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Written by Rod Wentworth

Category: Trip Reports

Published: 05 May 2004

Hits: 50

Organizer(s): Rod Wentworth

Date: 2004-05-01

Kayakers (K1): Will Colgan, Jamie Dolan, Jim Fecteau, Dennis Fournier, Scott Gilbert, Jim Poulin, Rod Wentworth

Canoers (OC1): Andy Meilleur

Deck Canoers (C1): Dave Stanley

Predominantly: Advanced WW

Water Level: Medium

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Height (ft), e.g. '2.96': 4.0 (befor

We met at 9:30 am at the take out and got up to the river just after the release began at 10 am. This was one of those rare, beautifully warm (even a little hot - 70s) days, and we remarked about how that often wasn't the case on the Hudson! I often do this trip around the first weekend in May, and this weather seems to come around 1 year in 10. It made for a great day. There were quite a few rafts on the river but not many kayaks. Andy paddled the only open canoe. The black flies had begun to show up but weren't hungry yet. Another great spring trip on the Hudson.

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Written by Tony Shaw

Category: Trip Reports

Published: 03 May 2004

Hits: 52

Organizer(s): Tony Shaw

Date: 2004-04-25

Kayakers (K1): Rich Baker, Joel George, Adis Zilic

Canoers (OC1): Tony Shaw

Tandem Canoers (OC2): George Agnew & John King

Predominantly: Novice WW

Water Level: Medium low

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Site: E. Georgia

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Flow (cfs), e.g. '797': 1700

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Height (ft), e.g. '2.96': 4.6

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge URL: 3

A few callers (Lori Barg, Eliot Lothrop, Deb Kirchway) were disappointed that the scheduled Upper White trip was scuttled on account of the prevailing low water conditions across the state during late April, and that the trip was going to occur instead on the Lower Lamoille. I hope they found somewhere else to paddle or be outdoors.

Those who met to paddle the Lower Lamoille were quite happy with the decision despite low(ish) water and strong(ish) headwinds from the Fairfax dam to Arrowhead Lake. We stopped briefly at Crandall Landing to break up the slumber party, and by and by Maura and Julie Prior managed to catch up with us downriver to join in the play. For half our group this was an introduction to the Lower Lamoille reach, though Joel and Adis had been to 5 Chutes a few days earlier to park & play. None of the features are onorous at this level (unless you count the whitecaps coming across Arrowhead Lake near the takeout!).

Several other parties present on the river gave testament to the fact that the Lower Lamoille is a perennial favorite among novice whitewater enthusiasts.

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Written by Tony Shaw

Category: Trip Reports

Published: 03 May 2004

Hits: 48

Organizer(s): Tony Shaw

Date: 2004-04-04

Kayakers (K1): Jamie Dolan, Robert Fuller, Julie Prior, David Hoene, Cheryl Robinson

Canoers (OC1): Eric Bishop, Tony Shaw, Mike Smorgans

Predominantly: Novice WW

Water Level: Medium low

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Site: Moretown

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Flow (cfs), e.g. '797': 750

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Height (ft), e.g. '2.96': 4.25

This is ALWAYS a fun run. But don't be fooled by its "novice whitewater" designation -- the intermittent easy ledge drops and rapids en route from Warren to Waitsfield can upend unsuspecting novices abruptly -- and frequently do. Today was no exception. But with support and encouragement from our admittedly over-qualified party (including two Grand Canyon veterans and two denizens of the New Haven Ledges) a remarkable improvement in boat control among our party's novices was apparent by the end of the run.

Eric flipped and swam immediately above the constricted Butternut Rd. ledge drop (practicing self-rescue skills?) but the drop itself was successfully run by all who attempted it (6 of 8). The landing for this carry before the bridge (river left) has been stabilized with rip-rap since the last time I was here, making it easier to identify and negotiate.

The low level made it necessary to run single file most of the way down, and in fact we split into two groups of four to give everyone a bit more breathing room on this small and pretty stream.

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Written by Alden Bird

Category: Trip Reports

Published: 28 April 2004

Hits: 2612

Organizer(s): Alden Bird

Date: 2004-04-28

Kayakers (K1): Rick Cooley, Erin Pittenger, Jake Whitcomb

Deck Canoers (C1): Alden Bird

Predominantly: Advanced WW

Water Level: Low boatable

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Site: New Haven

Primary Realtime USGS Gauge Flow (cfs), e.g. '797': 220

A particularly memorable trip. The most beautiful day I have paddled! With temps in the 60s, all the time in the world -- and a long gorge filled with many, many distinct challenges -- we had a long, memorable passage from top to bottom.

For two of us, it was the culmination of a long, long quest. This river has been our Stikine, our Tsang Po, our "Last River." There were many hard places, and many strong arms extended in support along the way. When we got to the end, we knew absolutely that four years were not in vain.

We only have two more weeks until graduation, and the rivers are drying up. How fitting to paddle the Middlebury.