The Upper Upper wind is a fun adventure run that doesn't get as much attention as many of the Gorge Classics. It is unique in that while the rapids are mostly class III, class IV skills are needed to deal with some wood and the general nature of the run.
Look for 6.5-7.5' on the Stabler Gauge for a first time run.
Put in at the first place the shuttle road is adjacent to the river and class I upstream of the Falls Creek confluence. If you go any further upstream you will see the river turn into gravel bars with lots of logs.
Put In: 45.91439277191931, -121.9501145025027
Take Out: 45.87470196780343, -121.97846612546935
The run starts off easy but pleasant with some nice rapids that give you a good feel for the character of the run. Falls Creek enters on the left and there is some easy floating before things pick back up at some roadside rapids that can be scouted during the shuttle. These fade, then the whitewater picks back up again with a section remeniscient of a class III version of the Farmlands section of the White Salmon, with narrow rapids racing between short gorge walls. This section culminates in a left bend that leads to *Kingpin*, the most significant rapid of the run, which is commonly portaged on the right due to a central sieve in the rapid.
Downstream are more fun read and run rapids like *Fenced In* and *Dan's*. This last set of good rapids ends when Ninemile Creek enters on the left. Below here it's class II, but be on the lookout for a dangerous log jam on a blind right turn (the second below Ninemile Creek). There is no eddy on the right where the portage is, so boaters must get out of their boat in moving water and get onto a gravel bar. It can be nice if a confident boater goes first, and helps catch the rest of the group. This logjam is not visible until paddlers have passed the last eddy, so spreading out below Ninemile Creek is a good idea.
There is one more class II-III gorge as the river passes beneath the shuttle road bridge, then the river eases to class I-II gravel bar floating through a scenic tree-lined hallway and down to the take out bridge.