The very popular Upper Cherry

Upper Cherry Creek seems to be somewhat of a cornerstone for California overnighters. Seems as though everyone has at least seen it in videos and pictures, if not in person. Still, with all the hype, it's one of the few rivers that lives up to it.

Overview:

Hike 12 miles, through black clouds of misquitoes, literally...

Good idea: save weight by hiking in booties
Bad idea: listening to randy robberson and hiking in booties which were too small, thinking they would stretch out...

Result: two blackend toenails with a plethora of pain

Paddle a little over 12 miles of stupendous granite whitewater, too excellent for words

The portage route on the lead into Double Pothole...much, much scarier than I thought, but not nearly as scary as when you peel around the undercut below into the main rapid

Pat, sole contenter for the Pocket, as well as the Bear

A nice gift from the California locals...

I don't really have anything else to say that hasn't already been said before; it's one of the best overnight runs I've ever done and can't wait to come back, this time with better hiking shoes...