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2013

Skining up Shawnee

Sunrise under clouds

Sun peaked under the cloud deck for us before disappearing again this morning as we topped out of our skin up.

Bull Branch with Jeff

Friday afternoon rolled around with the grand pronouncement by the Mount Washington observatory that they had just seen the most rain in ~12 hours since Hurricane Irene rolled through, therefore there had to be some creeking somewhere in the near future.

Cairns in the middle of the Sawyer River

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The Nob Race

A couple weekends ago it was the Penobscot Race, which was just after I started my new job at Bridgton Academy, but being the race I had to make the trip up there. It also was a week after having left the Nob during my last Chewonki trip.

Tom and Chuck

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2013 Whitewater Training Trip

Earlier in the month the whitewater trip leaders headed out on our training trip to the West Branch of the Penobscot.

Ryan demonstrating how a trailer can be a jungle-gym.Kayak Trailers = Jungle Gyms

Our first day up on the West Branch was a little gray (as was the drive up), but we ran through a bunch of lessons. The second day had the sun come out while we paddled down from Big Eddy through Horserace. Big Amberjackwockamus Falls distracted us on the way down.

Walter surfing at Third Drop of Big A on the West Branch of the Penobscot. Ryan surfing at Third Drop of Big A on the West Branch of the Penobscot. Mike surfing at Third Drop of Big A on the West Branch of the Penobscot. Greg surfing at Third Drop of Big A on the West Branch of the Penobscot.

That afternoon we got word that they were going to release water from the dam in addition to what was getting released from the station, so we headed up to Ripogenus dam to spectate. It turns of the gray (rain) was over most of the state, so the whole Penobscot watershed was a little full.Sunset at Ripogenus Dam on the West Branch of the Penobscot The Dryway between Ripogenus Dam and Mckay Station at the beginning of the release from the dam. Creatively powering the horn so that the release can happen. Release spectators The Dryway isn't looking so dry anymore

Our plan for our final paddling day was to head up to the Seboomook section, but we had no idea what it would be like at 6k cfs, so we decided to stay local and contemplate just what we would do with a trip at high water.Jane Watching Cribworks at High Water on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Dangerous Dave gave us a demo of Cribworks.Dangerous Dave running Cribworks at high water on the West Branch of the Penobscot Pano of Cribworks at high water on the West Branch of the Penobscot. Pano of Cribworks at high water on the West Branch of the Penobscot.

One of the canoeing trips came for a visit and to make pizza.Meeting up with one of the canoe training trips at Big Eddy Campground to make some pizzas.Cooking pizzas at Big Eddy on the West Branch of the Penobscot

K-Bomb Race

On the 22nd Send It Whitewater ran the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River.

It started with a Time Trial through the gorge, which Daniel here has only paddled in a raft, and this may have only been his second day in a kayak this year. He also had the honor of being first.Daniel waiting at the starting line of the K-Bomb Race on the Kennebec River

Ruben decided to chase Kit down the river.Kit and Ruben coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River.Kit coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Kit coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Kit coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Ruben coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Becca coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Becca coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Becca coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Becca coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Chuck coming into the finish of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River.

Taylor keeping track of all our times.Taylor holding down timing duties at the finish line of the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River.

We had enough duos show up they got their own mass start.Duo Mass Start meeting for the K-Bomb race on the Kennebec River. Jane looking ready for the K-Bomb Duo Race Ruben at the start of the K-Bomb Duo Race Tom at the start of the K-Bomb Duo Race Ryan and Daniel at the start of the K-Bomb Duo Race The remnants of the K-Bomb Duo Race meandering their way down to Carry Brook.

We finished up with a solo mass start. No photos, but to summarize: "Catch Linehan!"

All the Chewonki Paddlers, and one tag along.Past and Present Chewonki Leaders (and a tag on) at the K-Bomb Race

Efficient use of space.No comment

Cold Brook

The remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea turned out to be enough to bring up Cold Brook in South Tamworth, NH. It's a pretty steep creek, so I was glad to have one of the locals show me down, and have a couple others to watch paddle the first couple rapids.

As always you can click on pic to make them bigger and play as a slideshow.

Joey getting himself on line for Cold Fusion.Joey lining up in Cold Fusion on Cold Brook in NH

Jeremy entering Cold Fusion.Jeremy beginning Cold Fusion on Cold Brook in NH

Jeremy in Cold FusionJeremy in Cold Fusion on Cold Brook in NH

Jeremy part way down Backbreaker Falls.Jeremy in Backbreaker Falls on Cold Brook in NH

Jeremy entering Particle Accelerator.Jeremy entering Particle Accelerator on Cold Brook in NH

Jeremy hitting the first rooster tail in Particle Accelerator on Cold Brook in NH

Jeremy part way down Particle Accelerator on Cold Brook in NH

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Scott entering NO2 Chute.Scott entering NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Scott in NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Scott in NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Scott boofing off the end of NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

What happened Joey?Scott and Jeremy trying to find out what happened to Joey in NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Joel entering NO2 Chute.Joel entering NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Joel entering NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Joel in NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Joel in NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Joel boofing off the end of NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NH

Joel rolling up after NO2 Chute on Cold Brook in NHThere may be more to come.

The West Branch

Just before the dry spell broke, Jeff, Rigg, Peter and I made the long drive up to the West Branch of the Penobscot for a day where we knew we would find water, and something for everyone.Peter and I walking past McKay Station on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Jeff shot while Rigg, Peter and I dropped into the Rip Gorge. Somehow my skirt imploded before Exterminator, which led to some fun.Peter, Rigg and I running Exterminator in Rip Gorge on the West Branch of the Penobscot

"Do you know how that happened?" Draining my boat below Exterminator in Rip Gorge on the West Branch of the Penobscot with Peter.

Lets try this dry boat thing again.Running Rip Gorge on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Peter and I ran Cribworks.Peter and I running Cribworks on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Peter and I running Cribworks on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Jeff is happy to paddle something new.Jeff floating around in the eddy at Big Amberjackmockamus on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Jeff wondering just what I've gotten him into at Nesowadnehunk Falls.Jeff paddling down the ramp of Newsowadnehunk Falls on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Jeff gets a face full of Newsowadnehunk Falls on the West Branch of the Penobscot

Looking up at Katahdin from Abol.Looking up at Katahdin from above Abol Falls on the West Branch of the Penobscot

A nice sunset on the way home.Sunset on the drive back from the West Branch of the Penobscot

Bull Branch

I do still exist (I seem to keep saying this).

It finally rained in New England, and I got to test out my elbow pads on paddle Bull Branch of the Sunday River on Saturday. Or in other terms, I hucked Frenchman's Hole in a kayak with a reasonable amount of water (hucked it in a playboat with an unreasonable amount before).

To put in we drove to the end of the road, and then hiked up for two more drops. I think a more normal run is from Goose Eye Brook down. Our efforts at hiking up further were just rewarded by an upper gorge we had to portage, as reasonably setting safety would have involved quite a lot of work.

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Some of the other guys ran the slides on Goose Eye Brook which is a tributary that I've looked at and hiked along in the past.

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I've heard swimming into this eddy is a bad idea. The undercut on the opposite side of the drop is a bad idea also.

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