Coastals

Gonna paddle the Balcony Falls section of the James (Glasgow to the AT bridge) on Saturday. This is a wonderful Class II+ (with one Class III rapid) section of the James - lots of play, and a gorgeous setting. Meet at the put-in at 11 am. If you haven't paddled this section of the James, please be sure to contact me first.

I'm thinking I might be able to make this trip and have been wanting to check it off my list for sometime. I haven't done this part of the James, however I have ran the UJ (max 8 feet) and LJ (max 5.5 feet) 15+ times, the Rappahannock from Motts Run to Old Mill a few times; highest at 3.6 feet, and the Rivanna river once with Daryl. And many solo camping trips on the James from Lynchburg on down.

I haven't paddled since June 20th being on the UJ at 8 foot. I don't paddle in the dead of Summer so this would be a breaking back in paddle for me from 60 days off. I'm not a solid class III boater, but clean class III rapids are no problem and bigger ones are no problem if its not pushy flow, witch with the lower water level guessing its not going to be a pushy level on the 24th. Guessing around 2000cfs?

In the past year I've had 2 swims and my roll is not perfect. One swim from playing to hard at First Break on the LJ and one at Pipeline on the LJ borrowing a play-boat I had no business in! Had I been in a river runner I'd been fine there. That day I did walk around Hollywood in the play-boat so I likely would have swam that too. (I'll remember that day for awhile Turbo_D, that play-boat put me in my place!)

Lastly I'm a adaptive paddler with a left above the knee amputation, but need no baby sitting as others here could attest to. I''m also confident wet exit, T-rescue, working out of hole, self rescue, towing boats, chasing down gear, etc.

As of now I'm not 100% I can make it, but its looking like I will be able to make it up. If I miss this trip I'd like to make the next one.

Stickman / Raven,
Would love to have you join us! You should be fine on this section of the James. The put-in and take-out are almost adaptive-friendly - should be no problem! Here's a link to directions:
http://www.coastals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1151 Let me know if you need more info. Hope to see you there!

Barb, I will be with you Saturday.
JJ

Looks like Ken & I'll be there. Should be nice weather.

I'm thinkin' Stickman should run probe.

All good fun, looking forward to it,

Ken

If you have room for one more, I am up for a day trip!

glen

Of course! Would love to have you - it's gonna be a beautiful day...

I'm coming too.