Greetings,
Has anyone out there run Gooney? It is one of those classic VA creeks that has been on my hit list for a while and I want to try to make it happen this winter creeking season. For those who don't know me, I am comfortable on local creeks such as the Upper Piney, Staton's, and Tye Forks.
Just want to meet someone who has done it and who doesn't mind showing me down. All we need now is some rain, which seems like it will never happen again:)
Thanks!
Ethan
Gooney Run
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I've only run it once. Ethan, you should be able to read and run this one. Other than the usual small-stream hazards, "First Falls" has no line at least not at low water other than to get stuffed under the boulder. Portage. It should be pretty obvious.
I'd love to join you.
Pasting some logistics notes below.
Ken
Directions: We took out 50 yards upstream of the VDGIF boat landing at Karo, just off 340 about five miles south of Front Royal. You feel like you are driving down someone's driveway. For shuttle t/l on 340 north 0.2 miles. T/R on Poorhouse Road (Rt 605) for 1.6 miles. T/R on Browntown Road (Rt 649) and go 2.5 miles. T/R on Buck Mountain Road, cross the river, and park, taking care not to block the gravel road entrance.
Water level: USGS funding for the online gauge dried up in 2009. There is an RC gauge painted on the put in bridge, downstream, river right. It was right at zero today (and stayed there). I consider it a reasonable paddling zero. You could get through with less water but it was pretty bumpy. Data from a website is pasted below. We had a mostly slow soaker rain event over the weekend ending mid day yesterday. Warren County rain gauges reported 1.6" at Hogback and 1.36" at Browntown.
I'd love to join you.
Pasting some logistics notes below.
Ken
Directions: We took out 50 yards upstream of the VDGIF boat landing at Karo, just off 340 about five miles south of Front Royal. You feel like you are driving down someone's driveway. For shuttle t/l on 340 north 0.2 miles. T/R on Poorhouse Road (Rt 605) for 1.6 miles. T/R on Browntown Road (Rt 649) and go 2.5 miles. T/R on Buck Mountain Road, cross the river, and park, taking care not to block the gravel road entrance.
Water level: USGS funding for the online gauge dried up in 2009. There is an RC gauge painted on the put in bridge, downstream, river right. It was right at zero today (and stayed there). I consider it a reasonable paddling zero. You could get through with less water but it was pretty bumpy. Data from a website is pasted below. We had a mostly slow soaker rain event over the weekend ending mid day yesterday. Warren County rain gauges reported 1.6" at Hogback and 1.36" at Browntown.
Re: Gooney Run
Where is Swimmy when we need him??etharris wrote:Greetings,
Has anyone out there run Gooney?
Thanks!
Ethan
Envelope – Free stationary taken from the Marriott while on a business trip.
Snowflake address label – sent to me free and had to be used up.
Stained glass stamp – It was more then three feet away from me when I decided to get them so you know I didn’t see them clearly
Butterfly and Sunflower stickers on the back – Also free and required because the glue on the envelope was so old it no longer stuck.
--KessmanN
www.cornyouthalliance.org
Snowflake address label – sent to me free and had to be used up.
Stained glass stamp – It was more then three feet away from me when I decided to get them so you know I didn’t see them clearly
Butterfly and Sunflower stickers on the back – Also free and required because the glue on the envelope was so old it no longer stuck.
--KessmanN
www.cornyouthalliance.org
It's a great little run all things considered but I am biased...I live ten minutes from the put in have been paddling Gooney Run(darn near every time it's running) since the late eighties.
It's a good step up to the intricacies of creek boating but it's no Staton's or Forks of the Tye for sure. You may be a little disappointed if you go there thinking it is somewhat similar.
It has produced some good carnage from folks who didn't have the skills necessary to paddle it...At least one dislocated shoulder, broken paddles, broken boats, at least two pinned boats that had to be gone after a few days later(one was stuffed under the rock at first falls, luckily the boater flushed thru first! Yikes!) and bruised egos. LOL! That is three people I know of who washed under that rock! One of these days it's not going to turn out so well...You wouldn't think a small creek like this has big undercuts but it does! There is another undercut near the end of the run but it is almost impossible to get to now days. Just be alert!
Like Ken said, you should be able to read and run most of the rapids but there are a few that should be scouted to make sure there is no wood as it ALWAYS changes.
Also like Ken said, the Gauge on the put in bridge is a little generous. You really have to read the water at low levels so you don't bump and scrape all the way down. A couple rapids are bony up to 1/2'. No getting around it.
Large crowds are a problem in the parking areas and on the creek so plan accordingly!
Disclaimer for any n00bs reading and thinking of running it: As with ANY stream, if you can't see, or see a clear line, to the next eddy, get out and scout.
It's a good step up to the intricacies of creek boating but it's no Staton's or Forks of the Tye for sure. You may be a little disappointed if you go there thinking it is somewhat similar.
