February 19, 2021
February 15, 2021
Clear Creek levels/beta
From Kirk E.:
Here's my thoughts on Clear Creek, having run it from 150-11,000 cfs:
150-250 - Yeah you can get down it, but it's marginally running.
250-350 - Still clearly damn low!
350-450 - Decent Low
450-700 - A good low, medium low at the upper end
700-1000 - medium
1200-2000 - medium high
2000-4000 - big water, totally different, still really good, it's high
4000-7000 - starting to really change, don't swim
7000-11000 - pretty damn scary, don't swim!!!!
I wouldn't base Clear Creek's flow on anything (Oakdale,Lancing) other than the gauge on Clear Creek. That's all the info you need. While some folks have been around a while and are tempted to use Oakdale, we've had a Clear Creek online gauge for 15 years now.
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I posted this: Using the Oakdale gauge 1000 is low but doable, 3000 is plenty, a lot of the Clear Creek rapids start washing out. Using the Lilly gauge, 200 is pretty low. If it gets over 1200 you will be running something else. 430 on the Lilly gauge is nice class III.
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From Steve I.:
You really should look at both Lilly and Oakdale gauges. Sometimes the Obed can get more or less rain than Clear Creek, and relying solely on the Lilly gauge can lead to some surprises when you get to the confluence.
Lower runnable clear creek should be 200-325 at Lilly.
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From Terrell A.:
In my opinion:
Lowest I care to run it - 390-400cfs
Fun and good for most anybody, even newish folks - 400-700cfs
Fun for anybody - 800-2,500cfs
Fun, but getting more challenging: 2,500-4,000.
Going below Lilly @ 4,000 or above, you need to be on your game.
My response: I think taking someone new down Lilly to Nemo could be a bad day.
Clear Creek on AmericanWhitewater: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1732/main
Jack's Rock on Clear Creek Lilly to Nemo |
Video of The Lost Tribe on Clear Creek Lilly to Nemo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vb8NnniAR4