We had 25 paddlers join us for our Sunday run in the GW canal section of the Potomac River. We ran the typical loop, meeting at Violette’s Lock with the goal of a 9:30 launch (we tried our best). The weather was sunny with high 70s and low 80s for the duration of the run. The water level was at 3.11 ft, the discharge was 3,450 cfs, and the water temperature was 78 degrees F at the time we put in according to the Little Falls gauge. The group consisted of Dasa M., George F., Kathleen S., Tim T., Steffan (?), Wayne M., Bob H., Gary Q., Ginny Q., Alf C. Bruce C., Beth K., Hendrik V., Dmitry D., Hildy F., Pam W., Jennifer S., Mark W. and his guest (also Mark), Rich (?), Leonardo L., Ethan G., Jackie H., Cliff Z., Alan G., and Dean Hawes (TC).
Given the rather large group we decided to break into 3 subgroups led by Jackie (the fast group), Alan (the medium group), and Dean (the slow group). We launched at about 9:50 AM and convened the group in the first eddy for introductions and a trip briefing. This trip was a PFD for 1 paddler.
Group 1 – The Fast Group: a few of the paddlers (including Jackie) wanted to play a little more so with permission they split from the first group and joined the second group at Surfer’s Ledge. Wayne was then leader of group 1 and finished the run with no events to report.
Group 2 – The Medium Group: The group also had an uneventful trip with no swims. After Exit Rapid, Alf and Bob took what Alan calls the "high route” attaining and ferrying across the river well above the island, while Alan led the rest of the group on what he calls the "low route" through the wave train on the right side of the island and crossing below the island. All of us (my group and Alf and Bob) arrived at Block House Point at about the same time.
Group 3 – The Slow Group: We did exactly what our name implies; we took our time getting down and spent a lot of time at each feature either ferrying, surfing, or attaining. We veered to the right after the Diagonal rapid to go down Jacuzzi and then back to the main channel to finish with the Exit Rapid, where we had one out of boat experience as the result of a failed boof attempt.
In terms of statistics, we had 25 happy paddlers, 1 PFD, 1 out of boat experience, a couple of failed practice rolls, and no injuries.
Submitted by
Dean Hawes