2015 Year End Review

The year started off cold, and then we had two months of snow, but it was still a great year for paddling.  I did a few less trips this year (53) than I have done in the past (average for last 6 years is 57), but I did paddle a few new rivers including the Souhegan, Pemi Bristol, Mongaup, and the Pemi from Woodstock to Campton.  I also did a few less RICKA trips, but I did lead trips on the Assabet and Lower Deerfield, and helped out with the Flatwater Training and the Picnic. I seemed to paddle a lot more with the AMC this year – CT, NH and even Boston.  Here are some of the more significant trips:

• January – New Years Day at Tville
• February - Pawtuxet Cove to Gaspee Point
• March – Crystal, Branch River Icebreaker
• April – Souhegan, Knightville, Lower Millers
• May - Pemi - Bristol, Mongaup
• June - Providence and Woonasquatucket, Upper Winni
• July – Tville again, Vacation in Narragansett
• August – Dead, Lower Deerfield
• September – Fife Brook
• October – Lower Otter Brook, Piscataquog
• November - Pawcatuck - White Rock, Pemi - Woodstock to Campton
• December – Tville again

I didn’t do much camping this year.  Mike’s trip to the Allegheny River fell through, and Tommy didn’t do any NFCT trips.  Even my RICKA overnight trip on the Pawcatuck got cancelled due to cold rainy weather.  I only slept in my tent one night – at Webbs on the Dead. 

With all the snow, I did a couple of snowshoeing trips:

• Mount Tom Trail
• Diamond Hill with Bill

 Here are some of my favorite trips of 2015.

Favorite Trips of 2015 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

New Year’s resolutions for 2016 – I have a few:

• Practice rolling – I’ve been lax about that lately
• Do at least one camping trip – hopefully the crew will be interested in a trip in the fall
• Paddle in all six New England states - this year I missed VT.

Overall it was another great year, and there are still plenty of rivers I would like to paddle. 

Happy New Year.

River Island Park - December 27, 2015

The Blackstone was at a decent level (2.5 feet, 500 cfs.), so I took my whitewater boat down to River Island Park.  I put in at the Bernon Street Bridge and took out at the power lines.  I mounted two cameras on my boat - one facing forward, and one facing me - to catch the action.  Unfortunately, the camera facing forward shut off after 10 minutes and I didn't notice it.  It's just not the same without the forward perspective, so here is the run through Bernon down to the Court Street Bridge.

Bernon from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Manville Dam - December 19, 2015

I had too much to do today to travel, so I took my whitewater boat down to the Manville Dam.  At 2.5 feet, 500 cfs, I thought it would be a nice level, but it was actually a little higher than I was comfortable with.  I did spend a little time at the surf wave near the put-in.

Manville Dam from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

At 1.25 feet, 200 cfs. the playspot below the dam is perfect.  Funny, it looks like slow motion in comparison, but this is the actual speed.

Manville Dam again from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Tville - December 6, 2015

Cathy's Wave

After paddling tandem for the last few trips, it was nice to get out in my solo boat again.  I joined the crew from Where’s the Whitewater at? to run the Tville section of the Farmington. We had two OC1’s (me and Charlie), a C1 (Rob) and a bunch of kayaks. The level was low (1.5 feet, 500 cfs) but it was still fun.

The upper section was a little bony, but Cathy’s Wave and the Horseshoe Ledge were at an easy surfing level. I ran the Bridge Abutment Rapid on the right, and almost blew the ferry below the abutments. I bounced off the rocks on river right in a nick of time. I ran the approach to the Play Hole on the left.  Even at this level, the Play Hole didn’t look inviting. Below the play hole are a couple of small ledges that terminate in some rocks on river left. I caught the eddies on the left before ferrying to the middle to run the drop.  I ran the new "Inquisition" ledges further downstream by doing the opposite - eddying out on the right, and then ferrying to the left to run the second drop.  Good day.

Running the Inquisition Ledges

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My Pictures

Day after Turkey Paddle - Charles River in Millis - November 27, 2015

I was back on the Charles River yesterday for a "Day after Turkey" paddle with Earl. We put in at Dwight Street in Millis and paddled upstream a couple of miles while Earl looked for geocaches. The caching was not successful (0 for 3), but the paddling was nice. We then paddled downstream past Route 109 to take out at West Street. It was a little cloudy, but otherwise a great day. 

 

Earl heads downstream

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My Pictures

Pemigewasset - Woodstock to Campton - November 21, 2015

Me and Jonathan

It wasn’t the best weather for paddling, but I’ve paddled in worse.  Sometimes you just need to get out when the river is up.

I’ve wanted to paddle the section of the Pemi below the Ledges in Woodstock for a while, but it can be tough to catch. Last week’s rain brought the river up, so I sent an email to Doug D. to see if he would be interested. A Facebook post hooked me up for some tandem paddling with Jonathan. 

Blair Bridge

We ran the section from the Ledges at the Route 175 Bridge in Woodstock to the Blair Bridge in Campton – about 14 miles.  The river is shallow with gravel bars and cobbles along the banks.  I’d say that we caught a medium-low level - 3.5 feet, 650 cfs. on the Woodstock gage - mostly flatwater with a few quickwater rips.

It remained overcast throughout the day with low-hanging clouds hugging the ground.  Every now and again we would turn around and catch a beautiful view of the White Mountains shrouded in clouds.  We probably should have turned around more often. It took us about 4 ½ hours to paddle the 14 miles. There was no rush - we took our time and enjoyed views, and then enjoyed a beer and a burger at the Country Cow near the take out.  Another great day.

White Mountains shrouded in clouds

My Pictures
Doug’s Pictures
Pemigewasset Woodstock Gage
River Description from American Whitewater

White Rock Dam removal on the Pawcatuck - November 1, 2015

Heading downstream

The restoration of the Pawcatuck River took another step forward this fall with the removal of the White Rock Dam in Westerly.  For nearly 250 years, this dam at the lower end of the Pawcatuck River has blocked upstream passage to Rhode Island’s largest watershed. The dam has now been removed in an on-going effort to return the Pawcatuck to something close to its natural state.

The original dam at the White Rock site was built in 1770.  It was replaced in 1888 by a stone crib dam, and much of the river’s flow was redirected down a granite-lined raceway to the White Rock Mill. When the old stone crib dam washed away in the 1938 hurricane, it was replaced with a 6-foot tall concrete dam that stretched 108 feet across the river.

Checking out the old raceway

With the recent removal of this concrete dam complete, I joined a small group of paddlers who wanted to check out the new course of the river.  For the third week in row I would be paddling tandem - this time with Bill in the Mohawk.  We put in at the new access off Post Office Lane below the Potter Hill Dam, and took out on White Rock Road just upstream of the Route 78 bridge.  The river was 4.5 feet, 200 cfs. on the Westerly gage - just enough water to keep us floating.

We paddled down to White Rock and found all that remained of the old dam were the stone abutments on river left. The restored riverbed is nice, but not as exciting as a run through the old raceway.  The old raceway was high and dry, but is not being removed.  A barrier will be built at the top that will allow water to flow into the channel during high water.

The old raceway is high and dry

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Westerly Gage
Trip Description from Rhode Island Blueways