Deckers Creek, West Virginia, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | V (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 2.5 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 100 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 250 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DECKERS CREEK AT MORGANTOWN, WV | ||||
| usgs-03062500 | 250 - 650 cfs | V | 01h09m | 68 cfs (rc= -0.9 ) |
For a Go Pro helmet cam video of Deckers Creek, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRcwW2Bs-rU
Latitude, Longitude data are approximate.
Deckers Creek is a fun and challenging run, just a few miles from the interstate and the University. Just because it is roadside does not mean it is light duty, however. The streambed is littered with sieves, and most of the vertical drops have a cave behind them.
That said, if you know this run, you can get a lap in before work or class, and it is a great
resource for Morgantown area paddlers.
Here's what
Bobby Miller has to say about Decker's after his first run several years ago:
"Here is my personal opinion on Deckers. I think that run is very hard and very scary. My
impressions were that you could die about 5 ways in every rapid. I was scared on it (which
doesn't happen a lot). Granted, I ran everything so that makes it a lot scarier but still it is
very scary. I think that the Upper
Blackwater is not even in the same class as Deckers. Deckers has harder rapids and more and
bigger sieves. The creeks in Canaan are way more user-friendly (Otter, North Fork) with not so many undercuts to
catch you if mess up. My opinion of Deckers is that it is a run for top creekers (guys who
dominate easy creeks like the North Fork and Upper B) in top condition. It opened my eyes and got
my heart ticking. I enjoyed Deckers but it wasn't as fun as I thought it would be. I was so
worried about falling into the ugly caves and sieves that litter the run that I really couldn't
sit back and enjoy as much as I hoped. I think I prefer to either not have the sieves around when
I boat or not know they are there. Just my opinion."
Conservation organization: check out Friends of Deckers Creek.
The gauge for this river is several miles downstream, in Morgantown. Localized rains can bring up tributaries in between, and make the flows in the Pioneer Rocks section lower than you expect.
250 cfs is a flexible minimum, the further upstream the rain falls, the lower you can get on the river. The high runnable flows are just that: high and pushy. Take additional water very seriously, and if you have any doubt wait til later or go check the Cascades, or even Bull Run.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DECKERS CREEK AT MORGANTOWN, WV | ||||||||||||||||
| usgs-03062500 | 250 - 650 cfs | V | 01h09m | 68 cfs (rc= -0.9 ) | ||||||||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decker's Cr. [WV] |
Stew stares Decker's in the "Eyes"
|
beefy five bars | Stewart Caldwell | |
| Decker's Creek [WV] |
When things go wrong...
|
beefy five bars | Stewart Caldwell | |
| Deckers Creek [WV] |
Jay through the Teeth
|
n/a | JB Seay | |
| Deckers Creek [WV] |
Deckers
|
n/a | Julie Black | |
| Decker's Creek [WV] |
Eyes, Decker's Creek
|
n/a | Matt Muir | |
| 4y310d12h07m | Deckers Creek [WV] |
Deckers Boat Extraction
|
Wicked Low | Eric Henrickson |
| 4y323d12h07m | Deckers Creek [WV] |
Flossing Teeth
|
Medium | Eric Henrickson |
| 7y211d12h07m | Deckers Creek [ ] |
Seive in Deduction
|
n/a | JB Seay |
| > 10 years | Deckers CreekPioneer Rocks [WV] |
Deckers Creek
|
n/a | Julie Black |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. reach
state
reachlink
Pioneer Rocks, Deckers Creek West Virginia, US (mobile)
User Comments
best method.
Hercules - clear (large log above deduction in precarious position, will probably flush soon and
chock itself somewhere dangerous<br>
Deduction - clear (sieve totally open now - looks smoother than before w/no hole - dangerous)<br>
Carcass - clear<br>
After Carcass - wood in first drop on right (avoidable just left)<br>
Top Hat - clear<br>
Hairline - clear to right after ferry (left line after ferry has wood in it)<br>
Brows - clear<br>
Eyes - clear (took a good piton here at bottom of drop on far left - I think the rock has always
been there)<br>
Teeth - clear (some weird rocks above drop after exiting pool below eyes)<br>
Problem Child/EOW - changes here (looks like fast moving pool b/w PC and EOW has changed, maybe for
the better). Wood in far left channel of drop against bank. Also, wood in center channel below EOW
(airplane slot open).<br>
Runout - some wood here, but can be avoided by boat scouting. Slide near the end still has wood on
left.<br>