Yule Creek

Yule Creek is ridiculous. The only advice I have is if you are going to Yule Creek make sure you bring your friends that like to fire shit off.
Although physically possible, this is no place to portage.



Following Demshitz (name the Pyranha guys call themselves...don't ask me) to Yule Creek.

Meeting up with Lawrence Simpson, Jared and Graham Seiler, and Dave Fusilli we rallied to the town of Marble not sure if flows were going to cooperate. Once at the turnout marking our put-in we hiked to the edge of the gorge looking down hoping she went.


Lawrence and Jared.

After setting shuttle, gearing up, and hiking down the hill we were ready to start firing it off.


Lawrence dropping over the 1st rapid below the put-in.


Blue Angel Rapids, scout these all at once from the trail high above while you scout the Bottom 4.


Heading to scout the Bottom 4.

After scouting the 6 drops into the Bottom 4 we headed back to our boats and Blue Angeled the remaining rapids before the Bottom 4. Once the cameras were set up Jared fired off Ball Check into Wall Check. Lawrence went next, then myself, Fusilli, and Graham.


Jared dropping Ball Check, 25' into Wall Check.


Lawrence lining up for Wall Check.


Lawrence grinding the left wall.


Jared filming Wall Check as Graham styles the drop.

Fusilli went next and only the video can truly do his style justice.


After celebrating our clean lines in Wall Check we got out and scouted Oriental Massage from river right. Lawrence was determined to go first and as he hit the kicker in the middle of the drop about 35' down he landed and flipped to his left sliding on his arms and chest for the remainder of the drop. Hitting the hole at the bottom his paddle was blown out his hands and he was forced to hand roll and run Happy Endings with no paddle. He styled it and the rest of us looked at one another not really sure what we had just witnessed.

Almost instantly Jared laid it out. "Well I'll go next". No one was about to stop him and we grabbed our cameras as he headed back to his boat. Hitting the same kicker Jared kept a left brace and was able to stay upright skipping his way towards Happy Endings.

Since I had volunteered to carry the video camera, it was my turn to go next. Climbing back to my boat I was swarmed by the urge to puke on the banks. The size of the massage is massive and while super awesome, a mistake here would be disastrous. Paddling out of the eddy I hugged the left wall and dropped into the left slot. In a moment of clarity I saw the kicker I was trying to hit. All I could think was "Wow I'm going really fast into...." then bam like a rocket I could feel myself flying through the air sideways. After noticable flight time I landed and managed to stay upright by some serious bracing. Eventually, my speed slowed enough for me to able to get my body centered in my boat again. The excitement of flying of the massage is why Happy Endings is so deserving of it's name. Once clear of the final drop I began cheering like I had just won a date with the entire Hawaiian Tropic Swim Team.




Paul hanging on for an Oriental Massage followed by some Happy Endings.


Graham, Oriental Massage.


Heading back to the car.

As we paddled out not one of us could stop cheering. Once at the parking lot a random guy showed up saying he knew Fusilli. Apparentely, his name is "One Time" and he invited us back to have dinner with him. We followed him back to the resturant in Marble and enjoyed some sweet grub.

Beta:

We had about 700 CFS on the Crystal Gauge and found it to be a great flow.



View of Yule Creek from Take-out.


Google Earth view of Yule Creek.

Thanks to Jared for putting together the video below.