Creek VT

Fall Recap 2025

OtterCreek — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:15:34 +0000

After back to back summers of historic rainfall and flooding the pendulum swung the opposite direction. It seemed inevitable, as we were at risk of being spoiled (don’t forget the spring was one of the best of the past 10 years). As the last of the rain clouds disappeared, hot dry weather moved in, taking up residence across the state for months. Riverbeds slowed until they were nearly dry, with only feeble trickles flowing amongst sun-bleached rocks.

From mid June until late October Vermont slowly fell further into drought, with mid-October marking the peak of the arid conditions. On October 7th the US Drought Monitor listed the entirety of the state in drought, with 1/3rd in severe drought and nearly 2/3rds enduring extreme drought conditions.

The weather meant boating in the state was virtually non existent. Even the most reliable summertime spots dipped too low to be worthwhile. Take Otter Creek for example. The gorge section is nearly always runnable with a standard minimum considered to be around 300cfs, which is typically seen for most of the summer. This was not so in 2025, as flows dipped below that by mid July, and did not rebound in earnest until November (save for a few isolated bumps in mid October). The New Haven River was so low you could have ridden a bike down the river bed, with several months of flows below an abysmal 50cfs and a nearly month where a meager 30cfs ran past the USGS gauging station by the route 7 bridge.

But for Vermont boaters this is not entirely unfamiliar territory, with several summers in the early 2020s giving us some exposure to drought conditions (though none quite this extreme). And so we waited patiently until late October / early November when the rains finally returned and provided a solid month of boating. But even this reprieve was short lived, as December rolled in with unseasonably cold temperatures that were quick to build ice and render most area rivers unsafe to paddle. Now as I write this we are in the depths of one of the coldest snowiest winters in several decades – with no thaw to report. And so we will practice our patience some more (and enjoy the excellent skiing) until the spring thaw.

See you on the river.
-Creek VT

The post Fall Recap 2025 appeared first on Creek VT.

Spring Recap 2025

OtterCreek — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:45:04 +0000

As I write this nearly 70% of Vermont sits in a state of “severe drought” while another unfortunate 24% are experiencing “extreme drought”. The remaining 6% are lucky enough to be only contending with “moderate drought” conditions. So what better time to look back on the wet and wonderful spring kayaking season of 2025.

A LONG COLD WINTER

Winter usually brings a thaw or two—enough for a quick trip to the few rivers that break free before it’s time to head back to the slopes. But the winter of 2025 was essentially one long, unbroken cold spell. It felt like one of those old-school winters we just don’t seem to get in Vermont anymore.

The conditions made for quality skiing and a solid snowpack. The website’s flow reporting page was quiet, with not a single visual logged between the end of 2024 and mid-March of 2025. Then, around mid-March, warmer temperatures began to creep in, leading to ice-out on many area rivers and the start of the spring boating season. The second half of March cooled off again, briefly pausing things—but only temporarily.

AN EXCELLENT PRIMARY SEASON

The bulk of Vermont’s spring whitewater season typically runs from late March through early May—and 2025’s was one to remember. There were virtually no pauses in flow, and the late season stretched well into early June.

From the true onset in late March through the first week of June, there was something worth paddling every single day. Take the White River in Stockbridge, for example—a lovely Class II–III run that correlates with the downstream gauge in West Hartford, where 1,000 cfs marks a reasonable minimum. From the time that gauge began recording on March 7 until June 13—a span of 98 days—it never once dropped below 1,000.

The New Haven River, home of the classic Ledges section, is typically an occasional treat once the snowpack is gone by mid-April. Not so in 2025: May featured not one but two separate stretches of 10+ consecutive days (May 3–13 and May 17–26) with runnable—and often ideal—medium or medium-plus flows. Within that window came some incredible days of sunshine and perfect water.

It was a season full of dawn patrols, post-work laps, races, group runs, micro-creek explorations—everything a paddler could hope for when blessed with both time and water.

THE END OF THE SEASON (AND THE BEGINNING OF A DROUGHT)

By early June, the leaves had begun extracting their toll, and soon flows started to taper off across the state, with only the low-water standbys hanging on into mid-month. Once July rolled around, we were locked into a stretch of hot, dry weather.

At the time, most folks welcomed the sunshine—but for those who’d been around the past five years or so, the pattern felt all too familiar. But that’s a story for another time.

RACES

It was yet another excellent year for racing down whitewater in the Green Mountains. Several races and other events brought together the community during the spring of 2025, including events on the Mad River, the classic New Haven Ledges Race, the perennially popular Peavine Race as well as the Wells River Rumble and Ledyard Fest.

The Peavine Race

For the fourth straight year, the Peavine Race proved why it’s the spring’s most fun all-craft downriver event. Spearheaded by Mike McDonnell and the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective, the race brought together paddlers from all corners of the region for a competition that’s as friendly as it is fast.

From race kayaks to SUPs, four-person canoes to two-man rafts, nearly every type of craft was represented. The same went for age—racers ranged from kids not yet in double digits to seasoned veterans.

In the end, local legend Hugh Pritchard claimed his first top finish with an impressive 35:41 final time. Pat Lizak and Blaine Martin were close behind, crossing the line just seconds later for an exciting finish.

The post-race party was, as always, a highlight—great food and drinks, good friends, and generous prizes for participants. If you haven’t already, keep the first weekend of May open for 2026. The race is a blast, the White’s water color and clarity are unmatched, the meal is top-notch, and the prizes alone are worth the trip. It’s a true celebration of spring whitewater not to be missed.

The New Haven Race

The Ledges Race was another great success. Now in its third year under the stewardship of Jordan Vickers, Scott Gilbert, Ben Schott, and Noah Greenstein, the event went off without a hitch.

