Campbell Hole sleeps with the fishes

Art Keating wrote me recently to pass on an update about the ledge formerly know as the Campbell Hole on the Williams River. "Here is a photo from... the Williams/ Campbell hole @ 1200 cfs. Normally a great flow for this hole and It appears to be gone. @ 1200 the hole normal stretches across 80% of the river." He also writes, "the [whole] river is wider with a newly routed flow coming into the hole and sediment filling in the pool directly behind the hole.  One tree in the eddy.  The route for exiting water from the pool is very different and more serpentine and shallow.  Obviously the ledge rock that spans 75% of the river and creates the hole is still there, but the banks have expanded and it looks like it will take a higher flow to create anything and then at a higher flow the site may be rendered useless." He goes on to say, "It would be a shame to lose this one, but holes and changes in river topography seem to be easily changed…..maybe it will change back soon with a few events of higher flows/ice?" Indeed. Campbell hole is dead. Long live Campbell hole! We look forward to your resurrection. Shalom, Jolyon

Woodstock Waves

There are high water waves on the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vermont below the Elm street bridge. The best levels are not well known. Suffice to say... HIGH! A friend of mine has surfed here when the inflow gauge on quechee gorge was at about 3000 cfs. That's a ways downstream, but probably a good indicator of the low side. There used to be an online realtime usgs gauge upstream but it looks as if it's been decommissioned,  or at least de-linked. Hurricane Irene levels (100 year flood high) are probably the upper end for surfing here. The video above, from the hurricane, shows what things look like when the water is so high that the floodplains are getting cleaned of all their propane tanks. Not necessarily a good time to be on the water. But the waves look ridiculous. Good luck driving there on a day like that. I guess if the world were ending in a flood and you lived in Woodstock this might be a pretty good way to go out. Until then, look for high water and don't get arrested or clobbered by a propane tank. Any further info on these waves is welcome.

Local Hurricane Relief Efforts

Dear paddlers of the upper valley and beyond. As you may know, many folks around here, especially in Vermont have lost a great deal due to the recent flooding. I hope you got out on the good water safely. It looks like there's more in store. I would like to ask you dear readers, who like me, love high water and epic surf, to consider contributing in some way to help those who've suffered much from Hurricane Irene. Best is to help someone you know... next best, someone you don't. If you're looking for an outlet, the Tucker Foundation is coordinating some community response, both monetary and in-kind donations. They are good people, not much like the norm at Dartmouth. I hope you made it through safe and sound friends. Shalom. Jolyon

PS: I do know one local guy, a paddler, who lost his home. Here's how to help.

OCEAN SURF WEEKEND

forcast swell height from swellinfo.com

Ok people, here it is! Hurricane Irene is coming our way and yeah, you could stay inland, catch some rain and hit some river stuff, or you could head to the coast, try not to get killed, and surf some HUGE waves! Forecasts for wave height are looking amazing. On SWELLINFO.COM The apex time/place looks like Montauk, NY on Long Island on sunday afternoon (as the storm is passing over) with projected swell of 26 feet!!! Yes 26. Holy Crap. That's VERY double overhead.

montauk, ny swell forecast graph from swellinfo

Otherwise it looks like good surf between chest high and over head on the NY and NJ coast all day saturday and sunday (ridiculous on sunday afternoon), and the Cape and Maine coming in later and dropping out (down to chest high) by noon on monday. HIT IT UP! As a side note, expect beach closures and anal bureaucrats with guns trying to keep you off the water and/or freaking out while you are out there and arresting you when you come in if the waves look especially amazing. As an aside, don't be stupid. Only go out if you are comfortable with big ocean surfing, familiar with the unique risks, and able to avoid swimming. But like Han says: "Never tell me the odds!" Shalom - Jolyon

Flow Flash: 8-16-11

Hey people! The rain has hit and it looks like Campbell Hole on the Williams will be coming in at least briefly, and sharon dam on the white for longer. Get on it!

