Went today to go take some friends down the Upper Sandy because the Lower was "too high", and drove
across the the bridge at Rockville and there was no water. The gage was reading 4.8 ft. Maybe the
gage is down or broken, just letting y'all know and save on some gas. Cheers

You know after the gage you have 4 tributaries just on the river right side before splat that may
make a difference in the way a level can feel ?----Yes, but the input from the tributaries is
usually proportional to the general level, because they are generally too small to change very
much. Edit

Robert Farmer is my hero! ---Farmer Fan Club (WRFFC) Edit

Bill from NJ : Hello all! Just a quick shout out to all who may think the much improved road at the
Rockville bridge on the river right side (old trail that runs from bridge to flat rock) was
constructed for additional parking. You are wrong. This road was improved to assist the logging
outfit which is working the woods at this very moment and will be for the next several months. They
are a very friendly bunch but definitly have the equipment to move a mere 2000 pounds of steel and
rubber if it were in the way . I rode down the new road on my 4 wheeler. Their equipment is set up
a good way back and they are running heavy log trucks in and out on this road . Get the drift? Not
a good place to park. We have a camp up on the hill at the top of Sovern Run Road. Just got home to
Jersey and found your site. Nice pics and info. Just looking out as you crazy river rats surley
provide us with many hours of stream side entertainment throughout the year. Edit

Beware, the Rock forming the ledge at the 2nd drop of Big Splat has shifted towards the horseshoe
hole. This is feeding more water into the hole, it is also pushing the current during your exit
more river right,making it more difficult to catch the eddy. My advise is just be prepared to run
the entire rapid without catching the eddy.If the horseshoe does flip you, of course nail that
role, but if you miss it STAY in your boat and take the hammering in it. J.Black

Chrizee posted: Wanted to pass on this email I just got from Jay Ditty of Morgantown in case any of
you are heading this way: As expected, some wood has moved around a bit on the creeks here in
northern WV. On the Big Sandy, there are 2 logs in play that could cause some trouble. Hard to
describe the location of the first one, but I'll try. Well below Big Splat, the creek mellows out
for awhile, gets kind of shallow, and splits around some small boulder islands, then suddenly you
get to a decent rapid (not sure if it has a name). The rapid is basically a series of offset holes
(or rocks at lower water), then an almost river-wide hole (about a 3 ft ledge) usually punched on
the right. Just below here the rapid continues over a couple of small ledges and then you get to
the overhead cable that spans the creek. The big tree is lurking in the middle ledge hole and
extending to the right bank. The second tree is blocking the main line on the left side of Second
Island near the end of the run, extending from the left bank. It's gigantic and will likely be
there for awhile. At today's level (7.5) it was easy to find routes around both of these, but they
might surprise you if you aren't paying attention, and as the level drops they may become more
difficult to get around. Decker's creek also has some wood, mostly in the Hairline and just below
on the left, but it looks passable. Heads up this weekend, and have fun. Jay

The directions above don't seem to make any sense to me. Here are some better directions: 1)
Starting at Bruceton Mills, go south on 26 about 5 miles or so (estimate) until you come to Little
Sandy Creek (unmarked). 2) Immediately south of the creek, turn right on Little Sandy Creek Rd,
drive through a small community and past a large-ish church. 3) Follow this road. After a mile or
so, stay right at an unmarked fork near the crest of a hill. 4) Shortly after you crest a very
steep hill, turn right (downhill) on Sovern Run Rd. (unmarked). If you cross the one-lane bridge
over Sovern Run, you've gone too far. Drive down Sovern Run to Rockville (i.e. the put-in bridge,
unmarked). 5) Takeout: Drive up Sovern Run Rd. Turn right at the top. Cross the one-lane bridge. 6)
The road basically comes to a T. Turn left. Continue to the Mt. Nebo Church. 7) At a funky,
four-way intersection at the church, stay right, and go up the hill. Follow this road to the bridge
across the Cheat (Jenkinsburg).

I don't know anyone who calls Big Splat 5.1, at least, not anyone who actually runs it, but maybe
I'm not cool enough to sandbag people. (Streamkeeper note: This is not my rating but it is AW's
rating, see link: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:class5benchmarkrapids for a
list.) I and my friends call it Class 6, at moderate levels and above. Certainly, even at ideal
levels it's no easier than 5+. This includes the upper part.
-Don't confuse running the approach rapid to the (Big Sandy/Wonder) Falls with running the Falls. I
have stood on rocks at the base of the Falls that are only one foot below water level, right in the
middle of the right-side chute. To run that side is to risk a serious piton injury.
-And I enjoy the Sandy down to 4.7.
-Oh, and, probably, portaging Big Splat on the left is a good idea at or above 6.0, due to the eddy
fence on the right, at the must-make eddy. Sneak left well-upstream to increase your longevity.
FYI.

I noticed that someone rated Undercut Rock Class 2+. This is ridiculous and very dangerous! The
left side is Class 3, while the Undercut Rock itself is Class 5-6!!! The description implies that
the right side might be Class 2+, and that could get someone killed!!!
-And it is too harder than the Upper Yough and the Watauga!

Also, for you hard-core boaters out there, please note that the second ledge in Big Splat is
changing. Where there used to be a flat, smooth slab, much of the slab has broken off and is
tilting perilously. This creates piton spots on the formerly-smooth bench above the U-hole. Note
that the water pushes more to the right, now. This slab is undoubtedly the next Big Splat Rock,
waiting for a big flood to move it farther downstream.

You can run the Lower Sandy pretty low. My minimum in a glass boat is 5.3; locals in creek boats go
down to 4.8'Rafter like 5.8 or more.