Left Fork

[Kishkumen]

Just wondering if anyone has done Left Fork after lots of rain. Seems like all the pots would be full and it would be a blast. Anyone done it?

[ratagonia]

You mean the Left Fork of North Creek, aka The Subway?

It is spring-fed, so the water level stays pretty much the same, year round. The sand washes in and out, so the bottoms go up and go down...

Yes, it is always fun.

FULL Left Fork (could be called UPPER Left Fork), on the other hand, is not spring-fed, and is WAY more fun when full of water like it is now. Good idea!

Tom

[Cactus Ed]

I hiked the subway on Friday and indeed there was lots of water. It was a blast. There was a lot of debris on the hike out.

[Kishkumen]

When I was doing a 3 day Right Fork trip, we camped our first night at the Left Fork drainage. For a little adventure, my daughter and I walked/swam down the Left fork drainage. We went as far as we could without gear. I could see about an 1/8 of a mile and it was pothole after pothole. I have read that it is impassible but if all the potholes were full of water it might be a great adventure. I'm surprised I haven't got a reply of someone going down it (Full Left Fork). Anyone know or hear of anyone doing it?

[ratagonia]

When I was doing a 3 day Right Fork trip, we camped our first night at the Left Fork drainage. For a little adventure, my daughter and I walked/swam down the Left fork drainage. We went as far as we could without gear. I could see about an 1/8 of a mile and it was pothole after pothole. I have read that it is impassible but if all the potholes were full of water it might be a great adventure. I'm surprised I haven't got a reply of someone going down it (Full Left Fork). Anyone know or hear of anyone doing it?

The Full Left Fork is not a real popular trip, but it gets done on a regular basis. Yes, pothole after pothole... quite a string of them. Great fun when full; less fun when not full.

"Impassable" is an archaic term, used in the past for canyons that inexperienced canyoneers were (rightfully) afraid of. Or that the author (any author) felt they had a duty to discourage hikers from entering. My copy of Steve Allen's San Rafael Swell book has all the "impassable from here" annotations highlighted - the BEST parts!

page: 194

#38 Full Left Fork

The Full Left Fork is a great adventure when the pothole water is full and fresh, but it dries out faster than Das Boot and becomes unpleasant. Most parties start by hiking down Wildcat Canyon (see the Right Fork) to The Seeps, then continuing down the Left Fork. It is also possible to traverse close to The Seeps from the Das Boot approach, though tricky route finding through cliff bands is required.

The section above Das Boot alternates sections of potholed, entrenched canyon with open canyon. Expect cold water (when in condition) and a few rappels up to 60 feet. Many will have had enough when they get to Russell Gulch, and will chose to escape at that point.

[Jolly Green]

Haven't done the entire Left Fork but a few of us did Das Boot yesterday. It was quite full and didn't present any real challenges. Most the water was fresh but there was the occasional log debris soup and it's accompanying smell. The things canyon from the top sounds great though.