Winnipesaukee, |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III+ (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.25 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 80 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 90 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER AT TILTON, NH | ||||
| usgs-01081000 | 250 - 2800 cfs | III+ | 01h27m | 1390 cfs (rc= 0.4 ) |
New Years Day 2008 brought with it a significant snowstorm keeping the numbers down on the river.
However, at least 45 paddlers braved the lower and close to that many ran the easier upper
section. Once again we appreciate the support of the communities of Tilton and Franklin for this
years event. Below are some pictures from previous New Years Day events.
This year the we will continue to press for the Winnipesaukee Recreational plan. The New Hampshire Department
of Environmental Services is in the process of creating a Lake / River management plan that will
affect flows on the river.
Winnipesaukee Recreational Plan: Info at: Winni Proposal
We need backing on this from the paddling community. We are looking for summertime releases on
this river and this event will help publicize our request.
The Winnipesaukee river was a heavily used industrial river in the early 20th century. The upper
Merrimack Valley was considered the bread basket of New Hampshire about a century ago. Wheat and
other grains grown in the Franklin region was transported to several grist mills that were built
on the banks of the Winnipesaukee river. Dams were built to harness the mechanical power for
turning grinding wheels that turned the grain into flour. There are still several grinding stones
that can be seen along the river bank. They are about 4' in diameter with a hole in the middle
and what looks like spokes ground in the granite stone. Those mills are now mostly gone with
trees replacing the scenery. The dams were eventually knocked out one by one by the force of
nature. There are no fewer than 7 dam sites along this short stretch of river. In the early 90's
local boating clubs organized several cleanup days during low water in August. Log cribbing,
rebar, and other trash were removed to make for a safer run.
This river continues to draw more boaters every year. It is also the location for the traditional
New Years Day run organized by the Merrimack Valley Paddlers. An event that always gets alot of
local press.
Put in elevation........390'
Take out elevation......290'
Total drop..............100'
Average drop/mile.......80'
Distance................1.25 miles
River width average.....60'
River geology...........Small to medium schist and granite boulders, many of
which are unatural blocks cut for buildings and dams.
River water quality.....Good in spring fair latter in Summer, clarity fair to good.
Scenery.................Fair, remains of early 20th century industrial age
being reclaimed by forest, up to seven old dam sites
with some log cribbing and some rebarr, two delapated
factories.
Wildlife................Deer, Weasels, Merganzers, Blue herons.
After many years of planning, fundraising and meetings the town of Franklin New Hampshire has
finally completed the new riverside park at the Lower Winnipesaukee River takeout. The park
located on 2 acres of land at the takeout of the lower Winnipesaukee River features a river level
take out ramp, grass, trees, and a 11-1/2 ton 15 foot diameter industrial flywheel that was used
in a mill just a quarter mile downstream from the park. This flywheel is the centerpiece of the
park and will probably become the most recognized landmark in Franklin in the near future. A
bathroom/changing room is now complete.
The park is a culmination of wide ranging efforts from the town of Franklin, The Friends of the
Winnipesaukee, the Grevoir family, American Whitewater and the Merrimack Valley Paddlers. It was
built on land donated by the Grevoir family who are the owners of Grevoir Furniture, which abuts
the park. Fundraising efforts for the park continue, they are having a fundraiser to help pay for
the town's portion of the new park. The fundraising plan calls for selling bricks that will be
used for the walkways around and through the park. Blank bricks will sell for $10, engraved
bricks with up to 42 characters of your choice will sell for $50 each. Go here for the form
to make a donation for the commemorative park.
For an overall river map click here:
Winnipesaukee map
The river is passable (but very scratchy) all the way down to 200 cfs. The minimum recommended for a relatively fluid run is 350 cfs. From 350 cfs to 650 cfs the river should be rated class III. Above 1800 cfs all rapids from Coliseum down blend together as one long difficult rapid. This should be considered a Class IV run at this level. Above 2400 cfs, class IV+. The reason for the maximum recommended flow to run the river set at 2800 cfs is the extreme danger of a swim on the lower half of the river. Actually any swim on Zippy's or Coliseum is dangerous in high water.
