Events - Event View

Barnum to Bloomington: Saturday, May 24: THIS TRIP IS CONTIGENT ON THE RELEASE LEVEL.
The Corps of Engineers has scheduled a standard (1,000 cfs) release from the Jennings Randolph Dam on both days, starting at 10 AM. However, owing to the region having received a lot of rain of late, with another ½-inch forecast for today (Wednesday) and showers possible Thursday and Friday, they are currently releasing water in the range of 850 – 2,500 cfs to drop the reservoir levels and have stated that they may need to (increase) the flow and/or the duration of the releases on the weekend as well. One of their options is to keep releasing overnight. I am comfortable “leading” this run at 1,000 cfs (the standard release level), but am not comfortable with higher levels—it gets a bit too pushy for me (OC1). Accordingly, I will be monitoring the announced levels over the next 3 days and will decline the trip if the announced level exceeds the standard level.
Assuming a standard release level of 1,000 cfs, this is a pushy and bouncy trip of about 6 miles, with steepish cobble-and boulder-bar rapids grading class II/II+/III-, with one ledge rapid (“Robin’s Nest”) rated class III. The rapids are mostly read-and-run, and there are eddies. There can be wood, but such can usually be bypassed. Robin’s Nest can be bypassed if desired at higher levels by taking upstream side channels on river left.
Rendezvous at the Bloomington water-treatment plant takeout at 11 AM on Saturday. After transferring/consolidating boats, we would then drive up to the Barnum put-in. The Corps collect a $5/boat launching/parking fee, good for all-day, so do not forget to bring this sum in cash. You probably should bring a lunch.
The weather is forecast for Saturday as partly cloudy, with a high of 66-degrees; the water is very cold.
Hendrik van Oss
703-715-8381 (land-line! Not accessible past midday Friday)
hvanoss.cement@gmail.com
Keyser Inn: 304-788-0913