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O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 8:52 pm
by bambam
If some of this sound familiar it's because I'm stealing bits from last year that worked and we had a good time.

This run forms part of the border between West Virginia and Maryland. I consider it to be a fairly fast-moving class II / III run. Years ago, for me it was a test to see if I was ready to move up to the lower Yough in Pennsylvania.

Dam releases are scheduled for both days. This allows for consistent good flows, almost always. Exceptions are when we have too little or too much water, neither of which is likely this year, fingers crossed. Water can be released from the reservoir from various depths so the water temperature can cover a significant range. Come prepared for chilly.

We usually paddle both days with a later start on Saturday to allow for travel there and earlier on Sunday to allow travel time home. Exact times to be determined.

A good river description can be found here.

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/cont ... /2430/main

I had hoped to schedule this trip for a non-holiday weekend (Memorial Day) but I was slated to be in Oregon right now, trip cancelled due to high snowmelt, dang it.

Lodging will be an issue. The local campgrounds that I know of are apparently full. Robert W. Craig and Big Run State Park are reporting all booked up. There are cabins (haven't checked on availability) and tent sites at the put in (first come, first served so go a day early?). 304-788-5732. There are hotel rooms in Keyser, WV, not so far away.

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More details to come. Please sing out if interested, here, messaging, or email. This is another one where it is not okay to just show up.

Cheers,

Ken Dubel

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 1:09 am
by dkeller
Hoping myself and one or two others will be joining trip both days. Have run it many times over the past 20+ years

Will keep an eye on posts, weather, etc

Thanks

Don

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 15, 2023 7:45 pm
by bambam
Got it. Hi Don.

Ken

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Wed May 17, 2023 7:43 pm
by pyoung
I'm interested. Camping suggestions welcome - I've never been to this area.

Philip

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 9:14 am
by bambam
Hi Philip, thanks for your interest. Regrets but I know of no other options for lodging beyond what's near the bottom of my initial post.

Cheers,

Ken

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 11:19 am
by pyoung
Thanks, I hope to arrive by 5pm Friday, so I'll try the first come, first served spots. If none, I'll find something somewhere.

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 1:42 pm
by open boater
there are camp sites all along the upper Savage River

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 3:13 pm
by Leerail
I'll be coming both days.

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 4:06 pm
by dkeller
Any decision yet on meet times, especially for Sat? Thanks

Right now we have 2 solid boaters and a raft with 4 people.

Don

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 7:58 pm
by pyoung
open boater wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 1:42 pm there are camp sites all along the upper Savage River
Thanks, I'll check there.

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 8:10 pm
by bambam
Hi Tom, thanks for the input, SO sorry you aren't available! Feel invited to share details of Savage camps.

Hi Lee.

Don, sounds like you have a crew. Looking forward.

I was thinking of meeting at noon on Saturday, open to discussion. It would suit me fine to meet later, say, 1:00 if that makes it easier for folks driving in the morning, and, well, if that wouldn't perturb folks arriving Friday night.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Ken

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Mon May 22, 2023 10:15 pm
by dkeller
Noon or 11 sounds good

We are 5 hours away and can easily be there by 11am if others prefer earlier than noon.

We will be at takeout (assume that will be meeting spot) whenever you want. I was expecting 10a so anything later than that is icing

Don

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 7:35 am
by open boater
If you drive up the Savage River Road, you will find campsites on the right just before crossing the river.
Follow the road until you reach the lake, you will find a large campground there, I believe it's called Big River Campground

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 8:44 pm
by bambam
Let's do noon at the take out on Saturday and ten at the take out on Sunday.

If there are any lurkers out there I would far prefer that you contact me ahead of time. Please don't just show up.

Cheers,

Ken

Re: O.C.T. North Branch Potomac at Bloomington May 27 & 28

Posted: Wed May 24, 2023 5:59 am
by Leerail
I plan on coming