Radioactive Rain-Out: A Possible Threat for Boaters to Consider

I hate to have to post this information, but the times being what they are, I think it is my duty to warn you all and put out this alert for your consideration. It seems very likely based on a veritable flood of citizen reporting that there is some significant radiation reaching the United States from Japan due to the Fukushima reactor melt down. See what comes up on Youtube for "Radioactive Rain." Some estimates of the ongoing leaks put the levels at orders of magnitude worse than Chernobyl. Radioactive particulates from the Japan reactors are certainly all over the atmosphere of North America at this time, and many of these are "heavier" and take longer to decay. And this pertains to boaters how? Largely due to the fact that the most significant cause of ground contamination from high-altitude radioactive particulate fallout is RAIN. As such, we paddlers play in the most concentratedly contaminated arena: storm run-off. While it is unlikely that negative effects from exposure would be dramatic or immediate, there are potential long-term consequences for certain kinds of exposure. The worst effects from this kind of radiation exposure would be due to inhalation or ingestion. Please take this into consideration regarding paddling. There are ways of mitigating some of the danger (especially related to concentration in the thyroid of Iodine-131 by taking Potassium Iodide tablets) but avoidance of ingestion or inhalation of other heavier particulates that are likely "raining-out" now MAY be challenging while playboating.

I am not an expert on this stuff, but I don't want to get radiation-induced cancer. I don't want you to either. Please do your best to educate yourself and try to make responsible decisions. Here are some more websites to get you started on further info:

http://www.ki4u.com/illwind.htm

http://weeklyintercept.blogspot.com/2011/08/experts-fukushima-off-scale-lethal.html

http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2011/04/12/realtime-epa-radnet-japan-nuclear-radiation-monitoring-every-us-city-single-page-16511/

http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/radiation-contamination-radiological-safety/

http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/03/letter_re_nuclear_incidents_in.html

Be safe out there.
Shalom

Jolyon Pruszinski

ps: hudson gorge is fun.

hudson gorge, photo from AW

Forecast 7-30-11

Hey folks, looks like the rain brought in the bridge hole on the white, and when they're releasing (look at inflow), well enough wave or leaf peeper on quechee gorge, but otherwise we're surfing hartlands, hartlands, hartlands... looks like a good release hitting the wave at 3:30 or so sunday. Or go for a drive to montreal QC, the ottawa ON, watertown NY, or errol NH. peace. jolyon

Hartlands Break-in

Some bad news re: parking on the Vermont side at hartlands, aka sumner's falls, while surfing. Apparently there was a break-in and theft today. This from Nick Gottlieb via NPMB: "Hey y'all, Our van was broken into at Hartlands today. We were parked in the upper lot, window was broken with a rock and some wallets were taken.  My recommendation is to park in the lower lot where you're in view of the river and there are fishermen around to keep an eye on your stuff." I would add to this for all y'all out there leaving your car to go shred the goods... lock your important stuff in the glovebox or bring it on the river in a drybag. Or just make your stuff less appealing. Try wrapping your wallet in your underwear and smearing chocolate on them. Ok, maybe use a back-up pair. Anyway, this is periodically a problem at the Vermont parking area for Hartlands. You could try packing and putting stickers on your car that say "I'm the NRA, and I shoot first and vote later" or something like that, though the would-be thieves may have a hard time believing you if you are a neo-dirtbag-kayaker-dude driving a neo-dirtbag-kayaker-dude car. You can also try parking in Plainfield, NH on the other side of the river. Never heard of any problems over there.  Our sympathies to those who are now down some id's, credit cards, cash money, and van windows. Sorry to hear the bad news Nick. - Jolyon

Weekend Forecast 7-23-11

scudders (in NJ) @ too hot & low for anyone reasonable

So I hope you're enjoying schvitzfest 2011. I, like an idiot, am in New Jersey, boating the tepid waters of the Delaware under 100 degree heat. I hope y'all manage to hit the planned release at hartlands on sunday evening. Should be nice for the 'hartlands wave' and rinse & spin. Or you could bust a move up to the rapid for smooth ledge, up to montreal for 67, or out to the black for rte 3 or hole bros. We're planning out some deeper coverage of summer driving options for the good surf in the northeast for coming weeks. Stay cool out there. Peace - Jolyon

Weekend Forecast 7-8-11

Hey people, looks like the good playboating this weekend is going to be at hartlands with the normal summer hartlands wave coming in, rinse & spin, and back bennett's or you could head to the bridge hole on the white or the well enough wave or leaf peeper on quechee gorge (just make sure to check levels before you head out - the hartlands and quechee features are release dependant). Once again, for those willing to drive, Chambly is running. Cheers! Jolyon

Weekend Forecast 7-1-11

Here's what's looking like running this weekend: Hartlands has water likely for the Main Wave, Rinse & Spin and Back Bennett's at various points. Quechee Gorge has been releasing nicely for the Well Enough Wave a couple hours a day, and for leaf peeper another few hours, plus the white has dropped into the range for the bridge hole. And for those willing to trade drive time for epicness, Chambly is rolling. Have fun out there people.