Ironically, the only dry spell of the season lined up perfectly with both the primary and backup race dates. The organizers decided to go ahead on the originally scheduled weekend—and the gamble paid off. Though flows were on the lower side, the course was still plenty fluid, and best of all, the lower water allowed organizers to lengthen the course to include several extra rapids above the traditional Ledges start. These included Roadside Slide, the challenging Secret Compartment, and S-Turn.

While many expected the lower flows and longer course to favor the locals, it was actually a crew from Quebec that swept the podium—taking the top four spots—with some impressively clean and powerful runs.

The sponsors came through once again, with NRS stepping up to provide not one but two drysuits, along with fantastic prizes from both local and national companies. All told, 33 racers tested themselves against the Ledges, and a great time was had by racers and spectators alike.

In 2026, will a Vermonter reclaim the crown—or will the neighboring states and provinces continue to stymie them? You’ll have to show up to find out.

START TO SUMMER

The start to the Summer of 2025 was wildly different than that experienced in the past two years. And while we are thankful to be spared the flooding of 2023 and 2024, I think most folks wouldn’t mind at least a bit of rain to quench their thirst for some whitewater. Until then, happy biking?

See you on the river.
-Creek VT

The post Spring Recap 2025 appeared first on Creek VT.

Fall Recap 2024

OtterCreek — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 02:27:24 +0000

The summer of 2024 started with yet another flood, exactly one year to the day after those of July 10 – 11 of 2023. Much like its predecessor, this event hit some regions significantly harder than others, with areas like Hinesburg, the Mad River and the southern edge of the Northeast Kingdom receiving the brunt of the storm. And much like 2023, in some locations river levels exceeded those of Irene. In addition to the devastation experienced in the July 10th storm, the St Johnsbury / Lyndon/ Orleans area was hit with another massive rainstorm on the night of July 29th with some areas recording a whopping 7 – 8 inches of rain overnight. You can read in more detail about both these events from some great NOAA reporting here and again here. Though some boating was had in the areas lesser hit – most folks were conscious of the devastation and work to be done, and avoided where people were picking up the pieces and road crews were hard at work. There are still some rivers yet to be explored since the floods – so if you are travelling in the areas hit this past summer an extra dose of caution would be advised. Runs such as Joes, Ridley, Joiner, Cobb, and Brush Brook should all be inspected closely before a descent.

RETURN OF THE DRY FALL

The soggy start to summer provided quite a few opportunities to boat around the state that continued through the months of July and August. With the arrival of September came dry “pleasant” (by non-boating standards) weather. The foliage season was one to remember, the fall boating, one to forget. With the exception of one high water day in late September, flows were very limited. Fortunately dam releases around the region provided when mother nature did not, and many folks ventured to neighboring states to take advantage of these.

LATE FALL FLOWS

The end of the year gave us a couple days of high flows surrounding the holidays when warm weather and rain coincided with a respectable existing snowpack. This allowed folks a few rare treats such as Patterson Brook, Basin Brook into the North Branch of The Lamoille, and a new years day float on the Peavine section of the White River.

UPCOMING TO THE SITE

While its been a bit quiet on the site the past year keep an eye out for a few exciting updates. Here’s what to expect.

A handful of river guides from new contributors to be posted through the first half of the year.
Open registration for whitewater races coming up this spring.
An update to the flows page with new functionality and features.

We are excited to keep exploring the rivers of Vermont with you all and to continue sharing the fun of whitewater paddling in this great little state.

See you on the river.
-Creek VT

The post Fall Recap 2024 appeared first on Creek VT.

Spring Recap 2024

OtterCreek — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:07:13 +0000

This one will be short. Let’s just get right to it.

A WARM START TO THE YEAR

The “winter” of 2024 was fickle one. And while for skiing that was a bad thing, it made for quite a few opportunities to boat throughout. January provided several days of relatively warm and wet weather with rivers flushing ice to allow for some mid-winter paddling. With the arrival of February things quieted down. Unfortunately snowfall was limited in this period, so the spring snowpack saw little improvement. Once March rolled around, the boating season began in earnest, with the majority of the spring flow findings its way to the rivers over the course of the month. April – typically the peak of the season – turned out to be rather subdued, with low flows throughout, save for one week in the middle of the month, which saw some solid flows (including a high water New Haven Race). By the time the enjoyable weather of May arrived, the snowpack had been spent, and with little precipitation, what is often considered a favorite month to paddle, options were whittled down to the low water standbys. And just when it began to look like Vermont might be entering another drought cycle, June arrived providing several nicely timed rain events to allow for some warm weather boating.

DOWN RIVER RACES

Arguably the highlight of spring were the three races put on across the state – The New Haven Race, The Peavine Race and the Wells River Rumble.

The New Haven Race

The New Haven Race may be best summarized from this email to race participants.

“We wanted to send a quick thank you to all who came out and took on the 2024 New Haven Ledges Race. Water was high, nerves were high, and so we
applaud everyone who decided to suit up and participate, as well as those who decided to wait until next year. Both can be tough decisions to make.
In the end, we had 30 racers put down some impressive laps. You all did a fantastic job of ensuring safety and supporting each other on the river. This event would not be the success it is without everybody pitching in.

This year, Bob Frederick became the first boater to go back-to-back, following up last year’s win with another top finish and a final time of 2:21. Julian Diamond finished only three seconds behind to take 2nd, while Mike Mainer and Justin Schmale tied for 3rd. The champion of the women’s class was Ellie Friedmann with two impressive laps.

Full results have been posted at
https://creekvt.com/races/newhavenrace#results-section.

