2024 Year End Review

Stokers on the Scantic

The year started with a strokes practice at the Manville Dam, and ended with a year-end camping trip at the Burlingame Canoe Campsites. In between, it was another great year for paddling.

My whitewater season started in January, and I got out on some old favorites and some new runs including the Salmon River (1) (2), Sugar/Croyden Brook, Scantic, White, Pemi – Woodstock, Deerfield - Fife Brook, Farmington – Tville (1) (2) (3), the West and the Pcat. Unfortunately, I missed a lot of trips in April dues to family obligations.

Point Judith Pond

I did a lot more paddling in my sea kayak this year including Providence, Meeting on the Water - Fort Wetherill, Point Judith Pond, Slocum’s River, Bristol Ferry and Wallum Lake. I also got out for three great training sessions with the RICKA Sea Kayak group including Rocks and Rescues at Fort Wetherill, Level 3 Step-up at the URI Bay Campus and Incident Management at Fort Wetherill.

I went to Blackstone Valley Paddle Club trips at Pawtuxet - Hope and the Blackstone - Manville Dam. I led flatwater trips at Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill, Providence and Point Judith Pond. 

RICKA Picnic in Wickford

I did 54 trips including 19 flatwater, 15 whitewater, 18 sea kayak and 2 camping, which equals my 10-year average of 54 trips. I had four swims - Salmon, Scantic, Pawcatuck and the West. Bill and I received the Rubber Ducky Award for our swim at the Bradford Fish Weirs (see 0:20) on the Pawcatuck.

Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Blackstone Manville Dam, Salmon River (1) (2)
• February - Hunt River, Blackstone - Plummers Landing, Blackstone - Martin Street Bridge
• March - Quinebaug – Danielson to Plainville, Sugar/Croyden Brook, Really Upper Millers, Scantic
• April - White
• May - Blackstone - River Bend Farm, Pemi – Woodstock, Pawtuxet - Hope, Quinebaug – Danielson to Plainville
• June - Blackstone - River Island Park, Blackstone - Manville Dam (1) (2), Deerfield - Fife Brook, 
• Farmington – Tville, Blackstone – Central Falls Landing, Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill
• July - Providence, Meeting on the Water - Fort Wetherill, Point Judith Pond Rocks and Rescues – Fort Wetherill
• August - Level 3 Step-up - URI Bay Campus, Slocum’s River, Bristol Ferry, Rocks and Rescues – Fort Wetherill
• September - Pawcatuck - Potter Hill to Westerly, Lincoln Woods, Nashua – Peperrell to Nashua, Incident Management – Fort Wetherill, West River, Wickford Harbor
• October - Blackstone Gorge
• November - Pcat Drawdown, Wallum Lake, River Bend Farm, Tville
• December - Nashua - Leominster to Lancaster, Year-End Camping at Burlingame

Here is the video of some of my favorite trips of 2024.

 

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation on Great Island including the RICKA Meeting on the Water and Point Judith Pond.

 

Hiking at Gardner Hill

I didn’t do much hiking this year – just one trip at Gardner Hill with Papa Joe. I also wasn't able to get out for any big camping trips this year. I did get out for a Bastille Day overnight and a Year-End overnight on the Pawcatuck. 

In terms of resolutions for 2024, I did OK on some, but not on others. I did get out in my sea kayak in rough water conditions, and I did quite a bit of whitewater paddling. Unfortunately, I didn’t do much camping, I didn’t get back to the Dead, and I didn’t practice rolling.

Bastille Day Camping

In terms of resolutions for 2025, they are just like 2024.

• Keep practicing with my new sea kayak – I need to get out on more level 3 trips.
• Do more camping – I’d like to get back to the Allagash, or maybe the St. Croix or the Bonaventure, or the Maine Island Trail in my kayak.
• Keep paddling whitewater - as long as my knee holds up.
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip.
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it – maybe in the sea kayak.

There are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping in 2025 - looking forward to it. Happy New Year everyone.

Paddle Map for 2024

Here is my year-end paddle map for 2024 - yellow is sea kayak (18), light blue is flatwater 19), dark blue is whitewater (15), red is hiking (1) and green is camping (2).  

