Esopus Creek,
|
|
Allaben portal to Mt. Pleasant
| Usual Difficulty |
II-III (may vary with level) |
| Length |
6 Miles |
DEC Wave
DEC WavePhoto by Fantumboater taken Sept 2005 @ 600 cfs
Gauge Information
River Description
The portal in Allaben is where water from the Schoharie Reservoir is piped into the Esopus to
transport to the Ashokan Reservoir. About 1/2 mile down from this put-in is a left-hand turn with
many trees along the right bank.
These trees claimed the life of a private tuber and a kayaker
in the summer of 2002. They are easily avoidable but one must be aware of this danger.
The tubing companies and most locals put in at the fishing access near the cemetary that one passes
on the way to the portal. From the cemetary access you get right into the first playspot called
"Cartwheel Hole" which is a double squirtline separated by a large boulder in the center of the
river. Mystery moves have been gotten here by squirt boaters between 5.5 and 6 ft.
From here it's more of a technical class II+ with some surf-on-the-fly waves and squirt-lines
always different depending on levels.
At the junction of the woodland valley stream is the class III "Tenderizer" hole (rarely playable
but fun to try), the railroad wave (class II surf), and then Railroad Rapid (III) which is the site
of the slalom races held here. Many boaters get out here, about 3 miles down from the portal. The
next significant rapids occur as you enter Phoenecia.
After the Phoenecia bridge, the third bridge from the put-in, is Elmer's Bend, a class III+ rapid
with many different characteristics depending in the level. If you scout on the fly I recommend
going right of the predominant boulder in the center, and then either left to right thru the rock
garden or straight thru river right and over a little drop. This drop-route is better at higher
levels. There is a take-out a little ways below Elmer's, or continue on to the parking area on Rte.
28 near the Catskill Corners Kaleidoscope. Some boaters, especially canoists, may opt to continue
another 5 miles to Boiceville although there are considerably more flat sections.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2005-01-09 12:11:04
Editors
User Comments
cleared, the rootball is on river left.
point 2 access is a stripped tree which seems to have been cut down is taking up half the creek, on
the upstream side of 3 rocks. It is hard to see as it's bobbing up and down. Stay river left. There
is another one taking up river left below railroad rapids just above the large boulder wave train.
The root ball is visible, stay river right. Looks like there may be a few more before the days
over. Be careful! Edit
cornell students this past weekend. the level was around 5.3 and I believe the sieve would be a
hazard anywhere below 6.0 feet and possibly higher. The sieve is located at the top of the rapid
that takes a sharp bend with the cement culvert on the river left hand bank. It is directly in the
center of the river formed by a visible medium sized block shaped rock that at 5.3 was about 10
inches above water and a diagonal triangular rock that is barely visible. In this case a student
was broached against the block rock and pushed into the sieve bow first resulting in a vertical
pin. Luckily at this level the student was able to hop out of the boat, and the boat was removed
with a vector line but barely. a bad entry angle or more water could certainly result in a very bad
situation and I believe with any more water that a boat would not be removed without mechanical
advantage in the form of a z-drag or piggy-back system. BE CAREFUL! I will post pictures soon. Edit
addition to the strainer by the railroad rapids(left channel under the bridge), I spotted a second
one during our 4/28/2009 run at 1160cfs. That one is in the middle channel under the bridge right
after Elmer's. It is a dark metal bridge as much as I remember. It looked like a 3 -4 feet long
wave/hole combo and I thought I found a gem to play a bit more but the more I approached I realized
that it was a tree burried under water. I was able to go over it but at lower levels it could be a
hazard. I did not have a chance to go back and scout it in detail. My friends used the river left
channel and had no issues.
side of the Woodlawn Valley Bridge. It takes up the whole left side to the center column of the
bridge.
the rapid, go NW on Route 28 from Phoenicia to Woodland Valley Road. Strainer can be seen on left
side of bridge.
been able to paddle over them with no difficulty, but the farther upstream you are the more
attention you should devote to logs and strainers. I'd also suggest that a maximum level of 8 feet
on the Cold Brook guage is a bit conservative. Last October we made a high water run and the guage
was at 9.6' (about 6000 cfs) when we passed it. Things were fast and pushy, with lots of very big
waves, but not much more difficult than at more typical levels. Official flood stage is at 11', but
at any high level you should be extra vigilant for new strainers as well as moving logs and
strainers. Edit
"Approximately 1/2 mile downstream from the Portal is large log (strainer) blocking the entire
creek. Two of my friends failed to eddy out above it and flipped. They were washed through but this
is a serious safety hazard for anyone that puts in at the Portal."
Anyone having more info, please add a comment here.
Thanks.