Headed out on a Saturday afternoon as the temperatures climbed into the 40s, but the water temperature hung just above freezing. Not a good day to forget the pogies, but it wasn't too bad. I was in plastic, Ned Poffenberger was in his C1 and the adventurous team of Jen Sass and Joe Randall were in a Topo Duo --- an unusual choice for a planned attainment and downriver run to Sycamore.
Because everyone wanted to get warm fast, we paddled steadily up Center Chute without checking MD or VA. The Duo made the elevator move on attainer's left with ease. Left and center lines were available, as usual. All the usual moves at Wet Bottom were tried and made.
Rocky was more interesting. At this level, something I call the "guard wave" forms at the top of the attainer's left eddy at Rocky. You can use it to surf right-to-left up the move...but getting over and onto the wave from below can challenge boat control and power. One alternative is to go straight up beside the rocks to the left, then power up with a little help from a tiny elevator there. But that leftside move beside the rocks really challenges a right C1er, like Ned.
While Ned and I took turns assaulting the guard wave, Jen and Joe took aim at the left side line. I'm assuming that they received a tremendous advantage from the extra boat length, as they powered right up. :-) And just to taunt Ned and I, they then proceeded to go make 3.5 look like a good level to surf at Rocky. It was a lot of fun to see that big boat lock into place on the wave, sending spray flying in huge arcs.
Well rewarded --- and well chilled --- for our efforts, we headed back down, where the Duo also caught the wave at Wet Bottom. After a sprint to Anglers, my companions took off and I headed down to Sycamore.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Colder weather is back, chasing away those fair weather paddlers and leaving the clear water and beautiful skies to us real boaters. :-)
Went out twice this on the home Potomac Thanksgiving weekend, once at 3.1+ and once at 3.0. It's always interesting to see how even .1 changes the river, but the attains were all pretty much the same. At 3.1, I was out in my glass boat with Ned P. in his C1. I was once again reminded of how I couldn't possibly do what C-boaters do. We cruised up, doing multiple routes up the Middle Chute, Wet Bottom and Rocky, before taking a brief stab at S-turn. The left-to-right ferry temporarily defeated righty Ned... though if we'd had more time, he definitely would have made it. We slalomed our way home through a gentle shower.
At 3.0, I was out with Alexina and Paul, all in plastic. We took a couple of shots at the attainer's left move up through the rocks above the hole, but were unsuccessful. I think we could have made it, but we were looking forward to getting upstream. We followed Paul's lead up through the Middle Chute, setting the tone for a day of humiliation...no, that's not the word...torture...still not right...inspiration (!) from Paul's effortless success at everything we tried.
Powering up the far right move at Middle, we continued to Wet Bottom, where you could really see the loss of that .1 of water. Then came Rocky, where the inside and outside moves on attainer's left where in, though they quickly punished poor boat control. I went over to try the attainer's right move on the other side, which normally comes in at 2.9. I think I could make with a little more hull speed --- and a better forward stroke. But failure just left me in a perfect spot for a little surf wave, providing consolation.
Many attempts to emulate Paul's elegant attain on the outside move left Alexina and I with noodle arms, so we headed back down. Multiple attains there (and some slalom-type moves which I can never resist), after which we sprinted down to Virginia for a bit more punishment. Alexina and I beat ourselves to death on the Virginia attain, but finally made it. I personally believe that Paul started TRYING to screw it up --- and was STILL making it.
After a couple of weeks of attaining and long downriver runs, I didn't expect to be so tired from a simple up-and-back. But it was a great weekend, proving again that every level holds challenges and fun --- even if you're not a falls runner. :-)
Went out twice this on the home Potomac Thanksgiving weekend, once at 3.1+ and once at 3.0. It's always interesting to see how even .1 changes the river, but the attains were all pretty much the same. At 3.1, I was out in my glass boat with Ned P. in his C1. I was once again reminded of how I couldn't possibly do what C-boaters do. We cruised up, doing multiple routes up the Middle Chute, Wet Bottom and Rocky, before taking a brief stab at S-turn. The left-to-right ferry temporarily defeated righty Ned... though if we'd had more time, he definitely would have made it. We slalomed our way home through a gentle shower.
At 3.0, I was out with Alexina and Paul, all in plastic. We took a couple of shots at the attainer's left move up through the rocks above the hole, but were unsuccessful. I think we could have made it, but we were looking forward to getting upstream. We followed Paul's lead up through the Middle Chute, setting the tone for a day of humiliation...no, that's not the word...torture...still not right...inspiration (!) from Paul's effortless success at everything we tried.
Powering up the far right move at Middle, we continued to Wet Bottom, where you could really see the loss of that .1 of water. Then came Rocky, where the inside and outside moves on attainer's left where in, though they quickly punished poor boat control. I went over to try the attainer's right move on the other side, which normally comes in at 2.9. I think I could make with a little more hull speed --- and a better forward stroke. But failure just left me in a perfect spot for a little surf wave, providing consolation.
