Back to West Virginia

It has been a week or two since the last trip to West Virginia, so I knew we were due another trip with all the rain. None of the Nelson County creeks came up in Virginia, so Brett, Billy, John and I met up at 5:30 Saturday morning and made the game time decision to head up to the Canaan Valley area to get in some paddling. After lots of driving, scouting, and deliberation, we decided to get on the lower Blackwater. The upper was too high and the North Fork was too low.

Douglas Falls, North Fork Blackwater

Kayaking safety, like climbing, is all about risk management. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut when things get messy. This was the lesson learned on Saturday. Thats all I will say about that. However, the day ended on a high note however with an awesome Hackensaw Boys show at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV. This was followed by the after party at the Mountain State Brewing Company just up the road. We managed to be the odd group of kayakers who knew no one and were not in costume. But we didn't let hat hold us back from having a good time. It was a wet and chilly night but we all huddled in John's 1980s era Eureka tent and made it to the morning.

Sunday was a great day and we got to put on our soaking wet and freezing cold kayaking gear and paddle the Lower Blackwater without incident. On the way home we stopped by Dolly Sods Wilderness area for a quick side trip to Bear Rocks.

Dolly Sods

Self Portrait, Bear Rocks Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

Hackensaw Boys, Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV

Wet Rocks are Good Rocks (for paddlers anyhow)

This generally means it is raining or has been raining, which hasn't happened around here in almost 90 days. Thank goodness for dam releases and Great Falls, two things you can always count on in times of no water.
The rain started falling yesterday morning so we celebrated with a Wednesday morning Dawn Patrol. We had a good crew for this run, Brett, Ian, and eventually John joined as he couldn't bear the thought of not getting a lap in. We were on the water by 6:30am and made the first decent of the Maryland side just as the sun was rising through the rain clouds.
Ian and I headed up for another run. The scramble back up was made more difficult by the soaked rocks. The second run went off well. Ian had a close call with Horseshoe, but kept it together and was fine. What a great way to start the morning off!

The rain has kept falling which gives a good weekend outlook, but the more imeadiate intrest is the Potomac. It has finally risen enough to run the VA side. Billy and I left work around 1pm today to head out to the falls. WOW, I had almost forgotten how awesome the Virginia side is! Three spectacular drops, each very different from each other or any other rapids I have paddled. I got in two runs and opted to be the photographer for the last. This carry back up is brutal when its nice out, and really tough in the rain.

Curt dropping into U-Hole, the first rapid on the VA side of Great Falls

Billy gettin some good air on the Spout, VA side, Great Falls

What a great lunch break.