Branch River - March 26, 2023

Jeff running Whipple Drop

Yesterday I was on the Scantic River to paddle the Scantic Spring Splash. Today I was on the Branch River to paddle the race course for the old Rhode Island Whitewater Championship.

The Branch River Race, later the Rhode Island Whitewater Championship, was established by RICKA in 1980 and was always run on the third weekend in March. It was the first race of the year on calendar of the NECKRA Downriver Series. The race continued for 25 years, but was eventually discontinued due to the high cost of insurance and problems with river access.

Mike running Glendale

RICKA has continued the tradition of running a spring trip on the Branch River. This year we were a week late and the group was small - me, Mike and Jeff. We met at the put-in below the Stillwater Mill at 10:00 to run the shuttle. Since the usual take out is now posted “No Trespassing”, we decided to take out a Mike’s house. The river was at 3-feet, 175 cfs. – low but runnable. The day was sunny and in the high 50’s/low 60's - it felt like spring.

The first half of this trip is actually on the Clear River. There were lots of blowdowns in this upper section. I got spun sideways on one strainer and dumped when the boat moved and I didn’t – second swim of the weekend, and the year. We ran Whipple Drop down the center and continued to Oakland, where the Branch is formed at the confluence of the Clear and Chepachet Rivers.

Jeff running Atlas Pallet

After portaging the Oakland Dam we headed down to Glendale. The Glendale Rapid was shallow and boney, but we bounced down using the left of center line. From there it is a nice quickwater run down to the Atlas Pallet rapid. We ran Atlas Pallet left of center and made it through fine.

The remainder of the trip is quickwater with one portage at the Nasonville Dam. The take-out at Mike's house worked out fine – “head straight for the fire station”. We often call this trip the Branch River "Icebreaker", but there was no ice to break this year!

The crew - Mike, Jeff and Erik - at the Oakland Portage

This picture earned us another poem from Tom on P-net.

!!!
From Idaho,
there’s a ghostly rustle.
Spiratoose Papa,
has grab ahold Mike Bussell!

To Have and Have Not?
I’d say what’s had here’s wicked style,
with The Old Man and I see,
melted Snows of to kill a man Rhode Isle. 
TW

Links:

My Pictures
Branch River Gage

Trip Description from American Whitewater