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.