In early April 2010 I had the idea to float down the Sisquoc River. I was able to hike the Sisquoc Loop two weeks before with my dad to scout the river. We'd had some big rains consistently and not for about two weeks before I did it, so I knew it would be the most manageable time of year to run it! I had seen an account online of two guys running the Sisquoc in creek boats a few years earlier, but I wanted an easier hike-in, so opted for a packraft!
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| Hiking the route with my padre and Osito two weeks before rafting. |
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| The packraft arrived in the mail the night before I left on the trip, so a dry run needed to be made! It's only 4 pounds and rolls up smaller than a tent. |
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| Hiked in 16 miles on the first day to South Fork Cabin. A great spot with a little bit of flatwater nearby where I was able to test out the raft. |
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| Un amigo down at the river before putting in on day 2. |
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| Laying out the gear--not really knowing what to expect at all. |
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| The water was freezing, but I didn't want to wear a wetsuit all day. This was the set up gear-wise and it worked pretty well. The helmet was used more than once going through low hanging branches and banging against boulders through rapids. |
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| Most of the river was about like this, but some sections (which I wasn't able to photograph) had 4-5 falls and others were flat for 100-200 yards at a time. |
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| Coming into a rapid a few miles into the journey. Being such a small river, it was tough to know which way to go when coming into sections with all the willows. |
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| A quick video from on a calm section. |
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| Snapped the paddle only about an hour into the paddle coming through a tight boulder section. But with a stick and some tape, it was not a problem. |
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| My dad and I had heard this bear in the bushes two weeks before. I came around a bend in the river where the hiking trail does not pass and saw the bear on the bank ahead. I pulled over and after a while made a few sounds so as not to surprise it. Realized as I got closer, it was dead. Not sure what happened, but if it was a hunter, I hope he/she is ashamed for having killed this beautiful animal and not used any of it. I couldn't get much closer than this because of this creature's powerful energy. |
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| Floating down a section as the valley opened up just before the river got too dry to raft. |
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| The river widened and shallowed quite a bit near Mormon Camp, where I stayed that night. |
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| Mormon Camp |
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| Cansado selfie. |
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| Hiking 20 miles back out to Nirra Camp on day 3. Some sections of the river still looked "raftable", but for the most part it became too shallow. |
hey awesome story. Question, anyway to paddle this river without 40 or so miles of hiking? not apposed to the hiking just don't have that much time to dedicate to it.
ReplyDeleteHey nick! Sorry for a late reply...
DeleteI think you'll have to hike in no matte what to get on the sisquoc. I don't think it's flowing enough right now, but I'm not in the area. I hiked the route before for my it a week before just to be sure the level was high enough.
Please send photos if you get out there!