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
Monday, April 25, 2011
Gorge runs above 8 feet
More info from the Encyclopedia Van Grack:
Thursday, April 14, 2011
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)
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
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, April 8, 2011
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! ;-)
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! ;-)
Monday, March 28, 2011
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.
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!
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!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
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. :-)
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. :-)
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