7/20/2015
Total Daily Miles Traveled - 11.5 - All Paddling

Wow! The beauty and thrill of this section of the trail is unrivaled.  I might be biased as the Youghiogheny River has been my home playground for more than 20 years but its tough to imagine anything better than the combination of blue sky weather, clean water, fantastic wildlife, awesome scenery, exciting rapids and good friends that I experienced today.  As every day thus far the feeling of discovery and anticipation of the next mile has left me longing for more and each day has ended too soon. Regardless of whether you Do the Loop or not these two distinct water trails, one mild and one wild, are not to be missed in this part of the world.

I can't thank Roger Zbel and Precision Rafting enough for providing an incredible experience to continue the Loop journey on the Upper Yough.  Located in Friendsville, MD at the take-out for the Upper, Roger and staff have more than 35 years experience on this stretch of river and it shows in their professionalism and awesome lines through the rapids.

While I have paddled and fished this section of river many times I never tire of the natural beauty of the valley in this section of the Youghiogheny Wild and Scenic Corridor.  350 CFS on the Friendsville Guage (375 CFS at Hoyes Run) was just enough to scrape through the shallow sections.  If I could have waited for the 11am dam release I would have but I had to meet my raft trip so I scraped through. The wildlife encounters began early with a Momma Black Bear and cub on the shuttle drive.  On the river I was escorted down with pairs of Kingfishers, an Osprey, fluttering Cedar Waxwings, Mallards, Hooded Mergansers shooting the rapids and Towhees calling from the woods.  Access to the river was a bit of a challenge with my lunky sit-on-top kayak and cart.  The main fisherman's access trail was too narrow and overgrown to use as my cart snagged on the brier vines and threatened to dump my boat into Hoyes Run below.  I retreated and took the paved route towards the power plant almost 1/4 miles to the end of the railing and easily got into the water.  An earlier start would be beneficial as it would allow more time to enjoy the river and perhaps time to wet a line as the trout were at the surface.  Takeout before the Sang Run bridge on river right.  Best craft for this level would probably be an inflatable ducky.  If water is too low a bicycle route on the parallel Oakland Sang Run Road is an easy alternative.

Considered one of the best whitewater runs in the East, the Upper section of the Youghiogheny River drops 520' in 9 miles.  American Whitewater lists the average gradient at 52 feet per mile with a maximum gradient of of 140 fpm with more than 16 names rapids.  After a mile of swift moving water you jump into the rapids just above Gap Falls and they barely pause for the next 7 miles.  This is advanced whitewater so only experienced boaters should attempt or better yet go with a guide as I did.  Only navigable with releases from the Brookfield Power Plant with water from Deep Creek Lake or during unusually high natural flows.

The trip was a reunion of sorts for me, both with the river I hadn't paddled in 6 years and with several friends from past lives.  Was great to catch up with colleagues, Terry Peterson and Nancy Zbel, from my Garrett College days of teaching whitewater paddling and swiftwater rescue.  A couple of big surprises were a former ASI Kayak Rodeo team member, Jesse Shimrock (back from his world travels) was our photographer for the day, and finally at the put-in I found Sarah Hubbard was one of the guides.  I've known and paddled off and on with Sarah and her brothers Josh and Zach for almost 30 years since the days on the Shenandoah in Harper's Ferry.  Roger set it up so Sarah and I paddled an R2 down the river.  Sarah is an awesome guide and I think we worked well as a team with some really tight slot lines.  Great fun with no mishaps.  Thanks again Sarah and Roger.  On to Yough Lake!

Professional Photos from Upper Yough (photographer Jesse Shimrock, High Water Photography)