Waites Run, West Virginia, US
|
|
Wilson Cove to WV 55 bridge near the confluence of Lost River
| Usual Difficulty |
II-IV (for normal flows) |
| Length |
6.8 Miles |
Gauge Information
River Description
Waites Run is a microcreek flowing out of George Washington National Forest near Wardensville, WV.
It will only have water after prolonged wet periods and is extremely difficult to catch up. The
uppermost part of this run is believed to be Class III-IV. It appears to ease up a bit downstream,
but shouldn't be taken lightly because it is so small. Several strainers were noted during a
December, 2002 scouting trip.
Lat/longitude coords are approximate, from TopoZone.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2003-04-21 14:26:56
Editors
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User Comments
non-experts, as it is neither pushy nor bony (although Jim Long wishes there had been more water).
There was some wood in the creek, but no river-wide strainers. This section is class III, with an
80 ft/mile average gradient. We put in where a small tributary joins, in a pool at the base of a
4-foot, 2-step ledge, and took out at the public park (about a mile above US55) where there was
easier access than further down. It was an enjoyable trip, at a time when most nearby rivers were
too high (the Lost was 6 feet). We didn't put in higher up because from the road we could see quite
a number of strainers there. I have measured the gradient from the topo map (Wardensville).
Starting at Pond Run, the gradient for the first four miles is 150, 130 (with lots of braiding),
120, and 100 ft/mile. The next 2.5 miles, which we ran, average 80 ft/mile, and the final mile down
to US55 is 45 ft/mile. From there it is just a quarter mile to the Cacapon, but there is no take
out for a long way. The gauge is about midway down the creek. The posted minimum of 80 cfs is way
too low for most of the run. At 200 cfs, we were fine on the lower part, but the upper part looked
bony, especially where it braided. On the other hand, the posted maximum of 1500 cfs is dangerously
high, given the risk of strainers. I would recommend ranges of about 250-600 cfs for the upper half
of the creek, and 120-400 cfs for the lower half.
up to something like 90,000 cfs (est) a day or two later, so it needs a really heavy rain, e.g.
hurricane.
was probably good. I swam under a log behind a blind turn--the water was crazy-fast and narrow (@10
feet). The next day, I finished the trip at 4.25, an abusive minimum. There were 8 log portages.
Below the public park is a short section that would be very enjoyable for a Class 2 paddler,
bypassing the log jams. The upper section is a scream, but needs some chainsawing. Putting in near
the bridge gauge (lower bridge) might make a nice-but-short Class 3-4 run with only one or two log
portages.