Lower Millers - almost - November 29, 2019

I did something yesterday that I rarely do. I got halfway to the put-in to run the Lower Millers and I realized that I had forgotten my drysuit. I was wearing my fleece underliner and was careful to bring my gloves and helmet liner, but I forgot my drysuit - go figure.  

Anyway, here is a nice picture from the bottom of the Funnel.  I was thinking of going right, but you definitely need to head back to the middle after the last rock to avoid the big drop.

Lower Millers - March 10, 2018

Rama sits in the left side eddy in the Funnel

I drove by the Lower Millers earlier this week for a meeting in Millers Falls. It looked great, and got me thinking that it has been a while since I had run it. When I saw that some of the “Where’s The Whitewater At” crew would be going, I decided to join in.

After the most recent Nor’easter, snow covered the ground as I drove back out to Millers Falls. After a warm February, it seemed odd to have snow again in March. We met at the take out at the bridge on Newton Street in Millers Falls for the shuttle back to the railroad bridge on Route 2. We had six boats – 2 canoes (me and Jim) and 4 kayaks (Jo-ann, Ann, Ian and Rama). The river was at a nice level – 4 feet, 1200 cfs.

It was a little cooler than I expected, and the wind was blowing me all over the river. Other than that, conditions were pretty good. The river is a series of class II/II+ wave trains the lead up to the main event – the Funnel (class III+/IV). My sole attempt at running the Funnel resulted in a long swim, so I have walked it ever since. I walked it again this time, which allowed me to get some video of the rest of the crew coming through.

Lower Millers - The Funnel from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Everyone took the right line except Rama who eddied out on the left to be the safety boat. It actually doesn’t look to bad on the video, except for the ledge on the right at the bottom. You can see Jim bouncing through it. I really need to try it again sometime.  When I asked who would run this rapid on on P-net here is the response that I got from Tom:

I'd twirl then tweet.
Broach boulder than freak.
Gulp twelve hundred cubic feet per second.
Float flopping on back,
toes point out style lacked.
Should have heeded a bankside that beckoned.

Or maybe I'd get lucky?
"Into the breech, boys! Into the breech!"
(Damn these voices that duel within Caverna Crania!)
TW

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Lower Millers Gage (USGS)

Lower Millers Gage (USACE)

River Description from American Whitewater

Second Swim of 2016 – Lower Millers – January 17, 2016

A little over two weeks into the year, and I’ve already got two swims under my belt – this second was on the lower section of the Millers River in western MA.  I’ve done the Lower Millers several times in the past.  It’s a class II (maybe II+) river with the class IV rapid in the middle – the Funnel. 

The Funnel is pretty much what you would expect - the entire river funnels into a rocky shoot with big holes and standing waves. At 3.6 feet, 1,000 cfs, I thought I’d be able to run the Funnel, but as I approached I decided to portage. I put back in just above the last drop, and dumped in the standing waves at the bottom. I got myself to shore pretty quickly, and the rest of the crew was able to get my boat.

Once I got to shore I looked down and noticed that my pinky finger was pointed out at a 45-degree angle. At first I though it was just the glove, so I pulled on it, and that popped my finger back into place.  Fortunately it was over before I even thought about it, and it felt fine for the rest of the trip. It wasn’t even swollen when I got to the take out due to the cold water.

Here's a poem in honor of my second swim of the year by Tom (canoeswithduckheads) that was posted on P-net. 

Dis Joint Is (Rock) Hoppin'!

Son of Eckil.

Son of man,

 Son-of-a-gun Aquarian.

 On the rocks,

 stirrin' through ice,

 in the drink you go,

 not once, but twice!

Hang tough, E-Squared!

(And thanks for all the wonderful posts/pics/videos from that savage New Eng Land.)
TW

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Lower Millers Gage (USGS)

Lower Millers Gage (USACE)

Lower Millers - April 26, 2015

Paul scouts as Norma goes left

Four from RICKA (Erik, Paul, Dan and Pat) hooked up with a group from Where’s the Whitewater at? – twelve boats in all.  The river was at a nice level for me – 3.8 feet, 1,200 cfs.  We put in at the railroad bridge below the Farley Flats.  The rapids get a little more difficult as you approach the Funnel, but are still mostly class II/II+

I decided to walk the Funnel to get some pictures.  This also allowed me to get a better look at the lines.  Norma went left and caught a shore eddy about half way down, which set her up to run the drop at the bottom. 

