Level: 3.22 feet (or higher? See below)
Kayaks: Bruce Campbell, Anne Kibler, Howard Morland, Chris Oberlin, Peter Ryan
Open boat: Larry Lempert
The level had been predicted to be between 3.0 and 3.1, but overnight rain brought it up a bit. When we checked the gauge in real time on Thursday, it was up to 3.26 before we headed out at 10:00am, but the Thursday readings as displayed the next day were 3.22 or 3.23 all morning. (Adjusted retroactively? I didn't know they did that.) High tide was at noon just as we were wrapping up. Temperature high 80s, humidity 70%, water temperature 85 degrees. Beaver Slide was easier at 3.22 compared to below 3.0; Larry successfully tested out going to the left side of the Beaver Slide rocks, rather than the usual right, finding it rather low and very creeky at that level. All took the Maryland side at the main drop, via various routes and without any problems. Gary and Ginny Quam hike down and perched on the rocks to enjoy the show, and Gary took great action photos. The high-tide takeout below the main drop was enjoyed by all, in contrast to the muddy slog at low tide. After the last took their leave from Lock 5 at 1:30 pm or so, the parking lot there was 100% empty, something not usually seen—could it have been the heat, humidity, and storm threats? (Storms did materialize later in the afternoon.) -- Larry Lempert