Saturday, January 10, 2026
Providence - January 10, 2026
After a long cold spell, the forecast was for warming temperatures this weekend. I decided to paddle the Providence River from Bold Point to the Cove at the Providence Place Mall. I was in the boat on the water when I realized that I forgot my camera in the car, so this is the only picture that I got.
Sunday, January 4, 2026
The camping trip that wasn't to be - January 3, 2026
How many days with temps in the teens does it take to freeze a river? Based on this weekend’s experience, the answer is three.
For the past couple of years (2023, 2024), we have been doing a winter overnight trip at the Burlingame Canoe Campsites. It’s been a lot of fun, and this year we had nine joining in, with one coming from as far away as NY.
In past years, the temperatures have mild (days in the 30’s to 40's, nights in the 20’s to 30's), but this year we were having a cold snap. Day time highs were in the 20's, and night time lows were in the teens. Average temperatures had been in the 20’s for a couple of weeks, which is unusual for RI. We did ask JD to check the river for ice on Wednesday, and he reported that the put in was ice-free. It's tough to see much else from the river bank.
When we arrived at Bradford Landing on Saturday morning the put in was open, but it was solid ice down to the Bradford Dam. There was an open channel upstream so we loaded our boats and headed out. We didn’t get far. We paddled upstream a couple of hundred yards and found the river frozen solid – a good half-inch of ice for as far as you could see. No way we were getting through that.
We paddled back to the put in to try to figure out our options. Was there a different section of the river that wouldn’t be iced-in - nope. Was there a campground or picnic area nearby that wasn’t closed for the season – nope. Unfortunately, we were out of luck. Best we could do was a picture at Alton Landing and lunch at a nearby restaurant – Cornerstone Pub in Exeter.
For the past couple of years (2023, 2024), we have been doing a winter overnight trip at the Burlingame Canoe Campsites. It’s been a lot of fun, and this year we had nine joining in, with one coming from as far away as NY.
In past years, the temperatures have mild (days in the 30’s to 40's, nights in the 20’s to 30's), but this year we were having a cold snap. Day time highs were in the 20's, and night time lows were in the teens. Average temperatures had been in the 20’s for a couple of weeks, which is unusual for RI. We did ask JD to check the river for ice on Wednesday, and he reported that the put in was ice-free. It's tough to see much else from the river bank.
When we arrived at Bradford Landing on Saturday morning the put in was open, but it was solid ice down to the Bradford Dam. There was an open channel upstream so we loaded our boats and headed out. We didn’t get far. We paddled upstream a couple of hundred yards and found the river frozen solid – a good half-inch of ice for as far as you could see. No way we were getting through that.
We paddled back to the put in to try to figure out our options. Was there a different section of the river that wouldn’t be iced-in - nope. Was there a campground or picnic area nearby that wasn’t closed for the season – nope. Unfortunately, we were out of luck. Best we could do was a picture at Alton Landing and lunch at a nearby restaurant – Cornerstone Pub in Exeter.
Paddling in southern New England I get spoiled. Lakes freeze, but rivers with even a little current usually stay open all winter. Not this year, or at least this week. Temps are forecast to be back in the 40's next week...
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| The crew at Alton Landing |
Getting skunked earned me a new poem from Tom.
From a Burlingame to a curling game,
canoes might glide on ice,
but getting swept away
paddles not brooms in play,
pack-it-in's the hully roller's advice.
(On the rocks at the Cornerstone plays nice)
TW
Links:
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
2025 Year End Review
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| Wood/Pawcatuck |
Things started picking up again in March - especially for whitewater. Over the year, I got out on a lot of whitewater favorites including the Branch, Upper Millers, Scantic, Sugar, Knightville, Otter Brook, Crystal, Tville (1, 2), Fife Brook (1, 2, 3), the Dead and the Piscat. I also joined the Millbrook club with the purchase of a new (to me) Milbrook Outrage.
While it was great to spend so much time in my whitewater boats, it didn’t leave a lot of time for flatwater or sea kayak trips. I did lead joint flatwater/sea kayak trips on Point Judith Pond and the Narrow River. I also led a Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip in Providence, a flatwater trip on the Charles, and helped with the RICKA Flatwater Training.
