West Virginia Wildwater Association
Trip Report
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West Virginia Wildwater Association |
Lower Yough Weekend
by
David King
Date(s):
August 12-14, 2011
Location:
Lower Youghiogheny River
River Level:
1,7 ft (Fri), 1.88 ft (Sat), 1.95 ft (Sun)
Trip Coordinator:
David King
Class:
II - III+
Participants:
(Fri) David King, Marilyn Polan, Charlie Redington, Josh Jordan, Jacob Jordan, Matt Thompson, Wes Barthwick and Amber Stohr (in double duck), Jim McClure and Brent Smith; (Sat) 24 paddlers (unnamed); (Sun) David King, Marilyn Polan, Charlie Redington, Brent Smith, Jeff Josick, Matt Thompson, Wes Barthwick and Amber Stohr.
Friday, August 12, 2011
A late afternoon trip on the Loop. The level was 1.7’. Paddlers were David King, Marilyn Polan, Charlie Redington, Josh Jordan, Jacob Jordan, Matt Thompson, Wes Barthwick and Amber Stohr (in double duck), Jim McClure and Brent Smith. We started at Entrance Rapid with excitement and three swimmers. A few more random swims were experienced along the way. Jeff Wright was waiting for us at the bottom of Railroad Rapid and got some video of us finishing our run. Then we were off to Falls City Pub, our traditional watering hole and feed trough.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Paddling the full Lower Yough run. Level – 1.88’. A great turnout by WVWA members. We had 24 come out for the day; too many to name here. We divided into three groups in order to keep up with everyone. Groups were lead by Chuck Brabec, David King and Brent Smith. Newbies and less experienced paddlers were mixed with experienced boaters for safety.
The river was very crowded with rafts at the beginning, but opened up as we went. The groups changed order in the procession as we all went along at our own pace. There were a few swims along the way, some caused by collisions with rafts. Some good rolls were made as well. We made it through the Loop and the Doldrums (the flat water section). We arrived at Dimple, where David’s and Brent’s groups merged, with some running the main line and others the sneak. There was some swimming, but no one was worse for the wear. We stopped at Swimmers Rapid for some surfing and lunch. Before leaving, Jeff Wright’s girlfriend came floating down the river. She played around in the surf hole for awhile and then came over to the eddy to socialize and take pictures with the group.
Everything went fine until Killer Falls. This is where I took a lesson in River Karma. Killer Falls is a little ledge pour over that everyone runs backward. Ted Duncan had run this a few weeks earlier and got trashed. I, of course, laughed and joked about him getting worked in Killer Falls. Bad karma for me. I went backward over the left end of the pour over, same as Ted had done. It immediately back ended me and thrashed me around, bashing me against every rock, seen and unseen. I managed to roll up in spite of taking a shot to the face, resulting in a small cut above the eye and a dandy of a shiner that peaked in color five days later. No more bad karma trash talking from me now that I got beat down by Killer Falls.
Trying to improve my Karma, I quickly turned to a positive approach and complimented Jim McClure on how great he had been paddling and what an improvement he had made over last year. He thanked me and then he said it. “I haven’t swam yet this year”. BAD KARMA!
At Bruner Run, the last rapid, Jim was leading the group. Sure enough, the river wasn’t going to accept any trash talking and Jim became “Swim Jim”; another student in river Karma.
All three groups completed their runs with smiles and stories to tell. Another run to the Falls City Pub and all was right with the world.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Lower Yough – level – 1.95’. A big thunderstorm over night brought the river up and thinned out the group.The forecast was for rain, but it all came the night before. The day turned out beautiful and sunny. Too bad for those who chose to pack it in for home. Paddlers were David King, Marilyn Polan, Charlie Redington, Brent Smith, Jeff Josick, Matt Thompson, Wes Barthwick and Amber Stohr. The river was much less crowded than Saturday, a welcome change. We hooked up with Jeff’s girlfriend again at Swimmers Rapid. She had had a rough night and was a bit deflated, but did come along with us the rest of the way and even joined in for a group picture at the takeout.
Our Yough weekend had come to an end. A good time was had by all. This was a step up for some of our newer members and they all improved their paddling skills. Lessons in River Karma were learned, soon to be forgotten and repeated. You got to love it! Oowha oowha oowha! Best friends $20 can buy!
Links to photos: