Powell,

Appalachia to Big Stone Gap (Route 23)

Usual Difficulty	II-IV (may vary with level)
Length	3 Miles
Avg. Gradient	40 fpm
Max Gradient	130 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
POWELL RIVER AT BIG STONE GAP, VA
usgs-03529500	200 - 1000 cfs	II-IV	01h31m	128 cfs (rc= -0.1 )

River Description

This is the "afternoon adrenaline fix" for local boaters. The run has several good rapids in its three miles.

The first notable drop is just downstream of the put in, near the town of Appalachia VA. It is called Railroad Ledge. The drop can usually be ran on the left or right side depending on water level. The right side line is the way to go down to the low end of the water.

Next up, about 1 mile downstream is Big Ledge. This is a very straightforward drop similar to Murpheys Ledge on the Nolichucky. Boof the drop slightly right of center and avoid the pile of rocks at the bottom.

Now is where the fun begins. After some fun warmup rapids, you round the bend and notice a small creek dropping into the river on RR. This signals the beginning of Roaring Branch rapid. This rapid is split up into two sections, the upper starting with an entry move on RR. Be aware of the pin rock on RR when running this drop. It doesn't hurt to have a little left angle going toward the small roostertail in the middle of the ledge. From here you can run the drop in a zig zag from L to R. OR you can run a small slot in the middle of the river down into the bottom half of the rapid and finish out on RR.

Be sure to get RR after you pass under the old bridge to make the U-Turn boof at the next immediate rapid downstream. If you are forced to run this drop anywhere but RR, BOOF hard and land flat as possible on the RL side. There is a pin rock in the middle.

By now you begin to feel the push of the 130fpm gradient in the small streambed. From here, you encounter the Washing Machine and The Slot before you reach Table Rock. Washing Machine is the next drop below U-Turn Boof, it can be boofed straight and hard off the right center being aware of a pin rock left of center or ran in a similar u turn move to avoid the hole entirely.

The Slot is the small slot move on RL just upstream of Table Rock. This can be ran at various levels and is a pretty straight forward slot move. From here one can eddy hop because you are just upstream of Table Rock. This is easily recognized by the large slab of rock on RR, if you can't easily identify this rock chances are the water is over 5 feet and you better hang on for the ride at the end!

The Table can be ran in a fast chute on RL or a tight boof on RR. Be aware of the undercut on the back side of Table Rock if running the RR boof. From here the river gets tighter and proceeds to plunge into the last major drop of the run, Slam Dunk. You can run this drop down the throat through all of the froth or go for BIG air and boof the top "pyramid" rock and then either go left, right, or over the big pourover rock at the bottom. This is the only cl IV drop on the run and can be portaged or run easily. Lots of action here and it makes for a good after-work run for those that live in the area. If you are in the woods and happen across the Powell, take a short trip along "old" US 23 between Big Stone Gap and Appalachia, make the scout on the way up from the road, pick your landmarks and get in, hang on, and have a great time!