Eve Of The Race Updates
UPDATE @ 9:02PM
From a photographic standpoint, the stream is too low and too slow! From a paddling standpoint, it depends on who you are.
Experienced paddlers might be nonplussed by the lower water levels this time around, but at the same time, people who have never tried the race because of anxiety over the high and fast water in recent years should be able to relax this year. It's a good year to get your feet wet, so to speak.
PS - Partial race results will likely appear in the Bangor Daily News on Monday; full results usually do not come out for two to three weeks. You can sign up for the race results email list on the contact page of my site.
Here's to a fun race and a pleasant weekend for all!
* * * *
Paddler Steve Markwith did a trial run of Six Mile Falls & Washing Machine/Shopping Cart yesterday and he posted this web page with photo stills, videos and his thoughts on the conditions there.
Labels: Kenduskeag, Shopping Cart, Six Mile Falls, updates, water levels
posted by Michael Alden @ 8:15 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Fantastic video steve, get that bad boy on Youtube so we can see it year after year!
Couple of questions.
Leading up to Jaws & the visible red willows...
Can you make it going the center line or should we go left of the islands? I was thinking of staying right of the islands and hugging them closely to get me left of the willows.
Also looking at Jaws there... you have 3 distinct parts. Starting from left to right
1. White water into standing wave
2. Center area of calm
3. Big ledge
Is the Center area a rock? I noticed you went to the white water area into the standing wave. Was that by choice or would you have tried to get into the center calmer area?
Hi, My name is Deric. I'm a student over at NESCom. I'm going to be taking photographs tomorrow for the school newspaper along with a few other students, we were wondering if there is a roster that we can look at to provide names
Hi Deric -
You might want to ask Bangor Parks & Rec about that. I have noticed that the BDN usually runs their story on Monday morning, and their photo captions usually have the name of the paddler(s) in the photo, so they're getting that information from Parks & Rec more than likely.
There's a nice "sidebar" of ledge right next to Six Mile Falls. You could get some killer shots pretty close to the boats with a wideangle (even normal) lens, FYI.
Okay, I added screencaps and another video to my site today. (Click my name and it should take you to the site.) Scroll to the bottom for the most recent update. This time the video is Washing Machine and Shopping Cart!
I have a small inflatable raft about twice the width of a canoe. With the keeping the water levels in mind what would be the best line for me to take at six mile falls? I am afraid of popping my boat on a jagged rock if the water will be too low on saturday.
An inflatable raft, eh? Well, we might have a better idea on lines to take later this evening. I'm waiting to hear from some paddlers who will test the falls soon.
You can always portage the raft if you're worried about popping it. But what fun is that? Can you take a patch kit and air pump along just in case? I have to admit, there aren't many rafts in the Kenduskeag on any given year but it always looks like a fun way to go.
oh how fun the watching that raft will be...is that Jer.. Ony.. or Mike R... by any chance?
Get packing we leave at 5!
No, I am not any of those guys.
A bunch of us really wanted to do the race this year but we didn't want to end up in the stream. I bought a raft this winter and I have taken it down a few small streams so far this spring. My friends convinced me to take in the race.
We don't expect to complete the race in a timely fashion. Just want to have fun this weekend. But I heard via this blog during low water six mile might have some sharp and exposed rocks. I wanted to know if there is any particular line where I could avoid them.
Appreciate the input.
Thanks Mike for everything
Glad to see the wolf is back but the flashing red-eyed wolf was classic!
We'll be in boats named...
Sissy Mobile
Dead Fish
Toast Farm
Bachelor Express
I'll be wearing a Speed racer helmet so hopefully we get some pics!
Thanks again for everything.
Anyone rafting the KSCR is paddling 10.5 miles of mostly flatwater. Have you ever seen a pond 'water bug' spinning in circles on the surface, not really moving in one direction? Yeah, that's a raft. 20 miles of paddling and then 6 miles of whitewater. Have fun!
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