Gorge runs above 8 feet

More info from the Encyclopedia Van Grack:

From 8-9 feet:

-Sandy Beach to the Main Current is swirly with some waves (no big deal).

-Rocky Island Outflow is turbulent, but not chaotic.

-Wet Bottom is flat.

-The Gorge after the Left Turn becomes slightly chaotic. While this area is flat at most levels, starting around 8.5 feet, it has crashing waves, moving holes, and (at 10 feet) a horizon line drop. This area at high water is called "The Jumps." At 9 feet, some people call it Class IV. At 10 feet (and above), some people call it Class V.

-The Chutes, Dead Cow, and Skull Island are all fun to play in at this level as well.

If you have never been out above 8 feet, make sure you have big water Class IV skills and go with someone whom you trust.

-Adam

Long boat surfing at 7ft and above

More great info from the river encyclopedia, Adam VG:

Long Boat Surf-spots Above 7 Feet (Little Falls Gauge)

Skull Island Wave

Long River Runner: 6.6 - 7.3

Slalom Boat: 7.1 - 7.8

Sweetie Pie Wave (aka Back Channel Wave)

Long River Runner: 7.4 - 7.9

Slalom Boat: 7.9 - 8.2

Dead Cow Wave

Long River Runner: 8.6 - 8.9

Slalom Boat: 8.8 - 9.3

River Bend Wave (River Right at Right-Turn Elbow in Mather Gorge)

Long River Runner: 8.1 - 8.5

Slalom Boat: 8.3 - 8.8

Potomac 4.7 ...in a playboat!

No, playboats should not appear in an attaining blog. But it was quite the education in the art of the possible --- and impossible --- as I tried out a Jackson SuperStar for the first time on the Potomac.

The only real attain I tried was up from Offet. I almost made the attain up from the Offet ledge, working my way up the attainer's left channel above the rock beside the Offet wave. This attempt failed as I tried to make the move upsteam above the hole, though I think it could be done.

After carrying over on the island shore, I relaunched and ferried to the Maryland shore. I paddled up from there until I ran into a patch of fast current about 2/3s of the way up. I ferried to the island shore again, but was stumped by the little ledge. I hardly look at this ledge in a long boat, but was forced to give it respect on this night. I finally conquered it by grabbing the rock on my left, wedging my paddle into the bottom on my right, and pushing myself up. The rest of the attain back to Anglers was just a matter of steady paddling...in the dark.

Had a great workout, actually. But hull speed gets a whole new level of appreciation from me, for sure! It may be interesting to gather new stories of playboat attains, so I'll add a playboat tag.

Assaulting Wet Bottom at 4+

With local levels staying above 4 ft, Wet Bottom has become a good spot to burn a few calories. Key factor is the presence or absence of the first eddy as you ferry from attainer's right.

Above 4.2 , it's pretty much gone...so you drive straight over to the tail of the eddy below the big center rock. At 4.2 and below, you have a paddler's dilemma --- to use the 1st eddy or not? My rough gauge is the strength of the eddy lines on the 1st eddy. If they are strong enough to cause me problems as I ferry across, then stopping in the eddy to climb up is probably a good tactic. If there is mostly a wave train with weak eddy lines, then I may use the waves to reset my angle upstream...but then I move over to the big rock eddy.

At 4.1+, I think I've discovered another secret once I get to the big rock eddy. While my instinct told me to get away from the waves and to use the boily water on my left for the climb up, I consistently failed. But when I moved closer to the waves of the 1st eddy on my right, apparently into faster water and risking catching my bow, I was able to drive up.

Maybe the swirly boils don't let me get a good catch? Maybe the water to the right only looks faster? Maybe the boils take away as much as the give? Whatever it is, it got me up twice in a row at the end of a long session.

Incidentally, don't be afraid of even higher levels. I actually think that 4.4 may be a little easier than 4.2, for example. And somewhere around 4.5 or 4.6, a move on the Virginia side opens up.

