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| Getting organized |
When I was just starting to paddle, I was always amazed at some of the rivers that other open boaters would run. One of the more challenging rivers that I have wanted to run for years is the class III “Freight Train” section of the Contoocook in Henniker. I finally got my chance as part of the NHAMC Class III Step-up Paddles.
The Contoocook River arises at Poole Pond in Rindge, NH and flows generally north for 71-miles to Concord, NH where it empties into the Merrimack River. With a large drainage basin and a total drop of over 700 feet, the Contoocook is one one the premier whitewater rivers in New England. I'd be running the two best-known sections on this trip - the class III “Freight Train” section from Hillsboro to Henniker, and class II section from the twin bridges to the Ramsdell Bridge in Henniker.
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| Heading out |
We met at 10:00 at the class III put-in on Western Avenue and ran the shuttle down to the take-out at the Remsdell Bridge. The normal take out for the class III section is at the twin bridges, but we would be running the class II section as well. The river was at a perfect open boat level – 7.3 feet, 950 cfs on the Henniker gage. Paul described it as low and technical.
We had 20 paddlers that were divided into 3 pods. I was in the first pod with Frank. I saw one other open boat on the river – Charlie Sweet who was running a trip for Boston/AMC. We headed downstream and worked our way through the various rapids. At this level, most were class II+. I ran class III S-Turn without a problem – it was actually shorter than I expected.
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| Happy face below Freight Train |
We got out of our boats to scout class III Freight Train, and watched as a group of kayakers came through. At this level, the rapid is a series of three drops with big holes in the middle and large standing waves below. The first drop has a large rock with a small rock next to it on river right. If you hug the left side of small rock, it will line you up to run the next two drops just right of the holes. I went a little too far to the left on the first drop, and got twisted around on a rock in the second drop. I ran the second drop backwards, but got myself turned around for the third. I filled my boat up in the standing waves below and had to head to shore to empty. The rapid looks entirely at higher water.
Most of the group called it quits after the class III section, but a few of us decide to continue downstream through the class II section. The last time I ran this section was in 2005 on the first day of the NHAMC Whitewater School. At this level the top was flatwater, but the Broken Dam Rapid at the Ramsdell Bridge was fun.
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| Approaching the broken Dam Rapid on the Class II Section |
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