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Jul 21: 2024: Kennebc River at Fish Flow

Participants: Reid Anderson (TC), Carolyn Atwood, Troad, Carol Futrell, Mike Timberlake, Paul, Paul, Ken, Brent

After a bit of discussion at the dam about shuttles and plans, our group solidified and headed off downstream. A few folks had been on the river (some in different craft) at higher water, and some had never been on the Kennebec at all. As such, I sort of fell into a defacto TC position. Despite the discussion at the dam, we managed to put on quite early and were able to make it to Magic before any of the “ramp up” flow caught up to us (I believe we were at Magic when the first step up in flow was scheduled to begin). It was easily the lowest I had seen Magic, which was not a upsetting as we all agreed we would prefer that than the other way around! Our run to the Stairs was completely uneventful and very enjoyable (I find those two often go together), playing around with eddies here and there, having conversation, and being able to enjoy the scenic beauty deep in the gorge. The only downside to our run being so early and so smooth was that we waited at the Stairs for longer than we would have liked, which left a few getting a bit chilly and having to find the spots of sun to stand in or shove off for the far side to wait in the sun closer to Northern’s lunch site. With the trickier stuff out of the way, we set off for the lower portion, taking our time enjoying the wave trains and slower waters on our float out to the ball field, arriving at the leading edge of the bubble before any commercial trips. Many thanks to Allan for his shuttle service and the engaging discussions that came along with it!

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Jul 6, 2024: Canada Falls – Class IV

K1: Artem Aleksashenko, Jeff Bickford, Jake Bordeau, Charlie Berliant, Devon Carter, Suzanne Cole, Gary Cole, Sean Green, Mark Nelson, Scott Nelson, Greg Winston, PPCS wannabe: Matt Parker
Shredder: Patti and Tom Rutka
OC1: John Brower, TC: Kenny DeCoste

With the threat of afternoon thunderstorms, 16 paddlers showed up for the first Canada Falls release of the summer season. While the temperature hovered around 80, the overcast skies kept the sun off our backs and made for a great day of paddling. The 500 cfs release is quite a bit less than the 750 cfs I’m used to. The first drops through the mini gorge were bonier than usual and made it challenging for the shredder to avoid the rocks. Everyone had good runs on all the drops, minus a capsize and 2 portages on the Slide. The TC finally managed to stay out of “Kenny’s corner”- the frothy pool below the drop on split decision on river left- and succeeded to redeem himself on this run. A few other boats circulated through the “corner” without mishap. On the second to last drop where most of us skirt the river-wide hole by a zig zag route on the far left shore, the skies opened up and rain poured down in buckets. No lightening but water ran down the front of my hydroskin which finally chilled me. While we retrieved the vehicles at the put in, the sun returned to dry us out. Everyone was a very capable paddler which made my job very easy as TC. 5 paddlers headed home and 11 of us returned to Roll Dam for an afternoon run.

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Aug 11, 2024: Dead River at 1800cfs

K1: Ron Chase, Brent Elwell, Clyde Mitchell, Matt Nathaniel, Jessa Solis
OC1: John Brower, Kenny DeCoster TC

Shredders: Don Skolfield and friend, Chris and son, Skip Morris and Brian Perver
After all the rain on Thursday and Friday and a great many emails, many decided against paddling the high water. Still on Saturday, about 20 people paddled the Dead at 4000+ and resulted in a little bit of carnage. By Sunday, Spencer dropped from 1650 cfs to 750 cfs and all the feeder streams were lower. 10 paddlers put in at Spencer with about 2500 cfs and ended the day with 3000+ cfs on the lower Dead. This was not the “beginner”/ 1800 cfs/ Throwback Cruise level that I advertised, but a mid-level run that our experienced group enjoyed.

Temperatures in the 70s and partly cloudy skies greeted us on the river. Skip and Brian joined the group at the gravel pit to retrieve the canoe that was lost on Saturday. We had an uneventful ride down the river riding wave trains and surfing waves until Mile-long Rapid. 1/3 of the way down, a kayaker flipped and tried to roll. Another kayaker paddled up to the overturned boat, grabbed both sides, and righted the boat and paddler in midstream. I had never seen anything like it before. A long nasty swim was probably averted. The rescuer’s paddle was picked up and returned so he could stop paddling with his hands.
Further on down the rapid, Brent was already on the rock with the broached canoe that had disappeared underwater the day before. Overnight the canoe had broken free from being submerged to broaching higher up on a rock further downstream so it was actually accessible. I paddled over to join him. I steadied the boats balanced on the rock and tied in the retrieved gear bags as Brent wrestled the canoe off the rock and sent it down lower Mile-long. It broached again in a quieter stretch of river and Skip and Brian took over installing an airbag and towing the boat to the Upper Poplar Portage, where it was paddling out on Monday at low water.

The rest of us made it out to the public take out without further incident. One thing about paddling the Dead is that it’s often an adventure that generates stories to be told around a campfire.

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Sep 15, 2024: Kennebec Gorge at 5000cfs

Suzanne and Gary Cole TC, Greg Winston, TJ Farnum, Peter Hockmeyer

Another gorgeous day for mid September. We had the pleasure of showing TJ, who had done the river once before, our favorite surf waves and the lines we run through the rapids. We lingered here and there, enjoying the river, the day and each other’s company.

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Sep 14, 2024: Dead River at 3500cfs

Suzanne and Gary Cole TCs, Patti and Tom Rutka, Paul Sarli, Paul LeClerc, Eric and Jack Kingsley, Jessa Solis, Kevin McKenzie, Loren Starcher.

We couldn’t have had a better day on the Dead. Warm and sunny, in our 6 kayaks and 3 inflatables, we made our way down river. We had a couple of people who were unfamiliar with the river and we enjoyed showing them the way through the more challenging rapids. Although 3500 is gentler than 5500, we found plenty of excitement. 

We wondered if we were ahead of the bubble as surfing at Quatro was not as good as usual, but it was hard to tell and we paddled on. It seemed too early to have lunch above Hayden’s, so we continued on and ate at Enchanted Stream. Some of us wanted to run the chute next to Elephant rock, but it was clogged with North Country rafts going round and round. We had to make a quick left and run the other side of Elephant.

Mile Long seemed pretty calm (we were probably comparing it to 5500) until the last bit. Our discussion after we made our way through the slot at the bottom was, “I don’t remember that big wave hole, do you?” On we went, some of us surfing here and there. Spruce Ledge wave was flat and things were uneventful until Poplar. We made our plans, where we were running it and who was following who.  A few had to switch to Plan B, but we all came through in good shape. 

We floated to the takeout reveling in our adventurous day. Two of us were enjoying our conversation so much that we floated right past the takeout. We ended up dragging our boats through the alders and up an old road back to the takeout.