Just did the North Fork of the Crystal last weekend. The flow was high but good, the scenery epic, the 4x4 rough - but a stock truck can do it.
CRC makes this run sound sketch, but it is actually just big and fun. The first 4 drops in this run represent arguably one of the cleanest stretches of runnable class V in the state. The inner gorge below the first 4 is a little more consequential, but the meanest series of drops are easily walked. If you walk these drops you are basically walking most of the white water in the inner gorge, but it is a cool place to be and you get to run a supper clean and fun 20 footer at the end.
We ran several laps on the first 4 drops because they are that good. The first drop is a long low angle slide that ends in a micro eddy above a 40 slide that goes vertical for the last 10 feet. Sometimes it launches you into the pool; sometime you go a little deep. Next is a 10 foot 2 stage notch drop followed by a clean 18 footer. All drops have pools or eddies between them for regrouping. After the 18 footer is a technical slide drop that puts you into the inner gorge. Make sure you know were your next 2 eddies are after this.
It's a lot of work for 1/2 mile of boating, but its worth it at least once. It should be good for next weekend. No real bad wood to speak of. Make sure you scout the inner gorge before going in. Eddies are few and small before the burly section. Pictures to come soon.
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