LF Gauge 2.69, 1450 cfs, water temp 57°, air temp 48-58°
This season’s Sunday trips were very popular, drawing many paddlers new to the sport or new to CCA. The last scheduled trip of the season gathered 26 (?) paddlers to celebrate the end of the season and a beautiful fall day, setting a new record for participation. We had a couple of OC-1s, Mark Wray and Kim Buttleman. The rest were in a colorful array of kayaks: Pam W, Hildy F, Dean H, Eliza B, Wayne M, Andrew T, Kathleen S, John S, Alf C, Denise C, Sean R, Mary, Jason F, Jenny T, Jennifer S, Greg L, Marilyn J, Lisa F, Jackie H, Sergey G, Jack F, Lindsay M, Seth C, and trip coordinator Lisa L. If you showed up at the put-in but weren’t on the list and didn’t make it into this list, please let Lisa know. The club tries to keep track of the numbers.
We split into three groups for safety, with Wayne taking the advance scouts, Jackie taking the second group, and Lisa leading the third. Lindsay volunteered to sweep. What started as a cold morning became a sunny and very pleasant day. Because the water level is quite low, there was less play than at higher levels, but a lot of catching up with friends and making new ones. Groups 2 and 3 moved at a very relaxed pace. We found no new strainers. Diagonal is rocky and requires some attention. The low-water wave in Exit Rapid was in. We had to drop down below the woodpile to exit the GW canal. The only drama on the trip was an unfortunate blue heron that had gotten trapped by fishing line and was hanging from a branch. Some of you collect fishing line for disposal while paddling. This was out of reach, but it showed pretty graphically how much good you can do by removing it.
Some dozen paddlers gathered at Riley’s for lunch. With no wind, it was warm enough to sit comfortably. The advance scouts were off the river so far ahead of the other two groups that they couldn’t wait for us, unfortunately. Hard to herd such a big group.
Many thanks and a tip of the helmet to Wayne for coordinating the Sunday trips and leading many of them. They give newer paddlers - and long-time paddlers - an opportunity to practice skills, and they build our community. Please consider giving Wayne a hand by volunteering to organize a Sunday trip in 2026.
PS - Our grand finale was coordinating a simultaneous seal launch of seven kayaks into the C&O canal.