Fike Run, |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III-V (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.8 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 92 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 160 fpm |
This is a popular steep and narrow creek run when everything's been inundated by rain.
Gordon Dalton points out:
It should be noted that there is one very dangerous ("unrunnable") drop on Fikes. (Ben Badger
points out that this rapid is probably best known as "Hubbard's Cupboard", but Kevin Williams
calls it "Chump's Choice." It probably has other names.) The approach looks good but the final
part ends in a chute with a skewering log in it. You can scrape down a high-water passage to the
FAR left, around a rocky island and WAY away from the log or just carry it. (2001)
Kevin Williams 2003-06-09 shared:
“Chump’s Choice” (“unrunnable”) or whatever it’s called, can be anticipated right after the
first pool-flat water section. Look for a large flat boulder on RL in the flow and a triangle
shaped boulder farther downstream. It looks like it would be easy to stumble into so be careful!
The problem is a large clamshell rock blocking all but 5” of flow on the RR and all but 10” on
RL- if you go down there at lower flows you will get pinned. I don’t know what “skewering log”
the above guide is talking about, the rock will get you first, although there currently is wood
below it if you happened to make it that far… Possibly passable at higher flow but you’d better
look! I’ve scraped down the left passage even at low water but it takes a toll on plastic- there
is an insidiously silly slot over there that catches people broached up-stream frequently,
leaving them flailing until someone wades over and extricates them…
Dang fun run with one easy but really steep section (boof pool, boof pool for 200 meters). One of the prettiest runs I’ve seen.
| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fike Run [PA] |
gauge at takeout
|
medium-high | Jeff Macklin | |
| Fike Run [PA] |
Hubbard's Cupboard, Looking Upstream
|
medium and too low | Jeff Macklin | |
| Fike Run [PA] |
Fike Run
|
n/a | Matt Muir | |
| 4y207d20h00m | Fike Run [PA] |
Hubbard's Cupboard, looking downstream
|
too low to paddle | Jeff Macklin |
| 4y285d20h00m | Fike Run [PA] |
Entrance View to Hubbard's Cupboard
|
low | Jeff Macklin |
| 5y269d20h00m | Fike Run [PA] |
Entering the Room
|
low+ | Jeff Macklin |
| 5y329d20h00m | Fike Run [PA] |
Fikes one more time
|
1.5 | Sam Baudoux |
| 5y352d20h00m | Fike Run [PA] |
ledge on Fike
|
Low | Jeff Macklin |
| 6y66d20h00m | Fike Run [PA] |
Kurt in the "Room"
|
low | Jeff Macklin |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Fike Run Road crossing 5 mi. up from Gibbon Glade Run to Gibbon Glade Run (mobile)
User Comments
other day it was 7.2 and Fikes was only 0.8 at Dinner Bell Road. Later, when the Sandy came up to
12.0, Fikes was around 3.5 at the time when I came by. It might have been higher earlier. Edit
first series, before the confluence with the Sandy. We were able to paddle over it but lower water
could be different. Other than that the run was clean and lots of fun. Edit
portaged. There is a gauge at Dinner Bell Road; 1.0 is approx. minimum, while 2.0 is cranking. At
2.0, it's non-stop action, solid Class 5. I like to put on at McCracken School Road, just upstream
from the gauge; I find that I spend less time falling painfully on my ass and sliding down the
muddy hill, that way. Plus, there are a few good rapids up there, although they might not be good
enough for the truly manic paddlers. To avoid the first death slot, keep an eye out for a large,
alpine-shaped rock on the left with a small semi-eddy at its top. It turns out that this rock
separates two channels, and if you're not anticipating it fully, you are screwed. Once, I got
washed backwards out of this eddy when I wasn't showing it the proper respect. Hoo-ee, that was
embarrassing!