We also have to give a huge shout out to our sponsors who came through with some amazing prizes this year. Outdoor New England – ONE provided incredible 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes including a brand new Jackson Gnarvana, Astral Rescue Vest, and IR sprayskirt. NRS also showed up big with a brand new Gore-Tex Drysuit going to the female champion, and another being raffled off. We also had support from Umiak Outdoor Outfitters Immersion Research and Werner Paddles. These are great companies; they support these events and the community, so be sure to support them.

Now get out there and enjoy the rest of the spring. We look forward to seeing you all around the Northeast, and back for another round in 2025. Will Bob Frederick F threepeat, or will there be a new challenger for the crown?”

The Peavine Race

After two excellent years of the Peavine Race – the word was out. With over 50 participants the 2024 event, was by all accounts, a big hit.

A recap from the organizers sums it up best:

“Whitewater enthusiasts from our region plus at least six states and one province converged on Stockbridge VT last Saturday to compete in the 3rd Annual Peavine Whitewater Race. 56 racers were treated to spectacular spring weather as they navigated the five miles of rapids between Ted Green Ford and Gaysville bridge in various types of canoes, kayaks, and standup paddleboards. Ten women competed across the various categories, while turnout in the youth and masters classes was strong with 10 paddlers under 18 years, and 6 paddlers over 60 years, respectively. Safety boaters patrolled the toughest rapids during the race while volunteers handled registration, shuttling, timing, and food responsibilities. Mark Nicholson of Bethel generously provided access to his property off Route 107 for post-race food and awards. The event is organized and hosted by the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective (ridgelineoutdoorcollective.org) and benefits their outdoor recreation mission in the area. Full results and race information can be found at http://creekvt.com/races/peavinerace. The 4th Annual PWR is planned for May 3, 2025.”

Wells River Rumble
Thanks to a motivated Richard Lytle (Dartmouth 2024), April saw the return of the popular Wells River Rumble – back after a long hiatus (the prior rumble was pre-covid). Nice levels, a solid field of competitors and great prizes (seriously Outdoor New England outdid themselves this spring) meant a great time was had by all. Keep an eye out on the races section here for a hopeful return again in 2025.

START TO SUMMER

June provided some nice warm weather boating. Word from around the region that were most rivers were boating well, with limited reports of wood or other issues.

However, on July 10th, literally one year to-the-day after the historic flooding of 2023, Vermont was slammed again (more detail on this to come in the fall recap).

Many rivers saw significant flooding – and will likely be impacted by new wood and shifted rapids. As was the case with last year, for any trips down rivers unrun since spring, it would be prudent to exercise caution.

Additionally be aware that even late in the summer town and state crews are still diligently fixing roads as a result of this storm.

So keep those affected in mind, and be safe out there enjoying the warm weather and good flows being provided by summer.

See you on the river.
-Creek VT

The post Spring Recap 2024 appeared first on Creek VT.

Fall Recap 2023

OtterCreek — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 18:40:21 +0000

If this were a movie, here would be the part where a montage of news clips play:

A field reporter stands in the flooded streets of Montpelier.

“In total, the central Vermont region reported more than 20 inches of rain over the summer, the most it has received in 75 years.”

A stern-faced anchor behind a desk encourages residents to evacuate.

“By July 14th, at least 212 urban and swift water rescues have been performed across Vermont.”

A clip flashes of a destroyed home floating down a swollen river.

But this is not a movie, this was real. The summer of 2023 in Vermont was historic.

As a kayaker it is easy to reflect on this with positivity. We have never experienced so much opportunity for warm weather boating in the state. However I will be careful to acknowledge that for most, the events of this summer were not viewed in the same light, and for many the weather was downright devastating. Homes, property, and businesses were destroyed. Lives were lost. So before I continue to discuss the past months through the lens of a kayaker who was only modestly impacted (2” of water in an unfinished basement is lucky when compared to others), I will recognize the devastating impacts of this year.

THE JULY FLOODS

Tropical Storm Irene devastated Vermont in late August of 2011. It was considered a 100 year storm. So it seems unfair that barely a decade had elapsed when yet another once-in-a-century storm slammed the state in the summer of 2023.

On July 9 – 11 Vermont experienced flooding on a scale close to, and in some places exceeding that seen during Irene. I will do an inadequate job of summarizing these events so will leave that to the experts at NOAA. Their phenomenal recounting of the July floods of 2023 can be found here: The Great Vermont Flood Of July 10 & 11 2023

During this historical flooding boaters were, for the most part, content to gawk from the banks or stay home all together. This event was the type that made no river safe for travel. The steeper drainages became freight trains of destruction tearing away banks, causing landslides and ripping down bridges. The low lying areas saw flooding that inundated large downtowns and isolated entire communities. Even friendly class II rivers became hazardous. For days they swelled and surged unpredictably, laden with debris and carrying untold amounts of sewage and other forms of hazardous runoff.

From a kayakers perspective we are still discovering the impact of these storms. Riverbeds were significantly rearranged, and many are still yet to be visited. With that in mind I encourage all paddlers to treat any trip on a river not paddled since the summer to do so with heightened caution.

NO RESPITE

As if the events of early July weren’t enough, mother nature did not let up, instead insisting to deliver relentless rain. For the entirety of the summer the ground had hardly a moment to dry. For farmers, mountain bikers, and those battling basements growing mold this meant challenging conditions. For kayakers this meant entire weeks of sustained paddling. Typically in summer, and particularly in the past three years, boaters wait anxiously for the handful of boating opportunities that are presented. In 2023 the challenge was not waiting for the opportunity to paddle, but rather deciding when not to. Supporting evidence is easy to find. In July and August of 2023 The Lower Mad was runnable twice as much as it was not. On July 11th 2022 the Lamoille river at Johnson was running at a mere trickle of 91cfs. That same day in 2023 the flow was a staggering 24,200 cfs. A quick look at discharge graphs of several Vermont rivers make the difference of a year obvious. Here are the Lamoille, Winooski and Ayers Brook graphs comparing 2023 in blue and 2022 in tan.

