Lower Deerfield - August 5, 2023

That's me

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of trips on the Lower Deerfield. I can remember my first RICKA trip here with Jim Cole, Alan August and Henry Dziadosz back in 2006. I started leading RICKA trips here around 2010, and have done 10 “easy whitewater trips for flatwater paddlers” in the last 13-years.

The release from the Fife Brook Dam controls the water in this section of the river, and timing is everything with this trip. Launch too early and you will out run the water. Launch too late and the water will out run you. Either way, you will end up high and dry. Launching 3-hours after the scheduled release is about right. For this trip we had an early release due to Deerfieldfest, so timing wasn’t an issue.

Ozzie in Blam Dance

We would be running the section from the Zoar Picnic Area to Charlemont Academy – about 7 miles. The group was small since the trip coincided with RICKA's annual ADK trip. We had 5 boats and 6 paddlers (1 kayak, 1 poler, 2 solo canoes and 1 tandem canoe) - a nice size group for this run. Jonathan and I paddled tandem in my Mohawk Whitewater 16. Bob poled pretty much the entire run. The release was scheduled at 800 cfs, and the Charlemont gage was around 1,000 cfs.

We met at 11:00 at the take out near Chalemont Achademy and ran the shuttle up to the Zoar Picnic Area. As we prepared to launch, I was a little worried that that the bubble hadn’t made it down yet, but I felt better when a group of tubers from Great Outdoors showed up. We had plenty of water and would be dodging tubers for most of the run.

Bob poling Spin Out

This section of the Deerfield pretty much has it all. There is a little flatwater so you can take in the scenery, a lot of quickwater to keep you moving, and a couple of easy class I/II rapids to make it interesting. Most of the rapids come early in the trip with three easy rapids just downstream from the put-in.

Directly below the Zoar Picnic Area is the Blam Dance Rapid – we had one swim here when Jonathan and I were ferrying over and cut off Ed who was trying to peal out - whoops.

Dan at the top of Conjunction Junction

Below that at a the sharp curve to the left is the Spin Out Rapid. We rescued a tuber who was stuck in the recirculating eddy here, and had one swim when Ozzie was trying to surf the fast moving current.

To the left of the island with the squirt line at the bottom is Conjunction Junction. We took a break for lunch here. I took a swim, but it was intentional. Bob and Dan did a lot of surfing.

Bob poling at Conjunction Junction

After that, it is mostly quickwater with an occasional short rapid. I did my best not to dump Jonathan, but I did get him wet in the short wavetrain across from the campground near Shunpike. We had one more swim going into the eddy on the right in the fast moving shoot above Zoar Outdoors.

After the run, we decided to check out Deerfieldfest at Berkshire East. We were a little early, and there were more bikers than paddlers, but I did my part and bought and American Whitewater tee shirt. After a bite to eat we were on our way. Another great day on the water with a great group of paddlers.

Taking a break at Shunpike

Links:
My Pictures
Fife Brook Release Schedule
Charlemont Gage
River Description form American Whitewater

Lower Deerfield - June 29, 2020

It has been a while since I‘ve had my whitewater boat out, so when Conrad posted a trip for the Lower Deerfield I decided to join him. The plan was to bike shuttle back from Shunpike, and that worked out fine - took about half an hour.  It was an 800 release scheduled for 11:00. We put in 2 hours after the release was supposed to have started (3 hours is better). The river still seemed low, so we wasted some time by paddling up to the Gap.  

After that we headed downstream and scraped our way down to the first rapid.  We knew something was wrong.  As it turned out, the released started at noon - so we had to pull over and wait another half an hour for the bubble to show up. Once it did, it was amazing how fast the river came up.  From there it was fun run down to Shunpike. I had one short swim, which made me a triathlete - I biked, I paddled and I swam. Fortunately the swim was short. Nice afternoon with Conrad and Jessie.

Links:

My Pictures

Fife Brook Release Schedule

Charlemont Gage

Lower Deerfield – June 29, 2019

I posted RICKA’s annual “Easy Whitewater” trip on the Lower Deerfield, but a crazy weather forecast seemed to keep all the RICKA paddlers away. Instead, Bill and I did the trip with Jonathan, Conrad and Janet. We didn’t get the heavy rain, wind or hail that was in the forecast – just a few clouds to start, a few sprinkles around lunch time, and blue sky for the end of the trip. The river was at a nice level - 3 feet, 1000 cfs. on the Charlemont gage. The BBQ on the way home is always good. 

