Major rains in WV this weekend have pushed Gauley area rivers up to big levels.
Cranberry is at 5.5' and falling and Cherry gauge (Craigsville on Gauley) is at 15' and should start falling soon.
Pretty rare treat for these rivers to be up in the summer and these levels are amazing and too high for us.
I have paddled the Cherry and a Craigsville reading of 12 - 12.5 feet would likely be good for the Richwood to Curtin bridge section.
The Cranberry, which would be preferred although we have not paddled it, should be good from 3.5' (low water limit on AWA) to maybe low 4' range for us.
Looking for anyone interested in meeting up with 2-3 of us from Hampton roads area to paddle these rivers this week as levels go down. Tuesday? Wednesday? ????
Post or e-mail me.
SYOTR.
Don.
Looking to paddle Cherry/Cranberry in WV this week
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paddlehobo
- Coastals Member
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cranberry
Keep me posted what day you go, I may be able to go tuesday/wednesday of it holds. i live in richmond.
matt 804 four seven five 4299
matt 804 four seven five 4299
Re: cranberry
Matt, if you do go, I will be jealouspaddlehobo wrote:Keep me posted what day you go, I may be able to go tuesday/wednesday of it holds. i live in richmond.
matt 804 four seven five 4299
Unless, of course, this is a same day mission, which might result in me taking a vacation day. Keep me posted.Generally, I think that if I have the opportunity to paddle, and I've got something else to do or I feel like I shouldn't go for some reason, then I force myself to go and I always have a great time. So, I guess when in doubt -- Go, Paddle. -- Tommy Hilleke
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paddlehobo
- Coastals Member
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Cherry/Cranberry Run - Would be single day trip
All,
I am thinking one or both will hold enough until Tuesday if only because it was at lower but runnable levels on Saturday and dropping slowly before the rain hit on Sunday.
If so, it would be a single day run for us as well.
Let's see where the rivers are tomorrow around noon.
Right now the Cherry gauge (Craigsville on Gauley) is at 14.56 and dropping slowly (although I am sure it will drop quicker soon) and the C-berry is at 5.11 and dropping but is beginning to slow its drop rate.
Please post if you have any experience on the Cranberry as that would be a plus although if the group is a good one then perhaps it could be a fun first descent.
If it looks like a go I would also see if i could recruit paddlers from WVWA as they likely know it well.
Don.
I am thinking one or both will hold enough until Tuesday if only because it was at lower but runnable levels on Saturday and dropping slowly before the rain hit on Sunday.
If so, it would be a single day run for us as well.
Let's see where the rivers are tomorrow around noon.
Right now the Cherry gauge (Craigsville on Gauley) is at 14.56 and dropping slowly (although I am sure it will drop quicker soon) and the C-berry is at 5.11 and dropping but is beginning to slow its drop rate.
Please post if you have any experience on the Cranberry as that would be a plus although if the group is a good one then perhaps it could be a fun first descent.
If it looks like a go I would also see if i could recruit paddlers from WVWA as they likely know it well.
Don.
Another update on Cherry/Cranberry
See WVWA message board post near top by Bob Anderson (real good guy) and my follow up.
http://www.wvwa.net/wwwboard/index.html
He pulled the trigger pretty quick but must be going with others. No way i could make it since he posted late this morning.
I am still up for day trip on Cherry or Cranberry if people are interested and levels are decent.
I think Cranberry will probably be in the 3.5 - 3.8' range tomorrow but no easy way to predict. Gauge is right on the river so at least there is no correlation issues.
I am also going to wait and see if any WVWA paddlers are up for it and how the gauges progress through the day.
Let me know if there is interest and we can see what happens.
Don.
http://www.wvwa.net/wwwboard/index.html
He pulled the trigger pretty quick but must be going with others. No way i could make it since he posted late this morning.
I am still up for day trip on Cherry or Cranberry if people are interested and levels are decent.
I think Cranberry will probably be in the 3.5 - 3.8' range tomorrow but no easy way to predict. Gauge is right on the river so at least there is no correlation issues.
I am also going to wait and see if any WVWA paddlers are up for it and how the gauges progress through the day.
Let me know if there is interest and we can see what happens.
Don.
I think you are going to be fine tomorrow (Cranberry)......I've run it a little under 3.4 and it's bony but, it is still fun. It would have been a lot of fun today!
Wish I could justify a day trip with y'all but, I have been out of town a week and just got back yesterday! It should be fun!
glen
Wish I could justify a day trip with y'all but, I have been out of town a week and just got back yesterday! It should be fun!
glen
If you're gonna be stupid, you gotta be tough!
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paddlehobo
- Coastals Member
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- Joined: Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:28 am
Lower Cranberry?
I guess I have been assuming the Lower Cranberry.
Are others thinking middle section?
Don.
Are others thinking middle section?
Don.
Time and place to meet?
Still waiting on guy down here to se if he will drive up with me tomorrow.
Idea on time and place to meet?
Don
Idea on time and place to meet?
Don
Re: Lower Cranberry?
Don,dkeller wrote:I guess I have been assuming the Lower Cranberry.
Are others thinking middle section?
Don.
Matt (paddlehobo) and I thought you were talking Middle Cranberry which looks like it's gonna be around minimum tomorrow, so we're opting out. Hope you guys have a good time!
Generally, I think that if I have the opportunity to paddle, and I've got something else to do or I feel like I shouldn't go for some reason, then I force myself to go and I always have a great time. So, I guess when in doubt -- Go, Paddle. -- Tommy Hilleke
Afraid we are out of luck as well.
I guess we both could not find enough people to make it a go.
Funny, water in a great place and neither of us could get a trip together.
What was really a mystery is how I could get no one from WVWA paddlers to join us on the Cranberry. Guess when you are that close....
Sorry it did not work out.
Middle just sounded a bit too much for us as we were looking for a more Class 3 run without too much stress. Might have been OK but my buddy especially is trying to get back up to speed and probably would not have enjoyed it so much, especially if it meant a few swims in less than friendly water.
I find myself in last couple of years reaching father out into PA, NC, WV or western VA to paddle. One can only paddle the James so many times. At least for us.
I don't really mind the 3-5 hour drives if the rivers are new, have some decent action, and the scenery great.
Don.
Funny, water in a great place and neither of us could get a trip together.
What was really a mystery is how I could get no one from WVWA paddlers to join us on the Cranberry. Guess when you are that close....
Sorry it did not work out.
Middle just sounded a bit too much for us as we were looking for a more Class 3 run without too much stress. Might have been OK but my buddy especially is trying to get back up to speed and probably would not have enjoyed it so much, especially if it meant a few swims in less than friendly water.
I find myself in last couple of years reaching father out into PA, NC, WV or western VA to paddle. One can only paddle the James so many times. At least for us.
I don't really mind the 3-5 hour drives if the rivers are new, have some decent action, and the scenery great.
Don.
Cranberry beware!
I just ran the Cranberry last Monday. There is a fallen tree almost all the way across the river. There is a 5-6' gap on river left. It's pretty easy to see but keep an eye out for it. It's about half way down the river. Also the gauge is broken at the bridge so don't expect to get a level from it.
Flipper
Flipper