This was a hot, low water (2.73’ on the Little Falls gauge) trip of 12 paddlers on the George Washington Canal. We began at 8:30 as a single group but quickly became strung out at the top of the canal and divided into two – the river runners (Alf C, Diane H, Hendrik vO {the sole open boater}, Mikey B & Wayne McD) and the eddy hoppers (Barb B, Bob H, Dean H, Hildy F, Kathleen S, Natalie H & Toni B). The rapids were scrapey but runnable; no carnage to report. The return trip up the C&O was near canoe zero; a shuttle trip via Pennyfield may be advisable until there is more water. Turtle count on the C&O was only five.
Alf adds: We saw an eagle atop a tall dead tree just after Diagonal Rapid, and took the left channel. I took photos of how the C&O NHP is letting too much water flow through the lock gates at Pennyfield and Swains Locks, and called and wrote to them on Monday asking for the levels in those two reaches to be raised by a foot or more. Shall persevere.