White River - Stockbridge to Bethel - April 28, 2024

Running the Ledge Drop

First was Easter, then I got sick with the flu, then I had other family issues to deal with, so I didn’t do much paddling in April. Fortunately, I was able to catch Bob’s trip on the White River in Vermont.

The White River arises in the Green Mountains and flows south and then east through the hills and farmland of central Vermont before emptying into the Connecticut River at White River Junction. When the river is up there are miles of quickwater and easy rapids to enjoy. Two of the most popular sections are Granville to Stockbridge and Stockbridge to Bethel (Upper on American Whitewater). I had paddled the section from Granville to Stockbridge twice before (1, 2), so I was glad we would be paddling the section from Stockbridge to Bethel on this trip. The trip is around 11-miles, and I would be paddling tandem in my Mohawk Whitewater 16 with Bill.

Running the Ledge Drop

We needed to meet the group at the bridge over Route 100 in Stockbridge at 10:00, so Bill was at my house at 6:00 for the 3-hour drive up to the put-in. We had rain on-and-off as we drove through NH and VT, but it stopped by the time entered Stockbridge. We arrived at the put-in at about 9:45, and the rest of the group was ready to go. We quickly got unloaded and ran the shuttle down to Peavine Park in Bethel.

We launched at 10:45 and headed downstream with 9 boats – 1 tandem, 3 solos and 5 polers. This section of the river starts off much like the section above with quickwater and easy riffles. The river was a little on the low side at 5’, 1,500 cfs on the West Hartford gage – perfect for the polers, but a little low for the paddlers. Rock-dodging was the order of the day and we had to pick our lines carefully to avoid the shallows. 

Running the Ledge Drop

The river runs along Route 107 for almost the entire trip. We stopped for lunch just below the bridge at Blackmer Boulevard. There are two class II(+) rapids below the Blackmer Bridge – the first a rocky ledge drop that we ran to the left, and the second is a shoot with large waves that we ran center/right. From there it was more quickwater and rock-dodging down to the take-out.

With a long drive home ahead of us, Bill and I packed up our gear, said our goodbyes, and got on our way. The rain started up again just as we were pulling out – lucky us. There is also the Lower section below Bethel that I would like to try sometime.


White River from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo

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West Hartford Gage
White River - Granville to Bethel
White River - Bethel to West Hartford

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

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West Hartford gage
River Description from American Whitewater

White River - Granville to Stockbridge - May 6, 2017

Clouds and rain on the trip to the put-in

“Is it worth it?” my wife asked as we talked about the 3.5-hour drive and likely rain for Saturday’s trip on the White River in Vermont.  “Is it really worth it?”

“Yes” I said, “it definitely is”.

It was cold and wet when I left my house at 6:00 a.m. for the drive up to the White River.  The drive to a new trip usually includes a mixture of excitement and apprehension, especially when it involves crossing four states. This trip was no exception. It rained as I crossed into MA, and continued raining as I crossed NH and entered VT. The clouds were hanging low in the valleys of the Green Mountains when I met the crew from the NHAMC at the Hancock Overlook on VT-100 in Hancock just south of the Granville town line

At the put-in

The White River arises in the Green Mountains and flows south and then east across the state to empty into the Connecticut River at White River Junction. There are two sections of the White River that are popular for spring trips – the lower Gaysville section from Stockbridge to Bethel, and the upper section from Granville to Stockbridge. Our original plan was the paddle the lower Gaysville section, which has a few more exciting rapids. Due to high water levels, though, the trip was changed to the upper section.

This would be my first trip on the White River, so it really didn’t matter to me which section we paddled. I met the group at the put-in at 10:00, and began to unload my gear. I’d be paddling tandem with my friend Jonathan. The group included one other tandem, four polers, and four solos – all canoes. The river was at a nice level – 7 feet, 4,000 cfs on the West Hartford gage. We ran the shuttle and got on the river at around 11:00.

Paddling tandem with Jonathan

The trip was around 14 miles and wound through pretty farms and fields in Vermont's dairy country. The run was mostly quickwater with a couple of easy class II rapids. We worked our way downstream enjoying the rapids when we found them. It rained on and off until around 2:00, but that didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits. At around 2:00, the clouds finally lifted, and we even saw some blue sky. We made it to the take-out in Stockbridge at around 4:00.

With a long drive home ahead of me, I packed my gear quickly, said my goodbyes, and got on my way. The rain started up again when I was half way home, but at that point, I didn’t care.

And yes – the trip was definitely worth it!

Mutt and Jeff take a break for lunch

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White River – West Hartford Gage

Upper White River – Description from American Whitewater

Lower White River – Description from American Whitewater