I didn’t make it to ME this year. I did a few whitewater trips in NH and VT, but most of my paddling was local in RI, CT and MA.

Year-End Camping at Burlingame - December 28-29, 2024

Heading up from Bradford

After last year’s successful year-end camping trip, we decided to do again this year. We had 9 for an overnight at the Burlingame Canoe Campsites – me, Bob, Chuck, Jose, Aaron, Matt, Jim, Burr and Joe. Usually for winter trips you have to deal with snow and ice, but for this trip we had rain and mud - steady drizzle with temperatures in the 40’s during the day and 30’s at night. 

I met the group at the Bradford Landing at 11:30 for the 3-mile trip up to the Burlingame Canoe Campsites. Once there, we decided to camp in the field again this year. We hauled our gear up from the river and set up camp. The tents went up first, then the tarps, then the kitchen. We got the fire going and enjoyed Jose’s chili for lunch. After lunch we sat around the fire until supper, which was Swedish meatballs with chocolate cake for dessert. We turned in for the night around 10:00 as the rain was picking up.

Camp is set up

I stayed warm and dry in my tent, and before I knew it I heard someone moving around outside. It was Bob getting the morning fire started. I reluctantly climbed out of my sleeping bag to join him. After warming up by the fire, I fired up my Dutch oven to make a batch of my grandmother’s cinnamon rolls. Bob cooked bacon, sausage and home fries in his Big Daddy Skillet, and I cooked Jonathan’s eggs-in-a-hole.

After breakfast we packed up camp for the trip back to Bradford Landing. Great trip and a nice way to end the year.

The crew at the morning fire

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Jim's Video

Nashau River - Leominster to Lancaster - December 20, 2024

Put-in at the Veterans Park

Ozzy was looking to do a Winter Solstice paddle on the Nashua River from Leominster to Lancaster. After a busy month with family issues, I decided to join in. We had four boats, all polers – me, Bob, Dan and Ozzy.

The Nashua River has two main stems. We would be paddling on the North Branch, which arises west of Fitchburg and flows generally south for 30 miles until it joins the South Branch in Lancaster.  The South Branch arises at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton and flows generally north for 56 miles through north-central MA and southern NH before emptying into the Merrimack River in Nashua. 

Below the first broken dam

I have done most of the Nashua River over the years including the Leominster to Lancaster section of the of the North Branch back in November 2011. I have also done the confluence of the North Branch and South Branch in Lancaster, and the Oxbow Wildlife Refuge in Harvard and the Ayers to Groton, Groton to Pepperell, and Peperrell to Nashua sections on the South Branch.

We met at the take-out at Johnny Ro Veteran's Memorial Park (720 Mechanic St, Leominster, MA 014530) to drop our boats and run the shuttle down to the take-out at the Ponakin Bridge at the Pellecchia Conservation Land & Canoe Launch (MA-70, Lancaster, MA 01523). The river was low – 2.5 feet, 115 cfs on the Leominster gage, but a nice level for poling.

Lunch at Cook' Conservation Area

We started off by poling upstream past Route 2 before turning around and heading down stream. The river twists and turns as it runs through the Johnny Apple Seed State Park and the Lancaster State Forest. We portaged the first broken dam that we ran back in 2011 since it was low and it looked like there might be wood in it.

We took a break for lunch at the picnic area at the Cook Conservation Area. Snow as falling as Ozzy cooked up a nice spread of pierogis and kielbasa with onions and peppers. We had brownies, chocolate chip cookies and donuts for desert. With the furnace fueled, we poled the last section in the snow, including the second broken dam that we ran to the left. The drive home in the snow was brutal, but it was a great way to start off the winter.

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Leominster gage

How’s this for single blading - Tville – November 30, 2024

Chris running Initiation on the West

Back in September I ran the class III section of the West River. The first rapid just below the dam is called Initiation. It’s one of those rapids that is relatively easy if you take the right line, but usually ends in disaster if you don’t – at least for me. I was standing off to the side taking pictures and watching folks go though when I see this guy coming down on a paddle board. I think he’s going to swim for sure, but he picked the perfect line and made it through fine. That’s the line I took. I figured if he can do it on a paddle board then I should be able to do it in a canoe.  