I did 45 trips including 16 flatwater, 14 whitewater, 12 sea kayak and 3 camping. My 11-year average is 53 trips/year, but with the slow start in January and February and a slow finish in December due to bursitis in my knee, I was well below that average this year. I was out 10 nights camping compared to 2 last year. I had one swim in Lower Poplar on the Dead compared to 4 swims last year.
Here are some of my more significant trips:
I did get my sea kayak out almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including the RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond.
In terms of resolutions for 2025, I did OK. I did get out in my sea kayak, but always in protected waters. I didn’t get out into any open-water or exposed conditions. I did do more camping including the spring trip on the on the Baskahegan and the fall trip on the Allagash. I also did a lot of whitewater paddling, purchased my new Millbrook, and got back to the Dead for the first time since COVID. It was a blast.
In terms of resolutions for 2026, they are just like 2025.
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| Scantic Spring Splash |
I did 45 trips including 16 flatwater, 14 whitewater, 12 sea kayak and 3 camping. My 11-year average is 53 trips/year, but with the slow start in January and February and a slow finish in December due to bursitis in my knee, I was well below that average this year. I was out 10 nights camping compared to 2 last year. I had one swim in Lower Poplar on the Dead compared to 4 swims last year.
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| Narrow River |
- January - Blackstone – Manville to Albion
- February - Wood/Pawcatuck – Alton to Bradford
- March - Branch, Upper Millers, Scantic – Spring Splash
- April - Sugar, Westfield – Knightville, Blackstone – Plummer Landing
- May - Otter Brook, Upper Pawtuxet, Baskehegan
- June - Quinebaug – Danielson to Canterbury, Farmington – Crystal, Farmington – Tville, Deerfield – Fife Brook
- July - Charles – Medfield to Natick, Stump Pond Flatwater Training, Pawcatuck River Overnight, Blackstone – Cold Spring Park, Point Judith Pond
- August - Providence, Dead, Slatersville with BVPC, Deerfield – Fife Brook, Slatersville with AMC
- September - Allagash, Blackstone – River Bend Farm, Deerfield – Fife Brook
- October - Narrow River, Blackstone Gorge, Piscataquog
- November - Tville
- December - Santa Paddle at Wickford, Providence River - Sabin Point
Here is the video of some of my favorite trips of 2025.
I did get my sea kayak out almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including the RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond.
I did get out on three camping trips – the Baskehegan, Bastille Day on the Pawcatuck, and the Allagash.
I was also a presenter at the Introduction to Canoe Camping training held by the NHAMC, and the Introduction to Canoe/Kayak Camping training held by RICKA.
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| Allagash Wilderness Waterway |
In terms of resolutions for 2026, they are just like 2025.
- Keep practicing with my sea kayak – I need to get out on more level 3 trips.
- Do more camping – I’d like to do the St. John, the St. Croix and the Maine Island Trail in my kayak this year.
- Keep paddling whitewater - as long as my knees hold up.
- Get back to the Dead – always a great trip, but maybe only 1800 this time.
- Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it – maybe in the sea kayak.
Paddle Map for 2025
Here is my year-end paddle map for 2025 - yellow is sea kayak (12), light blue is flatwater 16), dark blue is whitewater (14), red is hiking (2) and green is camping (3).
I didn’t make it to VT this year, but I did get up to ME to run the Dead, and for two camping trips. It is good to see all the whitewater trips in NH, western MA and CT. Most of my flatwater and sea kayaking was local in MA and RI. Time to start a new year!
I didn’t make it to VT this year, but I did get up to ME to run the Dead, and for two camping trips. It is good to see all the whitewater trips in NH, western MA and CT. Most of my flatwater and sea kayaking was local in MA and RI. Time to start a new year!
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Providence River/Pomham Rocks Light - December 13, 2025
A couple of weeks ago I took a ride down to Sabin Point Park in Riverside to paddle out to the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. It ended up being a wasted trip since I brought pieces from two different paddles that didn't fit together. I decided to give it another try today.
