Peters Creek
| Run Length |
1.55 miles |
Average Gradient |
306 fpm |
| Difficulty |
Class V |
Recommended Flow |
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| River |
Peters Creek |
Location |
Anchorage, Alaska |
| Author |
Danny L. Crow |
Current Level |
 |
| Drainage |
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Elevation |
645ft to 275ft |
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Baked Alaska
Paddler:Dan Fowlds
Photographer:Luke Smithwick
Character:
Peter's Creek is a glacerial fed stream. The canyon run's river bed is made up of the sharp crumbly shale of the Chugach mountains. Only in a few areas can a rounded rock be found. The upper portion of the canyon is absent of vertical walls, but its shores are draped with alders covering most of the side stream eddies. While the river bed does not change, the walls do starting at the water fall. This drop places the river into a vertical walled canyon that at some points would be impossible to climb out on either side of the river. While the river might be characterized as pool-drop it could more aptly be labeled drop-really drop.
Description:
The upper canyon has very few eddies that are not plastered with alders giving this Class III, IV run the feel of a car wash. The shore has trees that can easily span the river, so eyes must be alert for sweepers. At this time there is a huge cottonwood that spans the river and marks the approach to the waterfalls. This cottonwood represents a dangerous pinning potential and should be scouted. The waterfall has a tricky entrance, as the river takes a 45 degree right, then left 60 degree turn within the forty yards before the crest. The left side of the falls, Sweet Carolina Drop, is wider and more easily approached, as it is on the inside corner. The left side is not quite a vertical drop thus it has many rocks protruding thru the flow. A run down this would seem unwise until high flows. The right side chute, Baked Alaska, is separated from the left side by a five foot two-tiered drop that ends at a 45 degree angle to the lip. A large rock also separates the two sides. A wave three to four feet from the lip tries to surf you slightly to the left side, but is easily punched thru. The best run is two to three feet from the middle rock and five to six feet from the right side of the river. The rock wall of the right bank protrudes a couple feet into the pourover. The hole at the bottom is at least eight foot deep even at very low water. There is a ledge that protrudes out from the falls approximately 16 inches at very low flows and has been hit three times when going straight over rather than slightly left of center at low flows. While the falls is the most visible challenge there are many sections after the falls that demand astute attention. Around the corner from the falls is a huge log jam on the shore. It marks the start of Zig Zag One. This is an easy slalom warm up after the falls. One big eddy and you are set up for Zig Zag Two which is a bit more demanding in skill, but can be boofed around the left at medium and high flows. The stream widens and splits itself around a rock called Skateboard. To the right of Skateboard is a four to six foot drop and to the left is a branched rocky drop that dumps three places into The Trough. The Trough is a six foot across pool that is probably twenty feet wide, It is hard to drop into The Trough without hitting the other side first. The right side run shoots water out onto Skateboard Rock creating the Skateboard Alley. If you take the right side watch out for the tree branches overhanging over the stream and sneak back over to the left side when you can. A little ways down river is a huge rock, called Skull Cap Rock, that creates a three to five foot slot, called The Zit, between the right side wall. A four foot pour over dumps into a round rock about six feet from the lip. At extremely low waters most of the water flows to the right of the rock and creates an entrapping wedge. At higher flows the water goes over the rock. A 90 degree left turn at Skull Cap Rock will take you around a twisting narrow chute, called Medusa's Locks, that could easily be plugged with logs or sticks and can not be scouted from your boat. Down stream of that a ways is a five foot ledge drop on river left that is fairly clean to run, but singles the last chance to get out of the canyon before Rodeo Drive. A few twists thru the canyon you will see the obvious constriction coming that marks Rodeo Drive. There is an eddy on the right just above Rodeo Hole. Rodeo Falls can be scouted by turning off of the Old Glenn Highway and driving all the way up until the end of Creek Drive. Buck Kuhn lives here and is a friendly chap that likes to see guys having fun. Respect Buck's property by asking before looking. Behind his house you will find a lurking turkey, avoid this and you will reach the canyon rim. Eighty yards up the river you can look at the "unseen" portion of the drop by hanging over the edge clinging to a small fir tree. You can drop to the canyon floor at either the entrance or the exit of Rodeo Drive. Rodeo Drive starts with by dropping into Rodeo Hole, which is always sticky. Behind that is a rock that at all but the lowest flows has water going over it and can be boofed if you have maintained your speed. It does constrict the water and creates a funny drag to the left ahead of itself. This pushes the water into an undercut on the left side wall. Just behind the boof rock or undercut, your choice is Rodeo Falls left or right. Rodeo Falls has a rock one third the way in from the left that defines the entry. Anything left of the rock drops into a sieve that is very bony even at high water.
