Quinsigamond - Riverview Landing - May 25, 2021

Frank - out fearless leader

I decided to join the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club for my first trip of the year. We would be paddling the lower Quinsigamond River from the Riverview Landing.

Although the Quinsigamond has many small tributaries and drains a large area, the river itself is short - just 5-miles. It flows south from Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, through Snow Marsh and Lake Ripple in Grafton, and into the Fisherville Pond in Fisherville where it merges with the Blackstone.

Down Fisherville Pond

There are two sections of the Quninsigamond that get paddled regularly - upper and lower. To access the upper section you can put in at Ekblaw Landing off Route 122 and paddled upstream under the Mass Pike and into Snow Marsh – a 59-acre marsh protected by MassWildlife and Ducks Unlimited, or downstream into Lake Ripple.

We were paddling the lower section, putting in at the town access behind the Riverview Apartments off Providence Road in Grafton. The river was low - 1 foot, 13 cfs. We paddled downstream through Fisherville Pond and into the Blackstone River at the stepped dam at Fisherville. We then paddled back upstream, past the put-in until we reached a large beaver dam that blocked out path. If you are determined you can paddle up to the dam at Lake Ripple. Nice night as always.

Dave - back to the put-in before dark

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Quinsigamond Gage

Thursday Night Tville - May 20, 2021

Brown's Ledge

One of the things that I missed during the pandemic (one of the many things) were the Thursday night Tville runs. I was able to get back there last night, and it was great.

Tville is one of the best-known whitewater runs in southern New England. The run itself is short - just 1.5 miles, but the water runs most of the year and there are play spots for paddlers of all skill levels. At yesterday’s level – 2 feet, 800 cfs - it is a class II/III run.

Brown's Ledge

We ran the shuttle (masks on, windows open, all vaccinated) and headed downstream from the park. There was plenty of water at Cathy’s Wave and Brown's Ledge. I ran the Bridge Abutment Rapid first and got some pictures of the rest of the group coming through. 

As usual, I ran the rapids above the play hole to the left. The play hole was definitely too big for me to try surfing, but I go some pictures and video of the rest of the crew. Below the play hole are a couple of small ledges that I ran to the left. 

Below Inquisition

Below that are the Inquisition Ledges. I ran the first to the right (avoiding the big hole in the center). From there, I tried to ferry across, but started too low and got pushed downstream onto the rocks. Fortunately, I was able to keep the boat upright and the downstream gunnel above the water until I slipped back off. I managed to complete the ferry on my second attempt (look where you want to go!). 

I had my second swim of the year in the squirrely water below the Inquisition Ledges. I got flushed downstream on my first attempt at Typewriter and called it a night, but it was still great to be back.

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Tville Gage

Tville from American Whitewater

Housatonic Camping/Paddling Weekend

My trip from Cornwall to Kent got me thinking that it would be great to spend a weekend on the Housatonic. I decided to do a fall foliage trip with RICKA paddling two flatwater sections on Columbus Day weekend - Sheffield, MA to Ashley Falls, MA on Saturday, and Ashley Falls, MA to Falls Village, CT on Sunday.

Sheffield, MA to Ashley Falls, MA

This 8-mile trip begins at the Covered Bridge on Covered Bridge Lane in Sheffield, MA and ends at Rannapo Road in Ashley Falls, MA. The river twists and turns through fields and meadows along the foothills of the Berkshires.

Ashley Falls, MA to Falls Village, CT

This 10.5-mile trip begins where the previous trip ends. We will put in at Rannapo Road in Ashley Falls, MA and take out at the Great Falls Dam in Falls Village, CT. This section also meanders through fields and meadows including Bartholomew’s Cobble – a National Natural Landmark. There is one dam to portage in Canaan.

I originally thought we would stay at Housatonic Meadows, but it is not particularly close to these sections of the river, and I wasn't sure of availability. Instead, we camped at Taconic State Park just over the border in nearby NY - I booked site 87 for Friday and Saturday night.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy at Taconic State Park in addition to paddling - bike the Harlem Valley Rail Trail or hike to Bash Bish Falls (the highest single drop waterfall in MA) or up Brace Mountain (the highest point in Dutchess County).

Links:

Taconic State Park
Campsite Map
Book site on Reserve America

Housatonic - Cornwall to Kent - May 15, 2021

Kent Falls

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do this weekend until I got an email from Paul telling me about a trip on the Housatonic with Bob Rankin and a group from the Hackensack River Canoe & Kayak Club. It would be my first HCKC trip, but I remember Matt McCay talking about them – especially the Shepaug River trip from Washington Depot to Roxbury, which they run every spring. And of course, the most famous HCKC "River Rat" is Fat Elmo from p-net. 

I was up early for the 3-hour drive out to western CT. I arrived in time to get a picture of the Kent Falls and the West Cornwall Covered Bridge before meeting the crew around 10:00. We would be running the section from River Road in West Cornwall to the Wildlife Management Area at the end of North Kent Road in Kent – about 11 miles. The river was at a nice level – 1,500 cfs., 3.8 feet on the Falls Village gage.

