Level: 626 cfs (3.87 ft.) beginning; 524 cfs (3.63 ft) end, Eno River near Durham gauge
Paddlers and what they're paddling: Clarke X. Cooper (Zen), Rob Elder (Micro 230), Angela Wiseman (Zen), Frank Mueller (Rock Star), Mark Kennedy (Mamba), David Freeman (Agent 88), Nate Taylor (Super Hero), William Holman (Burn), Dave Johnson (Flying Squirrel converted to C-1), Anna Ploghoft (Ronin), Frank McMahon (Diesel 75) and Bob Brueckner (Diesel 65).
On Memorial Day we did a trip down the New river in Virginia from the Bridle Creek Bridge(near the Mouth of Wilson) to the Hwy 21/221 bridge. This was an 8'ish mile paddle that was mostly class 2 with a couple of 2+ish rapids thrown in. We had a group of 5 – Keith Raker, Theresa Raker, Joandra Proia, Lim Lenburg and Judy Milakovich. It was a perfect day of paddling with beautiful weather, sufficient water flow with a nice picnic thrown in for good measure.
River: Middle and Lower Haw
Level: 508 cfs (4.06 feet), Bynum gauge
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2019
Paddlers: Paul Ferguson (OC-1), David Freeman (OC-1), Angela Wiseman (K-1), Mark Kuttrus (K-1 inflatable), Bob Brueckner (C-1)
I went to bed Friday night promising to run the Middle Haw if the Bynum gauge reported at least 340 cfs Saturday morning. So I was pleasantly surprised when the first reading was 496.
A weird rain schedule for the spring had me despairing for a good novice run. The Middle Haw and Eno were too low, but the Fear, due to current lake levels, was too high. Digging back through my trips journal, I found notes for running the Upper Haw at levels below where I'd run the Middle (Haw at Haw river of about 4.3). Perfect. I hadn't announced the specifics for the trip to avoid the problem of having to redirect everyone at the last minute (and risk missing someone).
* Sections: Middle and Lower
* Length: 5.3 miles
* Level: 2,760 cfs to 3,150 cfs (USGS: 6 feet to 6.2 feet; PADDLING: roughly 1 foot)
* Paddlers: William Holman (K-1), Nate Taylor (K-1), Eliot Mintzer (K-1), John McDonald (K-1), John Kriener (K-1), and Bob Brueckner (K-1).
I'll have to revise my window for the best water levels at the Super-Secret Whitewater Training Course after today's trip. From now on the range begins at 900 cfs and goes up to at least 2,760 cfs.
River: Rocky (Cape Fear River Basin)
Section: Pittsboro-Goldston Road (Chatham County 1010) to Chatham Church Road (Chatham County 1953)
Length: 4.4 miles
Paddlers: Paul Ferguson, OC-1; Bob Brueckner, K-1
Date: Dec. 18, 2018
Level: About 200 cfs when you add USGS gauges at Tick Creek (113 cfs) and Siler City (20.7 cfs) to several perennial and intermittent creeks
By Bob Brueckner
What a difference a dam can make, or rather the lack of one.
What started as a Club trip turned into a varied group of boaters. Mat Henry (from Marietta, GA) and I were the only two club members who signed up. I asked if he knew anyone else who could join.He invited Dawn Katz who then asked Shawn O’Banion (both also from GA). He also posted on his Facebook page and that is how Carl Schoonover (GA as well) joined. Shawn invited Asheville boaters Ben Whittle and Ashlee McGhee who then asked Taylor Cole. The power of social media.
Asheville Area – Dealer's choice weekend Oct 27 & 28
Rain had brought changing water levels and several choices. On Saturday, the group divided between the “regular” Pigeon Gorge (2 turbine release) and the Hepco section of the Pigeon (at 1,000 cfs). I was the trip coordinator for the Hepco trip.
Four boaters Cyndy Rentz Falgout (from Durham), Scott Cole (From Birmingham, AL) Tom “Week of Rivers Chair” Womble (from Bryson City and I (from Chapel Hill) set forth on Saturday, November 3, from Ferebe’s to the Falls. It was Tom’s and mine first time paddling with Cyndy and Scott.
