Scantic Cut and Play Day - January 27, 2019

Kimberly, Tim and Erik

There weren't a lot of people out paddling this weekend, so I drove out to the Scantic to join the Chainsaw Swim Team with Tim and Kimberly.  We worked to clear some big logs from below the Chimney Rapid, and then did a run down Staircase. We did more clean-up work than paddling, but it was still a good time, and everyone has to do their part.


Staircase Surfing from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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Blackstone Gorge – January 26, 2019

Top of the Gorge

It was a nice day, and Michelle and I were looking for something to do, so we decided to take a walk at one of my favorite spots along the Blackstone River – the Blackstone Gorge.  Granite cliffs covered with Mountain Lauren and Hemlock trees tower over the river, which runs though a rocky set of rapids below.  The river was running pretty well – 12 feet, 2,000 cfs on the Route 122 gage. We hiked along the river for the first half-mile, and then came back through the woods.  Nice walk.  

Ice below the Rolling Dam

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Route 122 Gage

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary - January 19, 2019

Along the Charles River

Another weekend with everyone indoors at pool sessions, so I joined the hike with Papa Joe and the crew at the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. 

Broadmoor includes 9-miles of trails along Indian Brook and the Charles River with a mixture woodlands and open fields I've paddled past here many times on the Charles River, but never stopped - my mistake. We met at the visitor center (280 Eliot Street, Natick) for a 6-mile hike along the Glacial Hill Trail, Charles River Loop and the Boundary Trail.  Great place.

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Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

RICKA Pool Session - January 13, 2019

I went to the RICKA Pool Session today - lots of long boats, and no formal instruction. Pat and I each did a rescue (because we each took a swim), and then Pat got a rolling lesson from Gary - it's tougher than it looks. I cheated and practiced with a paddle float. 



Pat gets a rolling lesson from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

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Mount Pisgah - January 12, 2019

South Terrace Overlook

Temperatures were in the mid-20’s, and most paddlers seemed to be heading to pool sessions, so I decided to join the Papa Joe hike at Mount Pisgah.  

Mount Pisgah is an 83-acre conservation area in the towns of Berlin and Northborough. The property includes several pieces of conservation land. The two central properties are managed by the Conservation Commissions in Berlin and Northborough. To the south is a Mass Department of Fish & Game property, and to the north is privately owned land under conservation easements including the Devine and Oberg Conservation Reserves.

North Terrace Overlook

We met at the trailhead at (120) Linden Street in Berlin for a 6-mile hike. The loop took us south along some unnamed trails to the Berlin Road, Mentzer and Sparrow Trails, and eventually to the South Terrace Overlook.  From there, we headed north along the Tyler Trail past the summit of Mout Pisgah to the North Terrace (Warren S. Oberg) Overlook before heading back. We stopped for brunch at the Sunnyside Café. Another nice hike.

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Mount Pisgah Conservation Area

Upper Wood River – Janaury 5, 2019

At the put-in

I knew I couldn’t paddle on Sunday, so I was glad that Papa Joe changed his weekend hike to Sunday, and that Jonathan was looking to paddle on Saturday. Due to family obligations and a bad cold I missed the traditional New Year's Day trips, so this would be my first paddle of 2019. We decided on the Upper Wood River. The forecast was for temeratures in the mid-40’s and rain, and rain it did.  Fortunately, the rain fell mostly before and after our paddle.

The Wood River arises in the swamps northeast of Porter Pond in Sterling, CT, and flows southeast to Hazard Pond, where it crosses into RI. From there, it continues southeast past Escoheag Hill and over Stepstone Falls. From its source to the Stepstone Falls the Wood River is also known as the Falls River. It then flows south through Beach Pond State Park where it receives the Flat River, continues south through the Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, and forms the border between the towns of Richmond and Hopkinton to its convergence with the Pawcatuck River in Alton.

Smiles from the bow paddler

We would be paddling the 7.5 mile section from Ten Rod Road (Route 165) in Exeter to the Wyoming Dam (Bridge Street) in Richmond.  The river was at a great level - 200 cfs, 4.5 feet on the Arcadia gage, 350 cfs, 4 feet on the Hope Valley gage.  We met at the Wyoming dam at 10:30, ran the shuttle and were on the river by 11:00.

For the first 4 miles the river twists and turns through the woods of the Arcadia Management Area. There were a couple of blow-downs that we needed to portage, but most we were able to paddle through.

Portage at the Barberville Dam

A gentle rain started as we paddled into Frying Pan Pond and down to Barberville Dam.  We stopped for a snack at the Wood/Pawcatuck Watershed Association Headquarters (Jonathan’s delicious potato/leek soup), ignored the sign and put-in below the left side of the Barberville Dam and continued downstream.

We were off the river by around 2:00 and stopped for stuffies and chowder at the Middle of Nowhere Dinner.  Great day, but aren’t they all.  

Barberville Dam

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Arcadia Gage

Hope Valley Gage

Trip Description from RI Blueways