New Middle Fork Blowouts August 2023

[Zach]

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.

[Zach]

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

[Zach]

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).

[Wild_Bill]

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

[Zach]

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

[Wild_Bill]

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…

[Zach]

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

[Zach]

These are from the bottom of Hell’s Half Mile

[Zach]

And this looks like Velvet Creek blew out too

[Wild_Bill]

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

[Zach]

This blowout is in the entrance of Hells Half Mile.

I think this is the lake above Hells Half Mile

[IDriverRunner]

Thanks for the updates Zach!

[Zach]

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)

[Zach]

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

[Zach]

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