Well, it’s a tradition around here to get out on Black Friday to paddle off some of that Thanksgiving turkey. With the rain on Thanksgiving Tville was up, but I didn’t see any trips on Friday. Instead, I got together with Paul D. for a low level (1.5 feet, 500 cfs) run on Saturday. We were joined by Chris - the guy on the paddle board from the West. He was amazing to watch – ran every drop, surfed every hole and made it look easy. When he did fall off he just jumped back on - easy recovery. Almost makes me want to try a SUP - almost.   

Chris running the top of Double Drop

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River Bend Farm - November 24, 2024

Lining Practice

I had some paddling options today since last week’s rain brought some rivers up. Tville my first thought. It was around 500 cfs, which is low unless you are desperate. I’m kind of desperate. It didn’t matter anyway because I didn’t have time to drive there. Instead, I headed over to River Bend Fam to do the Blackstone Canal/River loop.

The river was at 3.5 feet - low but still fluid. At this level you need to be careful to avoid the blowdowns that block most of the fast moving water on the outside of turns. I brought a rope to make a bridle and a dry bag to use as ballast and practiced lining. Otherwise, the river section went quick. There were a couple of strainers across the canal as I paddled back upstream, but I was able to get around or over them without portaging.

Blackstone Arch

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Turkey Paddle at Wallum Lake - November 9, 2024

After putting out the Christmas lights in the morning, I headed over to Wallum Lake in the afternoon for the Turkey Paddle with the RICKA Flatwater crew.

Wallum is a 200-acre lake on the border of MA and RI. The northern end lies in the Douglas State Forest and much of the western shore lies in the Buck Hill Management Area. It is about 2 miles long and ¼ to ½ mile wide.

The forecast was for gusty winds, so I decided to bring my sea kayak. I was surprised when Chuck pulled in with a kayak as well. Fortunately, Cheryl and Tom were paddling canoes, so at least we had two.

We put-in at the boat ramp in the Douglas State Park (there is also a put-in in Burrillville that I have never used), and headed down the west side of the lake. There were gusty winds, so I was glad that I had my sea kayak. We made it down to the southern end at Zambarano Hospital before turning around.

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Pcat Drawdown and BBQ - November 3, 2024

Matthias and Greg

For 21-years, the MVP and NHAMC have been sponsoring the annual Drawdown and BBQ on the Piscataquog River. Jonathan and I were doing a tandem run, so we decided to round up a tandem boat posse. We ended up with the nice group – 4 tandems ( me and Jonathan, Marcy and Cathy, Matt and Tom and Matthias and Greg), 2 solos (Pierpaolo and Jerico) and one kayak (Paul).

The Piscataquog River arise in Deering, NH and twists and turns for 35-miles before flowing into the Merrimack River in Manchester. We would be running the class II section below the Gregg's Falls Dam. I met Paul at the MacDonalds in Uxbridge for the trip up to Goffstown. We dropped off our boats at the dam, met the group, and ran the shuttle down to the road behind the prison.

Matt and Tom

The release was 5.5 feet, 800 cfs. This section is about 3-miles long with the most consistent rapids in the first mile. There is a rocky set of rapids below the put in, another under the power lines, and another leading up to the surf wave above the Henry Bridge. We took out time heading down, and Jonathan and I tried our luck at surfing.

From there is it mostly quickwater down to the take-out. There is a squirt line with the strong recirculating current where the river takes a sharp right turn, and one last rocky drop just above the take out. After a second "bomber run" we headed back to the dam for the BBQ – hamburgers, hot dogs and good company. Great day as always.

Jonathan and I going into the surf wave

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Goffstown Gage

Fall Foliage Tour at the Blackstone Gorge - October 12, 2024

Rolling Dam

I got a cortisone shot in my heel yesterday, and the doctor told me to keep it dry and go easy. I was originally thinking of a Fife Brook run with the CTAMC, but that seemed a little ambitious. Instead, I decided to do the fall foliage tour with RICKA at the Blackstone Gorge.