Links:

My Pictures

Charlemont Gage

Bring on the heat - Lower Deerfield - June 30, 2018

When it is 90° and muggy, there is no better place to be than paddling. We did a RICKA Flatwater/Whitewater trip on the Lower Deerfield – six boats (2 canoes and 4 kayaks). The release was scheduled at 800 cfs, but the gage showed that they were releasing over 1,000 cfs. Bill and I paddled the beast - my Mohawk Whitewater 16.  

The river was mobbed with tubers, but we still managed to have a good time. More than a few swims – most intentional, a couple not. 😎

Links:

My Pictures

Lower Deerfield from American Whitewater

Charlemont Gage

Lower Deerfield - August 19, 2017

Sandy

There was traffic everywhere – on the Mass Pike driving up, and in tubes on the river – but it was still worth it.  I headed up to the Deerfield to do the annual “Easy Whitewater” trip in the Lower Deerfield with RICKA. 

We ran the section from the Zoar Picnic Area to Charlemont Academy – about 7 miles.  We had 7 boats – 4 kayaks (Kate, Earl, Bob and Andy), 2 canoes (Brian and me) and 1 ducky (Sandy).  The river was at a nice level for the run (1,100 cfs on the Charlemont gage).  Since the release didn’t start until 11:00, we had to wait until 2:00 to put-in. 

Earl

I really do enjoy this section of the river.  It’s more quickwater than whitewater, but there are enough playspots to keep it interesting, and I can paddle my Yellowstone Solo.  There are even a couple of named rapids above Shunpike (I never knew that): 

• Directly below the Zoar Picnic Area is the Blam Dance Rapid
• Below that, the sharp curve to the left is the Spin Out Rapid
• To the left of the island with the squirt line at the bottom is the Junction

Below Shunpike, it is mostly quickwater interspersed with easy rapids.  We pulled out at Charlemont at around 5:30.  After retrieving the cars, we stopped at Smokey Bro’s for BBQ on the way home.  Great day.

Approaching Shunpike

Links:

My Pictures

Charlement Gage

Fife Brook Release Schedule

Lower Deerfield - July 3, 2017

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of trips on the Lower Deerfield. I can remember my first RICKA trip there with Jim Cole, Alan August and Henry Dziadosz, which was probably back in 2006. 

A few shots from 2006

It’s the perfect trip for an easy summer afternoon – the water moves enough to keep it interesting, but not enough that you need to work too hard. I had a good time there yesterday with Adam, Sandi and Brian. We put in at the Zoar Gap Picnic Area and paddled down to Charlemont Academy.  The river was running at about 1000 cfs, which kept things moving.  Nice day.

It doesn't get much better than this!

Links:

My Pictures

Deerfield Gage
River Description form American Whitewater

Lower Deerfield – August 22, 2015

Sandy and Earl

We had canoes and kayaks, long boats and short boats, paddlers, one poler and one dog.  We spent most of the day dodging tubers and rafts, but you still couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. 

Once each summer, RICKA runs and “easy” whitewater trip for experienced flatwater paddlers on the lower Deerfield River. This year, we decided to do the 7-mile run from the Zoar Picnic Area down to Charlemont Achademy.

The lone poler - Fred

The Fife Brook Dam controls the water in this section of the river, and timing is everything with this trip. We launched around 1:30, two and a half hours after the scheduled release, and hit it just right.

We had 11 paddlers – two canoes and nine kayaks. Most of the class I/II rapids come early in the trip, and everyone got through with no problem. It took us about 3 hours to finish the run down to Charlemont.  On the way home we stopped for BBQ at Smokey Joes – good day.

A little surfing

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My Pictures
Earl's Pictures

Lower Deerfield - August 23, 2014

Mike and Frank

Once each summer, RICKA runs and “easy” whitewater trip for experienced flatwater paddlers on the lower Deerfield River. This year, we decided to do the 10-mile run from the Zoar Picnic Area down to Crab Apple Rafting.

