5.9ish

Backchannel to side channel above Md. Chute. Ferried across to island by Va Chute, made my way up the Va shore to the rock-tree triangle. couldn't quite make that move to continue up. Rusty? Maybe....Possible? probably...

2.73 and steadily lowering

Laura, Chris, Grayson, and I headed out to Anglers for a Veterans Day Attain. Very lake-like out there. We had a couple of piroutte's? a slalom boat, and a green boat. There's a somewhat clear path up the middle of center chute and you can attain Virginia. Didn't try Maryland.
Wetbottom was getting harder but I was able to get up, Grayson was also able to get up the far attainers right side. Continued up easily to portage where we stopped.

Angler's to Sturn @3.1xft

Grayson, Kristin, Jason, and I attained from the eddy below Md. chute to Rocky at an even pace. I think we all took different routes. Me, just up the right side of center and then up the Md side to Wetbottom. Tried the attainers right at rocky, still to high for me. left was fine. We were joined by JohnM at Sturn. Lower S-turn was reasonable, and upper S-turn was hard to get a good start (swirly eddy and surgy top), but if you got there at the right time it was doable. Mine was pretty sloppy. Va chute again was fine.

Angler's to S-turn: 3.25+

Dropping levels brought the VA Chute attain back into play. Rocky on attainers left at this level is friendly to "first ascents". S-turn Lower was pretty easy, but S-turn Upper (up to Fish Ladder) was a reasonably demanding ferry.

Carderock to Angler's - 3.35

In response to an announcement that the PotomacFest attainment race might use Carderock to Angler's as a course (June 23rd entry on http://worldkayakblogs.com/billsblog/ ), Jen Sass, Clay Deming and I decided to check it out. After a slippery carry down to the sticky clay riverbank in a thunderstorm, we headed up river. As the rains stopped, we were presented with wonderful misty river vistas that eventually included a vibrant rainbow. Unfortunately, these were the highlights of the trip.

At this level, we got mostly flat water and sneaky rocks. We looked at Yellow Falls, finding one potential route at this level and one that might be possible with the water a little higher. Jen did a little probe in the middle, then we went around below the island (Turkey Island?) and back up the other side, each finding our own scramble over the shallow rocks --- sweeps strokes and paddle abuse! From above Yellow Falls, the trip to Angler's is just flat water.

General consensus was that it might be a more interesting route at higher levels --- or it might just be harder.

Surfing Rocky at 3.6?

Who knew? Easy attain up...and then more fun than I had imagined catching the first and second waves. Most of us were in plastic. Shorter boats had to work a bit to get across the boils and seams to the wave. But it was smooth, long boat type, surfing once you got on it.

5.8ish

Attained up the backchannel, exited above the Md chute, ferried across to Va island and crossed over to the Va chute channel and headed up the VA shore. Made it to one of the eddies next to the high rock wall on the Va side, ferried to md and couldnt make it up further.

at 7ft in a creekboat i could get up to corner wave, but no further, coulda made it up to center in a long boat. at 6.2 i did the backchannel and the ferry above deadcow also in a creekboat. missed out on any good 10ft attains! oh well next time.

4.4 and falling

I was finally able to go out after being sick for a month. Hopped in the slalom boat for something different. Didn't really do alot, just getting used to being in a boat again. at this level the md chute river left attain wasn't too bad, I think I could've made it straight across from the top of the md chute wave eddy. I think I saw someone attain the chute on the attainers left of md chute...hmm The attains above md chute were doable as was the chute below md.
The standard elevator at center chute was fine, didnt try va.

4.29 and creeping up

I was joined by Eric "The Report" Colbert for a try-all-the-moves session. Did all the usual MD, Center and VA attains at this level. Strangely, however, the VA bankside move --- "John's Folly" --- didn't have enough water...doesn't make sense based on our previous blog entries.

Moved on up the gorge to Wet Bottom. I got lucky with a perfect ferry the first time --- second time took a bit more work. I still believe this attain is made by driving all the way across to the second eddy...the one downstream behind the big center rock. But I did see Tom power up the first eddy recently at a similar level, though he had to work hard for it.

Waves at Rocky were big and well-used --- lots of folks out, including a contingent from Team RiverRunner with Joe Mornini.

3.7ft

Attainers left at Md was tough, but I think possible at this level eventually. Va chute I did once, but it was like 1/20. Va slot I didnt try because I was too stubborn to not keep trying the main flow, but I saw people doing it. could get up wetbottom pretty easily and the elevator at center chute is probably at its easiest.
As far as the movie goes, pulse stunk except for the syrup drinking and trying to swim out of holes.