Several large lakes in its headwaters regulate the river. For this reason the Winnipesaukee runs more consistently and latter in the spring and early summer than most regional rivers. It is also less susceptible to quick rises due to heavy rains. Dams are located at the outflows of Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, Opechee, Wentworth, etc. that can regulate flows through the river. This is mainly used to control the lake levels for fall maintenance on docks, dams, and canals, and also to allow for flood control during spring runoff. The lakes are usually drawn down around Columbus day, this usually results in 3 or 4 days of low to medium water on the river. Occasionally in the spring the lakes will be drawn down further if a heavy snowpack threatens flooding. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) controls the flow on the Winni. See the NHDES website for current conditions and flow management discussion. Lochmere dam controls the flow for this section. Flows are usually stepped up or down as conditions warrant.
Also, check out the following sites.
Current watershed operations information
Winnisquam Lake operations information
Silver Lake operations information
Putin gage Flow -.2 to .3 200 ? 350 cfs scratchy low class III- .3 to .7 351-500 cfs Low class III .7 to 1.3 501-650 cfs Low to medium class III+ 1.3 to 2.3 651-1200 cfs medium class III-IV 2.3 to 1201-1800 cfs medium high class IV- 1801-2400 cfs high class IV >2400 cfs very high class IV+
Estimated chance (%) of finding the river at a good low level (~350 cfs) or higher. Scratchy low levels can be found at practically all other times.
Month............% chance.................comment
January ............50%....Watch out for ice shelves especially at the take out. February............35%....Ice shelves. March...............80%....Ice shelves wash out middle of month. April...............99%....Most dependable month May ................80%....Flows start dropping back June................60%....Lake Winnipesaukee keeps flow going early in summer. July................35% August..............15% September...........10%....Lowest water month October.............30%....Draw down of lake gives a few days of water November............60%....Fall rains, dormant trees December............80%....River stays relatively ice free most of the winter.
Be aware this is averaged out over several years. The % chance refers to the probability of finding the river running on any given day. For instance a 10% probability for September means on average you can only expect 3 days of water. One year there could be 6 days in September with water, other years none. Spring levels are usually higher than fall levels.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER AT TILTON, NH | ||||||||||||
| usgs-01081000 | 250 - 2800 cfs | III+ | 01h27m | 1390 cfs (rc= 0.4 ) | ||||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipesaukee [NH] |
Zippy's on the Winni
|
n/a | Mark Lacroix | |
| 115d05h55m | franklin [NH] | winni aug,2,2009@1650cfs | n/a | sean mccarthy |
| 206d18h55m | Winni [NH] |
Zippy's of Winni river
|
900 cfs | laurie cestnick |
| 4y174d02h55m | Winnipesaukee [NH] |
Routes in Coliseum
|
1,500 cfs | Bob Dunn |
| 6y46d02h55m | Winnipesaukee [NH] |
Lower Railroad rapid
|
760 cfs | Mark Lacroix |
| 6y330d02h55m | Winnipesaukee [NH] |
Smile some more
|
570 | Patrick Rogers |
| 7y204d02h55m | Winnipesaukee [NH] |
Passing by the "Room of Doom"
|
550 cfs | Mark Lacroix |
| 8y49d02h55m | Winnipesaukee [NH] |
Zippy's Final Plunge
|
430 cfs | Mark Lacroix |
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Map of the Lower Pemi region |    | |
| 0.0 | Winnipesaukee map |  | |
| 0.2 | 2nd Dam | II |  |
| 0.3 | Snowmobile | III | |
| 0.6 | Iron Ring | II+ | |
| 0.6 | Coliseum (aka Three Chimneys, Z-turn, Arches) | III+ |  |
| 0.7 | Railroad | III+ | |
| 0.8 | Sulphite | III | |
| 1.1 | Zippy's Final Plunge (Zippy's) | IV | |
Easy rapids ending at a large pyramid shaped rock with an iron ring at the top. When you view this rock take out downstream on river left to scout Colloseum.
The most dangerous rapid on the river. About a third of the river volume channels to river right into the basment of a delapataded mill building (The Room of Doom) it then passes through the old discharge arches that are usually clogged with debris such as trees. "The Room of Doom" is full of rebar and log cribbing, it also contains 4 vertical penstocks 5' in diameter one of which still sucks water through creating a visible wirlpool at low water levels. The discharge for the tube is probably under the rock pile in the middle of the river. The usual run starts from river right then cuts across toward river left. After a boulder strewn drop the river heads directly into a stone wall then takes a hard right. The whole run is very short but tricky. There is an eddy just above the Coliseum on river right with a high penalty surfing wave. There is also an eddy river left just before the rock wall (some rebar here at low water). Follow the Z pattern through this rapid. If you try and cut off the corner and run the center channel you will end up in a dangerous boulder sieve. Below 1000 cfs Coliseum is less pushy therefore only class III. Scout this drop.