The Blackstone River arises in Worcester and flows south for 48 miles, eventually becoming the Seekonk River at the Pawtucket Falls. Native Americans called the river the "Kittacuck", which meant "the great tidal river." Salmon and other migratory fish were plentiful in pre-colonial times.

Blackstone Gorge below Rolling Dam

When English colonists arrived, they called the river the Seekonk, the Narragansett, the Pawtucket, the Neetmock, the Nipmuck and the Great before finally setting on the Blackstone. It is named for William Blackstone who was the first European settler in Rhode Island. He built his house - Study Hall - on the river in what is now the Lonsdale section of Cumberland in 1635 - one year before Roger Williams settled in Providence.

The Blackstone River drops 438-feet in elevation on its way from Worcester to Providence. Early settlers built dams to power sawmills and gristmills to serve the needs of area farmers. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, the river's steep drop and numerous falls provided ideal conditions for the development of small, rural textile mills around which mill villages developed. Much of this early history can be seen along this section of the river.

Launching above Rolling Dam

We met at the Rolling Dam just above the Blackstone Gorge. A hike along the river below the dam will give you a sense of what the Blackstone River looked like before the European settlers arrived. Its banks are lined with hemlock and mountain laurel, and its rocky course tumbles over a series of three ledges and a small waterfall at the end.

We put in above the dam and headed upstream. We had 8 boats – 7 kayaks and one canoe. The river was a little low - 3.1 feet on the Northbridge gage, 6.6 feet, 78 cfs on the Rt. 122 gage. Paddling upstream from the dam is always a pleasant trip, and the foliage was just about peak. We paddle up to the Triad Bridge site.

Heading upstream

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Blackstone River Valley had grown to become a major textile manufacturing center. That growth would continue with the introduction of rail service in 1849. With the ability to move raw materials in and finished goods out, railroads linked the Blackstone River Valley to markets around the world.

On this site, three bridges were planned to allow three different railroads to cross the Blackstone River. The lowest, the Providence & Worcester, is still in use. The middle, the New York & New England that was eventually owned by J.P Morgan, has now been converted to the bike path bridge. The top, the Grand Trunk Line, was never completed.

Triad Bridge Site

The Grand Trunk Line was brain child of Charles Hays who was attempting to establish a rail connection from Montreal to the ice-free port of Providence. Construction began in 1912. Unfortunately, on the return trip from a meeting with London bankers, Hays was killed when the ship he was on, the Titanic, struck an iceberg and sank. Construction continued on and off until 1915 when the project was finally abandoned. While the line was 70% complete, not a single mile of track was laid. You can see the concrete footings for the bridge that would have crossed this site.

Just upstream from the Triad Bridge site is the Millville Lock – one of two remaining locks from the 1828 Blackstone Canal. The other is the Goat Hill Lock at River Bend Farm. Opened in 1828, the Blackstone Canal utilized a series of 49 locks to move the barges up and down the 438-foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester.

Millville Lock

The canal itself was little more than a muddy ditch with paths on each side for horses or mules to pull barges. The locks used to raise and lower the barges were impressive structures. Made of granite with gates at each end, each lock was approximately eighty-feet long and ten-feet wide. Once a barge was in the lock with the gates closed, it could be raised by opening the upstream gate and lowered by opening the downstream gate.

We continued upstream into Millville below the Millville Rapid. Millville is one of the oldest, and one of the youngest towns in Massachusetts. Originally settled in 1662, it was organized as Mendon's South Parish in 1766, and became part of the town of Blackstone in 1845. It wasn't until 1916 that it was incorporated as an independent town.

Shallow water in Millville

Early in its history, Millville was small farming community. A sawmill and gristmill were operating along the river by 1725. By 1830, woolen mills lined the banks on both sides of the river. Millville would eventually become home to a large rubber mill, which would become part of the US Rubber Company (later Uniroyal) in 1892. Remnants of this industrial past can be seen in the foundations and mill races along the river.

We tuned around in the shallow water below the Millville rapid and headed back downstream. Before we reached the dam, we turned left and followed the route of the Blackstone Canal into Blackstone. It later became the power trench for the Lonsdale Company’s Blackstone Mill.