Sabin Point is a 4-acre park juts out into the Providence River at end of Shore Road in Riverside just across from Pawtuxet Village. The Providence River is almost a mile wide here so wind, waves, tidal currents, and large boat traffic are common. There was a strong wind from the south as I launched from the boat ramp and headed north along the shore toward the Ponham Rocks Lighthouse.
Pomham Rocks Light (aka Pomham Lighthouse) was built in 1871 and is one of a several lighthouses that uses the same plan by award-winning architect Albert Dow. A nearly identical lighthouse stands on Rose Island in Newport. I paddled out into the wind and small chop toward the lighthouse to take some pictures. Unfortunately, my camera lens got fogged, and I had no way to clean it. This is the only picture that I got.
Sabin Point is a 4-acre park juts out into the Providence River at end of Shore Road in Riverside just across from Pawtuxet Village. The Providence River is almost a mile wide here so wind, waves, tidal currents, and large boat traffic are common. There was a strong wind from the south as I launched from the boat ramp and headed north along the shore toward the Ponham Rocks Lighthouse.
Pomham Rocks Light (aka Pomham Lighthouse) was built in 1871 and is one of a several lighthouses that uses the same plan by award-winning architect Albert Dow. A nearly identical lighthouse stands on Rose Island in Newport. I paddled out into the wind and small chop toward the lighthouse to take some pictures. Unfortunately, my camera lens got fogged, and I had no way to clean it. This is the only picture that I got.
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| Pomham Rocks Light |
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Santa Paddle at Wickford Harbor - December 6, 2025
Wickford is located on the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, and is built around a large, well-protected harbor. It was settled in the early 17th century when Roger William purchased land from the Narragansett Indians and established a trading post. Wickford grew to become a major port and shipbuilding center.
We arrived at the put-in at the end of Main Street next to Gardners Wharf Seafood at around 11:30 to decorate our boats and get our elf hats and candy canes. At around 12:00, Michelle walked down to the dock and the rest of us headed over to meet up with Santa for the paddle into town. I am always amazed at the crowd that gathers for this event.
Links:
My Pictures
My Video
My Pictures
My Video
Monday, December 1, 2025
Rapids, River Features and River Running Techniques
There was a post on CanoeTripping.com about running holes. It got me thinking about how rapids are formed, and what features you will encounter, and skills you will need to run a typical class II/III rapid.
How do Rapids Form
There are four main factors that combine to create rapids: water level, gradient, constriction and obstruction. Gradient, constriction, and obstruction are dependent on streambed topography.
Water Level
Water level is dependent on seasonal variation in precipitation and snowmelt, or on release rates of upstream dams. Combine the right water level with right streambed topography, and rapids will form. Too little water the rapids can be "boney". Too much water and the rapids "wash out".
Gradient
The gradient of a river is the rate at which it changes elevation along its course. This determines the river's slope, and to a large extent its rate of flow or velocity. Shallow gradients produce gentle, slow rivers, while steep gradients are associated with whitewater rapids. First Trestle, Mile-Long and the Gorge on the Upper Millers are examples of rapids where a significant drop in gradient increases the length and complexity of the rapids.
Constriction
Constrictions can form a rapid when a river's flow is forced into a narrower channel. This pressure can also cause the water to flow more rapidly increasing its velocity and its reaction to riverbed objects like rocks and drops. Zoar Gap on the Fife Book Section of the Deerfield and and the Funnel on the Lower Millers are examples of rapids where constriction greatly increases the flow and difficulty of the rapid.
Obstruction
Rocks and ledges in the river will obstruct the flow of the river creating river features like eddies, pour overs, holes and waves. The more water and the faster it flows, the larger these features become. Boulder type rapids are typical here in the northeast.
It is the combination of the water level and streambed topography that determines the types of rapids you will find on the river. The rapids on the Kennebec are formed when water gets funneled through narrow gorges creating long, towering wave trains. Seeboomic runs over a series of ledges creating pool drops. The Dead has boulder-type rapids with lots of holes and pour-overs.
If the hole is big enough, things that float (like boats or people) get pulled back up into the seam between the drop and the boil line. These are known as hydraulics or reversals. If the boil line is a long distance from the pour over, it is more likely that floating objects will not escape, but cycle back into the hole repeatedly.
