Swim Out of Cripps Hole on Lower Clear Creek's Screaming 1/4 Mile

I've run this section a few dozen times, and Screaming 1/4 Mile is my favorite section of Lower Clear Creek. Had a great run, hit all my lines, but when it came to Cripp's Hole, I was too focused on the hole rather than my boof stroke. Going left of center, I hit the drop and realized I stalled. Cripp's was like a tractor beam, it just sucked me back into the hole. I got into a long side surf, probing for weak spots. I almost got out, but it sucked me right back in. Digging deep for moving water, I started to tire out, went over, and tried to roll out, but no luck. I bailed. This one swim hurt the most in my 10 years of whitewater kayaking. Sharp blast rock does not do the body good. A big shout out to my crew for getting my boat and paddle. May 22, 2024 @ 384 cfs.

[@scubadude235]

Glad you made it out, thank you for posting and reminding us that casual days can turn deadly quickly.

[@DejanSmaic]

Yeah, for me this was the crux of the run. The hole was an eye magnet and a tractor beam.

[@ivanoutdoors]

Valiant effort! Thanks for posting.

[@DejanSmaic]

Yeah, never give up the fight. I really believed I could work myself out of the hole. It gave me a new respect, not fear, for the river.

[@SullyOutdoor]

Dang, glad you're alright, that looks way more sketchy than being in a peloton ;)

[@DejanSmaic]

lol! Well, I’ve got stories of a bad crash in St. Louis keeping me in the hospital for 14 days. 🤪

[@KCCNYwhitewater]

shit! glad you're ok. you fought that thing well

[@DejanSmaic]

Yeah, pretty tiring. The swim sucked

[@gibby6996]

Good fight, thought you had it

[@DejanSmaic]

I thought so too. At first I was having fun because I can usually get out of these holes. Nope...

[@douglassexton1100]

Way to hang in there Dejan, it takes guts to post your swim like that. That happened to me many years ago, got sucked right back in.

[@DejanSmaic]

You know, I saw my mistakes before I took on Cripps. My mantra is speed is your friend. I didn’t have a lot of speed this one time I ran Cripps. I’ve even eddied out river left just above Cripps. Well, my number was up

[@DejanSmaic]

Also, I’m not ashamed of posting. The run was well within my abilities. I also figured it brings heightened awareness of river features. I playboat a lot, and where playboating skills helped a lot.

[@StoutAdventureCo]

Wild

[@DejanSmaic]

It was a wild ride

[@jakemcmahan5711]

What did you run into during the swim? Big rock?

[@DejanSmaic]

A lot of sharp blast rocks like you see on the bank after I got out.

[@jakemcmahan5711]

Youch!