Paddle the Dan River, Jessup's Mill to Hart Access

Fun day on the Dan River it was August 17th and had rained all day the 16th.  Paddling the Dan in August is a treat because the water is usually too low.  This section putting in at Jessup's Mill on Collinstown Rd. was a special treat because we do not get to do it very often because of low water.  I have never paddled this set ion below 2 ft on the Fransisco water gauge and heard it was very boney below that.  Today the gauge was 1.85ft and 195 cfs.  It was a little challenging to find a line down river without getting stuck but was still very enjoyable.  We will be definitely be doing this section at 1.8ft and up again.  Also be sure to check with the owner of Jessup's Mill to check if there are any strainers.  The owner of Jessup's Mill also runs a shuttle if you contact him the day before.  The river narrows at a place called lunch rock and strainers get lodged there and it can be very dangerous.  This section and many class I and II rapids.  FUN!

Kibler Valley, Basketball Court to Presb. Church

Wow what a difference river flow makes.  Last Friday Dennis and I did this run when the dam was running at 9600 kwh.  It was fabulous!  Today is was 7600 kwh.  This was much harder. It was very "boney" as the other paddlers called it.  You have to really play dodge rock or get bit!. Our first run was a little rocky but we did great.  At this point I think Dennis and I were a little big for our britches.  We thought our little Mango Liquid Logic Coupes were invincible with us at the helm. WRONG.

I have been paddling 26 times since Thanks Giving 2011 and have never flipped, today had to be the day for an unexpected, (unwanted) swim.  I was going to try Basketball Falls a class 3 rapid which is at the top of the run.  I put the boat in the water above the falls and was trying to ferry over to the line another paddler we had met showed us. I was supposed to go slightly right of the pointy exposed rock at the top of the falls and ride the current through the falls.

The water was too rocky and shallow. I could not get power to get to the line I was aiming for.  I got stuck on a rock sideways and next thing I knew I had flipped. Struggling to get out of my thigh straps, I finally got to my feet.At this point I had the boat in one hand and my paddle in the other but the current was so strong I could not walk.  I had one option, release the boat and hope the paddler below would catch it and swim through the rapid. I remember standing there thinking..... Is this really my only option to swim through these falls?

I know from my whitewater rafting safety lessons, YOU DO NOT WANT TO WALK OR EVEN STAND IN FAST MOVING WHITEWATER. Here I struggle to stand in water I should not be standing in and can not make a step.

The swim.... I released the boat to do a solo down the falls, held my paddle and lowered myself into the water and took a pounding swim over the first falls then took at easier swim over the second falls and swam toward the bank shaking a little.

Sooooo thankful another paddler got my boat paddled it over to me.  HE WAS GREAT!!
After this swim I was a little shaken.  My confidence was shaken too.  I hit every rock possible the next 1/4 mile, got stuck on a rock then Dennis's boat slid on top of my boat and help pinned me to the rock.  The other paddler had to rescue us again.  This section has so many rocks and strainers and I hit each one this run.

Then 10 minutes later my glasses fogged up and I could not see.  I had to take them off and paddle without them. As my glasses fell out of my pocket to the bottom of the boat I looked up and Dennis flips his boat.  I think he was sympathizing with my swim.  Thirty minutes later he did it again though.  He has never flipped his boat before either.  It was a bad day.

Rough day for the Taylors.....     We ate kayak humble pie....... Score: Dan River, Kibler Valley 3, Taylors 0.  We may be battered and bruised but we are not defeated yet.

I may be watching too much of the Olympics.....

Smith River, Sports Complex to Mitchell Bridge

Timed the water level perfect. Had a fun and eventful day with great friends Warren and Kelly.

This section of the Smith River at the Sports Complex Access gets the water from the Martinsville dam 3 1/2 hours from the release time.  The dam releases at 1pm today and by 4:30pm it had peaked at the Sports Complex access.  The first part of this run is pretty flat and boring but from Eggleston Falls on it is pretty fun and has nice scenery.   This section has many class 1 and 1+ rapids (possibly a 2) and one 2+ or 3  which is Eggleston Falls.  We put in at 4:30pm as the Sports Complex passed Marrowbone Access at 5:30pm and got out around 7:15pm.  This information is helpful because I have not found it written anywhere and it is much more enjoyable to paddle in the river when it has water!!