3.87 and dropping slightly **update**

John's report:

All the usual fun for this level...we (Eric, Hector and I) did the attainer's right and the elevator on the left at Center. You can attain straight up the river or work either bank all the way to Wet Bottom. I worked on consistency of form and cadence of my forward stroke --- it's easy to lose concentration after a few minutes. Wet Bottom was pretty easy, with ferries available from either side of the center rock. The reward was surfing at Rocky, though Hector did try the attainer's left attain --- pretty much got plastered on the rock waiting for a surge to attack.

Clay's Report

We (Kristin, Ted, and I) brought up the late shift. Let's see, I could still do the chute below md, scrapy but done. The attainers right at Md was too tough today, but attainers left had some promise. basically going out the top of the eddy, catching the wave above md chute, and then a good ferry across. I think its possible, though not done today. Character builder. Spent some time and repetitions doing the attainers right at center. Did the Va slot which was medium, came close to doing the va chute proper but I think its just out of reach for me in plastic. And then the attainers left at Va chute I could do a couple times.

4.3-4.4ft

clay's revenge was alright for me, had to get it dialed in. md chute was fine. 1st above md was easy. second was another that was easy when you went up the right way, hard if you took alternate line. center elevator was open, va slot was getting to its fun level where its boily.

4.6ish

From Hector the protector, sassyJ, and fern the concern. John's folly @ va was doable as well as md chute. no to wetbottom for them.

4.8 and falling

Jenn Sass is referring to it as clay's revenge, I'd say the move at the corner chute was hard to set up for, but once in the perfect spot it was easy. I was only 2/15. Good speed, good angle, good boat lean, good strokes. The md chute was somewhat easy, the ferry over was the critical part. The takeoff is boily and surgy and the wave or the hole is not a clean move, but theres room for error. Most people just give up too soon on their ferry and look at the little pourover and stop. Above Md chute, the 1st attain seemed easy to me i just went up it, but maybe john or kristin can explain the move to that one. the second was not happening in plastic, had to go around to the DC channel.
On the VA side, the slot was getting more boily and surgy but it is still the fairly standard move, you can bounce over from eddy to eddy or just kinda move straight up the boily crease. There's also the va-vachute, which for me just required a good angle leaving the eddy and some strong smooth long strokes, similar feel to the first...and john thought we'd have trouble finding things to do!

4.1 and steady

The Md chute was difficult but doable. I had luck going up to the eddy next to the rock, ferrying out pretty far then paddling up slightly right, then hard right. I saw Peter do it and it looked like he just went straight up. Wetbottom seemed harder at 4.1 then the other day at 4.2. Definitely used more of the 1st eddy at 4.1 and that was the key move. where at 4.2 it seemed that getting some momentum in the 1st eddy (a boat length of so) to ferry over to the 2nd was more important.. Certainly at 4.1, being patient in the 1st eddy was key and if you had a decent ferry high up to the second the rest was cake. More of a visualize the move/technique and it was easy.

4.12 and falling

Chute below Md was pretty easy. Md Chute itself was difficult. I found better luck going way out, paddling up hard with right angle, then you can easily make a hard right.

4.22 and falling

Made it up various spots fairly easily. Below Md was moderate. Md chute was fairly easy, but needed work to find the slow water and good strokes up. Wetbottom , we used the first staging eddy a boatlength or so, the ferried over to the second and that was definitely a good workout...moderate. Backchannel was a little tougher than lower, but made it up to the main attain easily. no luck getting up the last slot.

Angler's to above the Chutes: 5.01 and dropping

This was with the Cheat race training group on 3/12 --- everyone in plastic. One group attained up the gorge...but I was with the other group and have no details on the up-river attains for this night.

• Back Channel to below Maryland Chute: Easy
• Maryland Chute: Tricky aggressive ferry from attainer's left (below the hole) over to attainer's right...easy up from there.
• Ledge on attainer's right above Maryland Chute: Tough...if you can't make it, try the ferry all the way across to the Virginia side...some moderately tough spots, but definitely an alternative
• Virginia Chute (slot): Boily, but easy-to-moderate...if you have a tough time above the slot, try a ferry or two back and forth to make the rest of the attain

Center Chute (Upper Ledge - left) did not look possible. I looked at Center Chute (attainer's right), but didn't go close enough to make a real judgment --- looked pretty tough.

