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Trip Reports

Scott River – April 10, 2016

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scott-flow

Northern California’s Scott River has had a rough couple years. Two years of brutal drought was finally obliterated by snow-capped mountains in 2016.

Flows bumped up to 2400 CFS for the day. Overall a great flow and some cheats develop that make things a bit easier. At White House you can run left or right of the large hole and Schuler’s has a cheat down river right and through a tight slot way right to exit the first part of the rapid.

We launched at Indian Scotty Campground and soon stopped to look at Tombstone. The center line looked huge and all three boats opted to run left.

John Fields runs left at Tombstone, Scott River, California.
John Fields runs left at Tombstone, Scott River, California.

Shortly downstream we pulled over to look at White House.

Tim Sorby dropping into the right side of White House, Scott River, California.
Tim Sorby dropping into the right side of White House, Scott River, California.
Tim Sorby and crew get buried at White House, Scott River, California.
Tim Sorby and crew get buried at White House, Scott River, California.
All smiles at the bottom of White House, Scott River, California.
All smiles at the bottom of White House, Scott River, California.
John Fields lining up for the right-side run at White House, Scott River, California
John Fields lining up for the right-side run at White House, Scott River, California
Through the big hole at White House, Scott River, California.
Through the big hole at White House, Scott River, California.

Next up was Tompkins Creek, which we had scouted during the shuttle drive. Shortly after Tompkins we pulled over for a lunch break on river-left.

We scouted from the river-right bank at Schuler Gulch Rapid. A cheat line down the right eliminated the main entry rapid. After that it was a maze of boulders and large holes to avoid.

John Fields exiting the entry to Schuler Gulch Rapid, Scott River, California
John Fields exiting the entry to Schuler Gulch Rapid, Scott River, California
"Hey diddle-diddle, straight down the middle..."
“Hey diddle-diddle, straight down the middle…”
Tim Sorby entering the final section of Schuler Gulch Rapid, Scott River, California.
Tim Sorby entering the final section of Schuler Gulch Rapid, Scott River, California.

After Schuler Gulch, the river eases up considerably. Our take out was a mile or two upstream of Scott Bar on river-right, shortly downstream of a bridge over the Scott River.