The crew at the put-in

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Wickford Harbor - September 29, 2024

Paddling with Bill in the Spirit II

I was going to the RICKA Family Picnic, so I decided to paddle tandem with Bill in my Spirit II at the pre-picnic flatwater trip at Wickford Harbor. We paddled from Wilson Park out into Mill Cove, and then up to Mill Creek, and then past Calf Neck and Cornelius Island into Fishing Cove before returning. It was a little cloudy, but otherwise a nice trip. 

After the paddle we headed over to the picnic for lunch and the awards ceremony. It was cloudy and windy, so lunch was inside. Bill and I received the "Rubber Ducky" award from Chuck for our well documented swim at the Bradford Fish Ladder on the Pawcatuck River. 

Receiving the "Rubber Ducky" Award from Chuck

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Forth Swim of the Year – West River – September 21, 2024

Paul portaging the dam

It’s been a long time since I’ve had my whitewater boat out, so I decided to join Paul for a run on the West River. Unfortunately, the shuttle wasn’t running, so we would need to carry down the dam to the put-in. We met at 7:00 at Mc’D’s for the ride up to Jamaica, VT. I followed Paul so we would have two cars for the shuttle.

The plan was to do two runs carrying down the dam with my canoe cart. As it worked out, we couldn’t use the cart for Paul’s boat, and it was a little tricky even with just my canoe. Once I got down to the bottom I also realized that I didn’t want to have the cart strapped to my boat for the run. If I swam, which I did, the boat would be even harder to rescue, and more likely to pin. I left it at the put in.

Tandem canoe running Initiation

I took some pictures of folks running the top of Initiation before we headed out. At this level – around 1,300 cfs – there was a shoot down the center that terminated in a hole, so you needed to cut to one side or another. Paul went left, I went right. Once you are through that first drop, it’s a long wave train to the bottom. I pulled over to empty when we got down to the bridge.

I filled up again in the rapid below the bridge, and had to pull over to empty. I filled up again in the rapid above boof rock. Unfortunately, before I pulled over to empty I got pushed left, just caught the edge of boof rock, and flipped – swim number 4 for the year. I took me a little while to swim out, but Paul was able to corral my boat.

Paul heading down on his second run

The run through the Dumplings was uneventful – stay close to the rocks, and then hug the seam to the left of the large standing waves. Of course, I had to empty my boat out again at the bottom. We took out after the bridge at Jamaica State Park.

I didn’t feel up for a second run on the upper section, but I did want to do the lower section. We ran the shuttle down to the take out for the lower section at the Route 100 Bridge, then headed back to the put-in at the Ball Mountain Dam. Paul did his second run, and I carried my cart back up the dam. I met him at the put in for the lower section.

Running the lower section

The lower section was a little more active than I remember – easier than the top, but still worth the effort. There was a huge line of cars at the take out – everyone had the same idea. We packed up, got changed and headed out.

We stopped for pizza on the way home at Brattleboro Village Pizza. From there I got on I-91, and Paul took the back roads home.

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West River gage

Incident Management at Fort Wetherill - September 15, 2024

Discussing towing in the Dumplings

I decided to attend RICKA’s Incident Management session at fort Wetherill. We regularly practice assisted rescues on trips, but this would be an opportunity to practice more advanced rescues in real conditions.

We met at 9:00 at Fort Wetherill. Seas were calm and wind was from the west as we launched. We paddled out around Bull Point to practice towing in the easy tidal current around the Dumplings. I got to try out my new tow belt with short (15-foot) and long (50-foot) tows. On my tow rope there are two carabiners to unclip - one for short tows and a second for long tows.

Demonstrating the scoop rescue

On short tows my tow belt worked fine. I towed one person by clipping on to one deck line with clip up. Clicking on to one line will allow the tow will continue even if the anchor holding the deck line releases. Clicking on from the bottom with the clip up reduces the likelihood the clip with hit something and release.

I towed two people (rafted tow) by running the tow line through one deck line of the assist boat and clipping into one line of the victim boat with the clip up. This allows the assist boat to reach the carabiner to unclip the line if needed. The short tow line works great when you need to get some quickly away from a hazard, like rocks.

