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Another Winooski Falls Wednesday
Wednesday March 27th, 2019Organizer: Chris Weed
Predominantly: int-adv WW
Water Level: medium
Author: Chris Weed
Internet Gauge (ft): 3.35
Internet Gauge (cfs): 1,750
USGS Gauge Name: USGS 04290500 WINOOSKI RIVER NEAR ESSEX JUNCTION, VT
Kayakers (K1): Chris Weed, Matt Schott, Conner and other UVM Kayak Club boaters
Gauge Link/URL: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/vt/nwis/uv?cb_00060=on&cb_00065=on&format=html&site_no=04290500&period=&begin_date=2019-03-27&end_date=2019-03-27
I was running home from the Chace Mill to get my boat and other gear at about 2:30, and passed an SUV loaded with boats coming from UVM . A signaled and asked the driver (Conner) if they were headed to the falls; he indicated yes.
By the time I arrived at the Chace Mill's back parking lot (~3:00 pm) Matt was about to put on and everyone else was on the river. I launched at ~3:30 and headed down the falls to join them. We spent the next 1.5 hours doing repeated runs of the Horseshoe or practicing attainment in the rapids below the falls. After everyone else left I hiked back to the put-in and did a conditioning paddle up to the Lime Kiln Dam and back, and after that ran the falls again on the far right side.
The weather was cool (mid-40s) but the sky was cloudless. There were some broken ice floes coming down the falls around 4:30 or so, continuing until after 5:00, but very little ice on the river overall. A later visual check from Riverside Park confirmed that Salmon Hole below the dam is completely free of ice. It was a perfect day to be on the river.