Topic: Surfing Valhalla!

[jforbesca]

Will also see if I recorded the old guage levels - 4.0 sounds familiar.

[jforbesca]

Ah, the fish, I remember it well.

4.5 is a good level, but it drops fast.

In the past there was no guage, but there was a contact
- will see if I still have the number.

j

[robert monti]

Christian, you have the correct link. That gauge is new as of last year and does not the same level readings you may read about on olders posting about levels on that river. We ran it at 4.5 on the new gauge. Talking to a local boater, that corresponds to 3 ft on the old gauge, which was medium, medicum to low Class III (if you factor in temps and lack of recovery pools, maybe III+).  5 ft on the new gauge would be optimal. Going over 6ft would be epic, my guess, like the Rouge at really high water, monstrous roller coaster wave trains and some gargantuan holes.   This is a continuous run and at really high water would be a IV-V run. But at a medium level, with a group, perfect intermediate run. In 10 miles there was 100 yards of flatwater. There are very few eddies.  This river drains the Tug Hill Plateau. It's called "flashy" - quick ups and downs, hard to catch. The local we paddled with, Pierre, told me that a good day and half rain in the summer makes it an awesome summer run because it drains a big watershed and about 12 hours later, for one day its awesome, then it disappears and is too low again.

The put in and take out is incredibly user friendly, stairs at both put-in and take out. You put in on moving water, you take-out in moving water. Locals just show up and surf the take-out waves after work because those waves alone are awesome.

Reminder: If you do the full run, eddy out river left in the calm pool above the dam, there is a building with a gravel beach (its about half way in the run). The dam is unrunnable. I've never seen a scarier terminal dam in my life. At the base of the dam, they excavated a U into the river bed, creating a riverwide recirc to make sure all the water recirculates and slows down before going downstream, something about miminmizing erosion below the dam. Its a river wide keeper recirc.

The rest of the river, though, will leave you with a perma grin thinking "this is unreal!" Trust me, keep this in your sights for sure and if you see the gauge go over 4.4, get your butt and playboat down there quick!

[ChristianG]

You mean the Fish Creek, East branch?

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1306/

How long do you think the level will be good? Any other trip planned?

--Christian

[Adrian]

Paddling the Fish on Saturday was truly an amazing experience.  On this river it's all boat scouting but with a difference. You don't scout for holes to avoid, rather you're looking for the next wave to surf.  Don't worry if you miss one because there will be another good one just ahead.

Being only a 2.5 hour drive from Kingston, the paddle to drive ratio is exceptional.  Once on the water there is continuous action.

I only have one caution.  Pace yourself for a long day of surfing. Don't spend too much time on the waves   above the dam or you'll have nothing left for the even better waves below the dam.  Just relax, surf a little and enjoy the scenery for the first five miles.  I swam near the end just out of sheer exhaustion.  A class III wave and missing my first attempt at a roll was enough to result in a swim as the gas tank was completely  empty.

Go for the Queen cut at Jeb's.  It's more meat than anyone but Alex could or should eat.

[robert monti]

Imagine the surfing river of your dreams, where if you grabbed every surf wave stretching out over 10 miles, that appeared before you would be on the river from sunrise until after sunset. Imagine a place where its simply impossible to hog the wave, because chances are there are two more equally nice waves backing up the one you  are on so there is room for everyone. Imagine gorged out walls with waterfalls pouring in from 100ft above and, in the shade, other sheer walls displaying 100 ft icicles.  Imagine having your own guide who has paddled this place for 25 years and knows every playspot to guide you down for the day.

There are paddling days and then there are revelations, moments that are burned in your brain, where that inner voice says you know you are in a special place and a knowing smile passes between you and your paddling comrades, you are the few and the fortunate, the river gods have smiled upon you and granted you temporary access, you have transcended from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Sometimes, places that you thought only lived in your imagination, do exist.

This place is called the Fish. If the AWW gauge is over 4.5. Just go! An hour south of Lowville, easy drive, easy shuttle.

If you go on a Saturday. When you drag your ass off the river exhausted, spent and starving, get yourself over to Jebs in Lowville and chow down on the Prime Rib special, 14 oz Queen, or 16 oz King.