Cocheco River

First ever February kayak trip. Exciting run down the upper Cocheco River.  Temps 37F and water levels were high: 4.4 ft, 250 cfs on the Rochester gauge.  Clear water showed a sandy river bottom. Cool ice shelves formed along the banks showed the higher water levels from the night before.  A couple of abandoned boats were seen along the riverside: a power boat, jetski as well as a two junked rusted out cars.  About 1/2 mile after the start was the most challenging rapid (class 2 maybe), the river was squeezed to the left due to several fallen trees.  An overhanging log left only about 5 feet of safe clearance in turbulent waters between it and a rocky wall on the left. I made it through unscathed and took on just a little water.  Another 1/2 mile down was a snow-mobile bridge over two large round culverts.  Both were blocked by wood, portaged left.  The rest of the way was quickwater through woods and then a marsh near the end.  2 more river-wide blowdowns required portage and several others required quick moves or limbos to get through.  A fun river but definitely need to stay alert on this one! 

 

Start:  Cocheco Road, Farmington, NH

End:  Little Falls Bridge Road, Rochester, NH

Trip time:  2 hours 20 min. 

Trip distance:  approx 6 miles

Looking upriver from the put-in

A three hour tour...

Wreck on the river

Tight squeeze on the left

Pretty ice shelves

Snowmobile bridge over 2 culverts required portage left

River flowing fast out the other side

 

Ice halo

 

Final portage in the marsh

A very new blowdown based on color of trunk, snuck by on the right

 

A long way from Aruba...

 

Little Falls Bridge

 

Takeout on the right

 

Float plan

Assabet River - Acton Canoe Launch to Lowell Road

First trip of 2023!  With water levels way up due to recent rain storms, no ice on the main river and decent weather for January, 43F and sunny, decided to do a one-way trip from Acton Canoe Launch to Lowell Road in Concord. Uber'ed back to the start. The river was cooking, Maynard gauge (4.64 ft, 950 cfs).  At the start, it was too strong to paddle upriver to Powdermill dam, so I pointed downstream and went with the fast flow.  No river-wide obstructions anywhere, or if there were any they were fully submerged.  Damonmill looked a little choppy but was a smooth ride through.  Paddled up to the Haywards Pond outlet, usually not reachable at lower water levels.  The Pine Street bridge was low clearance but made it under the right side without having to do a full limbo.  Towards the end of the trip took a short trek up Spencer Brook to the road, usually too brushy to get that far.  The Egg Rock inscription was completely submerged!  A few birds spotted: red-tailed hawk, blue jay, plus the usual mallards and canadian geese. Too early for turtles.  

 

Start: Acton Canoe Launch, Acton, MA

End:  Lowell Road Boat Ramp, Concord, MA

Trip distance:  6.25 miles,

Trip time: 2 hours 

 

At the put-in

Footpath to Powdermill dam under Rt 62 bridge is underwater...

 

Approaching Damonmill

View scouting from Damonmill mill parking lot, the old dam remnant to the right

Looking towards Haywards Pond outlet

Ice and low bridge blocked access to Damonmill race mill

 

Very low clearance at Pine St Bridge

 

MBTA Commuter rail bridge

 

No waiting on that bench today

 

Egg Rock submerged

At the takeout

Ashuelot River - Surry Mountain Dam to Keene

Nice and easy one-way paddle from below the very impressive Surry Mountain Dam down to Keene on a warm (73F) and breezy late fall day. Bike shuttled back to start. Water levels were medium-low on the Below Surry Mtn Dam gauge 5.19 ft, 53.9 cfs.  The first part of the trip is quickwater through the Bretwood golf course.  It was nice being able to see hills and trees beyond the riverbanks but also not as natural as other parts of the river. Go under several faux covered bridges for golf carts. Scraped bottom several times, you have to watch the water depths carefully, this trip would be better at slightly higher levels 70+ cfs.  One ledge drop (1-foot) near the end of the golf course, followed by the only portage of the trip due to a river-wide tree blowdown.  The second half of the trip, the current slows a lot due to the dam in Keene.  Had to paddle hard into the headwind to finish the last mile or so.  Saw 1 fish (trout?); 1 cardinal, 1 blue heron, and several small blue birds with white stomachs, not blue jays more like sparrows. A beautiful day - the massive Surry Mountain Dam definitely the highlight.  

 

Start: 577 East Surry Road, Surry, NH

End:  Ashuelot River Park, Keene, NH

Trip distance:  6.75 miles

Trip Time:  2 hours 20 minutes. 

Before the paddle, took a walk up to the top of the enormous Surry Mountain Dam

Surry Mountain Lake, behind the dam

The put-in is about 1/4 mile below the dam

 

Several faux covered bridges cross the golf course

 

Small drop

 

Followed by the one portage of the trip

 

Route 9 (Franklin Pierce Highway) bridge followed by the Appel Way Trail bridge

 

Takeout left before this bridge, and dam below, onto the bike/footpath

Spy Pond

Nice short after-work paddle on a warm summer's evening.  Put-in at the paved boat ramp between the Elks Club and public playground.  Went counterclockwise around the pond, checking out houses and the small island in the center of the pond.  One power boat and a couple of SUPs also out on the water.  Found the fenced-in outlet that goes under Route 2 over to Little Pond (aka "Little Spy Pond") in Belmont.  The gauge near the outlet read a height of 32", low.  Interesting pond to check out but definitely more of an urban trip with the sound of Route 2 a constant. 

 

Start/End: 46 Pond Lane, Arlington, MA

Trip distance:  1.5 mile (est).  

Trip time: 45 minute 

 

Outlet to Little Spy Pond, under Route 2 above

 

Stately Kelwyn Manor

 

Heading back, Arlington Boys and Girls club is that blue building in the distance

Modern family...

Penobscot River, West Branch

Annual Arlington/Waltham group whitewater rafting trip.  River was high 3100 cfs and made the class IV and V rapids even more intense than the previous year's trip.  Beautiful weather, great time.

 

Start: McKay Station, Millinocket, ME

End: Nevers Corner Rd, Millinocket, ME

Trip distance: 16 miles

Trip time: 6-7 hours