Slate Creek (Sacramento Drainage)

4/19/05 and 5/10/05

Jon and I decided to run the bottom class IV section of Slate Creek after a dissapointing run down Hazel Creek.
The joys of Hazel Creek (runs into Sims Flat Campground on the Sacramento River)


We skimmed over the guidebook and put on at a random mining claim that was down a 4wd road, assuming that was the start of the bottom section. Unfortunatley it was the begining of the meat of the V run, and had no water in it due to a hydro diversion. (IV run lies below the diversion) Since it was only class IV we just had our playboats, and were planning on a short run since I had to be at work at 3:30 that afternoon. The drops were larger than expected and really bony.






Eventually we worked out way down and found a portage around a complete siv at the low level, and just beyond that the waterfall in the run, that looked like it would be fun if it had enough water to not land on the rock shelf.


Thankfully shortly after the waterfall the hydro water came back in, and we were able to boogie down some fun IV similar to box canyon. We got out around 2:30 with just enough time to shuttle and get me to work on time. When we got back up to my truck I found that my 4WD was still indeed broken, and we managed get it off the road and stuck, and eventually got it out at 10:30 that night, but thats a different story...
5/9/05 Found me unemployed and looking for water with lots of rain coming down. Jon and I met at the Slate Creek bridge gauge to find flows at the very top end of the gauge, with the creek looking somewhat flooded. We ran into three gentlemen from Canada, and decided to all do Box Canyon, and had a great time with the gauge at 6', several of us enjoying some unplanned surfing in holes. Jon and I agreed to try again for Slate the next day, and on arrival found the gauge to be perfect, just at the bottom of the flow range. This time flows were much better with nice coverage, the gradient (270 fpm in spots) defitnley feels like it is there at regular flows. I only managed to get two pictures, one in a random slide/hole rapid. The rock on the right of the picture looks like a monkey.

Jon however took a few pictures, and I finally got them. I think this drop is "Roulette".


I have no idea what this rapid is named.

At the waterfall we eddied out a bit too low on river right and had to hike our boats back up. Jon got lazy and didn't hike far enough up and got pushed further river right then planned.

I managed to hit my line where I wanted, but missed my boof, thankfully its nice and deep. How to miss a boof, go too slow.

At least my boat resurfaces so fast it looks like I boofed.

After that there was one more solid rapid then fast class IV to the confluence with the Sacramento. If you like steep technical creekin, do this run, its in Holbeck & Stanley, the gauge is on the old bridge that leads to a road under I5 at the Slate Creek/La Moine exit 30 minutes north of Redding, Ca.