Wilson Creek

March 7, 2010 at -5" to -6"

Sunday, March 7, 2010 Steve Campbell, Craig Baker, and I went to Wilson Creek. Craig and I had run Wilson previously but this was Steve's first decsent and his trip report follows.

Steve's Wilson Creek Trip Report

I ran Wilson Creek for the first time today with Fast Fred and a friend of ours, Craig. Upon upon arrival the first thing that I noticed was that the water is super clear with this unreal emerald tint to the deep pools - absolutely amazing! The next thing was the large slab granite as I have read about in articles being described as " the California river Look". The rest was all excitement! It was continuous rapid after rapid fun with boogie water between each run that is similar to the boulder gardens of the Green River above Fish Top Access point and Hammer Factor rapid up stream - No slack time! The rapids were like back to back Bayless Boof and Pinball rapids (in case you all have not noticed, the Green is my home run for which comparisons are made to)What a blast! This has got to be my -by far- most favorite river that I have done to date! Trumping the Ocoee for me personally! There is no need b.s.ing that yeah; as I rode along the road from take out to put in, looking down into the river bed and seeing some of the rapids in real life -which by the way is NO WAY near what youtube does it for justice- was a little intimidating. I was a little nervous -just slightly cotton mouthed. Other than that, I was adrenaline pumped! I would personally say that Wilson might have been ever so slightly outside of my skill level but was a much needed bar in order to raise my personal skill level. The whole way down I never capsized or swam. My boat control was off at times which may or may not have been due to my new boat that I have only had on the water 5 or 6 times. Needless to say, my form was not all that but all in all, it was a bad arse run with plenty of excitement but you have to work! It isn't a day on the Upper Green!