THE MIDDLEBURY

While virtually all rivers across the state saw some changes as a result of the summer weather, perhaps none experienced more consecutive and impactful events than the Middlebury. The drainage from Middlebury Gap down through Ripton and East Middlebury saw no less than 3 historic flood events all within a one month span. The Middlebury river itself experienced dramatic changes, with significant rearranging of some of the biggest rapids of the run (below the gorge). The van sized-boulder perched well out of the water at Tester flushed into the pool below, the often portaged “Your Mom” transformed into a unremarkable read and run boulder garden, and the takeout rapid shifted with each event, from an amazing in-your-face whiteout to a potentially pinny boulder bash and back again. Spring of 2024 will likely continue this rapid’s evolution.

A PLEASANT FALL

The start of fall saw a return to some form of normalcy, as September dried out and provided opportunities to participate in activities other than kayaking. And though the brief break from paddling was appreciated, kayakers were still pleased to see boating opportunities present themselves with a pleasant regularity throughout the remainder of the fall. Periodic precipitation allowed for several opportunities each month to get on the water, including a of pair well timed high water days in October.

A WARM START TO WINTER

Winter seemed to have slept in. November and December arrived with little conviction. Though an early shot of snow provided optimism for skiers, it quickly disappeared with warm weather and rain that made quick work of the nascent snowpack. In Burlington December was the 2nd warmest on record. As a final reminder of the year we experienced, a significant storm came through just a week before Christmas that sent rivers spiking for the final time of the year. In any other year this storm would have been easily the most notable event. New Haven crested at > 9,000 cfs, the Lamoille at Johnson at > 16,000, and the Mad at > 12,000 (even higher than it’s peak in the July flooding). But after the crazy year of 2023 Vermont kayakers simply shrugged their shoulders, swapped the skis and poles for paddles and boats and took advantage of the conditions given.

Finally, though somewhat unconvincingly, winter has made a token appearance in January. While it remains to be seen if we will get the snowpack to fund another round of high quality spring boating, even if we don’t, we will be sustained from the year that was.

If anything can be said about 2023, it was memorable.

SYOTR in 2024

-Creek VT

Some interesting reading regarding the wild weather year that was 2023:

Burlington Free Press – 2023 Was Vermont’s Hottest Year

NOAA – The Great Vermont Flood of 10 – 11 July 2023

Middlebury floods as up to 6 inches of rain hammer Addison County

The post Fall Recap 2023 appeared first on Creek VT.

Spring Recap 2023

OtterCreek — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 02:39:25 +0000

What a difference a year makes. This time last year I was writing from the middle of a summer drought, lamenting about how bad of a spring season we had. Now I write after Vermont experienced its worst flooding since Irene and reflect on a spring season that stands out as one of the best in the past 5 to 10 years.

A SLOW START IN MARCH

March typically provides substantial opportunities to kayak, and often represents a significant portion of the spring melt. This year winter lingered, with cold weather and frozen rivers persisting through the first 3 weeks, and the spring thaw only beginning in earnest during the latter part of the month. The highest maximum temperature seen in Burlington was a meager 52 degrees with a monthly average of 33. What fell for precipitation came in the form of snow, doing little to charge the rivers and flush out winter’s ice. In fact the Lamoille at Johnson only once peaked over 1500 cfs – considered a minimal level for runs such as the NBL.

AN IDYLLIC APRIL

What March lacked in warm weather and good boating, April more than made up for. While April is consistently the month for boating, it is also often grey, damp, and generally uninviting weather-wise. This year was an exception. For weeks straight we were treated to consecutive sunny, ~~warm~~ hot days that delivered some of the most enjoyable spring melt boating experienced in a long time. The average temperature for the month in Burlington was the highest since the new millennium, at nearly 51 degrees. From April 10 to April 17 the daily highs were in the mid-60s or better with several days of 80+ degrees, including one scorcher topping out at 88!

Combine the amazing weather with a solid snowpack and you have the recipe for the best spring kayaking a Vermonter can ask for. Folks took advantage of this rare treat as the emails, texts and facebook posts flowed as quickly as the rivers. It seemed every takeout was consistently populated by cars with roof racks and trucks with boats sticking out the back, the license plates revealing a great mix of locals and out-of-staters alike. The eventual return of more typical April weather meant the good times continued to roll as perfectly timed and measured precipitation extended the boating right through the end of the month. At one point even Michael Mainer was forced to concede that it was in fact a “pretty good spring”. And while there seemed to be limited reports of folks chasing down exotic micros or big water runs, there was plenty of boating the classics at ideal levels day after day after day.

A QUIET MAY AND JUNE

Unfortunately all good things must end, and eventually with the snowpack essentially gone and the arrival of drier weather, the Vermont boating season died down. May and early June both saw very few precipitation events of adequate volume to provide much in the way of runnable flows. And though disappointing, fortunes would change in late June as modest rain brought kayakers back out for typical early summer get-it-while-you-can laps on the low water standbys. Enjoyable as this way, we all had no idea what was coming just around the corner in early July…

DOWN RIVER RACES

Adding to the highlights of the spring was the organization and execution of two fantastic races. One still relatively nascent, and the other experiencing a rebirth in its own right.

The New Haven Race

Before we go any further we must say a huge thanks to Ryan McCall and Will Seegers. For the majority of the lifespan of the immensely popular New Haven Ledges Race it was Ryan and Will at the helm orchestrating this event. From getting permits and lining up volunteers, EMTs and sponsors, to setting up the course and herding several dozen kayakers the day of the race, they made it look easy. Every year was a well attended, fun and safe event that both locals and out of towners, boaters and non-boaters all loved. Thank you both.. big time!

