Conway River with some friends 3-11-2011

tolyho · Post by **tolyho** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:31 pm

I'll write a more detailed report later but I can say now that it was a fun fun day on the Conway! From BIG strainers and portages to pinned boats and chasing gear.. what a great, fun and beautiful river in the heart of the Blue Ridge.

Some pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... cf2ed6b721

Some vids: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 0B6DB24CCD

Not too many places to stop so the vids are limited and the pics started on the "Lower" section of the run about 1.5 miles up stream on a steeper/creekier section.

bambam · Post by **bambam** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:16 pm

This one is tough to gauge online. I've been trying to relate the USGS Rapidan gauge which is located below the confluence of the Rapidan and the Conway to some physical readings I've been taking on a bridge footing. It ain't working but at least it gives some educated guesses.

Last time around, Regina and I opted to put in below the big low-water bridge. Level at the footing was +12". It was just the two of us, it was really cold, we could see a strainer above the bridge, and the escape eddies didn't look promising. At +9", on a warmer day, with a bigger group we decided to go all the way up to the end of the road. Two of us had paddled it before at lower water and it was manageable.

We ran into a landowner issue. The bottom line is it's good we ran into Chicken / Bulldozer Dave who re-ran our shuttle for us. The main issue was parking. I was on the outskirts of the negotiations so I'll leave it at that.

That top mile or so (above the big low-water bridge) is not-so-easy to paddle responsibly at +9". Well, at least not for me. It's fun to bounce and rock-n-roll but tough to stop. Early on we came to a small island which I hadn't noticed from the road (because it's not easy to see from there). I went right as probe, Chris followed, and we were immediately wrong. Strainer. We were able to stop and wave the others left. Tough portage for us but left was bad as well. Happy creek day!

Group reconnected and on downstream.

Paddling through a particularly bouncy section I noticed our landowner issue-ers standing next to the stream watching us in seemingly amused amazement. They were enjoying the show but seemed surprised we actually made it this far -- especially the canoeists. They were surprised that we waited for each other. "Why don't you just run it all the way down without stopping?"

Sigh.

Side note, I think he's even older than I am.

"Seems like that would be more fun!"

I told him we try to watch out for each other.

And for trees.

===========================

The upper Conway takes some effort and you gotta be willing to get skunked. Have a plan B. Plenty of action with crystal clear water.

Lovely run.

Ken

tolyho · Post by **tolyho** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:33 pm

Thanks Ken.

"Negotiations" were quick and swift meaning he spoke and we listened

The land owner has property bordering the creek on the North side which is Madison County. All of the Madison County land owners from the Big Low Water bridge to the end of the road (about 1.5 miles) is prohibited to parking. You can drive up and drop people and gear all day long as it's an National Park trail entrance and he seems to enjoy that company but in the past he and his neighbors have had many vehicles block access to their property in that they couldn't enter or leave. Understood.

After that was established and Dozer helped with the shuttle the owner walked over and asked "why don't you put in at skyline drive? I've seen a lot of you guys bumping your head on rocks upside down further up the mountian." heh... where's that trip report?!

Prior to the run I checked out the footing-gauge for Ken and sent the info along but I had time to spare. I drove a couple of miles to my Aunt and Uncle's house to say hi. My aunt Cherri was a canoeist/kayaker for a long time 25-30 years ago and expressed some interest in coming up to take photos since she was so close. After waiting a couple of hours for us to make it to the lower section(logistics..) she started snapping pics and taking video along with a professional photographer friend

Thanks for the great photos ladies!! Another friend that couldn't get out of daddy duty did what all good parents should and brought the 4 month old! He followed us down the river in his truck to snap photos in different locations and only breaking to feed the baby once. Ha!

If you get a chance to paddle this run-off take it. It reminds me of the lower section of the North Fork of the Tye with tight lines and tighter eddies. Hard to believe I grew up less than 2 miles from such fun! Ignorance is bliss....

Shawn · Post by **Shawn** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:09 pm

What land issues are you all talking about?

In the past I've talked with the guy that owns the land on the north side of the put-in (end of road, and trail head). He has cleared out a parking area on his side of the street about 100yds down for paddlers/fishermen to park. He allways seemed nice and enjoyed talking with us.

Just wondering if something has changed?

bambam · Post by **bambam** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:54 pm

Again, I was a bit on the outside on this one. Yes, indeed, seems friendly but parking is the big issue. Chris?

tolyho · Post by **tolyho** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:48 pm

Shawn, I hate to assume but... in the short but congenial conversation I had with the land owner(even throwing local names as I'm as local as it gets) he's seemed to have had multiple issues with hiking "groups". "van loads of people can drop off here then park anywhere across the Ford they want... just not here." There are fresh NO TRESPASSING signs and even a newer Potomac Trail Club sign that states " sorry for the published confusion but no parking is allowed here" ... or something to that effect. Trevor, one of our group was with me when he approached and after the conversation mentioned he got the OK from the same guy not a month ago. Bad day? Wife with? Recent issues? All of the above maybe but as smiling as all of us (including the land owner) was the end result was "no parking here". After all, what's a little cardio in the mix?!