Chambly

Weekend Forecast 6-24-11

Ted Devoe @ Sharon Dam -by Patrick Rogers at kayakingphotos.com

Yo people the water keeps coming! Water is up from the rain this week at good medium levels and we could get more this weekend. So we've got good surfing at Hartlands with the Main Drag Wave aka 'the Hartlands Wave' coming in for most of the day and night (& Rinse & Spin too) and if you time it right you can hit the Sign Wave when the release bounces up. Well Enough is running too! Not only so, but Sharon Dam is also back in. If the water comes up any more you might be able to hit Bellows Falls Wave or Campbell Hole. And for a bit of a drive outside the region it looks like Crack Pipe is coming in, and that Lake Champlain may be getting low enough for Chambly (location). Surf's Up! Jolyon

Weekend Forecast 6-18-11

Hartlands, Hartlands, Hartlands. That's where my 10 year "reunion" is going to be this weekend. We'll probably have good Main Drag & Rinse & Spin levels, with maybe a big enough release for the Sign Wave. Check levels before you head! Cheers, Jolyon.

Weekend Forecast 6-10-11

Main Drag Wave

Rinse & Spin Hole

Well Enough Wave

Bridge Hole

I hope it's in your future to get out on the good water we've been seeing. Flows for this weekend look great! The water at Hartlands has been fluctuating between good levels for the Main Drag wave and Rinse and Spin (lower) and the Sign Wave (higher). In between you've got Back-Bennett's. And while the White River has dropped out for the Sharon Dam it's come into range for the Bridge Hole. We've also got fluctuating flows on Quechee Gorge that have been allowing for both the Well Enough Wave (high) and Leaf peeper Hole (lower). So check levels before you go, but it looks like things are shaping up for a good weekend on the water. Peace.

Sharon Dam at current flows

If you're looking to head to the Sharon Dam this is about what you can expect at this level. Pretty flushy but still capable of serving up spins, ends, and the odd loop if you're on your game.

Weekend Forecast 6/3/11

the sign wave is in

The sign wave looks good for this weekend! Also likely still on the low end of decent will be the sharon dam hole. The dam at the head of Quechee Gorge has been releasing enough for the well enough wave for a couple hours a day, so if you check the levels and time it right you could hit that too, the rest of the time may work for leaf peeper. Weather looks great. Get out there people!

Bellows Falls Waves

The waves in Bellows Falls are not all that well known, but at some levels they are ridiculous! The best known wave is right at the end of the dryway section of the river and comes in between approximately 15,000 cfs and 25,000 cfs. It is decent (spins & blunts) but not amazing. There are other BIG waves that come in at higher levels on the dryway but my personal experience is limited and info is sketchy. There's one big slightly breaking wave just about 50 yards upstream of the lower water wave near even with the head of what is an island at that level (30-35k total cfs). Huge air may be attained at ?ISLAND WAVE?, but it's a drop-in hike & surf option and I don't know the whole range when this wave is good. Then I've heard tell of an amazing wave under the bridge on the dryway at a level of 22 feet (which is ridiculously high, like 58,000 cfs) but that is entirely hearsay. Anyway, the Bellows Falls Dryway is an interesting place and for an experienced and inquisitive boater could serve up great surfing at a variety of high levels (it will certainly serve up the biggest bigwater paddling to be had in the region, even if it is over quickly).

seek and you will find

Speaking of levels... you can get good info on everything coming down the pike (through the powerhouse & the dryway combined) from the USGS gauge. The power company also puts out flow reports and predictions uses H2Oline, splitting out the current flow by what's in the dryway and what is coming through the powerhouse. AND The NWS puts out data on the 48-hr forecast here. To play at these waves described, drive over to the NH side of the river and park at the public lot at the base of the portage route. Paddle up (and over to river right) for the lower water wave and paddle/hike up for the island wave. If you're going to explore higher up the dryway there is the possibility of getting in trouble for trespassing (or more accurately, freaking people out who don't know all the ins and outs of our rather minor sport). Don't say I didn't warn you.

http://albraden.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Connecticut-River-NH-VT/G0000xr_oLokAVQ8/I0000OdgmTY01r_E

Weekend Forecast 5/27/11

if the NWS is to be believed we could receive a visit from the so-ro wave this weekend!

