White River, First Branch

My planned 7-mile trip down the lower First Branch of the White River in Vermont was replaced by a shorter run due to very high flows and muddy waters caused from heavy rainfalls this July  (7860 cfs, 9.08 ft on the West Harford gauge).  The ad-hoc 2-mile run on the upper stretch of river was cut even shorter due to several challenging rapids and ledges.  Put in about 200 yards below the Flint Covered Bridge to avoid a long series of ledges just below it. Managed through several Class II rapids and drops but took on water and had to stop and empty my open kayak a couple times to keep it stable. Approaching the final two (Class III?) rapids near the old sawmill damn, I thought discretion is the better part of valor, beached my kayak near Dickerman Brook and walked back the final 0.5 mile along Route 110 to my car at Larkin Bridge.  It was a beautiful sunny 82F day in central Vermont.  

Start: Flint Covered Bridge, Bicknell Hill Road, Tunbridge, VT

End: Larkin Covered Bridge, Larkin Road, Tunbridge, VT

Trip Time: 1 hour

Trip Distance: 1.5 miles

The put-in was 200 yards below the bridge, down a grassy slope from Bicknell Hill Road. 

Took out here where Dickerman Brook merges with First Branch...

... to avoid these next two rapids/ledge drops very close to Route 110

Planned takeout at Larkin bridge, parking for 2 cars

Here is the site of the former Eaton Mill dams, removed in 2019.  About 0.5 mile above the confluence  with the White River main stem.  Probably Class IV with no easy portage routes.  Not today. 

When in Rome....