5.73 -back channel attain (anglers)

Dead Cow area attainments.
Attain to below Md Chute (side channel) easy, ferry above dead cow- easy, small channel to above md chute --easy, and all the way up back channel to main potomac was possible but a little weird alone- medium because of trees.

Anglers to Wet Bottom: 4.08

Part of Cheat training on 3/5...everyone in plastic

• Slot below MD Chute: relatively easy with boat control
• MD Chute (attainer's right): Could be, but not this night
• Center Chute (attainer's right): Clay powered up
• Center Chute (upper): Perfect elevator...if you get in the right place
• VA Chute (slot): Boily, but pretty easy --- watch your edges
• Gorge: Steady paddling on both sides
• Wet Bottom: Start the ferry a little bit lower than usual, the first eddy is still the way to go, ferry available on both sides of the center rock

Wish list: Would like to have tried the Back Channel attain to Sandy Beach, but we ran out of light

idea

this seems like the easiest way to refine this list. i'd like us to be able to go out, attain something at a certain level, come back here and make a post, and update the list if its outside the levels i have already...or if theres something new like jason/graysons backchannel. then someday some of the wildwater/slalom boaters can laugh at us and tell us how pathetic we are.

Attains and Levels

VA Chute
Attainers Right -2.7-3.7
Attainers Left 3.8
Va Slot
3.7-5.0ft)
Va Bankside Left (Clay-tainment or John's Folly)
4.6-4.8

Md Chute
Attainers Right 4.1-5.2
Attainers Left
Lows threes close in slalom boat.
Promising at 3.7-3.9ft.

Slot Below Md (Clay's Revenge)
3.8-4.8ft

2 Attains above MD chute (below or at DC channel)
1st- 4.3 -5ft possible
2nd- 4.8 -5ft. around dead cow channel. 4.3-4.4 was fine.
Probably trivial any lower or covered much higher, so the upper 4's are good times to try.


Rocky
Md Side
2.8-3
Va Side
2.6-3.5 3.6-3.7 looks doable with work. Maybe even 3.8. Haven't tried consistently

Backchannel/sweetiepie. 4.0-4.2
Eddy hop your way up to the fun diagonal hole below the main drop. The wave you surf across is small but doesnt particularly look pleasant. Its really an easy surf on a low brace and you pop up in the eddy.
4.22 for the main drop was too difficult for me, easy enough to get to.

Sturn Lower Sturn - Up to 3.3ft (some people got up I didn't get to try)
Upper Sturn Up to 3.3ft (some people got up I didnt get to try)

Portage Rapid=- Staging Eddy _ John
Entire Rapid- JS say 4.1

Wetbottom
2.5-4.3
>4.3 difficult to mindnumbingly difficult as level increases.
Specific notes
4.22 wasn't too bad- used both eddies, first one only briefly. lots of work
4.1ft not bad- first eddy to top then second was easy.
There's a level at some point below 4.3 that is hard, and i dont know if we've documented it yet.


Wetbottom Va Side- 4.4 Surges


Backchannel/dead cow
Options: Back channel, back channel of the back channel, side chute to below md chute, ferry above dead cow, chute to above md chute, attain top of backchannel.
~6ft backchannel to main opens-
5.73 all were open
5ft- BC to below md chute- easy
At 5.8ft, attain up backchannel, exit above md chute, ferry over to Va island and attain up va side for as long as you can, when you can't go further try Md side...then quit

Center Chute Attains
~3.7 4.1 ft Up Right Side
3 to 4.5ft Standard Elevator
3.3-3.5 Right Side up Center

Odeck etal- I have never tried

Offut- 4's to 5 attainable in playboats.
theres left and right side of offut channel, and around the island.
@5.1ft The standard playboat attain was easy. Attainers left and any way up the rest of the channel. Couldn't make it around the island

Carderock to Anglers (and beyond)-
At 3.35ft the attain was pretty easy, certain parts were quite shallow, any lower wouldnt be very fun. Yellow falls, middle, looked possible at this level, but didnt try. Mostly flatwater from offut to anglers. We think high 3's to 4s would be a good level to try this again.
4.8ft- Carderock to Anglers- attainers right at the start, effort but not too bad. Micro-eddy hopping for a while and a ferry over to Va side and work up the shore to Anglers.
4.1ft- easier than 4.8ft but getting a little shallow. more difficult to find a way up stubblefield.

Varies between slalom boat and plastic
If its not listed may mean I havent tried it yet or forgotten, not that its impossible.
I also could be mistaken