Rockbridge Baths section of the Maury River in Virginia
| River: | Maury |
| Skill: | Novice+ |
| Trip Date: | 04/28/2018 |
Rain is a good thing, but it sometimes complicates a trip coordinator’s choice. When I planned a “Richmond area” trip many months ago, I was thinking about the James or Appomattox. The rain earlier this week washed those thoughts away – both rivers were too high for this open boater to consider running. I finally settled on the Rockbridge Baths section of the Maury River near Lexington, Virginia. While all the “big dog” boaters were meeting upstream to run Goshen Pass, we were gathering in front of the Rockbridge Baths Post Office. We arrived from a wide geographical area encompassing the two states of Virginia and North Carolina, a joint venture of Coastal Canoeists and Carolina Canoe Club. Nine paddlers put on the river: Jenny Wiley (OC-1), Sally Wetzler (K1), Edwin Talley (K1), Donnie Fleming (K1), Jamila Squires (K1), Nick Hite (K1), Angi Hypes (K1), Abbie Feigle (K1), and Richard Walters (OC-1). After running the Indian Pool section (immediately above Rockbridge Baths), Jason Judy (K1) caught up with us later in the trip. Special thanks to Terri Bsullak for running our shuttle (we love the gift of shuttle!) and to Dave and Liz Bradford for their hospitality in running the upper river with Jason and for the great beta on river levels. We hope that Stout is being a good boy today.
Four paddlers were running the river for the first time (Donnie, Jamila, Angie and Abbie) and three others, for the second time (Edwin, Nick, and Jason). The level was about 1100 cfs (Maury River RB gauge) – i.e., high, but not too high. At this level, the Maury’s green water was offset by large, rolling waves that broke back into the faces of kayakers while canoeists just pushed right through or over. The wave trains were delightful, with many clear channels. The current was a bit more pushy than usual, but there were fewer rocks to avoid (including the surprise rock at the end of one particular wave train). Most of the rapids are on curves and all have marvelous wave trains that are a miniature version of some of the ones on the Nantahala (but not nearly as cold on our trip). Only one rapid has “want very badly to miss” holes, but they were easily visible from upstream and just as easily avoided by staying to the left side of the channel. The weather was gorgeous, sunny with a few clouds hanging out here and there. Spring had finally arrived in the form of dozens of red bud bushes and leaf buds on the trees just ready to pop open and bathe the forest in green.
We all left the river with smiling faces and dry hair (except for the kayakers who decided to practice their rolls just above the take-out. As an open boater, I still don’t understand this flipping the boat on purpose exercise. I opted to stay upright.) I think others have fallen in love with one of my favorite stretches of river.