Wonalancet River - November 12, 2022

A typical section of the Wonalancet

The remnants of Hurricane Nicole reached New England Friday night with heavy rain that brought up a lot of local rivers. I was thinking about doing a Tville run with Paul and the CTAMC, but instead made a last minute decision to head north to run the Wonalancet River with Frank and the NHAMC.

The Wonalancet River is named for the Pennacook sachem Wonalancet and arises in the Bowl Natural Area in North Sandwich – a glacial cirque lying between Mount Whiteface to the west, Mount Passaconaway to the north, and Mount Wonalancet to the east. It flows 7-miles south and east to join the southern Swift River before flowing into the Bearcamp River, Ossipee Lake, and the Saco River on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. The Wonalancet can be tough to catch, but when it comes up it is considered one of the best class III runs in New Hampshire - a little tougher than the Mighty Quin, but not quite as tough as the middle section at New Boston.

First drop - Forest Run Rapids

We would be running the middle section from Fowlers Mill Road to the “Short Run Take-out” on Route 113A in Tamworth – about 3.25 miles. The level was .9 (dropping to .75 by the time we finished) on the painted gage on the Route 113A bridge - a medium low level. Above 2 the rocks start to disappear and the river becomes more pushy. The Bearcamp River gage in South Tamworth (downstream USGS gage) was at 5.5 feet, 550 cfs.

The river is narrow and creek-like and alternates between class II and III rapids as it twists and turns through the Hemingway State Forest and Big Pines Natural Area. Rock dodging was the order of the day. Stainers are always an issue on this river, and we encountered one river-wide strainer that I portaged – the kayaks were able to paddle through. The most challenging section is the Forest Run Rapids, which we scouted before running down the center. Three-hour drive each way, but so worth it.

Second drop - Forest Run Rapids

I made a comment on p-net about not getting out in my sea kayak much, and earned another poem from Tom - my new favorite:

The seas immense they dwarf all lands,
they heave in waves or doldrum stand,
ebb and rise to beckoning moon,
unfathomable depths intrigue with gloom.

And traverse there in reverent awe,
this salt of earth from such liquid spalled,
finds not la Mer to nurture soul,
but her vast indifference that swallows whole.

So find me along the riverbanks,
where earth and water entwine their flanks,
as springs that rise and skies that weep,
sweep changing braids shallow and deep.

And there like rock and soil and tree,
I, too, can stand a most earthly,
to let myself be swept in flow,
then eddy out in time’s crooked bow.

TW

Links:

My Pictures

River Description from American Whitewater

Bearcamp River Gage