The shape of the hole will also determine its retentiveness. Smiley holes with the corners further downstream than the drop are generally safer than frowning hole with the corners upstream than the rest of the hole. Some of the most dangerous types of holes are formed by river wide ledges or low-head dams since the width make getting out of the hole very difficult.
Pour Overs/Waves
Waves are formed in a similar manner to holes – fast moving water runs over or down an obstruction forming a wave known as a breaking wave. If the breaking wave is big enough it can stop you (known as a “stopper”), fill you up, or and flip you over.
One notable difference between a wave and a hole is that a wave is less likely to be retentive and will generally flush a swimmer or boat after a flip. Riding the current into the face of a crashing wave, the current going under the backwash is exiting at surface level on the backside of the crest.
The Downstream V
When running rapids you generally want to follow the dark water through the rocks and other features. Dark water means there is a deep channels and no obstructions. It will often will resemble a tongue or a shoot.
Running the "dark water" or downstream V's is the principal strategy for safely navigating class II and III rapids. It marks the path of least resistance where the river bed is deepest, helping you avoid hitting rocks or getting stuck in shallow areas. Downstream V's often lead into "haystacks" or "standing waves".
Haystacks (Standing Waves)
Sometimes, when fast moving water runs into slower moving current, a long series of waves develops known as haystacks or standing waves. These standing waves or wave trains can be smooth, or particularly the larger ones, can be breaking waves or whitecaps.
Unlike ocean or wind-blown waves that move across the face of the water, haystacks do not move downstream. They stay fixed and the river moves through the wave. When running standing waves it is crucial to stay centered in the boat as you move up and down the face of the waves, and maintain a steady paddling cadence to maintain downriver speed and avoid getting stalled in the waves.
River Running Techniques
How do Rapids Form
There are four main factors that combine to create rapids: water level, gradient, constriction and obstruction. Gradient, constriction, and obstruction are dependent on streambed topography.
Water Level
Water level is dependent on seasonal variation in precipitation and snowmelt, or on release rates of upstream dams. Combine the right water level with right streambed topography, and rapids will form. Too little water the rapids can be "boney". Too much water and the rapids "wash out".
Gradient
The gradient of a river is the rate at which it changes elevation along its course. This determines the river's slope, and to a large extent its rate of flow or velocity. Shallow gradients produce gentle, slow rivers, while steep gradients are associated with whitewater rapids. First Trestle, Mile-Long and the Gorge on the Upper Millers are examples of rapids where a significant drop in gradient increases the length and complexity of the rapids.
Constriction
Constrictions can form a rapid when a river's flow is forced into a narrower channel. This pressure can also cause the water to flow more rapidly increasing its velocity and its reaction to riverbed objects like rocks and drops. Zoar Gap on the Fife Book Section of the Deerfield and and the Funnel on the Lower Millers are examples of rapids where constriction greatly increases the flow and difficulty of the rapid.
Obstruction
Rocks and ledges in the river will obstruct the flow of the river creating river features like eddies, pour overs, holes and waves. The more water and the faster it flows, the larger these features become. Boulder type rapids are typical here in the northeast.
It is the combination of the water level and streambed topography that determines the types of rapids you will find on the river. The rapids on the Kennebec are formed when water gets funneled through narrow gorges creating long, towering wave trains. Seeboomic runs over a series of ledges creating pool drops. The Dead has boulder-type rapids with lots of holes and pour-overs.
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| Zoar Gap at dam release level. The river constricts and velocity increases as it drops over rocks and ledges creating eddies, pour overs, holes, shoots and waves. |
River Features
Understanding the features of the river and how they will affect your boat is critical to running whitewater safely.
Rocks
You will find rocks on almost every river. Depending on the water level, some rocks may be above the water creating eddies, and others may be submerged creating pour-overs, holes and waves.
Eddies
Water moving downstream that hits an obstruction and goes around it rather than over it forms an eddy in the space downstream. Eddies can form in the middle of the river behind rocks, or on the sides due to changes in the shore line.
