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White River - Stockbridge to Bethel
Saturday April 11th, 2015Organizer: Tony Shaw
Predominantly: nov-int WW
Water Level: medium
Author: Tony Shaw
Internet Gauge (ft): 6.63
Internet Gauge (cfs): 3440
USGS Gauge Name: West Hartford
Kayakers (K1): Mark Cook, Chris Frost, Chris Weed, Lou Whittier, Brian Wilcock
Canoers (OC1): Tony Shaw
Duckies/Packrafts: Eric Bishop
Gauge Link/URL: 0
I love this stretch of the White! Some day (I promise) I will organize an early April trip here and the temperature at the put-in won't be 41 degrees. But don't hold your breath...
With a relentless but favorable WNW tailwind, the 6.8 miles downriver from Stockbridge VT (Tweed River put-in, beside VT 100) to Bethel (VT 107 wayside take-out, above the Fish Hatchery) went by quickly. It was Eric's maiden voyage in his “Thrill Seeker” (not to be confused with a “ Duckie ”). He will need a new PFD because the one he owns (long!) pushed up on either side of his head and helmet making him look all day like a turtle timidly peeking out from his shell. Aside from that, he looked ready for just about anything in his new "ride".
Thanks to a windy and warm Friday with some rain, the water level peaked early Saturday morning and was truly medium for our 12:45 put-in, a.k.a. purrrrrrfect . Between rapids, the wind pushed us onward amid relaxed conversation. Sporty Class II is the allure of this stretch of the White, and today we had our choice of multiple routes through every rapid, shared big grins below the gargantuan wave train in the rapid above the Peavine Restaurant, and passed innumerable pourover rocks where one could spin/surf/play. However, the nip in the air kept our play to a minimum. Only one paddler swam, flipped by a reactionary wave in the beefier river left channel above the Gaysville bridge.
Even with a stop for lunch, the trip took just 2 hours and 45 minutes - some kind of record. The "afternoon breaks of sunshine" in the forecast arrived just in time for the drive home to Burlington, Barre , etc. It was 46 degrees. Oh, and, did I mention: I love this stretch of the White!