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!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, February 28, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Just a bit below 3.5
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.
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, 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. :-)
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