Bird Creek

Folks have been raving about this Ship Creek substitute. So Doc, Big and I headed south on the Seward Highway and checked out the Lower Sanctum of Bird Creek. Its a pretty quick run, with a lot of whitewater excitement packed into a 1/4 mile stretch of river.

After the hike, we put in below "Mushroom", and quickly enter the "Commitment Cauldron", "Elbow Hole", and "Whirly Bird". The most exciting drop is "Center Falls", which is a 10 foot drop into a nice recovery pool. And the upsetting backender is called "Bronco", the last rapid.

Check out the goods:



I took a very nice swim lesson after center falls. Good practice.

The next weekend Marc, JD and I ran Bird Creek again. We streamlined the hike into the run, and made two laps. We saw another group of 4 rafters at the take out.

One of my favorites of the year!

Six Million Dollar Creek

You can't fault us for not getting after it.

Three months ago, I never would have told you that i'd be floating down Six Mile Creek, all three canyons, in a packraft.

8 of us brave souls, along with another group of 8 crazies, were thirsty for a stoke bump and headed down to Hope, Alaska for some gnarly whitewater.

Although I dont have many pictures, the video tells the tale of the mighty Six Mile. Or as I call it, the Six Million Dollar Creek - named because on the "Staircase" rapid, I had some thrashed gear.

The crew before departing.

The first rapid of the first canyon, "Seventeen Ender". This always got the blood pumping because the consequences are pretty big. You swim the first drop, you swim the entire canyon.The other rapid that was extremely intimidating was "Staircase", at the entrance to the third canyon. I took a small swim lesson at the bottom of this rapid. 2/4 swam this rapid in our group.

The real proof is in the pudding...check out the YouTube video by Marc: