Trip Report Beech Creek October 9, 2009

[shelbyjohnson]

Well we did it again! I successfully paddled Beech Creek for the third time in 2009. To my limited knowledge that is unheard of to run the creek that many times in a single year but I am not complaining.

This last Friday we had a very large. In fact the largest group I know of to paddle the creek. If my hand count is right we had 16 paddlers make their way down Beech.

The channel at the takeout bridge has shifted toward the center of the bridge away from the painted gauge. As a result the painted gauge minimum to run level has changed. I can't say exactly to what just yet though. The level was right at 3 on the painted gauge when we headed up. Interestingly enough the level was also right at 3 some four hours later when we took off. Meaning the creek rose up from 3 and back whilst we were on it.

At the put in the level looked lowish to me but as we went it boated better than I expected and by the time we reached some of the bigger drops on Edgemon the level had raised.

There were a bunch of first timers on the run and they all had a great time I think and benefitted from seeing the lines. Regardless we still had folks bank scout Door Number Four, Beech Ball and Beech Falls, I believe Ray Skinner and Jason Mellor ran the last two sans scout but not sure as they were ahead.

Despite the success of the overall group I want you to bear in mind we had a bunch of Beech vets showing a bunch of first timers lines and the level was lowish to mid. If the level is big and you don't have a veteran that knows the lines and sequence this run demands much respect.

In my opinion Door Number Four is a wood collector its fairly early in the run somewhere below Shotgun and it always needs a scout because of collecting wood. Jason Mellor ended up running the Door Three slot backwards unintentionally and came out fine. In the past this slot has had wood in it.

I have work today or I would be heading out again. This is certainly one heck of a season.

I put up a video. Apologies in advance because I shot almost all of it from the boat and so beg your forgiveness since some of the footage especially in Beech Ball are very shakey. I hope you enjoy the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14hKoeGR62c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lazer]

Gotta love those great Beech Parties!

[jackatspa]

Glad everyone had a fun time! wish i could have been there again!