Two paddlers out of the boat

The longer tow works better when you are towing for a long distance – especially in swells so you don’t get run over by the towed boat as it comes down the face of the swell. On long tows, the knot and clip in the middle of my tow line created drag and a one point snagged a clump of sea grass that made it tough to paddle. I might consider removing the second clip and daisy-chaining the rope for shorter tows.

After using the tow belt we practiced contact towing with the person being towed simply grabbing the deck lines of the rescue boat and pushing/pulling the bows/sterns together depending on which way we were going. We practiced pulling boats out of the rocks with tow lines and contact tows as we worked our way along the rocky coast over to Mackerel Cove.

Getting Tim back in his boat

As we rounded one headland we saw Kelly out of her boat holding her arm like she had a dislocated shoulder. Cam was able to get her back in her boat using a scoop rescue. The scoop rescue is used to float a tired or injured paddler into a partially submerged boat, which is then rolled back up, pumped out, and towed to safety with a rafted tow. 

The seas were choppier with winds from the south as we headed back out after lunch. If you spend enough time playing in rocks you will eventually come out of your boat, and Tim demonstrated swimming out of the rocks as a proactive way to get yourself to safer water. 

Reviewing the hand of god rescue

When you are in the water near the rocks, the first thing that you need to do is get yourself to a safe position the with kayak between you and the rocks. Then you can flip the boat over, attach the tow line to the boat, and aggressively swim out of the rocks, all while holding on to the paddle. Tim did fine, and once he was in calmer water Bill and Eric got him back in his boat.  

We worked our way back along the shore continuing to practice assisted deep water rescues, scoop rescues (I did an anchor tow on one), two-out-of-the-boat self-rescues using one boat as an outrigger to get the first paddle in, and hand of god rescues. 

More rescue practice

The hand of god rescue is used to right a kayaker that can’t come out of their boat because they are unconscious or just can’t get the spay deck off. It involves a tricky combination of pushing down on the inside edge while pulling up the outside to right the boat with the paddler still in it - not easy. 

We got back to Fort Wetherill around 4:00 after a long day of practice. I learned a lot, but also realized how much I still have to learn.

View to Newport as we had back to Fort Wetherill

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Video of 2024 RICKA Sea Kayak Training Sessions

Deep Water Rescues

Swimmer out of the boat

The deep water rescue is a fundamental skill for all sea kayakers. It should be practiced until it is quick, efficient and can be done in a variety of conditions.

For the swimmer, the rescue starts with a wet exit – tuck forward, pull the grab loop to release the skirt, and push yourself out of the boat (hit the deck, pull the skirt, show the moon). Hopefully you can do all this while still holding onto your paddle. If for some reason you can’t find the grab loop, run your hands along the sides of the cockpit and release the skirt from the sides of the combing.

Rescuer empties the boat

Once out of the boat you need to keep hold of your boat and your paddle. Flip the boat over and move to the bow waiting for help, yelling “swimmer” or raising your paddle if necessary to get the rescuer’s attention. At this point the rescuer will come in to make contact with the swimmer's boat. It is usually best to come in at an angle, hook the boat with the paddle, grab the deck lines and once stable stow your paddle under the deck lines.

Once the rescuer has stable contact they need to empty the boat. The swimmer will move the rescuer’s bow or stern while the rescuer turns the swimmer's boat perpendicular, pulls the boat up on the deck and rolls it over to empty. Once the boat is empty, the rescuer needs to lift the boat slightly so the cockpit rim stays over the water as they roll it back upright. You usually only need to pull the boat up on the deck to about the front hatch.

Swimmer reenters the boat

Once the boat is empty, the rescuer will use the deck lines to move the swimmer’s boat alongside their own. It is usually best to orientate the boats bow to stern, but bow to bow is fine if that is easier. Either way the rescuer needs to hold on to the deck lines on the front deck to leave the rear deck free for the swimmer to enter.

With the boats in position, the swimmer moves into position to reenter the boat. If they still have their paddle, now is the time to pass it to the rescuer who can stow it in the deck lines or hold it across both boats to increase stability.

