In the last few years, there have been several changes to the rapids of the Middle Fork, mostly as a result of hard, localized rains in areas that had been recently burned. The Lake Creek rapid just above Pistol Creek has formed and washed out five times as a result of mud slides from the creek, though it has not been a major concern other than producing logs for the Pistol Creek jam until the spring of 07. It was nasty that year. Last year it became easier, and remained so this year--though the approach to Pistol Creek Rapid became a little more difficult in 08, and tightened up even more this year. Last year a hard rain and mudslide totally changed the Tappan III rapid, but this high water opened it up enough that it wasn't a problem. Tappan II just above it remains flooded out. A slide at House of Rocks on the lower river blocked the usual route through the rapid, but the new route is not a problem--as long as a boatman is aware of the change.
The Orelano rapid near Pungo has slid about three times, but has washed out enough to not be a big deal, and hasn't change for several years. Just above Loon Creek a blow-out several years ago created a new, minor, rapid, which has mostly opened up. A couple of years ago Bernard Creek blew out at the bottom of Haystack Rapid, flooding most of it. The river has now cut through the slide, and Haystack Rapid is similar to the old Haystack rapid. Immediately below Haystack, though, is the debris from the Bernard Creek blowout, which is a new rapid. The Cramer Creek rapid just above the Middle Fork take-out, which became a major rapid after a blow-out in August 03, and was nasty in 04, began to ease in 05, and was more fun than worry the last couple of years.
