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Run: |
Bear Creek |
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Section: |
Upper |
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(Rob Maxwell photo) |
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Class: |
III+ / IV- |
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Put-In: |
CR 78 |
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Gradient: |
80, 110, 55, 30 |
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Take-Out: |
Rt 176 |
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Length: |
4.0 |
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Precip. Gages: |
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Shuttle: |
Rt 176 / CR127 / various / CR 78 |
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Delorme Gazeteer: |
P. 27 A6/7 |
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Water Q: |
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Primary Gage: |
Take-out Bridge (Rt. 176) |
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Links: |
Required Level: |
6" minimum, 8"-11"+ good |
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Indicator Gage: |
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Required Level: |
~5000+ |
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Notes: |
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Upper Bear has been about as elusive as any run has been for me. I had my eyes on it for at least 7 years before I finally got over there at a runnable level. It is a premium micro-creek for the Class IV boater, and will even provide amusement for the expert due to several clean slides along its upper stretch. Every run you do has something unique about it, and for me Upper Bear's thing was Holly Bush berries. All over the place. If the run ever re-clogs with wood, these and the briars will not be your friend. The run begins among several back yards. It is not wide. Don't judge the flow by the takeout. At the put-in, it's just the largest tributary. The slides begin immediately. The first one is pretty easy and may be bony. After a few other small slides, you come to a 5' drop followed by a two part slide with a cable across the pool. It's a hoot but watch for the cable. It helps to have a someone hold it up for you. After a while, you'll see a nice bridge over the creek. Under this is a fairly narrow and clean slide that'll provide some sluice action. You pick up small tribs in here. Further on you'll come to a clear cut on your right that ends at the biggest slide. The water slings from one bank to the other until it pours over. We entered left to avoid the bank on the right at the bottom. After this slide, the character abruptly changes to a few boulder garden rapids. One class IV will stand out and is easily scouted or walked if desired. Numerous tributaries increase the flow on the bottom part of the run. The action slows around the Suicide shuttle bridge. You can take out here, but its only 15 minutes or less to the 176 bridge. If you have the energy, combining this with the run down to the canyon would be a full day. As of late 2008, there are about 6-8 logs to contend with, but they can all be limbo'ed or otherwise avoided at low water. None of them are in bad spots and the creek seems to have been cut out by some good Samaritan. Check out the Hilarious Trip Report from a high water day in early 2010. ---------------------------- Originally submitted by Laura Brinkley with
help from Bill Thornton around 2001: Shorter shuttles exist but they are complex and I don't know the road names. |
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