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South Fork Rogue

*South Fork Gorge*

I am not afraid of venturing into the most tired subject matter in the wonderful world of whitewater.  Namely the ratings system and how we can revamp it and make it more multi-dimensional.  My idea is that instead of rating a run just with numbers or roman numerals we could use letters in addition.  (What have the Romans ever done for us, besides law and order and modern plumbing and helmets with brooms on top?)

The South Fork of the Rogue River is undoubtedly rated Class M.  Class M stands for "mank".  Running the South Fork raises more questions than it answers.  Such as: was that the 7th log portage or the 8th?  Did that rock put a hole in my boat?  Why am I here?  Oh god, how much more of this can I take?  But in all seriousness the number one question is how much more water would it take to cover some of the problematic rocks?  This question is sort of moot, since running the river at a higher flow would increase the danger of the logs because the eddies are often small and too few in number.  With something between 150 and 250 cfs we thought we would have a good flow, and while many of the rapids were good, seven or eight good rapids does not make a classic, or even tolerable run, if you have an equal or larger number of junky rapids and portages.  Now to be fair to this run I should mention that as of this writing it is early June of 2007 and that this year had lower than average precipitation.  So maybe in a big water year some of the logs will wash out.  But I don't plan on going back to check on that possibility.  We'll let Josh do that.  With less (or better yet no) logs the run might actually be quite good since you could run it higher with less portages etc.

So here's your recipe for a crappy day of kayaking.  Or a good one if the logs wash out.  Set shuttle and find your way to the river using the shuttle directions below.  Once on the river you will have some boney class II and III for about 1.5 miles with a couple of log portages.  With higher water some logs might become hoppable, or they might become death traps.  Death might be preferable to this run anyway.  After this beginning stretch you will come to the class V section.  The first rapid South Fork Rogue River is a good clean narrow class IV double drop.  The next rapid was once a great class V rapid, but is now clogged with a tree.  It is still runnable, but with no room whatsoever for error.  The third rapid South Fork Rogue River  South Fork Rogue River  South Fork Rogue River  is a good class V rapid, but many not so good class IV and V rapids follow South Fork Rogue River.  Once you have gone a little over a mile in the class V section you can expect two more mandatory portages.  The first is either a throw and go or a seal launch from a log spanning the gorge.  The water goes over a falls making a 90 degree turn on the way South Fork Rogue River.  If that's not enough to make you want to walk consider the two logs in the bottom.  The 2nd portage follows immediately afterward.  80 percent of the water goes under a rock and the remaining 20 percent goes under a log, but it might be possible to run it when the water is high enough to cover the log blocking the entrance on the right.  The last rapid flows into the middle fork and is a welcome relief.  The best scenery is after the confluence with the Middle Fork.  Actually incredible would be a good descriptor.  After the confluence you will have one good class IV rapid and about 3 miles of class II-III rapids until you get to the lake.  Once on the lake you need to turn right onto the North Fork arm of the lake and paddle "upstream" a couple hundred yards or so to the half-mile uphill slog.  The road may be hard to see, so look for a small creek coming into the lake.

Take-Out - to get to the take out from I-5 in Medford, start by driving east on highway 62 towards Prospect.  Turn onto Mill Creek Dr a couple miles after crossing Lost Creek Lake and follow it for about 1.5 miles.  Look for a small unmarked road on the right with a cable blocking the entrance.  This leads down to the lake.  (This is the same take out as the Mill Creek run on the North Fork, and the Middle Fork run.)
Put-In - to find the put in continue up Mill Creek Drive about 4 miles and turn right just after the Nazarene Church onto Butte Falls Road.  Follow this road over the Middle fork and to the South Fork.  It's easiest to put in just upstream on river right, but since you're about to have a really crappy day you may as well start by hiking through a bunch of bushes and mud.  Just find the worst way down to set the appropriate tone for the day.

Narrative and all photos copyright 2007 by Peter M. (for "mank") Gandesbery.  Contact Peter Gandesbery.  This page was last updated July 17, 2007.

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