It has produced some good carnage from folks who didn't have the skills necessary to paddle it...At least one dislocated shoulder, broken paddles, broken boats, at least two pinned boats that had to be gone after a few days later(one was stuffed under the rock at first falls, luckily the boater flushed thru first! Yikes!) and bruised egos. LOL! That is three people I know of who washed under that rock! One of these days it's not going to turn out so well...You wouldn't think a small creek like this has big undercuts but it does! There is another undercut near the end of the run but it is almost impossible to get to now days. Just be alert!
Like Ken said, you should be able to read and run most of the rapids but there are a few that should be scouted to make sure there is no wood as it ALWAYS changes.
Also like Ken said, the Gauge on the put in bridge is a little generous. You really have to read the water at low levels so you don't bump and scrape all the way down. A couple rapids are bony up to 1/2'. No getting around it.
Large crowds are a problem in the parking areas and on the creek so plan accordingly!
Disclaimer for any n00bs reading and thinking of running it: As with ANY stream, if you can't see, or see a clear line, to the next eddy, get out and scout.
Bob
Bob,
Thanks for the great beta:) I know that it is not as challenging as the harder Nelson creeks, but I most enjoy exploring new areas and rivers, especially if it is one of our state's most classic stretches of water.
Would you be willing to run it with me next time it runs? If so, throw me a message next time you head out. I am optimistic that Sandy will make it a real possibility in just a few days:)
Text message works best for me.
Thanks!
Ethan
860-518-0726
Thanks for the great beta:) I know that it is not as challenging as the harder Nelson creeks, but I most enjoy exploring new areas and rivers, especially if it is one of our state's most classic stretches of water.
Would you be willing to run it with me next time it runs? If so, throw me a message next time you head out. I am optimistic that Sandy will make it a real possibility in just a few days:)
Text message works best for me.
Thanks!
Ethan
860-518-0726
I have a bum wrist right now so I'm out for the foreseeable future but I can post up the gauge reading and maybe hook you up with other folks running it.
BTW, there is an old gauge I painted at the Rt. 340 bridge, downstream, river left, on the rock out cropping. It reads 3/4' low...in other words...-3/4'=0 on the upper gauge. It will save time by not having to drive up to Browntown.
Make sure the Shenandoah isn't backed up to the gauge. It's happened before. A group went to run it, looked at the lower gauge...3'! Yikes! They headed off else where. It was actually at 1/2' on the upper gauge...a great level. They skunked themselves!~ LOL
There is also a new bridge, visible from the road(I haven't seen it yet) that a buddy says will be too low to go under. It's just before the river leaves the road.
BTW, there is an old gauge I painted at the Rt. 340 bridge, downstream, river left, on the rock out cropping. It reads 3/4' low...in other words...-3/4'=0 on the upper gauge. It will save time by not having to drive up to Browntown.
Make sure the Shenandoah isn't backed up to the gauge. It's happened before. A group went to run it, looked at the lower gauge...3'! Yikes! They headed off else where. It was actually at 1/2' on the upper gauge...a great level. They skunked themselves!~ LOL
There is also a new bridge, visible from the road(I haven't seen it yet) that a buddy says will be too low to go under. It's just before the river leaves the road.
Bob
Just noticed on another message board a paddling buddy reported the gauge at -4".
If it continues to rain all night it may be to high tomorrow, as will most everything else. I have heard reports that Skyline drive(Big Meadows) is getting snow so that will/should keep the level down somewhat, but no guaranties.
VA IFLOWS shows Browntown rainfall total at 1.24" and Hogback Mtn.(right above Browntown) at 0.16" so it must be snowing up there...
With all this wind an no runs on the creek for quite awhile, assume there will be a lot of wood in the creek...any creek for that matter. Also, remember to bring your winter paddling gear! It's gonna be chilly!
EDIT: Yep, another buddy just confirmed SNP is experiencing blizzard conditions.
If it continues to rain all night it may be to high tomorrow, as will most everything else. I have heard reports that Skyline drive(Big Meadows) is getting snow so that will/should keep the level down somewhat, but no guaranties.
VA IFLOWS shows Browntown rainfall total at 1.24" and Hogback Mtn.(right above Browntown) at 0.16" so it must be snowing up there...
With all this wind an no runs on the creek for quite awhile, assume there will be a lot of wood in the creek...any creek for that matter. Also, remember to bring your winter paddling gear! It's gonna be chilly!
EDIT: Yep, another buddy just confirmed SNP is experiencing blizzard conditions.
Bob
If you target Gooney and get skunked look at Passage Creek, not far away. Milder yet, it still makes for a fun day. Class II / III with decent water, II / II+ if low.
I don't have such good notes on this one but thinkin' 150 cfs here:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?s ... 2620,00062
means bring an inner tube or a boat you don't care about. (And maybe beer.) 250 would be better. 450 should be nice.
Ken
I don't have such good notes on this one but thinkin' 150 cfs here:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?s ... 2620,00062
means bring an inner tube or a boat you don't care about. (And maybe beer.) 250 would be better. 450 should be nice.
Ken