The Fife Brook Dam controls the water in this section of the river, and timing is everything with this trip. Launch too early and you will out run the water. Launch too late and the water will out run you. Either way, you will end up high and dry. We launched around 2:00, three hours after the scheduled release, and hit it just right.

Cheryl

We had 10 paddlers in 9 boats – two canoes and seven kayaks.  I got to paddle tandem with Henry. The forecast called for clouds with a slight chance of showers.  We had plenty of clouds, but the rain never materialized.

Most of the class I/II rapids come early in the trip. There are three rapids in quick succession just downstream from the put in. All three can be run easily straight down the middle. We had one short swim in the second rapid, but otherwise everyone did great.

Pizza time

From the East Charlemont Picnic Area (just after the Indian Bridge) down to Crab Apple Rafting the river is mostly quickwater with a few easy riffles. The biggest challenge is watching where the water goes so you don’t end up beached in the cobbles in the middle of the river. 

Took us about 3 ½ hours to do the run down to Crab Apple.  On the way home we stopped at Shelburne Falls to check out the Bridge of Flowers and get some pizza at Buckland Pizza.

Bridge of Flowers

"Easy" Whitwater on the Lower Deerfield - August 14, 2011

When it comes to cancelling a trip for bad weather, it’s often a crap shoot. Do you run the trip and hope for the best, or cancel? I usually run the trip. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. Fortunately, it worked out yesterday.

Approaching the first rapid

Once each summer, RICKA runs and “easy” whitewater trip for experience flatwater paddlers on the lower Deerfield River. We usually run the section from the Zoar Picnic Area down to the Charlemont Academy – about 7 miles. It’s a pretty section of river with lots of quickwater and a couple of easy class I/II rapids.

The forecast called for rain with a chance of thunderstorms. Rain doesn’t bother me, but thunderstorms sure do. It’s a 2 ½ hour drive out to the Deerfield. Driving all that way only to have the trip cancelled because of the weather would be a real bummer. I called Andy, and we decided to run the trip anyway. We did have a couple of people cancel, but that's understandable.

Andy

When I arrived at the put in at around 12:30, everyone was already there. We had 10 boats – 1 canoe (guess who) and 9 kayaks. We ran the shuttle, did a short safety talk, and got on the water around 2:00 - 3 hours after the start of the 850 cfs release from Fife Brook Dam upstream.

Most of the class I/II rapids come early in the trip. There are three rapids in quick succession just downstream from the put in. All three can be run easily straight down the middle. By the time we completed the third rapid, everyone was feeling comfortable, so we stopped at a wave to do some surfing.

Surf city

For the next few miles, the river is mostly quickwater with a few easy riffles. We spread out and enjoyed the views as we approached the last major rapid. Everyone made it through without difficulty and we paddled the last mile to the take out.

As it turned out, the predicted thunderstorms stayed well to the south. Except for a short sprinkle, it didn’t even rain while we were on the water. It turned out to be a great day on a beautiful river – lucky for us.

Happy Erik

There were rubber duckies everywhere – August 14th

Not the bath toys, but the inflatable kayaks. Crab Apple Whitewater was in the process of launching a huge group of duckies just as we were getting on the water yesterday. In hindsight, it was a good sign since it meant our timing was probably good.

We had 12 boats (3 canoes, 9 kayaks) running the section of the Deerfield River just below the Zoar Gap. The water in this section is controlled by the Fife Brook Dam, and timing is everything with this trip. Launch too early and you will out run the water. Launch too late and the water will out run you. Either way, you will end up high and dry. We launched 3 hours after the scheduled release and hit it just right.

We put in at the Zoar Picnic Area around 3:00 - much later than any of us wanted due to the late release. This section of the Deerfield pretty much has it all. There is a little flatwater so you can take in the scenery, a lot of quickwater to keep you moving, and a couple of easy class I/II rapids to make it interesting.

The rapids come early in the trip with three easy rapids in quick succession just downstream from the put in. After that, its mostly quickwater with an occasional riffle. It took us three hours to reach the take out about 7 miles downstream near the Charlemont Academy on Rt. 2. Great day with a great group of paddlers.


Deerfield River from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.