This spring is getting ridiculous for how long rivers have stayed high, and the results are that this weekend there's still a ton of options for storming up a carve. As of now the Sharon Dam river right hole is running, as with the well enough wave, jungle bush wave, and 302 waves... the scoma could inch up into the range for the (now strainer free) excelsior hole, you may want to explore these levels for the moose river wave, or wilder wave, and if the NWS is to be believed there is the potential for the big T-storms rolling through tonight to kick the white river up into cliff  and so-ro wave  heights!!! So pray for rain, or think good thoughts at the universe, or whatever it is you do... AND go surf. Shalom. Jolyon

Nick goes big

Here's a photo update i've long neglected (sorry!) from local big-time paddler/mensch Nick Gottlieb on an early-season high-water day on the White River. Thanks for the photo Nick!

Going big on one of the many one-shot/hike&surf waves on the superlative white river at high water

Excelsior Strainer Out!

Good news! The strainers that were in the backwash to excelsior hole on the mascoma river are gone due to recent high water and "someone's" mad lumberjack skills. Sadly the scoma dropped through the good range too fast to hit it this week, but hopefully we haven't seen the last of it for the season. Peace. Jolyon

Weekend Forecast 5-20-11

Hey people, enjoy the unseasonably persistent high levels and go boating! This weekend you've got the Sharon Dam, Well Enough and maybe Jungle Bush Wave, maybe Bellows Falls Wave. It's doubtful that the sign wave will get low enough with all this rain, but maybe the high levels on the scoma will wash out that strainer on the excelsior hole for when the water drops again. Here's hoping. Cheers! Jolyon

Sign Wave Session

Weekend Forecast 5-13-11

Hey! It's Sign Wave season! Every year as most stuff is winding down, the remaining melt water off the northern whites brings the Sign Wave in at Hartlands for about a week. It just started, and the weather couldn't be nicer. Today it was awesome with 12.1k cfs from the CT R @ wleb gauge, 900 cfs from the Ottauquechee, and 100 cfs from the Mascoma = 13.1k of perfect. On top of that we've got Sharon Dam RR hole on the low end of good and Well Enough Wave on Quechee Gorge still kickin' it (though fluctuating a lot during the day). Be sure to check levels before you head out. Enjoy!

Weekend Forecast 5-6-11

front wave @ 302

sharon dam RR hole

well enough wave

sign wave

Hey people, looks like good weather this weekend and some good surfing options still to be had. Flows should hold for the front wave at 302 at least for saturday. Sharon dam RR hole will be good all weekend... same for well enough wave on quechee gorge. Levels may drop enough by sunday for the sign wave to come in at hartlands, but we're not sure on that one. Excelsior hole is still at a great level, but still has a big strainer problem, so it's a no-go until further notice. Enjoy yourselves!

Giant sucking sound

You hear that giant sucking sound? No, it's not the job- loss effects of NAFTA this time. It's all those pretty leaves coming out and sucking up the water that would otherwise be filling the rivers. Yes, the buds have popped in the more southerly and lower elevatory regions of the upper valley and as such we all must bid adieu to much of the hefty runoff we've so enjoyed this spring. But lest you fear that lower water mean less boating, let me assuage your concerns! The Connecticut will still benefit from weeks of runoff from the northern whites, we'll have rain to bring things up periodically, AND we've got plenty of surfing options at lower levels. So never fear. Enjoy the warmth and the greenery. And be on the lookout for the sign wave, excelsior hole, Sharon dam rr hole, and the well enough wave as levels drop. Peace. Jolyon Pruszinski

Rinse & Spin Hole - Hartlands

Mike Cooley throwing ends July 2004
(cached from, now unavailable, AW video by Rick Cooley)

 Rinse & Spin is a left throwing cartwheel ledge-hole at Sumner's falls (Aka "hartlands rapid") on the Connecticut River, appearing largely in the summer. It is playable in some form between 2500 and 8000 or so cfs, though at the lower end quite boring and the upper end quite munchy. However if you catch it in the middle of the range you are in for many linked cartwheels. For access and gauge info see the hartlands main drag wave page.

