Big Sandy
Upper Big Sandy
Bruceton Mills to Rockville
5.8 miles
Class 3-4
Level: 6.2 ft @ Rockville 784 cfs
5-21-05
Craft: OC-1 Mohawk Probe 12
Highlights: Very beautiful setting, Technical
Whitewater,
Deer crossing stream
Comments: Must make moves above drops and usually something waiting for you below.
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| "Falkenstein Falls" |
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| Ferrying between the ledges |
Dropping over |
| John
Surfing in Rockville Big Sandy was 6.9 ft @ Bridge 11-20-04 Click to Enlarge |
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Big Sandy
It's great to be back and starting a new paddling season
The 3 diehards (Nick, Andy and Myself) decided to get out on the water a little earlier this year (3-8-03). After knowing the temperature was expected to reach 60 degrees, we decided to paddle an easy section of the Big Sandy.
At first, Andy and I debated on which stream we were gonna run. He presented the two ideas which were Big Sandy and Dunkard Creek. Our thoughts were that since everything was running high, we might be in for a ride. We discussed issues such as high, fast water, strainers, etc. After studying the topo maps on Andy's laptop and checking river gauges while Nick was truck camping along Clifton Mills Road, the conclusion was Big Sandy.
The stream ended up being an easy paddle with a few Class I rapids which were good for the first time on the water this year. Since this is a heavily stocked area, many were trout fishing along the banks. Nick and Andy decided to try their luck also but came home empty. I opt for getting reacquainted with my canoe and warmed up for our upcoming trip to the Big South Fork of the Cumberland in Tennessee/Kentucky.
Put in 0.5 mile south of Mason-Dixon Line and take out above the dam on Rt. 26 in Bruceton Mils.
Gauge: We ran it at 1280 cfs. Stage was around 7' on the Rockville Gauge. This was ideal. It could probably be done a little lower. However, not much or the rapids may have to be walked.
Class: A-I
Topographic Maps
compliments of Andy
Note: Save to disc and print as a JPG File on an
8.5" by 11" sheet of paper
Note: The American Whitewater site is incorrect on this stretch calling it Class I-III
| There
is very limited information on this section in Wildwater West Virginia |
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| Me at the put-in | Nick and Andy at the put-in |
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| First riffle | Eddy |
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| Downstream view | Fishin' |
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| Probably the best rapid on the run | Rest in peace |
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| Me floating | Trying their luck |