Located between the eddy and the main current is the eddy line. Eddy lines vary in size based on the level and speed of the water, and the size of the obstruction causing the eddy. Eddies have current that flow in the opposite direction of the main flow, but they are usually calmer than the surrounding current making them good places to wait and regroup before the next rapid.
Pour Overs/Holes
Water moving downstream that flows over a rock can cause a pour over. It resembles a small waterfall and often creates a hole on the downstream side of the rock. A hole can be friendly and make for a great surfing spot, or very unfriendly and a place to avoid.
Understanding the features of the river and how they will affect your boat is critical to running whitewater safely.
Rocks
You will find rocks on almost every river. Depending on the water level, some rocks may be above the water creating eddies, and others may be submerged creating pour-overs, holes and waves.
Eddies
Water moving downstream that hits an obstruction and goes around it rather than over it forms an eddy in the space downstream. Eddies can form in the middle of the river behind rocks, or on the sides due to changes in the shore line.
Pour Overs/Holes
Water moving downstream that flows over a rock can cause a pour over. It resembles a small waterfall and often creates a hole on the downstream side of the rock. A hole can be friendly and make for a great surfing spot, or very unfriendly and a place to avoid.
The nature of a hole depends on the shape of the drop, the depth of the pool below it, and the speed and volume of the current. Water falling downstream over an obstacle will push downward until it hits the bottom. While the main current is pushing to the river bottom, the surrounding water slides upstream toward the foot of the drop to fill in the depression. This is called the backwash. Where the current surfaces again is called the boil line.
The shape of the hole will also determine its retentiveness. Smiley holes with the corners further downstream than the drop are generally safer than frowning hole with the corners upstream than the rest of the hole. Some of the most dangerous types of holes are formed by river wide ledges or low-head dams since the width make getting out of the hole very difficult.
Pour Overs/Waves
Waves are formed in a similar manner to holes – fast moving water runs over or down an obstruction forming a wave known as a breaking wave. If the breaking wave is big enough it can stop you (known as a “stopper”), fill you up, or and flip you over.
The Downstream V
When running rapids you generally want to follow the dark water through the rocks and other features. Dark water means there is a deep channels and no obstructions. It will often will resemble a tongue or a shoot.
Haystacks (Standing Waves)
Sometimes, when fast moving water runs into slower moving current, a long series of waves develops known as haystacks or standing waves. These standing waves or wave trains can be smooth, or particularly the larger ones, can be breaking waves or whitecaps.
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| Picking a line through the rocky drops on the Wonalancet River |
Avoiding Rocks - Sideslips
One of the common mistakes that new paddlers make in rapids is trying to avoid rocks by turning broadside in the current. With enough space and enough forward momentum this can be successful, but often the canoe ends up getting pushed broadside on to the rock.
If you do end up broadside on the rock, lean into the rock ("love the rock") which will reduce the risk of wrapping the boat, and hopefully the current will eventually push you off.
A better approach to maneuvering around rocks is to sideslip around them. To sideslip your boat, you will use either static, active or sculling draws and pries to move the boat laterally across the river without turning broadside to the current.
A sideslip is efficient since it maintains forward speed and avoids the drag associated with turning or back paddling the boat. A back ferry (discussed later) can also be used to move the boat laterally, but is more difficult to set up and does slow the boat's momentum.
Eddy Turns and Peel Outs
Eddy turns and peal outs are other important river running skill. An eddy turn allows you to move from the main current into an eddy, and a peal out allows you to move from the eddy back into the main current. To do an eddy turn or peal out, you need to know your good friend "SAL" – Speed, Angle and Lean.
Speed - every eddy turn and peel out needs a bit of speed to get you across the squirrelly eddy line separating the downstream current in the main flow from the upstream current in the eddy.
Angle - you need to cross that eddy line at an angle – 45 degrees is typical, but you made need to increase or decrease the angle depending on flow.
Lean - when we say lean, we are talking about edging or a J-lean, not body lean. As always in a whitewater boat, you need to lean (or edge) the boat into the turn as you cross the eddy line, and maintain that lean as you complete the turn. This is often called raising the "side of opposition".