Excelsior hole strainer

Good news is that the mascoma had finally dropped into a good range for the excelsior hole for the past few days! Bad news is that there's a strainer preventing surfing there. I hope to get in there with a saw soon but until then it's a no go. =(

Weekend Forecast & Flow Flash 4-29-11

Yo people! There is a ton of water out there this weekend, especially on the Connecticut -flooding- which is getting everything melting off the northern Whites! You can choose from Well Enough, Sharon Dam, 302 Waves (which are higher than i've ever seen them and I have to assume something good will be there), high water Hartlands, or Jungle Bush wave. Have fun!

302 session

The video isn't the highest quality, but it will help you get an idea of what the 302 waves are like.

Reader Mail: Moose River Wave

This just in from A.J. Seibel from up in the Northeast Kingdom (not usually considered part of the upper valley, but heck it's close and it's the same drainage, so we're not going to split hairs):  "Finally getting back to you with more info.  The wave is high-water only, and forms at the confluence of the Moose and Passumpsic rivers in St. JohnsburyVermont.  Here’s a link to location:  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=44.423207,-72.009426&num=1&sll=44.433611,-72.015&sspn=0.063757,0.128059&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=44.422356,-72.007409&spn=0.005885,0.01089&z=17 ... The Moose River at Victory VT gauge needs to be at 9.0 feet or higher [ed: that's 2000 cfs] for the wave to come in.  It really only happens 2 or three times per season.  I’m heading that way for a lunch break, I’ll see if I can get you a photo or two…" and after said lunchbreak: "Turns out that when the passumpsic is also high [ed: floodstage? ~7500cfs], the moose wave gets washed out.  Oh well... A.J. Seibel"


If any of you folks up north happen to catch this one we'd love some more info and or pictures!

Weekend Forecast 4-22-11

Hey people, we've got some good water for this weekend and it looks like next week is going to be in the 70's! YES!!! For this weekend best bets are Sharon Dam on the White, Well Enough on Quechee, 302 Waves on the CT, and Jungle Bush on the 1stBrWhite. Get on it!

Session: Sharon Dam Wave - River Left

Today was butt cold- complete with snow flurries, but a decent low level for the river left wave at sharon dam. Peace - Jolyon Pruszinski

Sugar River Surf Beta - what do YOU know?

So the Sugar is one of the bigger rivers in the region, but you never hear about anyone surfing on the Sugar. I think this is suspicious. So today I went to check out the ledgy section of the Sugar that runs through Claremont and... SURPRISE... there's playboating to be had. You may think "isn't downtown Claremont full of old mills and chunky waterfalls and dams?" Why yes dear reader it is... but amidst the deteriorating remains of industrial america,  there are two ledges in particular of interest.

Top ledge at 1500 cfs

The top ledge is an old low-head dam, though of a more benign persuasion than other low-head dams I have met. There are three sections of the dam split apart by two old bridge abutments. The River Left channel is home to the stickiest hole... the middle channel to a less sticky wave-hole... the River Right channel to a small wave. I encourage you to try things out from Right to Left. I have not had a chance to surf here yet, but it looks very promising. Let me know if you do, and any info on levels would be welcome! It appears that 1500 cfs is good, but that lower or higher would work very well too. There is acceptable eddy access, though if you take too long to roll up you might be headed down another shallow ledge. Don't swim!!! Of course be careful of nasty industrial debris in the river (pipes, rebar, concrete, shopping carts, etc) and if you surf here bring a buddy.

Lower Ledge at 1500 cfs from upstream

The lower ledge on this section is about 100 yards below the top ledge. At about 1500cfs is appears to be a slightly breaking wave that looks decent, but i am wondering more about its potential at different levels. If you're here higher or lower, let me know.

lower ledge from the side - 1500 cfs

These playspots are park and play. You can either park (legally) near the Main Street bridge (100 yds below the lower wave) and walk/paddle up to the lower ledge (and then again to the upper ledge if you desire), or you can park at the public lot on North Street and walk down the hill to the upper ledge. The North Street parking lot is probably preferable due to it's obvious intended public use for recreational access.

