Fife Brook - Deerfield Riverfest - August 2, 2026

I made arrangements with Aaron to do a tandem run at Fife Brook on Sunday. It was Deerfield Fest weekend, so I expected that there would be a lot of people around. Unfortunately, with the heavy rain last week lots of rivers were running and the Fife Brook dam released over 2,000 cfs on Saturday, so there weren’t a lot of people paddling Fife. Fortunately, Conrad was leading a Boston AMC trip, so we were able to hook up with him.

There are two sections of the Deerfield with summer releases that are popular for whitewater paddling. Advanced paddlers often head to the Dryway in Monroe Bridge. This is a class III-IV section for experienced whitewater paddlers. We would be paddling the Fife Brook section, which is mostly class II, with the exception of Zoar Gap at the end that is class III. This would be my 24th run on Fife Brook, and my second paddling tandem with Aaron.

Heading downstream

We met the group at 10:00 at the Zoar Picnic Area to arrange the shuttle. With high water conditions, the release from the Fife Brook dam continued throughout the night, so we didn’t need to wait for the water to come up. The original release estimate was 1,500 cfs, but it was actually releasing closer to 1,000 cfs for most of the late morning/early afternoon.

We got on the water around 11:00 and practiced ferries and eddy turns/peal outs at the put-in before heading downstream. Just downstream from the put-in is the first rapid known as Hangover Helper - a ledge extends across most of the river resulting in a 2-foot drop followed by a long wave train. We ran the drop and played in the waves before moving downstream.

Jeff on his Paddleboard

The next rapid - Carbis Bend - is similar but smaller. A ledge extends out from the left side of the river producing a couple of easy surf waves. Aaron and I got there first and were able to do some surfing before the kayaks arrived.

Just downstream from Carbis Bend is Freight Train, which is a long wave train that ends with a large surf wave. The rapid takes its name from the speed that many people build up running through the waves, and the railroad bridge just downstream that carries freight trains across the river. We were able to drop into the big surf wave below the railroad bridge for some surfing.

Running the Island Rapid

After Freight Train we took a break at the Bridge to Nowhere before running Pinball. Pinball is a rock garden that’s a great place to practice eddy turns, peel outs and ferries. Aaron and I ran the rapid backwards ferrying from rock to rock until we needed to head downstream to stay with the group.

After Pinball is the Island Rapid. As the name describes, the river is split by an island. The usual route is to the left with large waves and fast moving water where the river reconnects at the end. Aaron and I were able to catch the eddy on the left and get some pictures of others coming through.

Below Zoar Gap

After the Island Rapid comes Zoar Gap – the largest rapid on this section of the river. We scouted it from the road and confirmed the usual line - just right of center down the shoot at the top, then left down the shoot at the large boulder.

Aaron and I went down last. We caught an eddy on the left on the way down, and then ferried out before turning downstream into the Gap. Aaron guided us down the first shoot and lined us up perfectly for the second drop. Always trust your bowman. My record at Zoar Gap is now 22 attempts with 14 successful, 6 swims and 2 walks. I have been successful on my last 7 attempts.

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Fife Brook Release Schedule

Charlemont Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

Lincoln Woods - July 28, 2026

Ryan in my Yellowstone Solo

I have been dealing with a sore knee since December that has limited my ability to kneel in my canoes. I tried again last night at the BVPC trip at Lincoln Woods, and it was another no-go. I switched boats with Ryan who paddled my Yellowstone Solo while I paddled tandem with Erin in their Esquif Canyon. 

I got the results from an MRI on my knee yesterday, and it turns out that I have a torn meniscus in addition to arthritis. I need to make a follow-up appointment with the doctors to see what the options are.  

Paddling tandem with Erin in the Esquif Canyon

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Full Moon Paddle at the URI Bay Campus - July 27, 2026

Heading out

During the summer months, RICKA does a “meeting on the water” to replace its usual monthly meetings. We try to do a mix of trips that will be of interested to everyone. This month we did a Full Moon Paddle at the URI Bay Campus.

The Bay Campus provides access the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. To the south lies Bonnet Shores and Whale Rock - a frequent rock gardening site. From there, more experienced paddlers can cross to Beavertail at the southern tip of Jamestown - one of the most scenic and exposed-coast locations in Rhode Island. To the west is Dutch Island and Conanicut Island. To the north is the Jamestown Bridge and the more sheltered waters of the West Passage.