Dennis and I discovered that Eggleston Falls is pretty easy to run if you go slightly left of the the center exposed rock then shift right toward the BIG exposed rock down stream.  Our friends Warren and Kelly enjoyed the sluice on the left to bypass the falls.  It is a fun ride as well.

The only low point was passing a stinky deer carcass as fast as I could and hearing gagging noises behind me, breathing out of my mouth while trying not to gag myself.  I discovered I can gather speed when I paddle if I need to. Phew!

Also I discovered people are generally kind when a stranger stopped after being flagged down by Kelly and gave the guys a lift to the put in after we left the keys of the vehicle parked at the take out in the vehicle parked at the put in. Thanks kind stranger!  Reminder to self:  Always ask about the keys before entering the river!

Also note to self: Calling the cab company in Martinsville is useless unless you can give them step by directions on how to get to you.  I gave them the address but they do not have a GPS I guess and had no idea how to find us.  Better not need a ride in Martinsville.

One more fun paddle before school starts!

Kibler Valley to the Methodist Church run. FUN!

Kibler is FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN!!!!!!!!!!

Kibler is gorgous!!!  This is Basketball Falls a class 3 where we put in.

One of the FEW calm areas.

Wow, paddling with friends in the morning on a relaxing run starting at Big Creek on Lynchburg Rd. to Hanging Rock Access to paddling with Dennis on the thrilling Kibler Valley section of the Dan River made an exciting day.

I am so lucky to have so many options so close to home.  Kibler Valley at the dam is only about 1 hr from King.  This was my first time running this section.  We put in at the basketball courts to bypass the 3 class rapids at the top of the run.  This was Dennis and I's first time running this section.  This was the most challanging section we have been on yet and it was a BLAST!!!  The dam started running at 7500 kwz at 12pm then at 2pm moved to 9600 kwz.

Kibler Valley in Ararat Va. is one of those runs you can only do if the dam is running and they only run the dam if they need power. Thanks goodness I am on the email group SRVCC, if anyone hears they are going to run they post it. This makes this difficult to find a time to do this section except it does run every Saturday in July for recreation releases usually at 7500 kwz.

Another shot of Basketball Falls.

This was the most fun I have had in a boat!!!!  We were kinda nervous putting in because it looked fast.  Where we put in is a solid class 2 run, whitewater for about entire 3.75 miles. and took out at the church.  It only took about 1 hour to go close to 4 miles.  This section is narrow and has many trees hanging low.  There are strainers too you need to avoid as well.  It is a more techical section of the Dan River because of the narrow passage, strainers and the fast moving water but soooooo fun!!!!!!!!!!  Our Liquid Logic Coupes sit on tops with thigh straps did wonderfully.  I am glad I wore a helmet too.  I can not wait to do this section again!

You could run this section 1-3 times easy in one day.  You can park at the church to take out and the basketball court to put in if you want to avoid the class 3 rapids.  I look forward to working my way up to the class 3 section starting at the dam.  This run I could do daily if I got the chance!!  It was that FUN!

Big Creek (Lynchburg Rd) to Hanging Rock Access, Dan River

The difference 1 day can make. Because the Kibler dam ran the day before the river depth went from 1.47ft. 7/26 to 1.7 ft 7/27.  It made a huge difference on the river.  This was a much easier run than the day before.  I paddled this with Lanie and Rhonda.  They both did a great job.  We put in at 9:20 am and took out at 11:50am.  The trip was approx 2 1/2 hours today and the day before it was close to 4 hours the flow 7/26 was 102 cfs but today the flow was 155 cfs.  This made a huge difference in speed, ease and time.  I was shocked.  Poor mom, Suzanne and Melody the day before had to work hard compared to today with Rhonda and Lanie because the water was so low.