North Street Parking Lot Sign. Turn in here.

Please be warned. There is a very large dam about 200 yards below the lower ledge. Don't paddle here if you are a beginner, or have any potential to swim and not self-rescue within 50 yds. You do not want to go over that dam.

Claremont Surf Map! thanks to Google

So go to it people. I'm looking forward to getting out here in the near future. If you do, let me know how it goes and what the levels look like. Seems like this spot has great potential, especially with the whole semi-urban-graffiti-wasteland thing going on. Peace - Jolyon Pruszinski

NO UVSURF RODEO - YES SURF!

Hey folks, we were planning on "hosting" a chill "rodeo" this weekend and it would have been great but I have to bail for family reasons. There weren't going to be great prizes, nor tough competition, nor free money or whatever... and there still won't be. But there is great water right now and great surfing to be had and you'll still have a good time getting on the water. We do it all for the love y'all. So in  between events during the Ledyard River Festival this weekend, throw some nasty blunts or pull out that sweet shudder rudder at your own private brodeo.  Right now it looks like either the 302 waves on the Connecticut River in Woodsville (right by the Wells) or the RL wave at Sharon Dam on the White River (closer to Hanover) should both be awesome. You're in for a treat.  Plus the festival will be good people. Peace - Jolyon Pruszinski

Cliff Wave access warning

Beware paddlers considering park & play at the cliff wave on the white river. There is a very belligerent landowner that may call the cops on you if he is even under the impression that you might consider unknowingly walking over his alleged property. At this time we have to recommend running the whole normal lower White River (which ends at the west hartford bridge) and surfing as you head downstream. Though somewhat less convenient, this does have the silver lining of giving you the opportunity to hit a lot of great catch-on-the-fly waves in addition to cliff wave. Hope you don't have any troubles with this guy.

So-Ro Session

Hit the So-Ro wave today at the low end (~12000 cfs). Lots of short surfs (flushy & munchy). Nice wave though. No eddy access was not-so-nice.

HiWater FlowFlash 4-11-11

Alright, you've seen the weather. Temps are high, even overnight, now there's the first warm rain of the season, and tomorrow (monday) everything is going to be off the hook as far as I can tell. GO SURF!


Running now:
Well Enough Wave - Quechee Gorge
Sharon Dam RL Wave - White R
Campbell Hole - Williams R
Jungle Bush Wave - 1st Br. White R

Coming in Soon:
(and if these don't pan out i'm never going to believe the NWS again)
Cliff Wave - White R
So-Ro Wave - White R
302 Waves - CT R
Wilder Wave - CT R

Looks like a good start to the week.
Check your gauges before you head out.
Shalom
Jolyon

Well Enough Session

Just took the new boat out for a test run on Well Enough. Great level. Hope y'all are getting out this weekend. Peace - Jolyon

Weekend Forecast 4-8-11

Hey boaters! This weekend is looking beautiful, with expected highs in the 60s and sunny skies. Great time to get on the water. It's also the "take 2" for the New Haven Race. So if you're looking to get out locally or if you're coming through for the race and looking to do some surfing as a race wind-down, it's a good weekend for you. We look to be set for great flows for the Sharon Dam Waves on the White, the Sign Wave at Hartlands (pending continued releases from wilder dam), and the Well Enough wave on Quechee Gorge. Go out and get some! And if you happen to be driving by Bretton Woods this weekend be sure to raise your fist in defiance at the i-banker/international-financiers meeting there to set up the new world order to control all us peons. SYOTR

Flow Flash for 4-5-11

HEADS UP FOR TOMORROW (tuesday)! The National Weather Service is predicting spiking river levels all over the valley! Get on these waves when they come in!!




