OCT Upper and Lower Russell Fork Oct 4 & 5

John and Linda VanLuik · Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:53 pm

Plan to meet in the parking lot at the restaurant/check in building in the Breaks Interstate Park at 9:30 am on Sat, Oct 4. Sorry trip didn't make the trip schedule.

John and Linda VanLuik · Tue Sep 16, 2014 3:32 pm

Checked lodging at the Breaks Lodge and the Gateway Motel down the road. Both are booked due to a medical clinic being held that weekend in the area. You will have to camp or maybe stay in Grundy or Pikesville if you want a motel room.

AndreaJ · Post by **AndreaJ** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:02 am

I'm planning on coming. Too soon to tell if Mark will be there also, but I'll keep trying.

I'll be camping, probably driving in on Friday afternoon.

FYI:
In the past, the campground has been first come / first served. However, this year - they are taking reservations. BUT, the reservations are not site specific. For instance, say you are reserving a site with power and water for three days / two nights. You pick the site when you get there. Phone: 800-933-7275 or Breaks Park Reservations
Check in time is 4:30 pm, check out time is 3:00 pm.

What does that get you? Not real sure, but I guess that it guarantees that you will get a site. If you have friends coming in before you get there, they MAY be able to secure your pre-paid site for you so that you can be with/near friends. I would make sure of that first, though.

If your plans change, they will allow you to change the date(s) and even the park as long as the second visit is within 30 days. Otherwise it is a $15 cancellation fee subtracted from your refund.

Just another little tidbit of info. ALL of the money that you (the visitor) spend in the park, stays in the park. It does NOT go to the VA General Fund, as it does with nearly all other VA state parks. So, buy some firewood, pop, supplies, or ice from the campstore. Its worth it!

AJ

rob_parker · Post by **rob_parker** » Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:52 pm

My son Brian and I would like to paddle the Upper Russell Fork on Saturday. We can't join on Sunday. Will a group be on the Upper that day, or are you doing the Lower on Saturday?

We'll camp Friday night.

AndreaJ · Post by **AndreaJ** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:59 am

Robert:

The Upper and the Lower are fairly short runs. What usually happens is that we paddle the Upper and then see who has the energy for the Lower. Most of the time, there is a group that does the Upper and a smaller group that does the Lower - all on Saturday.

There is also a festival in Elkhorn City on Saturday that is linked to an endurance race that is going on all day and supposedly into the evening. That gives us an interesting option for Sat entertainment. The takeout for the Lower is in Elkhorn City.

Then we meet earlier on Sunday AM and paddle just the Upper on Sunday. We are usually off the river and on the way home by 1 - 2 pm. If that fits into your schedule, you are welcome to join us. Here's a link to the river description, if you don't have it already. Russell Fork Upper & Lower

Of course, John may change that a little, but that is the "usual" trip. Hope we get some rain on Friday night!

AJ

rob_parker · Post by **rob_parker** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 5:29 pm

Thanks, Andrea. I thought the Lower meant the Russell Gorge. I ran this river once last year from just below the dam to the put in for the Gorge and thought that was the Upper.

It's a step up for my son, who has been on the Nantahala 3x, the Pigeon, and several trips on the Upper New, but I believe he's OK for it if he can follow an experienced person.

Rob

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 11:02 am

I’ll be there for the Friday and Saturday runs. I’ve paddled the upper part twice but never the lower. I’m camping at Breaks Friday and Saturday nights.

John Black

AndreaJ · Post by **AndreaJ** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 12:41 pm

Rob:

Yes, the dam to Garden Hole (putin for Gorge) is the "Upper". The "Lower" puts in at Ratliff Hole (takeout for Gorge) and goes to Elkhorn City.

JohnB:

There is no guaranteed release on Friday. Hope you meant Sat & Sun. Wish the Corps would give us one, but it doesn't happen. Sorry. We might get lucky and get some natural flow though, so keep on hoping.

I would like to have enough natural flow (>400 cfs) on Sat AM and put in at Haysi, instead of the dam. I've done that once a LONG time ago (we had a downpour on Friday night while camping) and it added a LOT more interest to the run. If that happens, the Corps will likely dial the release back so that it doesn't exceed 1100 cfs in the Gorge. If that happens, then you almost HAVE to go to Haysi.

I'll likely be in Loop A. Not sure which vehicle I'll have, but I'll be sleeping in a teardrop camper.

AJ

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 12:44 pm

Whoops!

I'm paddling Saturday & Sunday, camping Friday and Saturday.

allsky7 · Post by **allsky7** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:48 pm

The Upper RF has been on my short list for some time now. Unfortunately.....circumstances have not allowed me to paddle much lately so going to have to live vicariously through ya'll. Please post a trip report and take lots of pics.

Steve

billh1970 · Post by **billh1970** » Wed Oct 01, 2014 8:18 pm

Looking forward to the trip and will be camping Friday and Saturday. I'm coming back from a broken collarbone while cycling, and this will be my second trip on moving water since early July.

John and Linda VanLuik · Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:04 pm

As Andrea said we are going to try and paddle both the Upper and Lower on Sat and then Sun will probably do a quick run on the Upper from Barlick down. I will be at the campground Friday afternoon, plan on getting there before dark

AndreaJ · Post by **AndreaJ** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:32 pm

Steve: You are welcome to join my trip to the RF on the weekend of 10/25 & 10/26, if that works into your schedule better. I am aiming to come back for the last weekend of the release. The Corps also ups the release from 800 to 1000 cfs. It doesn't make a big change (adds about 3 in of water in the Upper section), but it does pad the rocks out a little better.

Bill: Glad to hear you are back on the water. But camping??? Wow.

For those people interested in the festival in Elkhorn City, here is the race it is associated with: Cloudsplitter 100 Not sure how much of a festival it is, but it'll be interesting and will definitely be continuing into the evening. The 100 mile race cuts off at midnight Saturday, I believe. If you look at the profile of the race, the first 5 - 8 miles (of any of the race lengths) is just plain brutal.

I'm aiming for 4 - 5 pm Friday at the campground. I'm wondering if the race will make the campground more crowded than usual. Guess we'll find out.

AJ

allsky7 · Post by **allsky7** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 4:23 pm

Thanks AJ! Unfortunately.....I work a long day every Saturday. 4+ hours one way for a Sunday day trip is just too much. Breaks is a spectacular place....visited there a few years ago but did not paddle. I look forward to better paddling days (and work schedule) ahead and a PFD of the RF. Ya'll have fun....be safe.

Steve

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 4:51 pm

FYI - My wife is coming along to visit a nearby friend. Due to weather concerns she doesn't want to camp Friday night. However, I'll still be camping Saturday night.

John Black

Coastals

OCT Upper and Lower Russell Fork Oct 4 & 5

OCT Upper and Lower Russell Fork Oct 4 & 5

RF

See you there!

RF

Not camping Friday