Also see the Coliseum map
At high water (>1500cfs)Coliseum and Railroad merge into one rapid and should be considered IV or even IV+. Just upstream from the railroad bridge there are several large holes to punch or manuever around. The esiest route is to start on river left then move into an eddy just above the railroad bridge. If you run this route you are commited to running the right channel seperated by the bridge abutement. There is a 3' vertical drop into a hole directly under the bridge. If you want to avoid this drop, skip the eddy on your way down and run left of the abutement. This route is difficult to maintain because the currernt tries to push to the right.
Immediately below the Sulphite railroad bridge the river cuts through a break in another old dam, this time on the right. At higher water (>900 cfs)there is an interesting chute with a flat rock ski jump on the left of what remains of this old log crib dam, but be careful since debris often lodges in this narrow passage. On river right just below the break in the dam there is a nice eddy on river right with a good surf wave at higher water levels. Below this eddy Sulphite rapid starts. River left is generally shallow and impassable at medium to low water. A hole at the top of the drop can be skirted to the left. The current then forces paddlers to river right through heavy turbulance, small holes and overhanging tree branches (watch your paddle). There are a couple micro eddies on the right that allow access to some nice surfing waves within the wavetrain. The rapid then opens up to a wide section of river that has only a couple large holes to avoid just right of river center. Sulphite ends at an eddy on river left just below a almost river wide hole that offers some rough play. At high water there may not be any noticable break between Sulphite and Zippy's.
There is a medium sized eddy on river left just above Zippy's and below Sulphite. There is also a good (but sometimes rough) play hole at this spot. Downstream the river makes a gradual right hand turn and gets more difficult as you run through. Run river center and catch the eddies behind the rocks which are located about every 50 yards apart just left of center. This will allow you to control your speed and do a bit of boat scouting from the eddy. After the last boulder you will see a horizon line at river center, peal out and head directly down the center channel but be prepared to manuever left or right to thread yourself through the easiest part of the hole below the drop. Downstream from this point the river passes under another railroad bridge with abutements at an angle to the current. This angle results in a sudden shift in current direction that you must be aware of. There are three abutements with five channels. The two channels on either bank are usually clogged with debris so they must be avoided. The second channel from the left bank is usually the easiest. With higher water the middle channel is passible and with higher water still all three channels are passible. Takeout river left just below the drop. Make sure you scout this rapid from the takeout before you run. Debris sometimes lodges on the abutements and may cut off a channel. Also if you are paddling during the winter months, ice shelves can form on the abutements and in the calm water below the drop sometimes all the way across the river. If you are paddling in high water (>1800cfs), this section should be considered class IV-IV+. At levels above 2400 cfs the current can rise up above the abutements and sieve through the wooden bidge supports also the current leads right up to a verticle unrunable dam. Many boats and paddles have been lost over this dam but luckily no people. In low to medium water avoid running near either bank. There are many pinning rocks on river left and a possibillity of strainers on river right.
Also see the Zippy's map
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Winnipesaukee 2. Cross Mill bridge road to Franklin (mobile)
User Comments
Zippy's.) The strainer is about half-way thru the rapid; extending from the left bank into the
center of the river. What makes this one a bit more problematic is that the right-side of the river
has a large hole in it, leaving only a narrow channel directly in center of the river, and another
narrow channel far right. Because Sulphite starts with a sharp right turn, the water and channel
tends to throw a boater to the left side of the river directly into the path of the strainer.
Fortunately, everyone on yesterday's trip was sharp enough to quickly work their way right and
avoid the strainer. We've had a few swims on that rapid during prior trips this year and last. Had
the strainer been there then we could have easily had fatalities. Also, the strainer near the
bottom of Zippy's on the far right is still in evidence.
run -- which is now almost entirely complete! The park was built/designed largely to accomodate
whitewater boaters, and the town has done a very nice job of creating a very welcoming spot for us.
run. In the meantime, beware the copious amounts of dog poo in the lot at the take-out. It's
everywhere!