How low IS Kenduskeag?

[fred]

Okay--I'm sure it's low, low . . . but how low is that? Lower than anyone can remember? Have to get out of your boat anywhere?

[Jeff]

Remember two years ago, when the water was lower than anyone had ever seen it on race day? It's a bit, okay, quite a bit, lower than that at this time.

[Jeff]

Or, to put it another way:

I think two years ago on race day the gauge height was 4.5 feet and the discharge was about 370 cfs.

Today the gauge height is just under 4 feet, and the discharge has just dropped below 200 cfs.

[Brad Coffey]

I paddled from Six Mile Falls down to the first portage today. It was indeed lower than 2 years ago. It was in many, many spots so low that it was a challenge to get through without getting stuck on rocks. That said, it was runnable and pretty fun. If we don't get any more rain between now and Thursday, I'd say that people will be getting out quite a bit to lift over rocks.

[cdalton]

I scouted the lower part of the stream today (Sunday 4/15), and took this picture of Shopping Cart:


Given the streamflow data, I was expecting worse. Everything looked runnable, with a certain amount of bumping and weaving.

For the race, my concern is about traffic/throughput in the bony areas. 5 boats a minute is a lot of population pressure even in a "normal" year.

[cdalton]

In case anyone missed the BDN article, no change of plans for the race:
bangordailynews.com/2012/04/18/sports/come-rain-or-low-water-kenduskeag-stream-canoe-race-still-on-track/

[Ray Wirth]

Photos of the area immediately above "The Jaws" of Six Mile Falls. The staircase falls above The Jaws are very bony, basically impassible, unless you want to portage them. I definitely plan to portage the falls area. Some, especially canoeists, may want to stay in the stream and drag their boats through the staircase area. Yesterday I was able to run the final drop, "The Jaws," cleanly without even a bump. However the area below the drop is also shallow and rocky and will likely require you to get out of your boat again to pull over a few rocks.

Below Six Mile, the stream definitely has low sections but it is currently possible to get through all of them without getting out of your boat.

Shopping Cart is just a big fun wave train. The drop above Shopping Cart might claim a few boats and is probably the most challenging drop on the river right now.











Watch out for this guy if you find yourself walking or swimming in the stream above "The Jaws."

[loganfeeney]

Ray, let me ask you this...will you be running your composite boat or are conditions bad enough that you'll be paddling plastic? We're trying to make the same decision.

I've spent a few minutes trying to decipher the pics you posted...I don't even recognize the stream. If the trees weren't bare, I'd swear you took those in August.

And which drop above shopping cart are you referring to? The one between the mandatory portages? Upstream from the Harlow Street bridge?

Thanks Ray.

[spencer]

Nice analysis, Ray. I took a look at all the same areas yesterday and agree. I was planning to walk through the upper ledges above Six Mile Falls and then run the horseshoe chute on the far right. That looked just fine yesterday. That seems a lot faster than the portage up the hill, across the grassy lawn, and then back down to the river below the falls. I've haven't portaged Six Mile in about seven times in the race, so I'm not sure if the portage is worth it or not.

Logan, I think Ray is talking about the drop just after the 2nd portage but before Shopping Cart. It looked runnable but with only one narrow option.

I was all excited and got a ZRE paddle for the first time this year. Would I be crazy to use it on Saturday? I was thinking I'd have a plastic paddle as my spare and switch out when it gets really bony but use the new one on flat, deeper sections. Thoughts from the composite veterans?

[fred]

I've portaged Six-Mile many times, river right just above everything. In low water like this, portaging is a big time saver--if you're in to saving time! ;D

As far as using your new Zaveral . . . I wouldn't!

[cdalton]

Here's the drop above shopping cart:


It's immediately after the final portage. This drop and shopping cart are the last ones before you get to flat/tidal water in downtown. It's hard to see in the picture, but you have to go right of center to avoid some exposed rocks, and then cut back left to the tongue.

Spencer, I'll be doing the carbon/plastic (ZRE and Carlisle) combo thing. I did that last weekend in the also bony Marsh Stream race and it worked well. Some people put plastic on their furniture, but I say enjoy the good stuff. I haven't decided about a composite boat though ... I'm curious what others are doing.

[Ray Wirth]

Apr 19, 2012 10:42:11 GMT -5 loganfeeney said:

Ray, let me ask you this...will you be running your composite boat or are conditions bad enough that you'll be paddling plastic? We're trying to make the same decision.

Sadly, my kevlar boat will stay at home this year. Tupperware, it is, for me. I would hesitate to use any but the very toughest composite boat (that I didn't like very much) -- and even then, I don't think I'd do it. There are simply too many shallow areas with rocks.

I will likely be using my venerable old Lightning paddle (graphite), which I have used in the Kenduskeag Stream the last two days with no ill effects. The more vertical canoe stroke is probably tougher on paddles than a kayak stroke, however.

[Susannah]

A Kenduskeag 2012 Haiku:

Water rocks water
Water rocks rocks rocks water
Rocks rocks rocks rocks rocks