The Salt Springs Reservoir is predicted to spill over sometime between May 21 and the end of the month. Photo courtesy of Katherine Evatt and Pete Bell. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

By John Yost

Special to the Ledger Dispatch

I learned to kayak and taught my kids to row a raft on the gentle stretch of the Mokelumne River between the Electra power station and Highway 49, and have enjoyed the longer run down to Lake Pardee since the agreement was made allowing boaters on the river, but for years I had only heard about the North Fork of the Moke. This stretch of river rarely gets enough water for rafting or kayaking and access to it is not easy. Somehow, I had never been in the right place at the right time to find out what the buzz was about.

This year, I got lucky. With decent snowfall and late spring rains, the North Fork is flowing and I am here to enjoy it. Early in May, I joined a few friends and we headed up Highway 88 and down into the Mokelumne River Canyon. The driving distances aren't long, but with all the turns and ups and downs it takes a while to get to the river put-in, a bit downstream from Salt Springs Reservoir.

It was already noon before we were on the water, excited because there was more of it than expected. The first couple of miles, until Bear River joins the Mokelumne, were supposed to have very little water, but instead there was plenty. The river is steep here and a series of Class III-IV rapids made for a thrilling start, while the magnificent scenery made it a challenge to keep our attention on navigation.

Boating the North Fork of the Mokelumne is not for everyone. The run is rated expert, or Class V. Whitewater is rated from Class I (fast current with riffles) to Class VI (non-navigable). Class IV is very difficult and Class V is for experienced river runners only. Our group was made up of three kayakers and two rafters in a small paddle boat, all experts. I am a professional river guide with experience on hundreds of rivers in dozens of countries around the world, including some of the most dangerous and remote stretches of whitewater that have ever been rafted.

The North Fork begins with a bang, then calms down for a 10-mile stretch of easy water dotted with enough fun rapids to keep the adrenaline flowing. This long stretch of moderate water allowed us to relax and appreciate the pristinely beautiful river canyon. Towering cedar, fir and pine, dense growths of alder and willow, colorful bursts of flowering dogwood and late spring wildflowers lined the river, with granite outcrops and distant peaks providing a perfect backdrop. Floating on sparkling clear waters, chatting among ourselves, we could not avoid superlatives as we described a canyon that is as beautiful as any we had rafted in California (and among us we have seem them all).

If the trip had ended there, it would have been a great day. The serious whitewater was still ahead, though, and that's what we were here for.



Editor's Note: Part two of this adventure will appear in the Friday, May 22 edition.