Covered Bridge Rapid

The Housatonic originates in the Berkshire Hills of western MA and flows south for 150 miles along the western border of MA and CT before emptying into Long Island Sound. There’s lots of great paddling along the Housatonic River. The best-known whitewater section is a class IV run known as Bulls Bridge - it's well above my skill set. There are also a couple of nice flatwater sections - one in MA - Sheffield to Ashley Falls, and one mostly in CT - Ashley Falls to Falls Village.  

From the put-in we headed downstream to the West Cornwall Covered Bridge - one of the earliest bridges built over the Housatonic River. The gates were set up for the Covered Bridge Slalom. I caught a couple, but missed most of them.  

Al running the Ledges

A little ways below the Covered Bridge Rapid is a shorter class I/II rapid known at the Ledges. From there, the river alternates between flatwater and quickwater. We took a break for lunch at the Housatonic Meadows State Park before continuing downstream. The Swifts Bridge Rapid was at a nice level with 1-2 foot standing waves. We took a break on the Appalachian Trail  at Stoney Brook (look for the stream with the split log bridge - there are also campsites here) before heading to the take out.

Such as great place that I decided to lead a RICKA trip on the flatwater sections in the fall.

Bob running Swifts Bridge

Links:

My Pictures
Housatonic Gage - Falls Village
Housatonic Valley Association - Paddle Guides
Housatonic Meadows State Park
River Description - Falls Village to Kent from American Whitewater
NESS Covered Bridge Slalom

River Island Park - May 9, 2021

Michelle went to church. I went to river church. I did a quick run at River Island Park. Medium level – 2.7 feet, 850 cfs; all the scenery you’d expect, but no pictures.

White - Hancock to Stockbridge – May 2, 2021

Warm and dry to start

It always happens when you least suspect it, and that is why you need to live by the Boy Scout motto – be prepared. Yesterday I wasn’t.

I was joining a group to paddle the White River from Hancock to Stockbridge in VT – (all canoes - 2 tandem, 3 poling and 3 solo). It’s a beautiful, 11-mile quickwater trip through the hills and cow fields of central VT. It’s also a three-hour drive for me, and I was running late. I was the last to arrive at the put-in, and I could tell by the looks when I drove in that the rest of the group was ready to go.

Cold and wet in the middle

As far as I knew the forecast for the day was sunny and warm, but I hadn’t checked in a few days. I didn’t want to hold the group up any longer so I grabbed my boundary boots, left my hat, drysuit and spare cloths in the car, and headed out. It would be fine. Its just quickwater, and the river was at a nice level – 6.5 feet, 3,500 cfs.

About a mile downstream I was navigating through a boney section of quickwater and it happened. I hit a rock and over I went. The recovery was quick, but the damage was done. I was sopping wet. I got my boat to shore, put on my splash top (the only spare cloths that I had) and hoped for the best. I’d be fine when sun came out.

Wet but warm at the end

Unfortunately, the sun didn’t come out. Instead, it started to rain. The clouds increased and we had a torrential downpour. Everyone pulled out their raingear, but I just got colder and wetter. I was able to borrow a hat from Bob, and that helped for a while. When my teeth started to chatter I knew I needed to get some dry cloths. I borrowed a fleece from Jonathan, and replaced the wet shirt under my splash top. That felt much better, and I started to warm up.

Fortunately, the rain eventually stopped, and the sun did come out. By the time we reached the take out it was sunny and warm, but it is still a lesson learned (or an important reminder) – BE PREPARED! Fortunately for me this time, my paddling friends were.

Blue sky at the take out

If nothing else, at least I earned another poem from Tom on p-net:

Whatever doesn’t kill us,

just might make us stronger.

But some so-called friends dip in their dry bags

to address undry bagless so much wronger.

Twas good the hat and fleece of canoe’s companions

was there to unsaturate your fish-count way,

else baggy plaid pants and bridesmaid chiffon you dance,

such friendly fashion sense of ole Mike McCrea.

(Whyyy, he wouldn’t ease yer shiverin’ any other way!)

Just don’t wet-exit a second time, because you don’t want to see what’s inside that purple drybag Sharpied, “Victoria Shoulda Kept It a Secret/Dammit Eric!”

TW

Links:

My Pictures
West Hartford gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Otter Brook – May 1, 2021

It is always nice to do a tandem run with Jonathan. This time we paddled the the class II section of Otter Brook with Conrad and the Boston AMC, and then continued downstream to the race take out at the Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge on the Ashuelot River in Swanzey. The river was at it's usual release level of 300 cfs. There are a couple of nice rapids below the usual take out. We portaged the dam about a mile downstream on the right – there was at least one tree down in the channel on the right. The last 3 - 4 miles is flatwater. Nice trip.

Links

My Pictures

River Description for American Whitewater