Upper and Lower Russell Fork (Class 2-3)
| River: | Russell Fork |
| Skill: | Intermediate |
| Trip Date: | 10/05/2019 |
Breaks Interstate Park is one of my favorite places in the world. We had a great weekend with great weather (no drysuits required this year). Wildlife was present throughout camp and the leaves and rock formations were great even though it had been super dry there recently.
Several of us met for breakfast at the lodge and enjoyed some good food before the paddle. The rest of everyone met at 9 am to start working out shuttle. There were 21 people on the Upper on Saturday which consisted of putting in at Flannagan Dam on the Pound and paddling down to Garden hole. (Donna Murphy, Greg Murphy, Barrett Black, John Hall, James Crane, Ed Boswell, Delane Heath, Joe Fortin, Liz Rees, Wes, Trent "The Duke" Fentress, Joel, Ronna, Lucas Conkle, Amie Scott, Kathy Cusick, Teresa Tee from Kentucky, Joe M, Len P, Steve Gauss, and the great Larry Ausley!) We had 3 in a raft, 2 in a shredder, 5 canoes, and 11 kayaks. Amie, Joe M, and Kathy had their first decent and several others it had been quite some time since they had been. Joe Berry was very much missed, maybe next year. Everyone had a blast! Great lines through 20 Stitches!
9 of us continued to the Lower Russell Fork (Donna, Greg, Barrett, Lucas, Amie, Kathy, Teresa, Joe M, and Larry) and battled the infamous "Meatgrinder" rapid (#GetYouSome). It was smiles all day.
7 of us continued to Haysi for dinner (Donna, Greg, Lucas, Amie, Kathy, Joe M, and Larry) after picking cars back up from Flannagan Dam and ate at a different place this year called the Pizza Factory. The service was great and they were very accomodating to split our pizza bill 7 ways so we could each pay our own way. Would definitely recommend this place for paddlers to go after a long day of paddling!
Back at camp we heard some stories from some of our friends who hiked instead of paddling the lower and met a train in the tunnel going to El Horrendo in the gorge. Scary stuff. You won't catch me on that hike ever!
Sunday we did a shorter section and put on right at the confluence of the Pound and the Russell Fork and paddled to Garden Hole. There were 13 of us. (Donna, Greg, Barrett, John, James, Ed, Lucas, Amie, Kathy, Joe, Len, Steve, and Larry). 5 canoes, 2 on a shredder, and 6 kayaks. Another great day missing Joe Berry!
Maybe the great Joe Berry will join us next year and show us how it is done!