Lower Deerfield – June 29, 2019

I posted RICKA’s annual “Easy Whitewater” trip on the Lower Deerfield, but a crazy weather forecast seemed to keep all the RICKA paddlers away. Instead, Bill and I did the trip with Jonathan, Conrad and Janet. We didn’t get the heavy rain, wind or hail that was in the forecast – just a few clouds to start, a few sprinkles around lunch time, and blue sky for the end of the trip. The river was at a nice level - 3 feet, 1000 cfs. on the Charlemont gage. The BBQ on the way home is always good. 

Links:

My Pictures

Charlemont Gage

Planning for the Connecticut River - Orford to the Wilder Dam

Another section that I would like to do sometime is the 21-miles below Orford:

Put in - Orford Boat Landing – mile 240 - improved ramp and dock.

Intermediate Campsite - Birch Meadow Campsite - mile 238 - two miles below Orford on the VT side, on a low wooded point just above the marshland at the outlet of Lake Morey.

First Night - Roaring Brook Campsite – mile 235 - grassy site between two brooks on the VT side

Second Night - Patchen's Point Campsite – mile 224 – a pleasant and roomy camping spot nestled in a grove of White Pines north of Hanover on the VT side. Warning - this can be a popular hang-out spot for local kids, especially on weekend nights.

Intermediate Campsite - Gilman Island Campsite – mile 220 – a popular group campsite on Gilman Island provided by Great River Hydro on the south tip of the island, managed through a partnership with LL Bean's Outdoor Discovery School in West Lebanon, NH.

Take out - Wilder Dam Portage – mile 219 - unimproved path, car-top access only.

Maybe in the fall.

Link:
Connecticut River Paddlers Trail

Flatwater Leader Training - June 8, 2019

Classroom session

I spent the day running a flatwater leader training for the Blackstone River Heritage Corridor and RICKA at the River Bend Farm.

We met at 10:30 in the conference room in the visitor center for the classroom session on Trip Planning and Logistics. After a break for lunch on the patio (pizza from Harry’s), we went out to the river for the on-water session. We did the canal/river loop starting from River Bend Farm. The river was low (3.2 feet) but runnable. We also did demonstrations with tow ropes and throw bags.

We had 14 for the class and 12 for the paddle - no swims!

On the river

Links:

My Pictures
Slides from Presentation Trip Planning and Logistics
Trip Description from the BRVNHC
Northbridge Gage

Nipmuc – June 4, 2019

I joined last night’s Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip on the Nipmuc River – one of my favorites.

The Nipmuc River arises in Burrillville at the confluence of Round Top Brook and the Chockalog River, and flows south about 3 miles to the village of Pascoag where it flows into the Clear River. The river was low but runable – 14 cfs. 3.3 feet.

We had 26 boats, but only one canoe. We paddled up a couple of miles over numerous beaver dams. Unfortunately, the top section is clogged with trees. From there it is a quick trip back downstream and into Harrisville pond. Nice night.

Links:

My Pictures

Clear River Gage