Nissitissit River

Beautiful spring trip down The Nissi, a winding and peaceful river.  It was a 56F and mostly sunny day with excellent water levels  (Nashua E Pepperell gauge 2.86 ft 799 cfs;  Squannacook gauge 2.83 ft 144 cfs). The first part of the trip winds through a marsh, passing through several mellow riffles and small drops. Saw a lot of wildlife: Tiny gold birds, pair of woodpeckers, many turtles and wood ducks. The action picks up the 2nd half of the trip in the section below the West Hollis Bridge.  About 1/2 mile below that are a quick succession of 3 river-wide blowdowns that required portages (right, over, over).  Then an expected small dam, which I ran left. Several fly fisherman were in this area too.  The finale of the trip was running the remnants of the Millie Turner dam which is 2 big drops (class II) followed by riffles to the Mill St bridge. Kayak bottom gained a few new scratches that last stretch!   

Start: Bohannon Bridge, Brookline NH

End: Mill St Bridge, Pepperell, MA

Trip Time:  2 hours 45 minutes.   

Trip Distance:  8 miles

The put-in at Bohannon Bridge

Peaceful upper section

The beavs did good work here

Natural bridge

Remnants of the old mill near W Hollis Road bridge

First of three river-wide blowdowns

Looking back upstream of dam, 2 channels blocked by downed tree

Not sure if this was a vulture but he looked ominous, drying his wings

Gorgeous day on the water!

Rapids at the former Millie Turner dam in Pepperell

Take-out below the Mill St bridge

Nissitissit River

First one-way float trip!  Cable locked kayak to a tree near the put-in at Bohannon Bridge in Brookline, NH. Drove car to end point at Pepperell Coverage Bridge, uber'ed back to start.  Water levels where high due to 2 days of rain that week (Nashua River at E Pepperell gauge was at 1550 cfs, 4.2 ft;  Squannacook at 240 cfs, 3.3 ft).  First half of trip was through a marshy, reedy area.  Very pretty, quickwater and a couple small drops.  Saw some tiny yellow birds and a couple baby blue jays.  Things got more woodsy and 'exciting' after passing under the W Hollis / Brookline St Bridge.  Rapids increased their intensity and several tree blowdowns were challenging to navigate. 2 required portage.  Saw many (8-10) fly fisherman along the way.  Took my first official "swim" trying to pass under a blowdown just before Prescot Road bridge.  I grabbed hold of the tree trunk, trying to pull myself toward the end with higher clearance but my kayak decided to keep going under at that spot and boom!  I was in the water.   Top moment of trip was running the rapids (class II?) where the Millie Turner dam was removed in Pepperell, scouting it first.  2 big drops followed by a 1/2 mile of continuous riffles.  One final portage around a blowdown near junction with Nashua River.  Current in the Nashua was too strong to paddle up against for 0.75 miles to my car, so I beached it and walked back along the rail trail and Lowell Road to car.  A fun but occasionally dicey trip!

Start: Bohannon Bridge, Brookline NH

End: Pepperell Covered Bridge, Pepperell MA

Starting point near Bohannon Bridge

Serious beaver work on this tree

West Hollis Road Bridge

Graceful tree arch

 

Next level rope swing

Site of the former Turner Dam