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Big Branch
Wednesday September 24th, 2003Organizer: Alden Bird
Predominantly: advanced WW
Water Level: low boatable
Author: Alden Bird
Painted Gauge (ft): 2.75
Kayakers (K1): Richard "Corey" Cooley,John Adler
Canoers (C1): Alden Bird
Many creeks get harder when they are low. The New Haven is like this. You are more likely to flip if you hit a rock at high speed than a wave.
Apparently the Big Branch is the same way, according to my companion who had run the river a foot higher. If I were to go back, I would want some more water.
This is the steepest and most continuous river I have ever done. To do it right you have to Concentrate, Concentrate, Concentrate. When I got to the takeout I felt like I had just taken the damn SATs or something.
Unfortunately one of our three dislocated his shoulder in the "Cave" rapid right at the start and, writhing in pain, had to call it a day. We hauled his boat up and out of the gorge for him. This took a while. End result was that I didn't get back to school in time. Missed class for some class V.
The few times I looked up I noticed that I was hurtling down through a very pretty gorge. That's why we say "gorgeous," ain't it?