Unfortunately Ryan and Will were forced to make the tough decision to cancel this event for three years running (2020 – 2022) due to the impacts of covid. That combined with the increased obligations of life meant it was time to pass the torch. Enter Noah Greenstein, Jordan Vickers, Ben Schott and Scott Gilbert (note it takes 4 people to replace the jobs of 2). Though wet behind the ears they eagerly jumped in and brought the New Haven Ledges race back to life. The road was not an easy one though, as weather leading up to the originally planned race date of April 8th put in doubt the flows for the event. A decision was made to fall back to the rain date of the 15th and hope warm weather and snowmelt would provide good flows. Though feeling foolish initially as the 8th came and went and flows were adequate, the decision proved to be an insightful one. When the 15th arrived, the river revealed itself to be a perfect 1’3” on the painted gauge. The weather was gorgeous and warm, and the shore was lined with spectators excited to take in the action. The race itself went off without a hitch, as 29 boaters tackled the Ledges to below Toaster in two rounds, with a best-time wins all. In the end it was Bob Frederick that came out on top, posting the only sub-two minute lap at 1:56 beating the next closest competitor by a solid 6 seconds. French Canadians Francois Tremplay and Emerick Blanchette rounded out the podium both finishing with a speedy 2:02 lap. Once the prizes were handed out and the spectators dispersed, the real fun began, as Ben Schott loaded up more boats and people into one truck and trailer than I have ever seen, and the New Haven was dotted with brightly covered kayaks for nearly the entire length as racers (and those who came just to boat) ran full laps in the afternoon sun. It was perhaps the largest collective group run the ledges have ever seen and a fitting end to an undeniably excellent day of kayaking in Vermont.

The Peavine Race

After an impressive inaugural event in 2022, the Peavine Race on the White River from Stockbridge to Gaysville returned in early May of 2023. The final startlist featured an impressive collection of 40 individuals and teams in all varieties of crafts. The group was geographically diverse and ranged from under 10 years old to folks who could collect social security. In keeping with the theme of the spring, the day was gorgeous, sunny and warm. The water clarity and color on the White River in this section must be seen to be appreciated, and with water levels in the mid 3000s, one could not ask for a better flow for the event. Much like last year there was plenty of camaraderie, friendly on-river trash talk, and some exciting finishes that made the event a blast. The competition brought it this year, with the 1-2-3 finishers (Jeff Parker, Jerry Madore, and Robert Michalec) all competing in race kayaks and demolishing last year’s winning time by well over 10 minutes. A huge congratulations and thanks goes to the organizer of this race Michael McDonnell. Though only two years old, it sure seems like this has the popularity to become a staple event for the Vermont whitewater community. The sort of thing you put on the calendar in winter and look forward to for the months leading up.

Conversations from the take-out

What was your favorite boat you’ve owned?

If you could schedule regular summer weekend releases on one Vermont river, which would it be?

Now that Spring is in the rearview its time to enjoy the summer rain and take advantage of the extra daylight when the weather provides.

With that said, keep in mind that the historic flooding of July 10th & 11th as well as subsequent intense storms have had a dramatic impact on numerous Vermont rivers, including many of the whitewater runs in the state. Stay alert for new hazards and fresh wood in the riverbeds as you make your first trips down.

Stay safe, keep those who are recovering from this disaster in mind, and we will see you on the river.
-Creek VT

The post Spring Recap 2023 appeared first on Creek VT.

Fall Recap 2022

OtterCreek — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 01:52:17 +0000

The past few years have felt unusual for obvious reasons. For whitewater boaters in Vermont this was amplified by a prolonged period of drought, meager snowpacks and undesirable weather patterns that seemed to never relent. It takes digging through the archives to find the last positive seasonal recap from back in the relatively utopian pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Fortunately this fall was different, it almost felt… normal again? Yet the last time I commented on a perceived return to normalcy it didn’t age well, so maybe I will skip that part and jump right to where I lament about the lack of boating resulting from yet another dry summer. Let me tell you, it was bad. As summer slowly progressed into early fall it felt like it might never end.

A REPRIEVE

Then, with little announcement, boating returned in mid September. For the following months right through the end of the year, there were consistent and quality opportunities to kayak all across the state. Some even lined up for the weekends.

SEPTEMBER

September saw three consecutive weeks of rain events that brought rivers to boatable levels, including several events that brought up micros and the high water runs. After nearly three months of drought, for many this period felt familiar to shaking off the rust in early spring. I can personally attest to the difficulty of going from the occasional Deerfield Dryway lap to high water Ridley Brook.

OCTOBER

This trend continued into October where the newly stoked energy of the community resulted in numerous days of group laps on some of the classics in beautiful fall foliage. The NBL, New Haven, and Mad all saw a great deal of traffic during this period, with the “Bog Down” section of the North Branch being a very popular destination.

In addition to opportunities locally, many boaters took advantage of the widespread water conditions to travel out of state to area rivers beyond the classic dam releases. Of particular note, the Canadian border removed all covid-era restrictions for entry. As a result several groups returned to the great-white(water) north after several years of hiatus.

EARLY WINTER

November and December continued the trend of the previous months, and provided more quality paired with some welcome warm weather. While daylight can be restrictive in the late fall and early winter, fortune shined on Vermont as several events fell on the weekend to allow full days to enjoy runs beyond the after-work go-to. Also as boaters do, some used their accrued good will gained from perfect work attendance (thanks dry summer) to sneak out for a few mid-week hours to take advantage of the conditions.

Before 2022 closed out, it gave us a last string of big weather events to remember. Two days before Christmas a massive wind and rain storm hit the state, sending utility crews scrambling to restore power before the holiday. Though many were preoccupied with preventing freezing pipes and salvaging Christmas plans, more than a handful of boaters took advantage of the several days of resulting high water to send out 2022 with a bang.