Many attempts to emulate Paul's elegant attain on the outside move left Alexina and I with noodle arms, so we headed back down. Multiple attains there (and some slalom-type moves which I can never resist), after which we sprinted down to Virginia for a bit more punishment. Alexina and I beat ourselves to death on the Virginia attain, but finally made it. I personally believe that Paul started TRYING to screw it up --- and was STILL making it.
After a couple of weeks of attaining and long downriver runs, I didn't expect to be so tired from a simple up-and-back. But it was a great weekend, proving again that every level holds challenges and fun --- even if you're not a falls runner. :-)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Potomac - 5.2 and rising
Surprise! 5.2 was a great level for the Cheat trainers attaining from Angler's.
Those bold enough to use the little hole at Maryland Chute were rewarded with a quick ferry across to attainer's right. From there, it was an easy up and on ot the gorge. Others headed to Virginia Chute, where a sketchy looking elevator into boils in the attainer's right slot turned into an easy move. A ferry to the Virgina bank and a couple of small, tight moves up the eddies gave them access to the gorge. Various ledges along the gorge provided plenty of exercise. And to the delight of the lead group, Wet Bottom yielded to skill and determination on attainer's left along the Virginia rocks.
Another adventure proves again what a great boating playground we have here on the Potomac!
Those bold enough to use the little hole at Maryland Chute were rewarded with a quick ferry across to attainer's right. From there, it was an easy up and on ot the gorge. Others headed to Virginia Chute, where a sketchy looking elevator into boils in the attainer's right slot turned into an easy move. A ferry to the Virgina bank and a couple of small, tight moves up the eddies gave them access to the gorge. Various ledges along the gorge provided plenty of exercise. And to the delight of the lead group, Wet Bottom yielded to skill and determination on attainer's left along the Virginia rocks.
Another adventure proves again what a great boating playground we have here on the Potomac!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Back channel to Dead Cow
Cheat trainers caught the Po on the rise for a Saturday attain before heading down to Sycamore. It was 7.3 when I left the house, but the gauges said it hit 8.3 while we were on the river. I think the LF gauge was a bit skewed by the contribution of Difficult Run, so I'm guessing the back channel was around 7.5 when we were there.
In truth, the attain was pretty easy. You could sneak around some of the tough spots through the trees. And if you got stuck, you could ferry across to keep moving. The ferry move at the top above Dead Cow looked ominous, but many of our group made it easily. For those who wished to play, Dead Cow was definitely coming in...and the big wood hadn't appeared yet. For the less daring, the channel over to below Maryland Chute was easy. From there, it was a fun run down to the waves at Skull Island.
On the run down, Yellow Falls and Stubblefield were essentially washed out. The take-out at Sycamore was a trip...just paddle up onto the ferry platform and step out!
In truth, the attain was pretty easy. You could sneak around some of the tough spots through the trees. And if you got stuck, you could ferry across to keep moving. The ferry move at the top above Dead Cow looked ominous, but many of our group made it easily. For those who wished to play, Dead Cow was definitely coming in...and the big wood hadn't appeared yet. For the less daring, the channel over to below Maryland Chute was easy. From there, it was a fun run down to the waves at Skull Island.
On the run down, Yellow Falls and Stubblefield were essentially washed out. The take-out at Sycamore was a trip...just paddle up onto the ferry platform and step out!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Offut Loop at 5.2
Out with the Cheat group doing the Offut Loop...down from Anglers in the main channel, left before getting to the Yellow Falls ledges and back up past the Offut wave. Most folks were in plastic, though we had a few in composite boats of different ages and conditions. I suppose we could say the same about the paddlers. :-) Water temp was 45, with the air around 60.
There is a small attain move on attainer's left as you come up the first island, easy at this level. The ferry across the big channel between the two islands proved a little challenging to some. We used the standard Offut wave attain --- zig-zag up from attainer's left. Folks handled this pretty easily.
Working up the Maryland bank side, the trees and brush provide a nuisance as you beat up the current. Easy to ferry over to the other side and make your way up from there. Only other mild challenge is passing the rocks below Anglers...but at this level, that was not difficult.
A number of folks did multiple loops --- a good steady workout.
There is a small attain move on attainer's left as you come up the first island, easy at this level. The ferry across the big channel between the two islands proved a little challenging to some. We used the standard Offut wave attain --- zig-zag up from attainer's left. Folks handled this pretty easily.
Working up the Maryland bank side, the trees and brush provide a nuisance as you beat up the current. Easy to ferry over to the other side and make your way up from there. Only other mild challenge is passing the rocks below Anglers...but at this level, that was not difficult.
A number of folks did multiple loops --- a good steady workout.
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