GLOBAL WARMING - 1st Descent - Huckin Huge Films

GLOBAL WARMING – 1st Descent

An incredible sight as Jared Noceti charges out of an avalanche tunnel into the huge slide.

This year has been no joke. The snowpack is in record numbers and the boating has been non-stop incredible. This has allowed for some new runs to be opened up and classics being pushed to higher levels. Always on the look out for the next adventure, Jared Noceti gave me a holler about a piece of whitewater tucked away in the American River drainage…Little & Upper Duncan Creek. So on a bright sunny Sunday, our three pack including Thomas Moore, hoofed it up the hills to the top of Little Duncan Creek. Little D turned out to have a series of large slides going underneath massive snow drifts and avalanche paths. To our amazement, the river bored out runnable tunnels through the snow, just barely large enough for a boater to fit.

“I see about 10 places that you can piton your lights out” Noceti remarked about the big slide. Pictured is Thomas Moore flying through the crux hole with a long ways to go.

Lining up the move that awaits just past the tunnel. Jared Noceti photo

Duck, boof, slide. Duck, boof, slide..on a another nice drop. Thomas Moore photo

We put on at the top snow bridge, paddled underneath of it and flew off a boof. The nice bedrock slides made the hike worth it and everyone had a big smiles as we cruised through the novelty sections of whitewater. With a mid-run lunch stop at the car, we then dropped into what only could be described as “beaver dam paradise” as the creek plummeted under multiple log jams. A real shame because it had some good flow and quality class four amidst the old growth in the river. Rounding the corner, the creek cleaned up for the last 100 yards to the bridge and our stashed take-out beers. Not a bad way to get the boat out and spend a hot June day in the snow covered Sierras!