With that said, kayakers would be wise to remember these storms come spring time, as undoubtedly new wood will be found on many runs.

Until then, enjoy the snow.
SYOTR this spring.
-Creek VT

The post Fall Recap 2022 appeared first on Creek VT.

Spring Recap 2022

OtterCreek — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 19:43:40 +0000

Are whitewater kayakers in Vermont being subjected to some test of faith? Perhaps we are being punished for our hedonistic pursuit of recreation. Or perhaps it’s just an unfortunate and poorly timed climate cycle, a coincidence if you will.

Regardless of the reason, those looking to boat in Vermont have endured yet another sad spring. As such this post will be a brief one, as there is little from the first half of 2022 worth reflecting upon.

MARCH WAS THE MONTH

Mustering motivation to paddle ice-laden rivers at high water in freezing rain can be a challenge. In early season “the stoke” is often low, and plausible excuses are often easy to find – drysuit repairs, the skiing is still prime, a shoveling injury still lingering. But hide away too long and the season might just pass you by. Vermont boaters who patiently waited for the comparably “warm” days of April boating discovered just this. But for an intrepid few, March and early April provided some quality kayaking. As a result, boating was concentrated on the classics. New Haven, Gihon, NBL and the Mad were common meeting grounds, with relatively few excursions to the rarer run micros. That being said, a fairly recent boom of boaters in the route 15 corridor meant that the Waterman/Kenfield/Sterling runs saw plenty of traffic when the opportunities presented. Reports were that all runs were boating well through the spring.

A QUIET LATE SPRING

After late April rolled past, and the weather allowed for shelving of drysuits, getting on the water required traveling to dam releases in neighboring states. Aside from one brief May storm, summer would provide virtually no respite. In fact through early fall there were essentially no paddling opportunities on even the most reliable runs. Things were so bad, even the sure-bet of Otter Creek fell below recommended levels. The falls in downtown Middlebury, of which it is almost unheard of to be too low to fall off of, were, well exactly that…

RACES AND RELEASES

Releases in Vermont are really limited to three potential locations; the West, the Green and the Missisquoi. The Green saw no releases this spring with continuing difficulties regarding the licensing process with Morrisville Water and Light and the very existence of the operating future of the dam in question. The Missisquoi, which is heavily depending on water levels, is typically utilized as a late season option, being relied upon when most area rivers are dropping out. Due to the nature of the season, levels infrequently lined up properly for boaters to take advantage of this resource as much is typical. The West however had a classic spring release on a gorgeous weekend with abundant spring sunshine and saw a good turnout (at least anecdotally from the experience of this author).

For the 3rd year in a row the New Haven Race was canceled due to planning difficulties related to covid. Unfortunately it seems the future of this race may be up in the air at the moment with momentum having been lost over the past several years. While the The Wells River Rumble did not occur, the Ledyard Canoe fest was back for the first time since 2019, featuring the Mascoma Slalom. In the Central Greens a new race had its inaugural weekend go off with great success. The Peavine Race on the White River is a ~5 miles stretch of class II & III. Dozens of paddlers from all over showed up in an equally diverse amount of crafts. The mass start provided lots of entertainment as a log jam of boats jostled for position over the first mile or so, before thinning out and allowing boaters to settle in and make ground by careful line choices and sheer determination / endurance. Smiles all around, plenty of friendly on-river trash talk and beautiful weather and water made for a fantastic event. All are looking forward to the 2023 race on this fun stretch of river. Word to the wise – the three competitors that showed up in sea kayaks took 1-2-3 – coincidence? I doubt.

So while the 2022 Spring may have been less than ideal from a conditions stand-point, like they always do, the intrepid and enthusiastic boaters of VT found a way to enjoy the rivers with the opportunities that were provided.

SYOTR
-Creek VT

The post Spring Recap 2022 appeared first on Creek VT.

Fall Recap 2021

OtterCreek — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 02:52:15 +0000

“Now in early summer, things have begun to return to the way they were and should be, with packed shuttle cars and beers shared on tailgates.” – me, really jinxing things in mid 2021

Summer and Fall

Ah yes, that beautiful summer of 2021. Vaccines were in arms, masks were off, crowds were gathering. All the ingredients were there for an amazing revitalization after a few quiet seasons of Vermont whitewater… all that is save for the water.

For much of New England, the summer and fall of 2021 will be remembered as one of the wettest on record. Storm after storm hit the coast or tracked up the 95 corridor. So for those of you from out of state you might have assumed Vermont shared similar fortune. You would be wrong.

The further north you travelled the drier things stayed, with storms rarely making it north of route 4. Just compare rainfall totals for Sept-Dec from the USGS recording station on the Missisquoi in Northern VT, at just over 3 inches, versus Florida, MA near the Deerfield with a whopping 12+ inches of rain in the same timespan.

Fortunately there were a few solid reprieves from envy-scrolling through photos of southern New England boating. July provided just enough action to hold boaters over through a seriously dry remainder to the summer. Then when it looked like perhaps 2021 would be a complete bust, late fall brought an abundance of flow. Vermont boaters are plenty familiar with cold weather boating, so full advantage was taken of the numerous November and December opportunities.

Conversations from the take-out

What Vermont river do you wish you could paddle again for the first time?

Snow cover has been a bit thin up until just recently, when you are lift-service skiing, what is your favorite run?

New Resources Added to Creek VT

From the outset of this site, one of the primary goals was to curate a collection of resources to arm boaters with the best real time information to avoid getting skunked. In seasons of infrequent rainfall, squandering of paddling opportunities becomes increasingly frustrating, and thus the introduction of these resources was fortuitously timed. Here is a quick rundown of the tools instituted this year found on the flows page.