Lanie just after we got in.

Rhonda pulling up to take a break.

Lanie floating a rapid.

This was a fun time.  This bridge access is steep and trashy but the Hanging Rock access is easy and nice.

I really enjoyed the company and beauty of the river.  I was off the river by 12pm ate lunch and was on the river again by 4pm up at Kibler Valley. I am trying to make the most of the few days I have left to paddle before I have to go back to teaching.

Rhonda scooting through the last rapid on this pretty run.

Lanie scooting the last rapid too.

July 26, 2012 DRC (Lynchbury Rd to the DRC) Dan River

Heat index 100 degrees, temp 95 degrees and river depth at the Fransisco river guage 1.47ft.  This is the lowest I have ever paddled this section the cfs is 102.  It usually takes me to 2 - 3 hours to do this run but it took 4 hours today.  Even with the river this low I only got stuck once and that was because I was not looking where I was going because I was filming.  With the cfs so low at 102 the run required a great deal of paddling or you would just not move.
To avoid the steep put in at the Big Creek bridge on Lynchburg road we took a shuttle with the Dan River Company.  This is a 6 mile run. There access is much nicer than the bridge.
Enjoyed the day with mom, Suzanne and Melody.  They all paddled great and only got stuck a few times which is a great accomplishment with the water so low. This is a pretty run, with many little rapids and beautiful scenery. At times it is like you are in a mini gorge with rock walls along the way.

I discovered Melody really does not like snakes.  After the DRC guy said snakes sometimes hang in the trees that hang over the river, Melody decided she would rather paddle in the sun or in the shallows and get stuck rather than paddle near the bank and possibly see one of those snakes.  Saw my first snake in the water swimming today though. I have seen them on the banks or in the rocks but never swimming.  This happened to take place where we had gotten out of out boats and were floating in our life jackets down a rapid.

These ladies did a great job.  Suzanne moved her boat like a pro and is pretty strong too. Suzanne was adventurous and jumped off a rock ledge into the river.

Suzanne being brave getting ready to jump! Before......

After...

 I was so proud of mom this was her 2nd time in a kayak.  She calls it being stretched.  She started a little rusty but mastered it quickly.  She is getting her paddle stroke down pat. She could become a regular paddler.

 This was Melody's first time in a kayak and you would have never known that.  She moved her boat through the small river lines wonderfully as well.  I guess Melody got stretched a little today too with the snake sighting and all. What these ladies did not know is if they can paddle this section with very little water having to carefully select the channels or get stuck, when the water is up it will be a breeze! 

Melody floating a rapid!

July 25,2012. Smith river- South Martinsville to Sports Complex to Marrowbone.

Trying to find water to paddle in late July is hard.  One of the outfitters of the Smith River suggested putting in after the Martinsville dam release 1-7 today at South Martinsville canoe access to Marrowbone.  It is 6.75 miles.  We put in at 2:40  the water started reaching the South Martinsville access at 2 but we waited until 2:40 for the river to fill. We arrived at 4:00 at the Sports Complex.  We must have paddled to fast before we out run the water. Waited until 4:30 for the water.   You can tell the dam water is here if the 2nd step on the ramp is under water.  We put in at 4:30 dam water was here by then.  Take 3 1/2 hours from dam for release water to arrive here. Was told it take 4 hours for water to reach Marrowbone.

Had the unfortunate experience to paddle next to a floating deer carcass. PHEW!!!!!  Hope that never happens again.

Eggleston Falls

Eggleston Falls is nice but the only interesting aspect of the entire trip.  I made it over with no flipping wore my helmet and everything. The trip was mostly flat water with a few wiffles except for the falls.  Not worth it.  I will not do this run again.  TOO BORING and TOO MUCH paddling.

We arrived at marrowbone at 5:45 which is 1hr and 15 mins   2.25 miles from Sports Complex.  Might to Sport Complex to Mitchell Rd ( Eggleston Fall is right before the Marrowbone Access)  but I will not put in at South Martinsville again.