Glenn catches a right side eddy

Glenn went right, also caught a shore eddy about half way down.  He then had to cut left after the big rock to avoid the ledge drop at the bottom of the rapid on the right side.

Paul and Pat went left of center.  Pat flipped in a hole and did an amazing roll to recover – I’ve never seen a boat flip back up that fast. I wish I caught it on video - it was amazing.

Below the Funnel are some more class II/II+ rapids down the Millers Falls.  We took out at the bridge in the center of town and skiped the flatwater down to Dorsey Road.

Pat runs the center left line after a great combat roll

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Erving Gage
Running the Funnel - center left line by Adam Attarian on 1/19/15 @ 4.2 feet
River Description from American Whitewater

Day after Turkey Paddle – Lower Millers – November 25, 2011

After eating way too much on Thanksgiving, it was good to get out yesterday to burn off some calories. We ran the lower section of the Millers River in Erving, MA – 2 canoes (Ed and Erik) and 3 kayaks (Andy, Brian and Glenn).

This was my second time on the Lower Millers, and it is a great run. The river was at 4.3 feet which turned out to be a nice level - nothing technical, just lots of long wave trains. The most difficult rapid on this section is called the Funnel, and we looked at it long and hard before we decided to carry. The holes weren't as big as last time (4.7 feet), but there were a lot more rocks exposed.   I swam this rapid last time, and had to hike downstream about a half mile to recover my boat. I didn’t want to do that again.

Surfing a wave below the Funnel

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Erving Gage
Running the Funnel - center left line by Adam Attarian on 1/19/15 @ 4.2 feet

Lower Millers - September 11, 2011

Had a great time yesterday on the Lower Millers in Erving, MA. We had 8 boats – 3 canoes, 4 kayaks and one cataraft (cool boat).

Seth in his cataraft

I've done the upper section of the Millers a couple of times in the past, but this was my first run on the Lower Millers. The Upper Millers is very different – not as continuous with lots of rocks to dodge. The Lower Millers is mostly long wave trains. I’d rate the lower section as a class II+ (maybe III in places) with the exception of the Funnel which I’d definitely rate a class IV.

We put in at Arch Street and took out off Dorsey Road (under Route 2) in Erving. The river was at a great level – 4.7 ft, 2,000 cfs on the Erving gage. The wave trains seemed to go on forever – long runs with short sections of quickwater in between.

Paul in the Farley Flats

This section starts with easy rapids as the river runs along Route 2 through the Farley Flats. As the river leaves Route 2, we ran a series of progressively more difficult rapids leading to the Funnel.

The Funnel is by far the most difficult rapid on this stretch of the river – easily a grade above everything else. Paul, Tim and Alan had all run this section before, but none of them was quite sure where the Funnel began, so we unexpectedly entered it without scouting – big mistake.

Middle section of the Funnel -
I hit the rock on the lower right

Tim went first, followed by Seth in his cataraft. I went third. I was told to stay to the left to avoid a strainer that we thought would be on the right side. As I followed Seth into the rapid the river narrowed and the gradient increased dramatically. I saw Seth disappear into a huge hole and thrust himself out the other side – his huge cataraft must have been 6 feet in the air. I knew I was in trouble.

Since I was running down the left side I missed the huge hole in the center, but ran head on into a large rock on the left side. I tried to grab my boat, but lost it as we went over the huge pore-over at the bottom of the rapid.


Andy near Millers Falls

I got to shore easily, but watched as my boat disappeared downstream. Fortunately, Paul was able to chase it down and push it ashore about a quarter mile downstream. Of eight boats, we had five swimmers in the Funnel. Alan flipped and broke his paddle trying to roll. Jeff flipped in the middle, but was able to self-rescue. Andy and Ed were helped ashore by Tim and Seth.

The rest of the trip was uneventful as we enjoyed the wave trains down to Millers Falls, and the quickwater below that to Dorsey Road. Another great day.

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Erving Gage
Lower Millers from American Whitewater