Smokehole Weekend Apr 19-20-21

[mccloud]

Smokehole weekend is coming up. Water levels in the upper Potomac are low right now. We will paddle somewhere, but most likely on the flatter downriver sections, so if you really need a whitewater fix, this may not be the trip you want to join. I will camp at Seneca Shadows on Thursday & Friday nights, but may move after that. Be at Yokum's Store, Mouth of Seneca, WV, at 10 on Friday to join the trip. A paddle down the lower Smokehole canyon from Big Bend to Petersburg on Easter Sunday is a near certainty. The scenery ought to be particularly nice this year, and we've usually seen bald eagles in the canyon. I will post an updated schedule on Wednesday evening. Tom McCloud

[larry gross]

I'm hoping to join you.......

[mccloud]

Gages in the upper Potomac are above minimums this Thursday morning. A stormfront is forecast to pass thru on Friday, and any significant rain will bump up the gages nicely. Temps in the 60s during the day. I will camp at Seneca Shadows on Thursday and Friday nights, probably loop A. The Friday paddle will most likely be the Hopeville canyon. Meet in front of Yokums Store at Mouth of Seneca at 10am. Saturday we will drive to the best water available in the region. Meet in front of Yokums at 9am.
Sunday we will go down the lower Smokehole canyon, a long section, but the water should be OK and the scenery spectacular. Meet in the big parking lot/city park, upstream river left near the bridge in Petersburg. We will be leaving there at 10am to drive to the Big Bend launch point, and will get back here around 4pm for those headed east and home. Cell reception is poor except near the cities. I will check for new messages each evening around suppertime. Tom McCloud