Paddlin’ Ed

October for paddlers in the SE is Russell Fork release season.  For four weeks each October the Flannigan Reservoir on the Pound river releases to drop to winter levels for flood control.  Put in for the upper Russell Fork is at the release pool on the Pound which after a mile or two flows into the actual Russell Fork river at Bartlet Va. and combines with the natural flow to provide around 700+cfs of flow for three weekends, and then 1000+cfs for the fourth weekend.   Paddlers can choose the upper, which begins on the Pound below the dam to the confluence with the Russell Fork proper and then down to the upper takeout at “The Garden Hole”. 

This is an absolutely beautiful fall run,  with magnificent fall foliage set along the river flowing through mountains along the Va. and Kentucky border, along spectacular cliffs and rock formations.  The upper section of the run is 1-2 with some nice surf spots.  The 2nd half just a little ways below Bartlet is 2-3+ with some very nice technical rapids down through a gorge area that is both fun whitewater and spectacular for its scenery.

I made the trip on Friday night and set up at the Breaks Interstate Park campground along the VA.-Kentucky border – a very nice park/campground.  Saturday morning I did breakfast at the restaurant at the parks lodge,  that looks out over view of the “Breaks Gorge” to eat and hopefully hook up other paddlers to run with.  After a couple of inquiries I hooked up with Dave from Atlanta a OC-1 paddler and arrange to paddle with him and a couple joining him.  After breakfast,  Greg (OC-1) and Paula (ducky) showed up to complete our group.  After loading boats and dropping vehicals at “Garden Hole” we headed for Flannigan Dam put in,  where we quickly got on.

The day had started out sunny with a few clouds and beginning to warm up,  however just as we where putting on it began to turn cloudy and breezy which with cool water made for a rather cool day on the river.  However we had all prepared with extra layer, neoprene and dry suits,  so after working the surf holes along the way down the Pound river section we arrived at the Russel Fork, and ran the dam at Bartlett just downstream.

Greg and Paula where running the RF for the first time and Dave evidently had only run it a time or two,  so I got elected to lead the run down the rock ledge embedded in one section of the dam, which is runnable.  Down below I set up for the others, all had good runs, and especially Greg’s line.  From the dam after a break at the beach below we played various spots and surfable hydraulics along the way down to the pool just above Railroad where the main series of rapids start and run for the last half of the river.

Down at the pool above Railroad, I pointed out to the group that people where often surprised to turn the corner after this tranquil pool and find themselves looking down at Railroad,  a long technical rapid with a railroad bridge overhead 2/3 of the way down, with many intricate routes and quit visible drop all the way down.  I lead off and took the group from center at the top in going a bit left, working eddies and then moving back right after not far down,  then working eddies down to well right of center and then back across behind a ledge line to the left and around behind the center bridge pier to set up in an eddy on its left side.  From there we worked an intricate short run to the bottom,  Paula running on out and the rest of us working a couple of eddies and ferries down.

At the bottom of Railroad we did our lunch break and then head down through a couple of smaller but technical rapids to the top of 20 Stitches,  which is the most notable rapid on this section.  I lead into a staging eddy at the top,  then caught the next eddy down left of center.  From there I ran a slot below down the next drop and head down the right through various holes and diagonal to a ledge 2/3 of the way down and caught a tongue center right through the hydraulic and hit the eddy below.  Paula came down much of the same route but ran back left off the end of the hydraulic,  followed by Greg.  Dave had elected to scout down the right above and then came down working several lines down the middle and coming off on the far left.  From here we dropped the final ledge below far left and quickly worked to the far right out the bottom of the run.

Below 20 stitches are a couple of nice intricate technical rapids with lots of lines,  which we each worked variations of and had a great time.  Included in these rapids is Jack Rock which actually is a larger rapid with two intricate sections and ends below the 2nd section in a pool with a large boulder (evidently Jack’s rock) in the center.  Here we worked various chutes, pour-over, boofs, and ferried large waves out the bottom.  Below here are a few smaller rapids,  all fun that finish out the run down to the take out at “Garden Hole”.

After a great run we, dressed out quickly and loaded up – it was getting cold.  Great day though on the river with an excellent group.  Later that evening,  while I was doing dinner at the lodge,  Dave, Greg, and Paula came in, joined me, and we talked about what great time we had on this beautiful run.

Pictures in the picture gallery – SYOTR-Paddlin-ed