A remote class IV/V wilderness run deep in the heart of the Kalmiopsis red rock country. This run has been done in one (very long) day, but if conditions line up doing the run as an overnight is much nicer.
The hike in is between 4-7 miles on old mining roads depending on driving conditions.
The run starts off with a friendly warm up, building to class IV after about a mile. The run continues for numerous miles of read and run class IV give or take with a couple islands that deserve a scout.
The run builds to it's crux at The Great Slide, a set of rapids with large boulders and tall walls with an active landslide on river-right.
Downstream the whitewater eases for a short bit, before leaving red rock country behind and entering a green forest. Bowman's awaits in this section, and should be scouted, preferably from a central island that is hard to reach at higher flows. Mind a sticky hole on a left bend just downstream (far right offers easy passage), then more read and run as the difficulty fades until it reaches the NF Smith confluence at Sourdough Campground.
Sourdough Rapid is not far downstream on the NF Smith, followed by a few more read and runs and one excellent campsite on river-left before reaching Major Moore's access. Boaters can take out here, or continue down the classic section of the NF Smith:
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