help_outline Skip to main content

Trip Reports

Little Falls - 9 July 2020
Author Last Post

Eight intrepid paddlers (Alf C, Bruce C, Gary Q, Ginny Q, Jenny T, Mark B, Paul M & Wayne McD) braved the July heat to paddle Little Falls. For five of us, this was the first Little Falls trip this year and the first venture into substantial whitewater since March (back in the pre-COVID era) so there were a few butterflies. Gauge level was 3.06 (3130 cfs), near the ceiling for a Little Falls run for many of us. And there was a bit of carnage – three capsizes in all. However, paddlers, boats and paddles were all efficiently rescued on each occasion without undue angst.  Mark and Paul ran the Beaver Slide.  At Little Falls rapid everybody ran the Maryland channel and several of us took advantage of the 11:30 high tide, which made it possible remain on the far left through the big drop (aka the von Schlieffen route) rather than the traditional route cutting right above the hole. We then returned to Lock 5 via the C&O canal for a shuttle-free trip.

Return to Forum