Likely surf forecast:
Well Enough Wave - Quechee Gorge - Tuesday onward
Bellows Falls Wave - Connecticut R - some of Tuesday
Campbell Hole - Williams R - all Tuesday
Jungle Bush Wave - 1st Br. White R - all Tuesday
Sharon Dam RL Wave - White R - Tuesday AM
CLIFF WAVE - WHITE R - TUESDAY PM
SO-RO WAVE - WHITE R - TUESDAY PM
Wilder Wave - Connecticut R - maybe Tues PM / Weds AM
302 Waves - Connecticut R - Weds & Thurs

be sure to check levels again before you head out.
SURFS UP! - Jolyon Pruszinski

Weekend Forecast 4-1-11

Hey y'all we here at UVSURF hope you are enjoying your April Fools day, complete with full-on winter storm. And just yesterday my front yard got snow free. Figures. Anyway for all you looking for water this weekend and those heading up through for the New Haven race, here's the beta on surfing for the weekend. Most stuff is too low. But Quechee Gorge is releasing during the day, sometimes a great deal. Right now it's about 1300 cfs which is a GREAT level for the Well Enough Wave. The only other viable surf option in the upper valley is going to be at Hartlands where flow forecasts from H2oline suggest that levels will be up and down, but likely good for Main Drag or Back-Bennett's all weekend. Outside the region look for the Crackpipe wave in Manchester, NH to be running well.

Have a great weekend out on the water friends. Sunday looks like it should be nice.
Shalom - Jolyon Pruszinski

Back-Bennett's Wave (at Hartlands)

Hard Carve on Back-Bennett's ~8000cfs

Sumner's Falls, aka "Hartlands", on the Connecticut River is a wide ledge complex that generates a lot of different waves and holes at different levels. The general orientation of the ledges is North-South and much of the river breaks out and flows over these ledges in an east to west direction. The most southerly section of ledge that fits this description has classically been known as 'Bennett's' or 'Bennett's Hole' after a Dartmouth paddler from the late-80's who would regularly surf the ledge-hole back in the days when more folks had scruples about dropping into large ledge-holes. Not Bennett.

Bennett's

Anyway, these days 'Bennett's' is usually a challenging, and short surf, though if you hit it in the wrong place (or right place?) you may be stuck for a while. However, just behind 'Bennett's' is 'Back-Bennett's' and this wave is more user friendly.

Bennett's on the left and Back-Bennett's on the right

Good levels are around 6000-10,000cfs on the CT R @ West Lebanon stream gauge. This is usually known as a tweener level at Hartlands when levels are not high enough for the Sign wave and still too high for much more than front-surfing on the Main Drag wave. As such, Back-Bennett's fills a very useful niche. It is eddy accessible, though the ferry is a little tricky. The eddy behind it is HUGE if you need to pick up the pieces afterwards. A variety of moves are possible depending a good deal on your skill level, the water level, and your boat type, but anyone can get on there and try to do something. Advanced paddlers can throw blunts both sides, the occasional fast cartwheel, and loops. Of course spins as well. I have looped my old tekno there several times.

Back-Bennett's cartwheel setup

Access is the same as with all the normal Hartlands waves. See the page on the Main Drag wave for more info on access and calculating flows more accurately.

So never let it be said that there's nothing good at Hartlands at the tweener levels. There is! Enjoy.

Jolyon Pruszinski

Weekend Forecast 3-26-11

Sharon Dam RR Wave-Hole

Hey Folks! Cold temps this week and weekend are keeping flows down so for this weekend we're looking at the typically the late-spring options for surfing. Sharon Dam RR should go, Hartlands Main Drag wave should be in early AM saturday based on H2oline forecasts and the levels may bump up high enough after that for the Sign Wave to come in. Excelsior hole on the Mascoma should be coming down into a good window and the dam at the head of Quechee Gorge has been releasing plenty of water during the day for good surfing. Bellows Falls wave on the CT may come in as well. Don't get too cold!

Peace
Jolyon Pruszinski

Weekend Forecast 3-18-11

The CLIFF WAVE may come in this weekend!

Well we've seen some beautiful weather in the past week with today (friday) being just ridiculous. It was 65 degrees! All this is pointing to some great snowmelt and rising rivers. The surfing outlook for this weekend is again, VERY GOOD!

Since last weekend we've had some ice shifting (Hartlands cleared out) but a good bit of ice remains both upstream of wilder dam on the Connecticut and upstream of Quechee Gorge. As such with rising river levels at least through tomorrow I would recommend against surfing on the Connecticut at Hartlands (main drag wave & sign wave), the 302 waves, and the bellows falls wave and on the Ottauquechee River at Quechee Gorge (well enough wave). Hartlands will probably be too high anyway.

