Gold river is one of the great places to paddle on Vancouver Island. This year we have had one of the driest years in about 50 years, regarding flows in the rivers.
On Friday night I got a txt from Corey May. “Free for a paddle tomorrow? Levels are looking okay on the North Island”, Just from that I knew it would be the Gold River area. Checking the levels out we decided that the Ucona would be first choice with the backup of the Heber if we things didn’t look good. We had beta from Shayne Vollmers on a trail near the Quatchka creek, which would make it possible to take one car and bike the shuttle. I posted a photo yesterday (HERE) of the three drainages.
We arrived to find the water low but very paddable. Dropping boats at the bridge we headed off to find the takeout at the end of Branch – U31. We scouted the take-out so we would recognize the finish point. Had been awhile since either of us had been down this section.
After putting on we came upon the 30ish foot slide and portaged on the right. Running a number of boulder gardens, ledges, through some tight slots and small boofs in nice canyons we arrived at the classic double twenty ft drops. With only two of us, I volunteered (wasn’t feeling up to it this day) to run safety for Corey. He ran the first one, and eddied out to scout the next one. The 2nd is the tricky one with a nasty boil/hole on the river left and a log sticking out from the wall at the top. With myself near the bad spot with a rope, Corey sent it, hitting his line perfectly. Heading off downriver we paddled 250m to portage around a couple river wide trees, eddied out on the right. Launching back in we ran the last drop shortly downstream before hiking out on the river left.
Enjoy the Photos.
Small Car/Big Mountain – ATV’ers were surprised to see us driving up here
Put in for the Ucona, trusty gear in hand – watershed bag for my camera(7yrs strong)
Corey seallaunching back in below the 30ft slide.
The Slot on the Ucona
Checking out the fun boof drop.
Sun gracing us with it’s presence
Corey landing off the Boof drop
Dave Prothero(author) Heading for the boof.
Landing zone
Flying off the drop
Corey sending the first falls on the ucona
Corey inbetween the two waterfalls.
Pano of Corey scouting the last 20ft drop
Entrance into the last rapid.
The Exit, and a couple small pools to the Take Out
Exploring the scene as Corey biked the shuttle
Row of Ferns
Looking up the Quatchka creek valley
On the drive home stopped to take in this scene beside the Elk river
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