Events - Event View

Assuming that the Corps of Engineers' N-Branch Potomac release (Bloomington) May 16-17 does not get cancelled owing to low water levels in the Jennings Randolph reservoir, I will coordinate a joint BRV-CCA trip on the Westernport/Piedmont to Black Oak/Gary Yoder section of the North Branch on Sunday, May 17, 2026. We will rendezvous at the Subway (sandwich) shop parking lot in Westernport, MD at 11 AM, to give the Bloomington release water time to arrive at Westernport from upstream. The Web indicates that the Subway is once again in business; if accurate, a take-out lunch can be purchased there.

This is an approx. 10-mile trip (Novice/Low-Intermediate), with most of the actual whitewater being in the first 5 miles (to the McCoole access on river left, where we usually have lunch), but with some spectacular geologic exposures in the lower half below Keyser. The rapids are mostly bouncy class 2, similar to the easier rapids on the Bloomington run but with noticeably less gradient; there is one ledge rapid that is more like 2+. The water is quite cold, so dress appropriately. There are some photos of this run on the American Whitewater website: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/3241/main

Paddlers interested in joining this trip should contact Hendrik van Oss (see below) NO LATER THAN Friday, May 15, Noon, as I will be driving up to Keyser on Friday afternoon, intending to spend Friday and Saturday nights at a motel (likely, the Keyser Inn). Note: I DO NOT have a cell phone--my home landline does have an answering machine, and a message can be left for me at the Keyser Inn Reception desk.

Hendrik van Oss
703-715-8381 (Landline only)
hvanoss.cement@gmail.com