The Perpetual Flow: A True Classic: The North Fork of the Payette

Staying in the flow, heading downstream and keeping it upright: the best NF beta

Photo: Brian "BReal" Ward

Ever since reading the description of the North Fork of the Payette in the Western States Whitewater guidebook a friend gave me last year I was instantly drawn to the mystique of this run. HUGE waves, HUGE holes and HUGE RAPIDS was pretty much what I got out of it. Last month I got the chance to check it out for myself. It sure enough lived up to its reputation. On the ride up we looked at Jacob's Ladder and Nutcracker. Its hard to appreciate the size and complexity of any of the rapids from anywhere but in a kayak. Not long after putting on Drew's friend, how was our guide, felt really squirrely and said "I'm gonna die out here if I dont get out now." So he took out and we continued on, following very limited info that Drew remembered from his last visit. We had a healthy flow of about 2,300 cfs. Some of the rapids felt like they went on forever, it was awesome!!! Having a guide is helpful in places, but more often than not you are just cruising down the middle wavetop scouting for massive holes. Its so big and fast that you can punch a lot of stuff you wouldn't expect to be able to punch. We did all 15 miles top to bottom the first day and the upper 10 miles the second day then headed on back to the Gorge. It was a nice change from lots and lots of creekboating. One more of the 50 Classic runs in North America down. Big Water is a much different and really rad animal!