Real time gauge correlations –
Built from hundreds of level reports. 30+ rivers have correlations tied to USGS gauges that are trend adjusted. For example the New Haven Ledges will be identified as being within runnable levels if the USGS reporting station on the New Haven @ Brooksville is between 350-1100 when the level is rising, or 400-1300 if the level is falling. As more level reports are submitted, the remaining rivers will have gauge correlations established.
Remote visuals –
Using cellular enabled trail cameras set to take pictures at regular intervals, we have been providing regular images of both the Middlebury River and Big Branch of Otter Creek – along with level reference images. We are hoping to deploy more cameras in 2022.
Recent Level Reports –
Reports as submitted by users indicating River, Level and the Date/Time of the report. These reports serve two purposes 1) to provide boaters with real time information on what is running 2) to further build out gauge correlations
Recent rainfall totals –
Hourly rainfall totals for nearly a dozen locations around the state. See where the rain has fallen before deciding where to head.
Current weather radar –
See where storms have passed over and are headed, overlaid on maps of river locations.
Snow Water Equivalent & Melt Rates –
(Seasonal) NOAA maps of snow water equivalent and prior day melt rates.
Forecasted quantitative precipitation maps –
NOAA maps for 72 hour quantitative precipitation in 6 hr intervals

A push for a whitewater park in the Capitol City

If you are a paddler in New England, you are almost certainly aware of the exciting progress being made in Franklin NH on the region’s first built whitewater play park. The excitement surrounding this development is infectious, and now Vermont boaters find themselves with a potential opportunity of a similar nature. The capitol city of Montpelier has been drafting plans for a park to be built at the confluence of the North Branch and Main Stem of the Winooski River. Those familiar with the area will know that the Winooski at this location is sizable enough to support boating long after most other areas have become too low. In addition this proposed location sits just below the gradient of The Bailey Dam. At ~10′ the removal of this dam, which coincidentally is part of the proposal for this project, would provide the necessary gradient for construction of river play features. As part of this plan, whitewater boaters have been consulted to provide input for the potential addition of river access and in-river features. The next step is to secure funding for feasibility and design studies, a task being currently undertaken by the Vermont River Conservancy. While the project is still certainly in its initial stages, now more than ever there is reason for optimism due to the availability of funding and increasing interest in various invested parties.

Additionally with the surplus of the ARRA monies flowing into Vermont. There is a Capital Bill budget adjustment of $3.5 million to address dams across the state for removal or refurbishment to increase community resilience and an additional $5 million community grants for recreation. Both, which the Vermont River Conservancy has applied to for funding for this project.

-Ryan McCall

Before we part, a quick few safety notes:

The Gihon River had a large tree at the base of the dam as of this fall (2021) making it unrunnable.
There was a large windstorm along the Western slopes of the Greens in mid November. Careful travelling creeks this spring as new wood is highly likely.
The Middlebury, which had been nearly log-free throughout the year, reportedly had numerous trees down as of early December. These will likely move this winter / spring.

Until the spring, enjoy the snow, stay warm, stay safe and we will look forward to paddling in 2022.

SYOTR

-CREEK VT

The post Fall Recap 2021 appeared first on Creek VT.

Spring Recap 2021

OtterCreek — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 02:35:00 +0000

There is a detectable strengthening of light on the horizon, and oh boy is it good to see. I fear these posts were becoming redundant. After all what new is there to report about the past spring of whitewater kayaking in Vermont? A lingering pandemic, a continued drought, and a meca to the north locked away do not make for exciting whitewater tales. Despite this perfect storm of unfavorable conditions, boaters found a way to enjoy what opportunities there were, as we always do. In the words of a frustrated but ever optimistic kayaker I conversed with this spring “All I need is an eddy line.”

An enduring pandemic recedes.

It is debatable what factor was the dominant influencer over whitewater boating in the spring of 2021. Snowpack was meager, temperatures were unseasonably warm, precipitation was below average. However in 10 years nobody will remember these. What they will remember is a pandemic. One that despite the beginning of the largest mass vaccination program in history, was setting daily records just as spring boating was beginning to open up. And so memories of March and April of 2021 will be inhabited by masked faces, hesitant high-fives, and shuttles done by bike, foot or truck bed. Fortunately these memories will also contain an afternoon or two in a CVS in Morrisville, or The Fairgrounds in Essex, or a Rutland Holiday Inn Conference Hall, followed by a day or two with an arm too sore to paddle. Lastly they will include June 14th; the lifting of the last of the Covid-19 restrictions in Vermont after an impressive and nation leading 80% of Vermonters had been administered a vaccine. Now in early summer, things have begun to return to the way they were and should be, with packed shuttle cars and beers shared on tailgates.

No winter thaw and a below average snowpack

Kayakers will gladly trade a winter thaw for longer spring runoff. 2021 decided to withhold both. Temperatures were consistently cold and rivers were solidly iced over for the duration of the winter. Unfortunately this did not result in any increased snowpack – just ask any skier, assuming you have 20 minutes and a tolerance for ski-jargon laced griping. On top of the lack of snow depth was the lack of water contained in that snow, as a thick heavy base never formed and the fluffy powder held little in the way of future runoff. What snow we had went quickly, hurried along by a string of beautiful warm days, which did provide some excellent early spring boating.

Some quality boating, then gone all at once

March can be a finicky month, with the faucet being frequently turned on and off. At times, when rain falls on an already melting snowpack, the faucet is opened full bore, dishing out high water days in some of the most unpleasant conditions. March of 2021 however saw sunny days and warm weather, providing some truly enjoyable snowmelt boating. Unfortunately, the snowpack was only enough to sustain a short window of runoff, before being accelerated to depletion by a precipitation event at the end of March. By the time April rolled around, the normally reliable snowpack was spent and boaters were left hoping for rain.

