We hiked up the Gold Mint trail and put in over 3-miles in. There are fast straight stretches; “crash and burn” is a distinct possibility with the gradient. The part we did has a different character than the stretch below Mother Lode. It can narrow up on a sharp turn into a high-octane staircase, scouting is a good idea when the river bends. There are a bunch of 1-meter+ drops that will bring a smile to your face.
Here is our video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyNyxTq4cUw&feature=share