To the right and center of the rock is a clean run over Rodeo Falls. The rock is sticky and pinned 33% of the first two Alaskan parties who ran it. At least one of every group seems to end up going over the left side despite their best efforts. This drop should define this run as expert only. The rock at the lip is appropriately named Pin Cushion. Past Rodeo Drive Falls are a couple Class III, IV drops. The river braids out and this signals the Big Dog drop. Big Dog is a constricted area that drops about twenty feet in a hundred feet over four distinctive ledges. There are many large rocks thru here that at low flows could be pinners and higher flows big holes. There is a wedge constriction on far right that pounds the water between the wall and a few rocks at the bottom and a huge rock on the left that marks the end. The flow of water thru here is larger feeling than most of the other drops. Past Big Dog it is a tricky little slalom, then it's a stroll to the park at the Old Glen Highway Bridge.
Drop Names:
"Sweet Carolina" - At high water hit the sweet spot and you'll have a clean ride down the left side of the falls, just like those Carolina boys.
"Baked Alaska" - Hit this drop wrong and you'll be baked, hit it right and it'll be pleasing to the soul.
"Zig Zag One" - A fun little slalom that zigs and zags it's way past the log jam.
"Zig Zag Two" - The first was just a warm up, let's see you make these quick little moves. Can you do it without slamming into the entrance rock?
"Skateboard Rock" - You better stay on your toes or else you'll be wishing you had elbow pads as you slam into this deceptive rock.
"Skateboard Alley" - Hit it right and you can actually ride the rock.
"Skull Cap Rock" - Try the right side and you'll squeeze "The Zit", hit the left side and you'll risk getting tangled in it's flowing locks reaching down to snarl you up.
"The Zit" - Hit this wrong and it will squeeze you and pop you.
"Medusa's Locks" - You think you're sneaking away, but beware of Medusa's locks they can ensnare you.
"Rodeo Drive" - This three move drop is a looker. It will cost you big time if you make a wrong move.
"Rodeo Hole" - This entry hole will ride you if you are not careful. You ain't met a bronc like this bone buster.
"Pin Cushion" - Hit this puppy wrong and it will stick you quicker than you can say, "Jack ........."
"Rodeo Falls" - It's a straight forward ride, but veer off just a bit and you'll be hoping it will throw you off it's saddle.
"Big Dog" - It's a stretch waiting to snap at you, chomp on you and spit you out. Only the Big Boys will get around the "Big Dog".
Disclaimer
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| | Put-In
Exit the New Glenn Highway off at the South Peters Creek Exit and turn right on Ski Road. Proceed up Ski Road until it T's into Whaley Avenue. Take a right at the T and proceed up the mountain as the road changes names many times. Eventually Sullins Drive T's into Kullberg Drive.
Taking a right here and proceeding to the end of the cull-de-sac takes you to the Lower Canyon run. Follow the electrical line into the woods and proceed straight to stay on the electrical easement. Going over the hill will put you slightly upstream of the waterfalls. Heading slightly upstream at the crest of the canyon will not be quite as steep of a descent to the river. Going downhill on the rim to the corner of the Bogg's house will put you on a trail that follows a ridge down to below the falls.
For the Upper Canyon take a left on Kullberg and then a right, this will put you back on Sullins Drive. Follow this until you come to Malcolm Drive on the right. Take Malcolm up to Peters Gate. At Peters Gate you can go in about 1/4 mile to a small stream bed that may or may not have water. There is a trail to the right on the left side of the stream that will take you above the entrance to the Upper Canyon
| | | Take-Out
At the Peters Creek Campground located on the Old Glenn Highway, just north of the North Birchwood. |
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