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

[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

[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

[bambam]

Got it. Hi Don.

Ken

[pyoung]

I'm interested. Camping suggestions welcome - I've never been to this area.

Philip

[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

[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.

[open boater]

there are camp sites all along the upper Savage River

[Leerail]

I'll be coming both days.

[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

[pyoung]

there are camp sites all along the upper Savage River

Thanks, I'll check there.

[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

[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

[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

[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

[Leerail]

I plan on coming