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First Hatch - Lower Mad
Wednesday April 1st, 2009Organizer: Tony Shaw
Predominantly: intermediate WW
Water Level: medium low
Author: Tony Shaw
Internet Gauge (ft): 3.80
Internet Gauge (cfs): 565
USGS Gauge Name: Moretown
Kayakers (K1): Jamie Dolan, Todd Johnstone-Wright, Gregg Punchar, Scott Thompson
Canoers (OC1): Tony Shaw
Gauge Link/URL: 4
To run the upper Mad (the scheduled trip) we would have needed twice as much water as was flowing in the Mad today. The lower Mad, then, was a good alternative. The level held steady, low but purrrfectly fluid, with temps in the lower 40's and spotty drizzle that didn't spoil the fun at all. Some of the surf waves are especially inviting at this level. We apparently were the missing ingredient that triggered a bug hatch half-way through the run - a sure sign that spring has sprung.
Nobody wanted to test the stickiness of the hole below the horseshoe on river right, but all the runs to the left of the island were clean. At the last rapid around an island we all ran right, but the passage to the left is free of any riverwide obstructions if you want to give that a try.