To do an eddy turn, you will accelerate your boat at around a 45 degree angle to the eddy line. Once the bow crosses the eddy line, you plant a Dufek (turning high brace) in the eddy and lean the boat into the turn. With the bow planted in the eddy, the stern will swing around, and you will now be in the eddy facing upstream.
Ferrying
Another critical skill in safely running rapids is the ferry. Ferrying is the act of moving laterally across the river with minimal downstream drift. It can be done facing upstream or downstream, and allows you to slow your downstream motion to choose a path, and move laterally across the river to set up above a downstream V or deepwater channel.
Eddy turns and peal outs are other important river running skill. An eddy turn allows you to move from the main current into an eddy, and a peal out allows you to move from the eddy back into the main current. To do an eddy turn or peal out, you need to know your good friend "SAL" – Speed, Angle and Lean.
Speed - every eddy turn and peel out needs a bit of speed to get you across the squirrelly eddy line separating the downstream current in the main flow from the upstream current in the eddy.
Angle - you need to cross that eddy line at an angle – 45 degrees is typical, but you made need to increase or decrease the angle depending on flow.
Lean - when we say lean, we are talking about edging or a J-lean, not body lean. As always in a whitewater boat, you need to lean (or edge) the boat into the turn as you cross the eddy line, and maintain that lean as you complete the turn. This is often called raising the "side of opposition".
To do an eddy turn, you will accelerate your boat at around a 45 degree angle to the eddy line. Once the bow crosses the eddy line, you plant a Dufek (turning high brace) in the eddy and lean the boat into the turn. With the bow planted in the eddy, the stern will swing around, and you will now be in the eddy facing upstream.
To do a peal out the process is similar. Accelerate your boat at around a 45 degree angle to the eddy line. Once the bow crosses the eddy line, plant a Dufek (turning high brace) in the main current and lean the boat into the turn. With the bow moving downstream in the current, the stern will swing around and follow, and you will be moving back downstream in the current.
The faster the current is moving, the more acceleration you will need to cross the eddy line, and the steeper the lean.
Another critical skill in safely running rapids is the ferry. Ferrying is the act of moving laterally across the river with minimal downstream drift. It can be done facing upstream or downstream, and allows you to slow your downstream motion to choose a path, and move laterally across the river to set up above a downstream V or deepwater channel.
The ferry is initiated by paddling your boat at an angle somewhere between directly upstream and perpendicular to the main current in the direction that you want to move. The speed of the current will determine the amount of that angle.
As a general rule, the less angle you have (the closer you are to pointing directly upstream), the slower you'll move laterally and the more your paddle strokes will be working to keep you from drifting downstream. On the other hand, the more angle that you have (the closer you are to pointing directly across the main current), the more quickly you'll move across the river and the less your strokes will be working to keep you from drifting downstream. With experience, you'll learn what angle is most effective for what you are trying to do.
Running Holes and Waves
As methodical as you are trying to pick your way down a rapid, eventually you are going to have to run a drop or punch though a hole or wave. While small holes/waves can easily be run, large holes/waves can be your most formidable challenge when running rapids.
To punch a hole you need speed, and a well-placed stroke. Speed is important because you're going to be hitting a wall of aerated water at the bottom of the drop that will try to stop you dead. Take your last stroke just as you enter the hole/wave and use it to pull yourself through the aerated water. It's a good idea to punch a hole with your boat tilted slightly towards your paddle side. This will raise the "side of opposition" and help avoid a surprise flip to your non-paddle side.
As methodical as you are trying to pick your way down a rapid, eventually you are going to have to run a drop or punch though a hole or wave. While small holes/waves can easily be run, large holes/waves can be your most formidable challenge when running rapids.
To punch a hole you need speed, and a well-placed stroke. Speed is important because you're going to be hitting a wall of aerated water at the bottom of the drop that will try to stop you dead. Take your last stroke just as you enter the hole/wave and use it to pull yourself through the aerated water. It's a good idea to punch a hole with your boat tilted slightly towards your paddle side. This will raise the "side of opposition" and help avoid a surprise flip to your non-paddle side.
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| Running the Gorge Drop on the Knightville section of the Westfield River |
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