Attaining in the lower 4s does provide a great prize at the end --- prime surf time at Rocky! ;-)

Potomac 4.3 and rising

A Wednesday night with the Cheat group found a few folks working hard to make the Center Chute attain. After many attempts there, we headed over to Maryland to try our luck. To the surprise of the team, making the first left-to-right ferry was not as hard as imagined.

However, making it up the little ledge opposite the usual Maryland hole proved too much. This move changes with each level. On this night, it required good control along the rock up to the ledge, then a strong take-off with a little elevator help, getting to a place a little more than 6 feet off the rock to power up a seam. If you drifted too far out, you were doomed. If you made it up the seam, but tried to cut back right too soon, you were similarly washed back down. It was great practice in boat control for this group.

Stories from upstream told of some full and partial attains of Wet Bottom, certainly good work for this level.

Potomac 4.4+ and steady

Chasing Paul Harrison and Don Gallitz upstream on a Monday night with the level somewhere around 4.66, our goal was some surf time at Rocky. I stopped to try Clay's Revenge (little slot at the Corner Hole rocks), first time in a long time, then up Maryland Chute at what may be it's easiest level for mere mortals.

The challenge was at Wet Bottom. But I will anger the attaining gods by saying I found it relatively easy. Yes, it still takes strong work and yes, I was in my glass boat. But the ferry over from attainer's right was made easier by having the first eddy washed out. You go straight to the convergence of the two bits of current coming around the big center rock. If your ferry is good, you pop in before it gets too mingled...making it mostly a matter of strong, steady strokes to the top. A good ferry to the shore on attainer's left (VA) and you're free to go surf!

Potomac 5.6 and falling

The Cheaters were out on a Wednesday night to take on a dropping river. At 5.6, the playboaters were out in force at the Center wave. But attainers had lots of options on this night.

For the efficient, attaining the back channel to get out above the chutes was the way to go. Maryland was attained by those who could manage the boils and were use the hole to start the ferry across from right to left. Virginia was the choice for most, attaining the washed out slot on attainer's right before ferrying across to the bankside above the hole. The first ledge above Virginia on the bankside was a challenge, but those who succeed were close to the rock and had a successful first stroke on the right above the drop which propelled them back toward the bank.

Others made it up the gorge to Wet Bottom, but ran out of time for that attain. It was reported that Randy and Eric made it all the way to Portage. But this same source also noted that the leprechauns had been seen in the gorge this evening, returning just in time for St. Patrick's day. You be the judge. :-)

Attaining at flood stage...oh, yeah!

OK, we cheated. But that is our mission, after all!

Faced with a Potomac that was over 10 feet and rising, the Cheat trainers headed down the river to Fletcher's boathouse to try something new. The ever inventive mind of Tom McEwan mapped out a course that took us down and around Roosevelt Island --- and back up! Having circumnavigated Roosevelt Island, the group split to both sides of the river.

The Maryland team used the Key Bridge pilings to assist their ferry, but then were surprised with fast current and had to work hard to get back to the Canoe Club boathouse. Things eased up for a while after that. A few tough spots were found further up, as tree branches in the water offered little help as eddies, while forcing boats out into current to get around. A final obstacle proved insurmountable --- an island formed by the high water just below Fletcher's, with swift current running along the island and through the trees along the shoreline. Paddlers were forced to find their way to solid ground for portage. Fortunately, it was pleasant and relatively short carry back up to Fletcher's.

I'm quite convinced that one could attain all the way up the Virginia side to Fletcher's. Water up in the trees actually provided some sneaks around troublesome spots, though the risk of entanglement and minor pins was ever present. There was one spot across from the bottom of the dreaded island that might be a real spirit-killer --- boily, fast, and requiring whatever you may have left in your reserve tank. Given time and circumstance, those that reached this point either ferried over to the Maryland side or did opt to carry that spot on Saturday. There is a trail on the Virgina side all the way up to Chain Bridge, though some parts were under water and others require tough climbs over rock jumbles.

