To credit the last post on stuff changing....I did the run my first time at 4.9 on the scale, this
last July on a freak rain...i would have put that last big drop in cl V range, very tough ferry
lines and hole dodging...granted we didnt know the lines. Other hard rapids too with dangers above
cl IV but solid cl IV maybe IV+-V moves. We had clean lines, but definately lots of places you did
not want to be. The wood was not a problem at 4.9 but it was there as described. Edit

Having boated the Cranberry for at least 15 years, all I can say is that there must've been one
helluva flood this winter. Stuff has moved around, there are more cobble rocks in places you'd
least expect it, cracks in ledges are appearing in the worst places, and there is timber not seen
in years adding danger to some of the usual lines. "Tres Amigos y un Chingada" [the set of 4 ledges
about 1/2 mile below the put in ] has timber in it in spades. One nasty log in particular sticks
into the normal right line in the second ledge. The bottom ledge of this series shows the normal
route turning into the beginning of a depression/fault in the "Chingada" that makes the final drop
more difficult. Even if the rock that has historically backed up the hole has twisted so the nasty
part of the hole isn't as wide as it was. The left side of "Full Nelson" is getting much worse as
well, as it appears the left side crack in that ledge is making the hole much worse on the left.
Run right obviously. I'd class this stirling white water gem a 3 to 5, but then I'm old school the
riverduffer Edit

This one isn't anything new, just something I hadn't noticed before. I ran it Sunday at just over
4.0' USGS. There is an eddy bank-left just above the last little drop of S-turn. I caught this eddy
low and realized I was getting sucked backwards into a tunnel. I was able to paddle away from it
but it surprised me. There is a fair amount of flow through the tunnel at this level which might
get pretty bad when it's higher. I like to catch this eddy to set safety. You might want to catch
this eddy high or skip it. Ken Dubel Edit

Lost: Ty Warp bent shaft paddle on 3/5/09 on this section. Please call Sally at 800-735-1555. Edit

At 5.75 this river becomes a much more difficult river. We started this run with 10 boaters and
only four finished the run without walking off. All of the boaters had at least excellent class
III/IV skills, others that walked off have no problem running IV/V rivers. In fact one of the
paddlers who walked off had just run it the previous day without issue. Please know the level
before you put on. If there has been a good steady rain recently be ready for a different river. CK Edit

4/24/06 There is a log in the first big section of rapids; I went across the tip of it via a narrow
slot on the right--too spooky, really; it seems as though there is always at least one log on this
river. I would call this section Class 4+(5), not Class 3-4, especially considering the logs that
are always there. I ran S-turn, and it was clear, but could always change.

Also, I resent someone trying to change the name of this section to the "Middle." Many rivers have
additional sections above their "Upper" section, and changing the name is confusing.

From the WVWA message Board where it was poste by Brian Rahall on 1/15/2005, 16:16.

Approximately 1/4 mile into the run there is a tree down blocking 2/3 of the drop.. Although not a
sugnificant drop the tree is a hazard.. and about 100 yards below the tree is what looks to be a
limb from the tree broached on a rock.. Just keep your eye's open everything is pretty obvious.

There is a 70' nrs spectra cord throw rope in the river below full nelson. exact location is
unknown. Also, there is a log extending a couple feet across the river right side of the full
nelson drop. The root ball and the rest of the log are blocking the center channel. full nelson is
still runnable

Everyone please be aware that the last drop just above S-Turn is Full Nelson. There have been
several near drownings at this spot.I was involved in a rescue at this spot recently and the
paddler did not come out of the hole at Full Nelson until he had blacked out.(level-4.1) Two near
drownings I know of already in 04. This appears to be just a 4-5ft. pourover on river left,but it
is a very sticky hole with no exits on the ends. Scout from river left and set safety always here.
Portage on river left also. Please be careful at this spot. Jim B.

The following info was provided by Matt McMillion:

We paddled the middle Cranberry at about 4 1/2 feet Wed. March 3rd. The "push" seems less, the
water is more spread out through the riverbed. The drops used to be clear at the bottom for the
most part. Now almost all the drops have rocks at the bottom, this is really only a big deal if you
are upside-down or out of the boat. Just be aware after you punch a hole you will more than likely
have to keep your bow up and keep your eyes open.

S-turn is now open to the left or right of the big rock in the middle. If you go right it is not
nearly as easy to get back left. the water wants to go through the rocks at the center right of the
drop. Eddy hopping may be the way to go. The main thing to keep in mind is the rapid has changed
and some sieves are way easier to get into. S-turn is not what it used to be. It should be
considered a first decent and scouted, every thing else can be boat scouted.

Also, we did notice what we think was the big tree in the first major drop downsteam about 200 yds
on the left. There is (was) no wood in the run itself.

The following was posted on BoaterTalk by Matt McMillion on 12/30/03...

Paddlers need to be aware of some changes on the Cranberry (middle) River. The very large tree that
was in the first drop is gone. I did not see it further down stream.

Many of the drops have changed, the stream bed seems to be more cluttered.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ALL PADDLERS LOOK AT "S-TURN" TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO RUN IT OR WALK IT.
THE MAIN LINE IS NOW SIEVED OUT AND FEEDS IT AN UNDERCUT THAT HAS A HUGE FLAT ROCK AGAINST IT LIKE
A LEAN-TO. IT LOOKS VERY BAD. IT CAN BE RUN EXTREME RIGHT. BUT I WOULD LOOK AT IT.

Some of the more drastic changes are more apparent after s turn with some rocks moved around.
Nothing major.

If you know some one that paddles the Middle Cranberry tell them to scout s turn and be aware of
changes in streambed. Running s turn as normal could be very dangerous!

The level today was 3.9 (low)

Matt McMillion
wvsurfer@charter.net

Seems like this run may be overrated. I remember it as a class 3/4 run. It might approach class 5
at really high flows.