The Source
| Run Length |
2.5 miles |
Average Gradient |
350 fpm |
| Difficulty |
Class V |
Recommended Flow |
300-450 cfs |
| River |
Boulder Creek |
Location |
Boulder, Colorado |
| Author |
Dave Frank & Brian Adkins |
Current Level |
9 cfs  |
| Drainage |
South Platte |
Elevation |
9465ft to 9025ft |
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Gun Shy
Paddler:Carl
Photographer:Brian Adkins
Another round of first descents went down near the Hessie Townsite above Eldora yesterday. We have been putting on in a meadow with fire pits, about a mile higher than the Hellums Waterfall put-in. The new crux rapid is called Gunshy, thanks to some fishermen with a lot of extra ammunition and Budweiser.
Gunshy can be scouted easily from the road. The road bends to the right away from the river as you go up, and you will see lots of white down below. We have been looking at this one every time for new wood, and have found some that would have been unpleasant to discover in run. It's a good idea to station safety at the lead in, as the hole with undercuts on both sides proved to be very sticky to one unlucky paddler who wasn't listening when the beta was being doled out.
The second rapid of note, Harvey Wallbanger, is better scouted mid run. It comes up as the next horizon after Gunshy and is very much in someone's front yard. The house has been boarded up every time we have done it, but someone will undoubtedly be the first to meet the homeowner; let's hope they're cool. The move on this rapid is to avoid the right hand wall. Few boaters achieve this but it can be done; failure to do so has so far been uneventful, though not pretty.
After Wallbanger, take the left channel to either portage or run the falls at the old put in. There is still a big pile of debris to help ensure that you don't float into Hellums Waterfall. If you paddle like Forrest, you can easily portage the wood pile and slide down the left line on the falls (he made landing in one foot of water look remarkably clean). We all ran the falls the last time and everyone's lines were smooth. A little pruning is still needed at the entrance.
The main Source run is totally good to go. After Hellums there is an easy slide called Kickstart. After Kickstart take the right channel into the bony willows. Soon after a left hand bend and exiting the willows, a gorge wall looms on the right. This marks the top of Deforestation Rapid. An easy boof lands you in the main gorge. Slot Machine is next followed by a long and steep cascade called Dead Hiker Falls. If you don’t have a guide it is best to scout this entire section before your run. Cheese Grater is a metal hazard 10' upstream of the takeout. Takeout at the bridge crossing the creek or continue downstream another 1/4 mile through Class II with wood hazards to the fork of Hessie Road and Fourth of July Road.
Getting the most recent beta on, or scouting for new wood, is a good idea on this run, especially at higher flows. Eddies, even at high water though, are abundant, if you are on your game and know where to look. I have really been enjoying eddy hopping and playing leapfrog with another boater to sweep for rest of the party. Peter Roth and I must have caught 10 eddies between Slot Machine and the bottom of Dead Hiker Rapid the other day.
While certainly not the hardest run in the state, it is one of the most continuous. If you are on top of your game, this run is a blast. If you are out of shape, the main gorge will find you totally winded and blowing by even the "easy eddies". Boating in this manner is totally unsafe; if you are continually losing visual on your teammates and not watching each others backs you are asking for trouble.
Below the normal takeout at the Hessie footbridge, all of the strainers have been removed and it is a 5 minute float to the fork in the road. Stay right as the options open up at the beaver ponds. This is quicker and easier on your vehicle and the environment than driving up to the bridge.
I have not yet boated below the fork in the road, but we scouted a new juicy looking rapid, down near where the pavement ends. I don't know if anyone has run it or not, but it looks good. There also does not appear to be significant gradient above the upper meadow put-in, but there are a few spots where the creek leaves the road that may end up being worthy.
Flow Information:
-Low: 150-300 cfs
-Med: 300-450 cfs
-High: 450 cfs and up
Difficuly Informatiion:
- V- 100 cfs
- V+ 300 cfs
Disclaimer
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| | Put-In
From Nederland take 130 RD to 11 RD. At teh road fork, left takes you to the take-out at Hessie, and the right goes towards Buckingham Campground. The put-in at a nice flat grassy field about an acre in size with a few fire rings scattered about. |  | Gun Shy (Mile 0.5) Class V
A series of 4 ledges back-to-back. The top drop has a must make boof to the right at the entrance, and has a sticky hole at the bottom with undercut rocks on both sides. The next 3 ledges are pretty simple.
| | | Harvey Wallbanger (Mile 0.8) Class V
The current slams hard into the river right cliff in this tricky drop. The move is a right to left scramble at the last moment. This rapid has become the scene of the vast majority of the carnage on the Source.
| | | Hellums Waterfall (Mile 1.0) Class V
This is a 15' fall that lands on a pile of rocks. In 2003 it was run down the small river left channel regularity, the line looks bad but no-one pitoned. | | | Kickstart (Mile 1.1) Class IV
An easy slide with a left turn halfway down.
| | | The Willows (Mile 1.2) Class IV
Make sure to enter the river right channel into the willows directly after Kickstart rapid. Ever been whipped by willows? This section has gotten seriously overgrown in the past few drought years with no flood water to scour out the overhanging vegetation so I've upgraded it to Class IV. |  | DeForrestation Rapid (Mile 1.3) Class V
This rapid changed in 2003. It is easier and safer than before, the line is still a boof left but the broach rock at the bottom moved several feet out away from the bottom. Be heads up for this drop after passing under the second foot bridge. The entrance rapid (IV-) is manky as hell. | | | 1st Gorge (Mile 1.4) Class IV+
After some bony busy water there is a good 2 or 3 boat eddy on river right where you can boat scout the entrance to Slot Machine. |  | Slot Machine (Mile 1.5) Class V
At about 3' wide this is the tightest drop on the run. There is a flat piton rock in the landing zone, but a good boof stroke is difficult. You can eddy out on river right 50' downstream. | | | Z turn (Mile 1.59) Class V-
Two back to back turns with holes at high water | | | Busy Water (Mile 1.6) Class V
From here to Dead Hiker Falls it is continuous IV to V slides, ledges and boulder gardens. Keep on your toes and watch out for wood. |  | Dead Hiker Falls (Mile 1.8) Class V
This is the biggest cascade on the river. The second most likely rapid, after Harvey Wallbanger, to kick your ass. | | | More Busy Water (Mile 1.9) Class V-
Continuous IV to V slides, ledges, and boulder gardens. About 100 yards below Dead Hiker Falls there is a short slide with an large eddy river right. Downstream, just after crossing under a large log that spans the whole stream, is a tricky little boulder drop that deserves a scout. | | | Cheese Grater (Mile 2.0) Class III
Cheese Grater is a metal hazard 10' upstream of the takeout. Takeout at the bridge crossing the creek or continue downstream another 1/4 mile through Class II with wood hazards to the fork of Hessie Road and Fourth of July Road. |
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