For those who carried, we made our way up to directly across from the boathouse. A committed ferry would be rewarded with your take-out at one of the picnic tables on the opposite shore. :-) Miss your ferry and you end up below the island again, picking your way through the trees, by boat and by foot, to get back to the parking lot.

If the water were a little lower, I can imagine some spots actually being more difficult, as the sneaks through the trees would dry up. It may be interesting to come out the next time it is higher. :-) But for now, I think we all earned our "Crazy" merit badge for daring to attain the Potomac at flood. Great day on the water, full of wonderful city vistas and unexpected challenges!

Bonus info --- Center Chute wave/hole levels

Compliments of Adam van Grack...thanks, Adam!

TRADITIONAL Center Chute Wave:
5.2 - 5.5 = Hole Play for Playboats
5.5 - 6.0 = Wave Play for Playboats
6.0 - 6.3 = Wave Play for Medium/Playboats
6.4 - 6.9 = Wave Play for Long Boats (i.e., slalom boats)
7.0 - 7.4 = Wave Play for Really Long Boats (i.e., over 14 feet)

Center Chute ISLAND Wave
Above 11.5 = Experts Only

Potomac 6.66 - Devil's delight!

The Cheat trainers headed out for a Wednesday evening workout. Under cloudy skies, darkness was sure to descend early, so the plan was simple. Attain up and out the back channel, check out the Center Chute wave and head down for a loop around Offet Island and back to Angler's.

The level was an ominous 6.66, but dancing with the devil on this night was harmless and fun. Attain up the back channel required steady, but relatively easy work. The ferry over to attain out to the chutes did not challenge this group. The wave was a delight and yielded a number of long surfs. The Skull Island wave was not strong enough to hold, but provided momentary amusement.

The loop around Offut provided more challenge, but was managed by all. many figured out that ferrying over to attainers left at the top section avoided all the annoying trees and shrubs in the current. A small surprise came for some at the top, where the attain around the corner caused some to carry across the rocks. (You can ferry all the way across the main river to the Virginia side and attain up to Skull as an option.) The biggest challenge of the night was the final ledge before Angler's. My group got there in darkness, which made picking a line of attack extra difficult. A number of folks decided on a portage. The brave and foolish found a little sneak through the middle of the rocks which led to a small elevator move out into the water above the ledge.

Solid workout...waiting for DST to kick in for next week!

First day of Cheat training 2011 - 5.4

The Angler's parking lot was full of cars, people and long boats! Well, there were lots of short boats, too, as a relatively warm evening and a decent level brought out the Center Chute players.

Lots of different attains were done by the Cheat crowd, all in plastic boats. One group went up the back channel, then attained above Maryland Chute via the gap in the rocks on attainer's left. Others got below Maryland from the back channel with the shallow attain between the islands.

Another headed straight to Maryland up the river. Most were thwarted from attempting the ferry by the big boils protecting the usual eddy on the left. A few made it up into the eddy and fewer still made the ferry and attain to the top --- though that turned out to be almost the easy part.

Most ended up over at Virginia, attaining on the bank side and working their way up to the Jumps. Failing light made this a short evening, as the training team did the usual sprint to the take-out.

Potomac 5.2 and rising

A harbinger of spring, we got out on a sunny Sunday with the water rising through 5.2ft (somewhere around 23K cfs). Alexina "Action" Jackson and Paul Harrison, the EDF road warrior, joined me a little attaining before a long run down to Sycamore.

A quick check of the blog reminded me that the Maryland Chute attain took a commitment to a strong ferry from attainer's left to right. The real challenge came from a little ledge above the chute, where the back channel splits off --- it doesn't seem like much, but has the power to frustrate. A few failed attempts encouraged us to try the back channel itself. Lots of brush interlaced with old fishing line reminded us of the hazards of water in the trees, so we bagged it and headed downstream from there.

We did not try the Virginia slot on this day, though it should be good to go at this level. However, there has been a big tree at the top of the slot, which has changed this move. Here's hoping for a littel more high water to move it out. And it appeared that the ferry move from the ledge above Maryland which stopped us across to the Virginia side was still a viable option.