile

    0.5 Mile above Velvet #2

    0.5 Mile above Velvet #1

    August 3, 2023 at 7:28 pm #8024
    Zach
    Keymaster

    And this looks like Velvet Creek blew out too

    Velvet #1

    Velvet #2

    August 3, 2023 at 7:43 pm #8025
    Wild_Bill
    Participant

    Wow, great photos. Thanks to the pilot. Upper section is a mess and probably will be for quite some time.

    August 3, 2023 at 9:18 pm #8026
    Zach
    Keymaster

    This blowout is in the entrance of Hells Half Mile.

    Velvet Creek?

    I think this is the lake above Hells Half Mile

    Lake

    August 4, 2023 at 12:00 am #8027
    IDriverRunner
    Participant

    Thanks for the updates Zach!

    August 4, 2023 at 12:20 am #8028
    Zach
    Keymaster

    Yes of course.

    We had our NWRC rafts and sweep boat at the bottom of the Boundary ramp last night to deadhead today. This morning we realized we couldn’t float down river so we (along with outfitters Wilderness River Outfitters and Helfrich) carried our gear up and pulled our rafts back up the ramp. From there we drove all our rafts and gear to Bruce Meadows so Gem Air could fly it all to Indian Creek. As I write this some of our gear is flying to Indian and some is still at Bruce Meadows waiting for more planes to arrive. (Longer Article Here)

    August 4, 2023 at 1:49 am #8029
    Zach
    Keymaster

    Pulling a sweep boat up the ramp at Boundary Creek this morning

    August 4, 2023 at 2:03 am #8030
    Zach
    Keymaster

    Boundary Closure

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 23 total)
1 2
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.