O.C.T. Saturday Feb 3 Maury River Indian Pool to post office

[bambam]

This river section lies between Goshen Pass upstream and "below the post office" downstream both in physical location and difficulty. It's about twenty minutes west of Lexington, VA. It is listed as an intermediate trip.

Will it be running? Too soon to tell but there's a reasonable chance. The river went quite high on Sunday and is dropping slowly. I watch this gauge.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-l ... dian=false

It is an excellent indicator as the gauge is located on the run. The river fans out over some shoals here so it takes more water to run than the above-mentioned sections. At 2.6 feet the run has gotten low enough that there is a lot of rock dodging and Brillo Rapid is becoming a real boat buster. If it drops that low by Saturday then I'll probably switch to below the post office as 2.6 is an excellent level there. Or, depending on who's expressed interest, we could switch to running Goshen Pass, also a nice level for that.

An extended weather forecast is calling for a high of 55, sunny, winds 5 mph mostly at our backs.

Please post here or email me if interested.

Cheers,

Ken Bambam Dubel

[PrimaryColors]

I plan to join you. Any of the 3 sections would suit me fine.

Paul

[bambam]

Hi Paul.

The short answer is that we will paddle something Maury on Saturday.

Please stay tuned,

Ken

[bambam]

We are "on" for below Indian Pool for Saturday. I would prefer that you not just show up -- please make contact. Meeting ACROSS FROM the post office at noon.

Woo hoo!

Ken

[scrunge]

See you noon tomorrow.

[bambam]

Friday evening update .... So, yeah, kinda contradicting, we're just under 2.6 feet USGS but are sticking with Indian Pool to the post office as that is where most of the interest lies. The latest forecast calls for a little chillier, high around 48.

Clarification, when I said meet across from the post office I meant across the road, not across the river. The PO is open on Saturdays and I take care to stay out of the way of the locals.

I have seen interest in Goshen Pass as well. If there is time and interest then I'd happily head back up after this run and go run the pass down to Indian Pool.

[bambam]

A RECENT DAM OPERATION IS AFFECTING THIS TRIP!!!!! Please pay attention. I'm in the process of sorting out information.

[bambam]

Due to a dam operation the Indian Pool to the post office trip is out. It's already too low.

I'm waiting for gauges to update.

The good news is that even if the dam drops to a trickle there will still be enough water to enjoy a run below the post office. I view this run at the expected level as a solid class II.

The pass will still be runnable but it gets mighty technical.

Sorry for the last-minute changes. I'd like to have a conversation with the dam keeper.

Cheers,

Ken

[bambam]

As of 9:00 p.m. the Rockbridge Baths gauge has leveled out after the dam operation at 2.26 feet / 388 cfs. This is a typical flow curve after a dam operation. Again, Indian Pool to the post office is out. I will still meet at noon across route 39 from the post office at noon. Zero worries if folks opt not to join.

Below the post office at the expected level is a relaxing class II run with some scrapes. Goshen Pass goes but is highly technical and, in my view, is more difficult to run cleanly than at higher flows.

Cheers again,

Ken

[scrunge]

Thanks for the update. I think i will stay closer to home tomorrow.
Have fun!