Bonnet Point

We met at the beach at the Bay Campus for a 7:00 launch. High tide was 7:18 with winds from the south at 10 knots and waves around 1 foot. Perfect conditions for our group of 13, which was mostly experienced flatwater paddlers rather than sea kayakers. Sunset was 8:08 and moonrise was 7:19.

We headed south from the Bay Campus toward Bonnet Shores paddling into the wind. When we reached the rocks at the tip of Bonnet Shores we gather up for the crossing. As the sun set we were able to see the moon rising over Beavertail. We paddled across Bonnet Cove, and then south along the Anawan Cliffs. From there, we paddled out into the West Passage with amazing views of the moon rising over the Beavertail Light. 

Moon rises over Beavertail

Eventually we turned north to head back to the Bay Campus. We were now in a following sea, and the main concern is broaching when the wind turns the kayak sideways in the waves. The waves were small, but a stern rudder can still help to keep you going straight.

We made it back to the Bay Campus at around 9:00 after a trip of about 5-miles. It was great night to be out on the water.

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Skye's Pictures

Steve's Pictures

Bay Campus from Rhode Island Blueways

Point Judith Pond with RICKA – July 25, 2026

Through the Narrows

With our shorter Great Island vacation, I didn't have time for my usual RICKA trip on Point Judith Pond, so I did it yesterday. It was posted as a flatwater trip, but I also put it on the sea kayak message board.

Point Judith Pond, or the Great Salt Pond, is located along the border of Narragansett and South Kingstown, and is the second largest of the Rhode Island’s South County salt ponds. It is a shallow, four-mile long pond located behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form Point Judith. The pond is 20 miles around with many pretty islands and coves to explore.

Paddling around Galilee

We met in Marina Park at the hand-carried boat ramp next to the Point Judith Yacht Club at 10:00, and were on the water by 10:30. We had 8 boats – 7 kayaks, 1 canoe and a mix of flatwater and sea kayak paddlers. Skies were clear, winds were light from the east and the tide was coming in.

We headed out into the Upper Pond, paddled through the Narrows and out into Point Judith Pond. We checked out the osprey nest at Billington Cove and explored the islands and coves in the upper Point Judith Pond before heading to down to Gardner Island where we crossed the boat channel.

The crew at Dog Beach

We paddled past Beach Island and along Jonathan Island before paddling down the east side of Great Island. It was a little after 12:00 when we paddled into Galilee. We stayed out the boat channel and paddled across the harbor to Dog Beach for lunch.

After lunch, we crossed the boat channel and paddled up the west side of Great Island and Harbor Island, doing our best to avoid the boat traffic. We rounded Pine Tree Point, paddled through the Narrows and back down the Upper Pond. We were back at the put-in around 2:30.  Total distance - 9.3 miles.

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Tony's Video

High Rock Area in the F. Gilbert Hills State Forest - July 23, 2026

At the Stone Staircase

This week’s hike with Bill and the crew was at the High Rock Area in the F. Gilbert Hills State Forest. We met near the Southeastern Massachusetts Emergency Communications Center (SEMRECC) at 100 High Rock Rd, Wrentham. We did a 4.5-mile loop down a section of the Warner Trail that includes the Stone Staircase (one of many structures built by the Civil Conservation Corps in the 1930’s), over to Sunset Ledge, past the Dolmen Rock and finally over to the shelter near High Rock before returning to the cars. We stopped for brunch at the Commons Neighborhood Eatery in Foxborough. 

The crew at the shelter - Al, Erik, Mike Bill and Danny

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F. Gilbert Hills State Forest

F. Gilbert Hills Trail Map

Warner Trail
Warner Trail Guidebook

Blackstone Gorge - July 22, 2026

After the thunderstorms past it turned out to be a great night for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trip at the Blackstone Gorge. I paddled tandem with Danny in my Spirit II. We put in above the Rolling Dam and paddled up past the Triad Bridge site to the old Millville Lock. We continued upstream, but the water was too shallow to get up to the Millville Rapids - at least for Danny and I. 

The sky around sunset

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Introduction to Sea Kayaking - July 19, 2026

Celebrating a successful assisted rescue

We had a great session for RICKA’s Introduction to Sea Kayaking – 8 participants, just about the right size.

The session was held at Wickford Harbor, which gave us a lot of options to find different conditions. We reviewed the gear you need for sea kayaking, worked on strokes (efficient forward and backward strokes, sweep strokes for turning the boat, draw and pry strokes to move the boat sideways, bow and stern rudders to hold the boat on a line or turn into the wind, edging, bracing and stopping), and rescue techniques (towing, assisted rescues and self-rescues). Everyone did great.

The crew

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