I am in town this week and plan on getting some solid info for AW and here for future reference.

Hope this helps.

Chris

tolyho · Post by **tolyho** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:04 am

I drove up the road last night and at the property that is just before the gate there is a sign that say "New Property Owner". Could be a different guy. FYI

bwalsh · Post by **bwalsh** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:43 pm

tolyho wrote: After that was established and Dozer helped with the shuttle the owner walked over and asked "why don't you put in at skyline drive? I've seen a lot of you guys bumping your head on rocks upside down further up the mountian." heh... where's that trip report?!

No report but do have pictures circa 1991 through 2000(?)

https://picasaweb.google.com/1081884491 ... directlink

It flows through SNP and RWMA property so be discrete if you get on the creek. It also has a ton of strainers on it the last time I checked which could be illegal to remove. That being said I've considered going up there with a chainsaw and discretely cutting some of them out.
I've run it about six or seven times. Been skunked at least that many times! At least one of the rapids changed from landslide debris during the storms we had back in "95". I'm sure you old timers have seen what happened to the Stauton river confluence at the normal put in.
We've put on as high as Camp Rapidan, a group of private cabins about 1/2 mile down from the SNP boundary, down to the old ford, about 2 miles upstream of the guide book put in. It's very small and very hard to catch at a good level. Usually it's on the low side by the time you get there but we did catch it at a really high level once.
The first time we ran it there were five of us. Bruce Musser, Gary Ward, Paul Helbert, Eli Helbert(before he became famous

) and myself. We paddled a two mile section that drops an average of 400' per mile. It took us five hours to run with all the scouting, safety, BSing, etc. There are at least two rapids that are too congested with boulders to run at sane levels.
I'd like to get back up there sometime in the near future as it's a great little creek similar to the Tye forks but slightly easier(?), smaller and more constricted.

Sorry for the thread jack

We've had parking issues on Gooney Run in the past. I actually bolted a "no parking" sign to the guardrail next to an old entrance into a piece of property at the put in, which was blocked one day by a boater. I've also had to yell at a boater who parked right in the middle of a 45 mph roadway, on a curve, just to get out and BS with his group. The guy had a parking space 40' up the road!
Yeah, and I'm the jerk!

tolyho · Post by **tolyho** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:16 am

Wow! Great stories and amazing images!! I know of camp Rapidan and the surrounding area but now that I paddle I look at the smaller creeks in a different way. Like I mentioned, hard to believe I've dodged this much run-off this long!

Thanks for the post and definitely not considered a "hijack"

Dave Lewis · Post by **Dave Lewis** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:36 am

There is a local who has volunteered to help with shuttles. His name is Charles Wensel and he lives across the river at the swinging bridge. I have his phone number but don't think this is the place to post it. I feel sure he is in the Stanardsville phone book.

He has made some CDs and I will pick them up soon.

That PATC sign has been there since before I purchased my property in
Greene.

bwalsh · Post by **bwalsh** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:16 am

tolyho wrote:Wow! Great stories and amazing images!! I know of camp Rapidan and the surrounding area but now that I paddle I look at the smaller creeks in a different way. Like I mentioned, hard to believe I've dodged this much run-off this long!

Thanks for the post and definitely not considered a "hijack"

Well most of the images are blurry but you get the idea. If you know of Camp Rapidan then you know of the road leading up there I assume. The first time I drove up there was along the creek coming up from Graves Mill. Unfortunately they never reopened the road after the landslides. Part of the run we used to do regularly you now have to walk about 1/2 mile back up to your vehicle after you're done. The best part is it's all road side boating but the road isn't RIGHT along side so the creek still has a remote feel to it.
If you do decide to try and run it scout each part down to the next eddy you can catch. Some of the run is continuous and semi blind in nature and you could easily be washed into a strainer. The last time I was up there to run it there was a tree literally every 200' requiring a portage. We decided to take off. The last time I was up there just goofing, scouting, etc. it was a little better but not much. It really needs a good stealth cleaning!
I found it while perusing the Gazetteer back in the early 90's. Also found the forks of the Tye and Piney, Statons, etc. No too many folks ran them or even knew of them back then.
I have never run into another group on the top part of the Rapidan but have found evidence of other boaters once. One person in our group found a skull cap.
Anyone here missing an old beat up homemade neoprene skull cap, circa mid 90's?