No snow no rain no boating

With an enjoyable March in the books you would think morale would be high amongst the Vermont kayaking community. This was not to be in early April of 2021 as the last drops of snowmelt trickled their way by. The writing on the wall became all too obvious when one looked to the hills. Depressingly devoid of snow, and already showing signs of an early bud-out, boaters knew what this meant for the woods and rivers already in the midst of a prolonged drought. Only significant precipitation could provide boating from here on out. And so patiently and hopefully they packed away skis and winter jackets, waiting for rain that would not come. In fact, for virtually the entirety of April boating was limited to low water laps of the fallback rivers. Only two brief windows in early May provided any opportunity for quality paddling.

From the Vermont Drought.gov site regarding recorded drought conditions:

The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1–D4) in Vermont lasted 55 weeks beginning on June 23, 2020, and ending on July 06, 2021.

The Importance of AW and Dam Releases

If nothing else, the spring of 2021 highlighted the importance of the few dam release rivers we are lucky enough to enjoy in Vermont. Two in specific were critical to salvaging what little season boaters were able to enjoy.

The Green

The Green River provided runnable flows on 3 consecutive Fridays in late April. While it is easy to lament the difficulty this creates scheduling-wise, reports are that all three releases were well attended by both locals and visiting boaters alike.

Unfortunately, regularly scheduled releases continue to be locked up in litigation over Morrisville Water and Light’s FERC licensing process. The following information provided by American Whitewater Northeast Stewardship Director Bob Nasdor gives a more detailed glimpse into the current state of the licensing process.

“Morrisville appealed FERC’s denial of effort to convince FERC that DEC waived its water quality certification for the project. The appeal is on hold while unrelated litigation in Maine proceeds. We plan to file as amicus curiae (friend of the court) along with TU and VNRC and will be represented by the Vermont Law School. Separately, there is a call scheduled for late August with Morrisville and FERC to discuss Morrisville’s planned license amendment. They may be seeking to remove the Green from their FERC license and possibly decommission the dam. This could be a threat to future releases there. We will intervene and plan to oppose any attempt to eliminate releases. We will also oppose any effort to simply abandon a deadbeat dam.”

Obviously this is a concerning situation but if history has anything to show it is that Bob and the team at AW have been tenacious and effective in fighting for us on the Green. If you aren’t already a member definitely get signed up or donate over at American Whitewater. If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to paddle The Green you will understand the importance of member support in this fight.

The Missisquoi

Also up for relicensing is the Sheldon Springs Hydroelectric Project on the Missisquoi River, (acquired by Central Rivers Power / Hull Street Energy from Enel Power in 2020). The current license stipulates 6 releases be provided on request into the normally bypassed section of class IV-IV+ big water below. On Saturday May 8th, Gomez and Sullivan Engineers along with Central Rivers Power facilitated a flow study as part of the required Recreational Resources Use and Needs Assessment for FERC relicensing. Attending that study were perhaps 15 boaters who paddled, filled out questionnaires, ate pizza and generally enjoyed being together as a group for the first time in many months.

From an email that circulated following the study:

“For those of you who weren’t able to make it – we were treated to 3 flows in the bypass: ~2100, ~1400, ~1000. All three provided different boating experiences. Personally I found something to really enjoy about each, leaving me to contemplate on the drive home which was my favorite and never arrive at a conclusion. Regardless the Sheldon Springs rapids of the Missisquoi offer some great paddling, the big water character of which cannot be found elsewhere in the state. Combine this with the fact that dam releases provide the opportunity to boat when there are virtually no other options around, and I would argue the Missisquoi is an indispensable section of river for whitewater paddlers of Vermont.”

As of this posting the study report has yet to be released. Bob Nasdor has indicated that once the report is released there will be opportunity to comment and followup with ANR and CRP to discuss the results and negotiate and agreement on future release conditions. Again a huge thanks to Bob and AW for all their work here. Member up people!

Conversations from the take-out

Where do you head in the state to get your whitewater fix when flows are at summertime lows?

What is your favorite northeast summer release and why?

Looking forward to a wet summer.

With summer now getting into full swing things are looking up. Releases around the northeast have been busy with reunions with those we haven’t seen in far too long. Hurricane Elsa brought a much needed soaking to New England, and though it largely missed Vermont, boatable flows were had and rivers were primed for more. And at the current moment, loading a forecast brings up icons indicating rain. Time to go load up the boat.

SYOTR

-CREEK VT

The post Spring Recap 2021 appeared first on Creek VT.

Creek VT

Fall Recap 2025

Spring Recap 2025

Fall Recap 2024

Spring Recap 2024

Fall Recap 2023

Spring Recap 2023

Conversations from the take-out

What was your favorite boat you’ve owned?

Mike McDonnell

Maddie Clark

Jamie Dolan

If you could schedule regular summer weekend releases on one Vermont river, which would it be?

Maddie Clark

Ryan McCall

Mike McDonnell

Fall Recap 2022

Spring Recap 2022

Fall Recap 2021

Conversations from the take-out

What Vermont river do you wish you could paddle again for the first time?

Jordan Vickers

Mike McDonnell

Ryan McCall

Snow cover has been a bit thin up until just recently, when you are lift-service skiing, what is your favorite run?

Jordan Vickers

Ryan McCall

Mike McDonnell

Spring Recap 2021

Conversations from the take-out

Where do you head in the state to get your whitewater fix when flows are at summertime lows?

Mike McDonnell

Eric Sorensen

Ryan McCall

What is your favorite northeast summer release and why?

Jordan Vickers

Eric Sorensen

Jamie Dolan