Lost,

2. WV 55/259 Bridge to WV 259 Bridge below Wardensville (Dry Gorge)

Class II-III(IV)

6 Miles

Avg Gradient 40 fpm

Max Gradient 40 fpm

Ledges

Ledges
Photo of Rick Koller (BRV) by Bob Maxey (BRV) taken 5/18/02

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Updated	Level
SO FK SO BR POTOMAC R AT BRANDYWINE, WV	2.50 - 10.00 ft	00h34m	1.04 ft (rc= -0.2 )
SO FK SO BR POTOMAC R AT BRANDYWINE, WV	2.50 - 10.00 ft

River Description

The Lost River Dry Gorge is up only in the winter, spring or after a prolonged wet period. Much of the river literally "sinks" above the gorge, only to reemerge on the other side of the mountain from large springs. Because of this, the riverbed is mostly dry much of the year. A large bridge for the Corridor H project is currently being built at the putin bridge.

The first few miles are characterized by closely-spaced Class II-III rapids. Strainers can be a problem. There is a low-water bridge 2/3 of the way through that should be scouted. At favorable levels, one can run hard right or line up with the jet currents flushing through culverts under the bridge to ride the flow out of the hydraulic. Portage and scout on the right.

Landslide is the final and major rapid on the run (Class IV due to undercut rock on the right, part way through the drop) and should be scouted from the river left island. The rapid is a steep chute featuring offset holes, squirrely current and that undercut. Run center left working right to avoid a large boulder at the bottom center. The channel remains choked below, so swimming can be a bruiser.

Portage a second low-water bridge on the right and proceed to the takeout below Wardensville.

Robert Farmer shared on 2007-03-03:

There is a popular takeout at the upstream end of Wardenville, but it's hard to find. A county road that turns at mailbox 26905 appears to be a driveway. It leads to a low bridge and a cornfield by the river.

StreamTeam Status: Verified

Last Updated: 2005-07-14 15:25:54

Ledges

Detail Trip Report Edit Ledges Lost, WV(56.36KB .jpeg)

Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The Moorefield gauge on the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac is a commonly used indicator, but construction work near the gauge station is throwing the reading off in 2004, so ignore it for now (2.5 ft is considered a good minimum correlation).

For now, focus instead on the Brandywine gauge, also on the SFSB Potomac. Limited observations indicate 2.5 ft. on this gauge (referenced above) should also equal minimum for the Lost.

Because the river flows underground through here much of the year, it takes a lot of water for the Dry Gorge to run.

Another correlation is to look for 4 to 6 feet on the Cootes Store gauge on the NF Shenandoah.

There is a painted gauge on the Route 55 bridge, west side abutment. A level of 1 to 3 feet is good, though it can be run down to zero. Construction of the Corridor H highway may ultimately change this gauge. Report observations here.