The Campbell Hole is IN... NOW!

It looks like levels will also be too high also for the Excelsior Hole on the Mascoma, Leaf Peeper on Quechee Gorge, bridge hole on the White River, and perhaps even the Sharon dam waves on the White. Which  means.... that the White should be AWESOME this weekend. Right now the Sharon dam RL wave is running (which is nice) and the levels look like they may cruise right on up through the window for sharon dam and into the range for the CLIFF WAVE (best wave in the valley) and the SO-RO wave! If this happens get on it! Levels also look favorable for campbell hole on the Williams and Jungle Bush wave on the first branch of the White (but these two have unconfirmed ice status). Campbell hole levels are currently off the hook.

Enjoy the water, waves, and warmth!! Hope to see you out there.
Jolyon Pruszinski

The Weekend Forecast 3-12-11

With regional rain and levels on the rise we should get some good levels this weekend for cleaning the ice out of some more rivers and even some good boating!

RL Sharon Dam Wave

The White River looks like the best bet for this weekend. Sharon Dam should have a good wave all weekend (RR or RL) unless levels blowout to the high side (over 10k) in which case the cliff wave and so-ro wave will be in. Ice situation for jungle bush wave on the first branch is unconfirmed. if no ice it will probably run at least saturday, prob sunday too. Rising levels will put new ice in play so be on the lookout for the occasional berg or ice flow.

So-Ro Wave

Hartlands - The ice situation here is still a problem... if it flushes out over the weekend hartlands will likely be too high for the sign wave & definitely too high for the main drag wave

Quechee - The well enough wave is running nicely now, but with levels rising over the weekend I would stay away from quechee until the ice is off the backwater of the dam at the head of the gorge. Don't get crushed.

Mascoma River - Levels are too high for the excelsior hole for the weekend, but downtown hair is running at a nice class 5 level w. no ice. Also the normal river run from the Mascoma Lake dam down to excelsior should be good to go.

Williams River - The ice situation is unconfirmed on the williams at campbell hole, but levels suggest it is running now and may run saturday am too.

Bellows falls wave - levels look like they could work for this weekend but i'm going to wait for the ridiculously large ice jam upstream to flush out before i go here. Don't get crushed.

302 waves - These CT river waves in Woodsville will probably not have enough high-elevation melt this weekend to come in. Likely verdict: too low.

Have fun and stay safe out there!

Ice Report

So the big melt over the weekend had some interesting results...
(below: connecticut river at sumner's falls)

As of today (Tuesday 3-8-11) the whitewater run on the White River is mostly flushed of static ice. The Sharon dam wave is at a decent level... BUT one would be playboating in a slush puppy today. There is a lot of floating ice and slush coming down the river still. The river is runnable in a downriver capacity for an experienced boater, but not much fun for surfing. The good news is that this floating ice should clear out soon and we should have a long season for the Sharon dam waves! Of course, accessing that playspot can take a lot of work when the ice-out created what is effectively an ice gorge for the river to flow through. But that won't deter you die-hards!

More good news: Quechee Gorge is free of major static ice and floating ice for now, and the Well Enough Wave is running! Downside is the hike through the snow on either end of a session and the fact that the pond upstream of the dam is still covered with ice. Do not run the gorge at this time if the river is rising. The chance of getting crushed under the ice-out from the pond upstream is not worth taking. However, if levels are steady or dropping, you're probably good to go. For instance, today: probably good to go.

The Mascoma River is ice free in places, and not in others. The excelsior hole on the mascoma is clear and running well. This is another one to watch for ice-flows while surfing as it is doubtful that everything upstream is cleared yet.

Interesting news on the Connecticut River and Sumner's Falls, aka Hartlands, home to the Sign Wave, Main Drag Wave and other lesser known playspots. Apparently when all the ice was careening down the White River, it did not manage to break the major ice dam downstream of Hartlands. As such we have miles upon miles of ice jam backing up above Hartlands and now frozen in place at about the floodstage level. It's pretty amazing to see, but not terribly well suited for the average surfer. Hartlands will have to wait for some warmer weather & more water.

Until then, enjoy what we've got! Early season Sharon Dam and Quechee! Shalom.