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.....

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!

Big Creek to Hanging rock Access on the Dan River

Dennis and I with  Kelly and Warren Stacks floated the Dan yesterday.  We put in at Big Creek at the bridge on Lynchburg rd. and got out at the hanging rock access. Putting in here at the bridge is steep and muddy and there is very little parking.  This is not my favorite put in. The Dan River Company does this run and their private put in access is much better.

Warren and Kelly our paddle buddies.

Youth group kids rock jumping.

Kelly is victorious over a rapid.

Fun Day, fun people!

Just floated a rapid.  I think this is my favorite place, in a river!

Warren floating the rapid.

It took about 3 hours because the water was so low and we stopped and played a little.  Also we almost did not go because the river guage said it was 1.55ft and the cfs was 121.  My book "Paddling the Eastern NC Rivers"  said 1.5ft was the minium to paddle this section and we were close and the min. cfs was 125 but the river was  fine if you follow the current. 
This run is perfect for beginners.  It has class 1 rapids along the way and beautiful scenery.

It was a beautiful day with great friends.

Snow Creek to Hemlock Access on the Dan River

Dennis and I discovered that the dam release water from Kibler 11-5 Saturday is at the section on the Dan River at Snowcreek to Hemlock at 9:30am Sunday.  During a time where the rivers are so low this is helpful if you want to paddle in the summer.  We arrived at Hemlock Access at 9:00 and put in at Snowcreek at 9:30am and got out at 11:45am at Hemlock. The water was up on the section more than I have seen it but it was very muddy from the rain with the dam release.   It did wash out some of the rapids.  The river gauge at Fransisco said 1.64ft but that is because the release water had past there.  This was no indicator of the water level at this run.  The class 2 at the end of the run (Hemlock Access) was the most fun I had ever run it.

I may do this section  the next day of the dam release again as long as it had not rained.  The muddy water took away from the beauty of this section. I decided after yesterday and today that I do not like MUDDY water. I like clear water with no tires in it.  Saw 3 car tires along the way.  Why would someone put tires in a river?

 If I remember correctly the peak of the release hits Hemlock at 10:30AM AFTER A Kibler dam release Saturday 11-5.  I just know the water was at Snowcreek today at 9:30am.

Big Creek Bridge at Lynchburg rd to Hanging Rock Access, June 26th 2012

Took Casey, Parker and Jonathon kayaking today down the Dan River.  Parker and Jonathon were 1st timers and did well although Parker went down several rapids backwards.  Parker raced me several times and he is pretty fast paddler too.  I was worried the water would be too low it was 1.4 all week but rained the night before and that morning it was a 1.67 ft at the river gauge at the Fransisco bridge.  This made the water just fine on the section from Lynchburg rd to Hanging Rock Access. (Very little parking at the bridge.) This section is good for beginners.  It takes about 2 hours and it is about 6 miles.

Fun memory:  The way to float a rapid is to lay striaght as a board, cross your feet, cross your arms.  Casey, Parker, Jonathon and I floated through a rapid in our life jackets.  Fun Day.

Hart Access to Lynchburg Rd (268) ( Dan River)

Today is supposed to be 102 degrees.  Dennis and I decided to beat the heat and get on the river early.  We got on the Dan river at Hart Access at 7:00am.  We left home at 6:15am.  The dam was releasing yesterday from 2-6 and we thought maybe we would still have some water since it takes 12 hours to reach the Fransisco river guage.  At 7:00 the gauge was 1.6 but by the time we got out at 10:00 the gauge said 1.5ft.  The temperature was 71 degrees at 7:00 but at 10:00 it was 92 degrees.

It was a fun day but the water was so low it was not as fun as it was the last time at 1.8ft.  I rubbed more rocks today than I have in the last 6 months.  I will wait until we have more water to do this section of the Dan river again.  Also the access at the Big Creek bridge is very steep and you have to paddle up the Big creek to get out and the creek was real low.  Only a small path was deep enough to get to the take out.

Hart Access to Moores Springs campground

Fun run.  The gradient is 12ft/mile. That day the water gauge was a 1.83 ft.  I do not think you could run this much lower.  It had many shallow spots because of the gradient change.  This is my second favorite run on the Dan River so far.  It is about 8.3 miles long.  Dennis paddled his Liquid Logic Coupe and I used our Peception Sport recreation boat.  This is a beautiful run with such pretty surroundings.  It is so enjoyable because of all the rapids even though they are small they are frequent. Even though it has action and beginner could do this fine.

The only negative is the out access at Moores Springs road.  You have to call the campground and get permission and it cost $10 to park there even if you are not camping.  You get out at a creek which is nasty and the road is washed out to the access so you have to carry your boat 100 yds to your vehicle.

I hope the water gets up again so I can do this again soon.

May 19, 2012 First run on Jessup's Mill run on the Dan River

So close to home and so fun...The gradient was 23 ft/mile, fun, fun. We started at Jessup's Mill off Collinsville Rd and got out at Hart's access off 704 on the Dan River.  The temp was 75 degrees water temp was about 55 degrees.  Dennis paddled the new Liquid Logic Coupe in his wet suit.  I paddled out Perception sport rect boat with a splash skirt.  I could have paddled without the skirt but I would have had top dump my boat  a couple of times because of splash during the many class 2 rapids (at least 6). I did not wear a wetsuit and wore my rash guard shirt and shorts and was comfortable. This was the first time I used the splash skirt and it was warm.  Dennis' boat did great mine did fine too.  I was thankful the river guage was 2ft.  That made this run perfect.  If it was lower it would have been much for difficult because there are shallow places.  This run is 6.5 miles.  Loved all the class two rapids.  Dennis took a swim when his boat ran up on a rock.  He is sold on a sit on top kayak now.  I may want one now but 5 kayaks may be enough for now. I want to try this run with my creekboat.

Paddle Time at the Dan River, Moratock Park to Snow Creek access

Today was a beautiful day, January 28 and 60 degrees.  This is my kind of winter.  We got a late start so Dennis and I decided to take a shorter kayak run today.  We put in at Moratock Park, in Danbury NC and we took out at Snow Creek access near Dodgetown rd. The run was between 4-5 miles long.  This was a beautiful section of the river with many little rapids but only a couple that might be a 1 + but with so many it kept the trip entertaining.  We did not have to paddle much before the current did most of the work, not a great deal of flat water here.  It was fun going over little ledges.

 The water gauge level was 1.88 ft and the cfs was 195 at the water gauge at Fransisco.  The level was nice and fun but we did have to manuver through shallow sections.  I do not think this section would be very easy to paddle much lower.


 The most eventful part of the trip was at put in Dennis and I decided to video each other at the first rapid so I went first then pulled to the beach to get out to film him.  When I stepped out of the kayak on the sand where I had beached my boat on the shore I sank over my knees instantly in the sand and mud like quick sand.  If I had not moved quickly I probally would have sunk much deeper and I would have had to crawl out.  I could barely raise my legs because of the suction.  That was a first.

The most enjoyable part of the trip was how pretty the day and scenary was.  We saw 2 grey herons and many wild ducks and well as many other water birds.  I wished I had my camara with me not just Dennis's phone.

We discovered it is much better to park near the Snow Creek access sign and take out by paddling up snowcreek a ways than to take out rather than near the bridge at Dodgetown Rd  a little farther down too.  Can not wait until the next trip.