Deerfield, Vermont, US
|
|
1) Searsburg Dam to Harriman Reservoir (Searsburg Section)
| Usual Difficulty |
III (for normal flows) |
| Length |
4.5 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
50 fpm |
Searsburg Section of the Deerfield, Surfing
Searsburg Section of the Deerfield, SurfingPhoto of Josh Lutz by ChuckS taken 04/19/08 @ 1150 CFS
River Description
4/2008
Ran the river with a gauge reading of 2500 CFS and updated the maximum flow accordingly, great
run.
From 2006.
A continuous II+ to III Run.
I’ve emailed Transcanada to try and get details as to the exact flow when I ran it today.
Update at somewhere between 850 and 1550.
The water was up on the shore in some places and eddy’s were not often available.
The First larger feature I’m now calling initiation is as you approach your first bridge
under route 9. We bore river right at the split and the feature was much less technical than at
500cfs, just waves with a pool below the bridge.
The next feature is a sharp left turn in the river and on river right there is a whirlpooly eddy
with a large pourover. Mark Z went and played in it a little while Todd and I sat it out.
I’ll post the pics from my camera.
At the next river split we again went river right for some really nice 3-4 foot standing
waves.
Finally we came to Bolder Guard Rapid. We briefly eddy’d behind boulder guard and than
simply ran straight through. It was much less technical at this higher level, kind of upper west
like.
Again a pretty continuous II+ to III Run. The whole river is simply surf wave after surf wave,
though catching some in the fast current would be hard. Again, not a place for someone without a
good roll and river reading skills. Good intermediate run.
Posted by Chuck Still
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2010-06-28 07:37:20
Editors
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
damage throughout the region, the worst in over 100 years. More than half the rivers in Vermont and
northern New Hampshire recorded their highest flow levels ever. Many roads, guardrails, power
lines, bridges, trees and other debris now litter several rivers throughout the region. River beds
have been scoured and changed course, many new strainers make navigation problematic at best and
downright dangerous at worse. Please realize that the river description you see here may not match
current situation after the floods. Use common sense and when in doubt scout especially on blind
drops. Also, if you run this river in the next year or so please comment on its navigability, even
if there are no problems this will be very helpful. Please report any new strainers or changes to
the rapids that will impact future boating. Thank you,
over 4000 on Friday, it fell to 800 by Saturday and was an awesome level. Scouted for strainers
from the road, always took the right hand channel at the splits. Nice read and run level.
when I ran it today. Update at somewhere between 850 and 1550. The water was up on the shore in
some places and eddy's were not often available. The First larger feature I'm now calling
initiation is as you approach your first bridge under route 9. We bore river right at the split and
the feature was much less technical than at 500cfs, just waves with a pool below the bridge. The
next feature is a sharp left turn in the river and on river right there is a whirlpooly eddy with a
large pourover. Mark Z went and played in it a little while Todd and I sat it out. I'll post the
pics from my camera. At the next river split we again went river right for some really nice 3-4
foot standing waves. Finally we came to Bolder Guard Rapid. We briefly eddy'd behind boulder guard
and than simply ran straight through. It was much less technical at this higher level, kind of
upper west like. Again a pretty continuous II+ to III Run. The whole river is simply surf wave
after surf wave, though catching some in the fast current would be hard. Again, not a place for
someone without a good roll and river reading skills. Good intermediate run.
<br>
Finally got my wish and paddled the Searsburg Section of the Deerfield River on Route 9 In
Vermont.<br>
<br>
Mike and I had a blast, it was / is always great to try a new river. At 500 CFS it was a
sometimes-scratchy class II-III run.<br>
<br>
There were 3 larger features in the river, the 3rd being bolder guard rapid.<br>
<br>
The first feature was a wave train quickening as you come down the right hand channel of the river
as your approach the first route 9 bridge crossing. There were some need to make moves in the line
down to the bridge. Say II+.<br>
<br>
The next section of interest was where the river takes a sharp left turn. There was a stackup of
pourovers followed by a pool of decent size. Again some need to make moves. III-<br>
<br>
Boulder Guard Rapid was a river center, to river left to center run that was fast. At a higher
level some of the pourovers of concern would be more covered up and the line more of a straight
shot. There were plenty of rocks to marker / set your sites on for making the moves. III<br>
<br>
We ran river left at the powerhouse but upon seeing the run from below we could have taken the line
by the powerhouse. The water flowing out was fast moving and at the confluence of the power gen
station water and the river there was a nice seam that squirt boaters would love.<br>
<br>
While this run is certainly not for inexperienced boaters it is a lot of fun.<br>
Big waves, lots of surf opportunities and some nice features. Given the 4.5 mile distance,
something you could run twice in a day… Or park and repeat at boulder guard.
http://www.h2oline.com/505125.asp