Lower EFLB and Stepp Cr. Good to GO!

[Fish]

We ran Stepp Cr. and the lower two gorges of the EFLB yesterday at a nice, fat level. The road down to the takeout is a real mess - 4WD only. But to our complete amazement, Stepp Cr. is as clear of wood as I've ever seen it! EFLB is 100% clear of wood from the second gorge (Obliterator rapid) down to the takeout. I'd bet the very upper part of EFLB has trees in it though, so we ought to do some reconnaissance to find out what the damage is up there sometime soon.

We had a fantastic day, with Sammy and Zach and me representing the old school Team Stupid bunch, and a few new recruits - Texas Matt and NC Matt and Loren (?). Sammy "Heart Attack" Welborn, Texas Matt, and I hit Stepp Cr. in the early AM, scouting every drop for trees and finding none. It's a great little creek and we caught it at a perfect level. Sammy showed off his superior class 4 swimming skills once again, but each time was back in his boat and ready to go in less than 5 minutes. Amazing. Then we called in the reinforcements who were driving out to meet us, and while we were waiting, we headed up for a run down EFLB's lower two gorges. Again we were watching for trees, but found none at all! A very big fat level (about 2 feet of water over the bridge at the takeout - very dicey crossing it, even in Sammy's jacked up truck!), and the EFLB was flexing it's muscles in the gorges. Sammy's freshly Rhinolined (TM) open boat was sticking like velcro to any rocks he tried to boof. Also was sticking into some holes, most notably in Obilterator. :shock: But he came out of it all in good shape, and Texas Matt and I were entertained. Then Zach and Loren caught up with us after going on an extra one-hour tour of middle Newton County, and they met NC Matt on the road along the way. We played basketball in our gear standing out in the cold at the community center while we waited on them to figure out where the EFLB was. The EFLB gorges had plenty of water for another run (about a foot of water over the takeout bridge), and we bombed down in style. Those two runs on EFLB were some of the best water levels I've ever had there - a terrific day on the creeks!

Great rain, great creeks, great paddling buddies, great pizza afterward. It's all good!

- Fish

[Boofaholic]

Barberry and Richland are good to go as well! On barberry all major drops went w/ all portaging of lumber in the easy runout stuff.Also we decided to unleash our inner barbarian even at low flow! :twisted: Looked like a tight line w/ a possible hard hit but 3 of us had nice lines and the consensus was FLUFFY KITTENS after all! On richland there were a few trees, but not in bad places/ and no portaging required! I agree w/ fish that upper eflb is lookin like its going to take some work. Around the confluence of sandy and barberry there is a lot of downed timber and it doesnt look much better lookin downstream. Richland should still be there today, go get it and enjoy!JOE C

[Lazer]

Good to hear the tree free news. The hurricanes must have flushed the wood that was previously in Stepp.

Haven't checked out the upper portions of EFLB yet, but suspect that there may be some wood in the willow section, but I don't expect it to be choked up.

The bottom section of Barberry has some wood down, it appears to be as much hurricane errosion/wind damage more than ice. Some ice damage down in the Barberry/EFLB confluence area, but not major like the top elevations.

[Cathy]

Good to see a Team Stupid TR again!

[Tmuse]

Lance did ya'll hike up the trail to your cabin, when done with Barberry?

[RandyJ]

Sure was good to see all the blue on the gauge page yesterday, and sure is good to see all the TRs today here on the board. Painful that I couldn't get out and join in the fun (Valentine's banquet w/my girlfriend/wife) - but did get out to scout a bit nearby, and was NOT disappointed. One word - SOON. Here's a sample, and more pix here.

[FarPastGone]

Oh baby...I will probe the drops for you.

[Tmuse]

Wow Randy, where is that creek and what is the name of the creek. Tim

[Fish]

Wow Randy, where is that creek and what is the name of the creek. Tim

Don't tell him Randy! You never know, he could be one of them claim jumper types! :-)

Randy, when it goes, you know my number.

Got your back,
Fish

[Tmuse]

Nae, I would never do that Fish, I just want to run it! Looks good. Tim

[jjones03]

not bad not bad...

but check this one

[RandyJ]

Just say when...

[jjones03]

i already missed one chance to run it.... but i wont miss the next one

[FarPastGone]

Those are nice guys, but I've got one in Texas I have my eye on.

-Matt

[JTarver]

Well fire it up Matt! I would stick the the river left line on that one, the right looks a bit sketchy.
Be sure to run a stick over first, you know, to safety check and all.

Randy, that run looks fantastic. Is it something that runs somewhat often, or it it a 5-10 year creek

Tim, when you getting back out? I hope recovery is coming along nicely. I know you've been chomping at the bit.
Joe