Intermediate^2 Whitewater Kayaking

OVERVIEW

Note the skill level… It’s intermediate squared, not intermediate*2 Kayaking.

Anyways, The main event of the weekend would be The Savage River release on Sunday 6/3 (This is the Intermediate^2 one). You can do your own research on this run by starting here: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/748/

What you need to know about this run: The difficulty in the AW description appears to be a bit dated, and It’s really Class III moves, but Class IV consequences: Water comes from the bottom of a lake, so It’s cold year round (42F), CONTINUOUS, and very few eddies, and shallow, so upside down time and swim team tryouts are highly discouraged! You must bring a bombproof roll and/or brace or stellar water reading skills and boat control for everyone in the group to enjoy this run. And the object is to get in as many laps as possible – I’ve only manged 4 so far, striving for 5 this year!

As for Saturday 6/2 – the first thing that comes to mind in the region that is a sure bet is the Lower Yough (intermediate). Read about it here: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1687/
But with a little cooperation from mother nature, there’s some other nearby options that could present themselves.
A bombproof roll is not necessarily required, thou having the patience for T-rescues and having several swim-free runs on the “Lower James” through downtown Richmond at 4ft or higher would be good prereqs for an enjoyable LY run.

RAFTING:
There’s commercial trips available on both the Savage and Lower Yough, you can inquire about those here: http://wilderness-voyageurs.com/whitewater.html

Everyone gets waitlisted till I screen your skills.

TIMES:
Lumbergh’s gonna have me come in on Saturday, I just know it… Well hopefully my PC will shutdown promptly and I can duck out early enough Friday before he asks, but if not I may not be able to personally join yall till Sunday, but some equally competent leader may take the reigns for Saturday, or yall could hook up with Coastal’s peeps for Sat. But anyways, the times indicated are when I personally hope to leave/return – thou we could head up Early Sat or pre-dawn Sunday if the group wishes.

FOOD/CAMPING:
I think we may camp in Friendsville on Friday, and then possibly at the Savage Putin Saturday night. The Club’s summer allotment won’t cover all the food and camping fees for this trip, so all should bring extra $ to cover those, we’ll probably eat out somewhere Sat night. Send me a list of any camping gear needs you may have.

FEES:
There’s suggested $5 donation at the putin for the entities that make the Savage releases possible, and I think launch permits on the LY run around $4. So I’ve put $30 for the fee to cover those and other extraordinary expenses.

Club Provides:
Boats & Gear, Cold water gear if you need them.

You Provide:
Your own boat & gear