In southern New England, August has been a month that only a paddler could love. It has rained on and off for the past two weeks. The heaviest rain has been localized, but it has brought up many rivers that are usually high and dry up at this time of year. When I saw the post on Facebook that “a small posse of older, but plucky OC paddlers will be meeting” to paddle the Upper Millers from Royalston to Athol (class II/III), I knew that was the trip for me.
The day started with an early morning stop at McDonald’s to meet Paul for the drive up to the river. After dropping Paul and our boats at the put-in, I headed down to meet the crew at the take-out. The open boaters out numbered the kayakers on this trip with 6 canoes and 5 kayaks. The level was around 1,000 cfs, after peaking at over 2,000 earlier in the week.
The fun began immediately with a long wave train just below the put-in. From there, the river alternates between quickwater, rock gardens and long wave trains. At this level, most of the rocks were buried just below the surface. We worked our way downstream running waves, catching eddies, and generally having a good time. It was a great day, and a rare treat to paddle this river in August.
@grayhawk said:
I need a nap after watching those…
Thanks…
Or come to Northern New England which is in a drought. The Allagash is below normal level and for a while near record low… It came back up a little. All we get are torrential downpours that last five minutes.
But I agree a month only a paddler could love. The rest of em are roasting … Temps near 90. Bad enough it was 86 on Moosehead Lake. For Northern Maine that is incredibly hot.
Or come to Northern New England which is in a drought. The Allagash is below normal level and for a while near record low… It came back up a little. All we get are torrential downpours that last five minutes.
But I agree a month only a paddler could love. The rest of em are roasting … Temps near 90. Bad enough it was 86 on Moosehead Lake. For Northern Maine that is incredibly hot.
We got more rain last night, and rain is forecast for mid-week - I might get my WW boat out again next weekend. The rain has been very localized - western CT, western MA and then up into southern NH. Went to a family cook-out is southern RI near the beach yesterday and they are in a drought too, and it is hot and muggy everywhere. Whatever - I’ll take the rain while it lasts…
Headed to western ME mountains for the week. Will be visiting “Planet Errol” for some flyfishing and ww goofing. According to dam operators, scheduled releases conform pretty much to the usual - upto 500 CF on weekday mornings, and upto 1500 on both weekend days for kayakers and rafters.
sing
Never one to complain about disturbances that bring rain and waves for play. Of course, its important to know and play within your limits. Seabrook was unforgiving this weekend to the unwary.
We are getting an abundance of rain. Everything is lush and green this year.
The Enoree Rivrr is not dammed so when the big storms come through the upstate it can jump from as 200cfs to 2,000 in a matter of a few hours, and rise 5 or 6 feet. in a couple of days it is back down to as low as 100 or 200 cfs again. The section I enjoy (not ww) dancing down river between strainers becomes too dangerous for me if it gets above 600cfs.
