Gary Gunder drops in on Sig Alert, the first rapid on the "reasonably accessible" segment of Yucca Creek

We were intending to do the upper section of the N.F. Kaweah, but due to some logistical problems arrived too late at the regular N.F. put-in to do the required seven mile hike. Yucca Creek was also on our "A" list, so the decision was made to see how far up the creek we could get, and maybe salvage part of the day. Sometimes things just work out.

The initial half-mile of the hike was idyllic, passing through beautiful green meadows, highlighted with wildflowers. However, the old trail gradually became more and more overgrown, eventually degrading into thick chaparral, interwoven with poison oak.

The ravaged, remnants of a ringtail cat should have been a warning. It looked like the trail might continue on the river right side of the creek. Following a path over a rocky steep and across a south facing slope, we soon found ourselves committed to a dangerously steep and loose slope. Stubbornly, we pushed onward, hauling our boats up with a throw rope, and then lowering them down into rocky ravine. From here we were certain we could work our way back to the creek. Wrong. Our descent was blocked by a slimey 15 ft. waterfall. Digging a sling out of my pack, we fashioned an anchor and rapped over the step. Once this was accomplished, we crossed to the river left side of the creek, picked up the overgrown trail, and continued upstream. It was getting late, and there was boating to be done. Around 3:00 p.m. we reached the pool below Sig Alert. It was obvious this was as far as we would go on this day. We put on at around 3:15 and reached the take-out shortly after 7:00 p.m., having completed one of the best short runs we've done to date.

On a later trip we had more time and hiked further up the creek. Treking above Sig Alert was a real adventure. At times the brush was so thick that there the best (and only) choice was to walk through head high thickets of poison oak. Tedious and time consuming bushwhacking resulted in diminishing returns--very few drops above Sig Alert were as good as those downstream of this rapid.

This short run has an amazing number of interesting drops. We couldn't help but to name some of the them:

• SIG ALERT (aka ON RAMP) - This is the put-in drop. A tight entry leads to a steep ramp/chute. The chute leads directly into a stepped headwall. The move left to avoid the headwall is difficult. There is a sizable pool at the bottom of the drop.
• SLICKIE - A limbo branch complicates the S-turn entry into this long, low-angle slide.
• WORKING THE DOG - A 8’-10’ combination drop ending with a nasty slot. At low water levels it’s difficult to avoid sliding down into the slot. The right side of the slot is a detached block leaning against the right side wall.
• NUTCRACKER - A wild, stepped drop of 15’ or so. There are rocks at the base of the drop.
• PARTICLE ACCELERATOR - A large double drop. A 6’ falls lands on a sloping ramp that accelerates your boat to another 6’ drop. The second drop leaves very little room for error. The total drop on this rapid is probably over 25 feet. The acceleration can be startling, but helps to extend the boof on the second drop.
• EXIT STAGE LEFT - A 12 foot ledge of granite divides the river. Fun 6’ falls on the left.
• EXIT STAGE RIGHT (aka ROAD CLOSED) - An outrageous rapid. The left channel is blocked by a tree, but the right leads down a diagonal ramp to a 6-8’ drop. Uprooted trees block the outflow below the drop.
• INDIANA JONES - A wild curving ride down a slot, onto a pillow, and into a pool. Total drop is about 10’.
• MR. CLEAN - Big, clean 8-10’ ledge drop. Rock rib to avoid below.
• SHOOT THE TUBE - If clear, take the river left line through the big tube that passes under the remnants of the old road bed.
• OFF RAMP - The slides at the confluence with the North Fork.