The Flume of Doom

WOW, where'd this bad boy come from you might wonder! Just after Belson Creek pours into Twentymile, you enter a narrow box canyon with steep shale walls rising up 30 feet above your head. The creek becomes very narrow and thunders through several good sized holes. Finally near the end of this flume is a slight drop into an unavoidable MONSTER HOLE!!! This one can point an 11 foot kayak straight up! Staring up, all you will see is hemlocks but I don't think you will get much of a chance to enjoy their esthetic value! Recirulation of the hole can reach downstream as far as 15 to 20 feet so paddle like hell! It is unknown how bad this rapid can be for swimming because I only know that Dave Atkinson and I miraculously made it through right side up. There is easily enough head room to do a roll IF the hole spits you out. A portage is possible on the left side of the creek by getting out just after the falls. To get back down to the creek below the Flume of Doom may require ropes in order to lower boats down. Alternatively, one can walk about 1/2 mile through an oxbow lake area that is swampy and quite unpleasent. To get there, go perpendicular to the left bank and you will come to the big opening. Walk down the old valley until you get back to Twentymile.