VTR No. 8: Upper Chetco River 2019

[@deanuniverse4214]

Really enjoyed your Upper Chetco Rafting! I was 8 years when I first hiked into Tin Cup which we followed Fall Creek into Tin Cup down to the river. That was 1963, back then it was all old growth Douglas Fir! Beautiful. By 1965 we went into Taggarts Bar and above. You could see the remains if the gold dredge in those days. Since that time I hiked into that area just about every year. Born and raised in Brookings. I would park at theTolman Ranch as McVay’s owned the Ranch in the 70’s. Pat McVay was my school mate. Was nice to see that beautiful river again! But missed the old growth Fir. Made it even more beautiful! Thanks for the memory! I grew up in the house at 421 Memory Lane!👍

[@GearGarageTV]

Did you hike along Tin Cup Creek down to the Chetco?

[@deanuniverse4214]

@@GearGarageTV yes, we went in on the main Kalmiopsis Wilderness Trail from Mislatnah creek to where the trail crossed Fall Creek. Then we would follow Fall Creek down to Tin Cup Creek, which is rough going, down to the Chetco River. Boulders as big as houses. We would get wet! We preferred that way in rather than coming in from the Quail Prairie side as the scenery was more rewarding. Unless we were just spending a day or two at Boulder Creek then we would come in from just below Quail Prairie. We traveled all those camps in the Kalmiosis Widerness, although in those days the border was much smaller than now. Even Boulder Creek was not in the Wilderness at that time. So from Selma we rafted the Illinois River, to the Rogue River. All the small lakes in between Selma and the Chetco, Vulcan Peak, the Lake, down below to 2 covered lakes below Vulcan Lake which was a great hike. You could actually stand on them jump up and down and the turf over the water would move. Windy Valley to Snow Camp. Three Trees camp, Cedar Creek Camp, Windy Camp from he top of Mineral Hill. All from the Rogue to Grants Pass.

[@GearGarageTV]

@@deanuniverse4214 That sounds awesome

[@JasonAlexzander1q47]

I gold dredge there every year. Maybe I'll see you guys this year as you pass by!

[@hitmc6327]

Really enjoyed this report! Beautiful river!

[@tracyschultze1429]

Beautiful! Reminds me a little of Fossil Creek in Az. Which is a fun run:)

[@weirdbeard1980]

Are those anti-gravity boats? The seem to be floating in mid air.

[@markschuette3770]

wow that was Oregon?? it looked like Arizona or NM. !! did the fires devistate that area?

[@GearGarageTV]

Yes there is a lot of variety of landscapes in Oregon

[@andrewwatkins6109]

Great vid

[@ralphonearth3101]

Anyone paddle upstream? I can take a scupper pro, a Cabo (tandem), an OK sprinter (17') or a full on surfski. How far do you think I'd get?

[@GearGarageTV]

You won’t make it anywhere if you try and go upstream

[@worldofsoccer4104]

you poster this on my b day:)

[@groovysharkbait2180]

Happy late b day

[@Tooflower]

Has anyone ever attempted to put in further upstream at the Madstone cabin site (obviously at a higher flow)? I read that the SMC cleared the trail last year...

[@GearGarageTV]

There is a packrafter that put-in somewhere upstream of the Madstone Cabin. Also, here's a trip report from a friend that came down Fresno Creek: www.kalmiopsisguides.org/experiences/fresno-creek-to-the-chetco/.

[@Tooflower]

Northwest Rafting Company Thanks for that link!

[@PerfDayToday]

@@GearGarageTV wow.. what a write up! This weekend I just did a 2 day backpack from BF lake down Bailey to the chetco. Camped on the gravel bar where the trail crosses the river. Next day, down river, up and out via slide creek back along the Kam rim trail to BF TH. Epic respect for all of you that do what you do in this region! Your YT channel greatly inspired me to do my trip.

[@tinbotturnbot4024]

Damn 10 mile with gear is nuz

[@JasonAlexzander1q47]

Looks like a job for an atv four wheeler

[@nicholasshoffner1809]

Man you guys need some packrafts.

[@GearGarageTV]

Nope. Running the Upper Chetco in a fully loaded packraft takes a high level of skill. The inflatable kayaks are much safer on the water and require less skill.

[@JustinBaker2567]

@@GearGarageTV a shorter packraft is a lot more maneuverable is these kind of boney rapids. A packraft is really just a short inflatable kayak. In those long black kayaks you guys are pinballing all over the place. They dont seem to turn well. In my experience, a packraft is the best type of boat for these kinds of rapids. A fully loaded packraft, if the gear is stored in the tubes with a t-zip, handles just as well as an unloaded packraft in my experience.

[@GearGarageTV]

@@JustinBaker2567 A shorter packraft is more likely to flip. We're choosing to have stability on harder rapids over maneuverability. In my experience packrafters are portaging rapids that we're able to easily run. Happy portaging!