Swimmer back in the boat

The swimmer reenters the boat by pulling themselves up on the rear deck, reaching over to grab the deck lines on the rescuer’s boat, sliding their feet into the cockpit and scooting down into the cockpit, and rolling over to the outside of the rescuer’s boat back into the seat. You can also use a heal hook with the outside leg to roll up int the cockpit.

Once the swimmer is back in the boat, the rescuer will wait until any remaining water is pumped out, the spray skirt is attached and the swimmer has their paddle and is comfortable before releasing.

Rock Rescues

If you spend enough time playing in rocks you will eventually come out of the boat. How you respond depends on the conditions you are in and the availability of help.

The first order of business if you come out of your boat in the rocks is to get yourself into a safe position. You never want to be in between the rocks and the boat, so position yourself with the kayak between you and the rocks. Once you are in a safe position, you can begin to think about how to get out.

Swimming out is a proactive way to get yourself to safer water. If the distance is short, you can simply grab the boat and go. Flip the boat over, swim to the end of the boat furthest away for the rocks, grab the toggle, and aggressively swim out of the feature. You can either stow your paddle in the deck lines or hold it in your hands as you swim.

If the distance is longer, it may be easier to attach your tow line. Once again, get to the end of the boat furthest from the rocks, clip on your tow line and go. Once in calmer water you can pull in the boat, unclip and tuck the towline in your PFD to prevent it from getting tangled in the rocks, and do a self or assisted rescue.

If someone is nearby and the distance is short you can do a toggle tow. Flip your boat over, and move to the toggle at end furthest from the rocks. The rescuer paddles in and presents the bow or stern toggle for the swimmer to grab, and paddles out of the feature. Once in calmer water you can do an assisted rescue

If conditions are rough it might be better for the rescuer to use the tow line. The swimmer gets in the safe position on the rescuer’s boat while the rescuer clips the tow line on the swimmers boat and paddles out. Once in calmer water you can pull the boat to you and do an assisted rescue.

Once the rescuer has the swimmer out of the rocks, it is often helpful to have a third member of the team clip on to the rescuer’s boat for an anchor tow that prevents them from drifting back into the rocks during the rescue.

Nashua River - Peperrell to Nashua - September 8, 2024

Peperrell Covered Bridge

I got an email from Jonathan looking to do some tandem paddling on Sunday. We bounced around some different options, and decided on the South Branch of the Nashua River from Peperrell to Nashua. It is a section that I hadn't done before.

The Nashua River has two main stems. The South Branch of the Nashua River arises at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton and flows generally north for 56 miles through north-central MA and southern NH before emptying into the Merrimack River in Nashua. The North Branch of the Nashua River arises west of Fitchburg and flows generally south for 30 miles until it joins the South Branch near Lancaster.

Below Runnells Bridge

I have done several sections of the Nashua River over the years including Leominster to Lancaster on the North Branch, and Lancaster, the Oxbow Wildlife Refuge in Harvard,  Ayers to Groton,  Groton to Pepperell, and now Peperrell to Nashua on the South Branch. 

We met at the take-out at Mine Falls Dam (16 Riverside Street, Nashua, NH 03062) to leave a car and ran the shuttle back to the put-in at the Nashua River Access (14-4 Lowell Street, Pepperell, MA 01463) just below the Peperrell Covered Bridge. The river was at 1.4 feet, 195 cfs on the East Peperrell gage - low but fluid. 

Deadwater approaching the Mine Falls Dam

The start of this section seems surprisingly remote as it winds through pretty woodlands. We saw skydivers coming down as we passed the Peperrell Airport. We ran the rapids at Runnells Bridge down the center, and only got hung up once. It would have been better with more water. We took a break for lunch at a bench across from the Overlook Golf Course. 

Below the golf course you enter 4-miles of deadwater behind the Mine Falls Dam. Fortunately, the wind was to our backs or it would have been a real slog. We checked out the dam at Mine Falls Park before shuttling back to the put-in to pick up my car. Nice trip.

Take out at Mine Falls Dam

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My Pictures

Nashua River Gage - East Peperrell

Nashua River Watershed Association