Just like to know how you all feel about these two. If the Numbers is rated IV at normal flows, then CC (aside from narrows,black rock and rigormortis) must be V+ above 700-750cfs. Aside from #5 the Numbers seems like 3-3+...
they have a different character. the number's is more of a pool drop river while the CC is continous creek style. that said, the only class IV+'s on the CC might be the run-out to the narrows and the section below blackrock. so i'd say the CC is IV+ (3 x -V) and the numbers IV and IV+ at higher flows. i haven't seen the numbers above 2,000. does it get harder or does everything wash out?
I think the two Clear Creek's got confused. There's one near the Twin Lakes and one above Golden.
My feeling is that if you take out RigorMortis, BlackRock, and the Narrows, Clear Creek (above Golden) is a IV-. The screaming quarter mile may be a IV. Even at higher flows, CC doesn't seem to be much of a problem. No big holes or reactionaries, just waves and you loose the rocks.
Elbow Falls may be a IV+ skill level, but with the nice big pool below and apparently no danger, you can go down the short rapid upside down and just roll up in the pool, so the low danger level reduces it's rating.
Screaming Quarter mile is IV+ to V- at any flow higher than 1600, not because of the moves being difficult but because of swimming consequences. High water and lower CC is really fun. High water and Blackrock (greater than 1100) is scary, but still fun.
So CRC notes a V+ in the black rock section at lower water, which would be rigormortis, but at higher water, it just calls the whole black rock section a V with no V+ exception. Does rigo get easier at higher water, holes washing out, that type of thing or what?
The Numbers is classic Colorado class IV. Maybe the ultimate classic class IV anywhere. Big granite boulders and classic, clean rapids. Clear Creek, while fun (and this is not meant to dog anyone's local river) is basically balsted shit from the highway in a lot of places. Classic Colorado junk run. I like the Black Rock section and it is deffinately harder than the Numbers. The Dumont section has fun play spots at high flows but boy is that a junky run. Clear Creek is tighter and maybe harder but the Numbers is a classic. Again I am not trying to stir up the whole front range vs. whoever thing so save your defense of Clear Creek's quality I paddle there and dig it. You just asked for a comparison.
Love the Numbers (and it's is waaaay better than LCC), but for my money Chattooga Sec. 4 has got to be the penultimate class IV: nat'l wild and scenic river, all unique very high-quality rapids, warm water, runs almost all year. Even with the 2 mile lake to the takeout, it's far better than any other class IV I've done. Plus, it gets meaningfully harder with more water, much more so than the Numbers.
Your absolutely right! CC is basically blasted shit rock, but its a great after work run when you don't have enough time to head to the ark, colorado, yampa, eagle or poudre. The narrows is fairly clean and tons of fun, while Black rock rapid is pure junk fun with scary undercut to get your juice flowin for that sketchy drive back to the burbs. Rigo is short and sweet with a fun s-turn around a big hole. Its pretty vicious between 500-900. Above 900 I've heard it blows you through, but I wouldn't know. Anyway its definately no california classic smooth granite, but it'll do.
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