Broad Brook - Above Powerlines to Lower Ashuelot


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Broad Brook,

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Above Powerlines to Lower Ashuelot

Usual Difficulty IV+ (may vary with level)
Length 1 Miles
Avg. Gradient 200 fpm
Max Gradient 200 fpm

The Put-in/Hike-in the easy way


The Put-in/Hike-in the easy way
Photo of Driving: Rich mathews Paddlers:Libby Klein and Roger Hodson by Nate Lesch-Huie taken 1/06 @ 2'

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
ASHUELOT RIVER AT HINSDALE, NH
usgs-01161000 6.00 - 9.00 ft IV+ 01h13m 5.42 ft (rc= -0.2 )


River Description

This is the hidden gem of southern NH. Although it is very short run the quality of rapids and natural scenery are comparable to that of the boulder strewn White Mountain creeks. When arriving at the put-in you will be immediatley confronted with what this creek has to offer, looking up at the Fungi Express rapid while getting changed and ready to hike-in will get you excited for whats in store. This run could be considered an intro to creeking run but also has one rapid that most people walk. Three out of the four rapids have multiple lines to run depending on the level, where the difficulty can be signifigantly increased.

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Directions:
Use the directions on AW to get yourelf to the Lower Ash put in on 119.Lower Ashuelot. From the covered bridge put-in for the Lower Ash, drive towards Hinsdale about 1-2 miles, see Broad Brook Road on your right side and go up Broad Brook road for about a 1/2 mile. Park on the river left side in small pull-off out of the way of the dumpster. Hike from here upstream on the river left side for about 20 minutes to just above the power lines and out in just above percolator. There is a trail that goes up the river right side which is much easier, but to access it you walk up someones driveway. The locals here have always been nice to me but I would certainly ask if its ok to cross their land to get to the trail. To get to the take out drive out Broad Brook Road to 119, take a right, go to the bottom of the hill see Broad Brook coming in on your right and take the next left across the bridge that goes to the dam. Park in the far back parking lot as far out of the way as you can. You can also park at the take out for the lower Ash and continue on down and run the dams in your creek boat if you want.


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2006-03-04 18:10:36

Editors

Stream Team Editor
Nathaniel Lesch-Huie
Keene, NH


Potentially safe after driving right

Detail Trip Report Edit  Potentially safe after driving right  Broad Brook, NH(43.40KB .jpeg)

Scouting The Gangler

Detail Trip Report Edit  Scouting The Gangler  Broad Brook, NH(41.83KB .jpeg)

Gorge inbetween Potential and The Gangler

Detail Trip Report Edit  Gorge inbetween Potential and The Gangler  Broad Brook, NH(49.84KB .jpeg)

Libby Klein Shows her Potential

Detail Trip Report Edit  Libby Klein Shows her Potential  Broad Brook, NH(42.17KB .jpeg)

The Put-in/Hike-in the easy way

Detail Trip Report Edit  The Put-in/Hike-in the easy way  Broad Brook, NH(53.75KB .jpeg)

On-line in The Gangler

Detail Trip Report Edit  On-line in The Gangler  Broad Brook, NH(49.58KB .jpeg)

Fungi Express boof.

Detail Trip Report Edit  Fungi Express boof.  Broad Brook, NH(52.29KB .jpeg)

Percolator, the name fits.

Detail Trip Report Edit  Percolator, the name fits.  Broad Brook, NH(47.14KB .jpeg)

Perfect set-up for the river left line

Detail Trip Report Edit  Perfect set-up for the river left line  Broad Brook, NH(47.86KB .jpeg)

Heading to put-in above powerlines

Detail Trip Report Edit  Heading to put-in above powerlines  Broad Brook, NH(39.20KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The gauge is on the upstream river left side of the Broad Brook Road Bridge. Levels are: 1'=low, 2'=medium, 3'= high at levels higher than this it would be good to know the run as eddies will dissapear and clearence under the two bridges will be questionable. To correlate of the Ash is decieving because the Ash holds its water really well which indicates Broad Brook to be running for a long time, but this is not the case. Because Broad Brook loses its water so quickly regardless of how high the Ash is it will usually be at a good level for about 48 hours after a big rain.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
ASHUELOT RIVER AT HINSDALE, NH
usgs-01161000 6.00 - 9.00 ft IV+ 01h13m 5.42 ft (rc= -0.2 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
6.00 -9.00 ft barely runnable-high runnable IV+

Report - Reports of Broad Brook Above Powerlines to Lower Ashuelot and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Broad Brook [NH] Percolator, the name fits. 1.75' Nathaniel Lesch-Huie
Broad Brook [NH] On-line in The Gangler 1' Nathaniel Lesch-Huie
Broad Brook [NH] Potentially safe after driving right 2' Nathaniel Lesch-Huie

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Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0The PercolatorIV+Photo
0.4The Fungi ExpressIVPhoto
0.7PotentialIV+Photo
0.8The Gangler5.0Photo

Rapid Descriptions

The Percolator (Class IV+)

Perfect set-up for the river left line

Perfect set-up for the river left line
Photo of Tony Vulcano by Nate Lesch-Huie taken 2/06 @ 1.75'

This rapid is one of the most beutiful ones on the river. I usually put-in a 100 yards or so above this rapid and then eddy out river right to pick my line. Formed by a couple large mossy boulders there are a couple lines depending on the level. The river left slot line is good at all levels. Simply line up at the top have a little bit of right angle at the bottom and prepare to go deep in the hole/percolate. The river right line which is considerably harder can be run from 1.75' and up. This requires a very well placed sliding rock boof where you land in between two rocks at the bottom and then paddle out the left slot. After this is a bit of boogie for about a 1/4 mile then a short section of flat water, After the flat water is a log that can be snuck around by going as far river left as possible. The next rapid Fungi Express comes within the next 100 yards, scout from river right.

The Fungi Express (Class IV, Mile 0.4)

Fungi Express boof.

Fungi Express boof.
Photo of Gabe Dawson by Nate Lesch-Huie taken 11/04 @ 1'

This is a wide boulder strewn area but the rapid takes place on river right. Its best to eddy our river left just above where the river goes off to the right. Then you can start heading river right and eddy out in a small eddy on river right. From here you can see the line very well. The key to this rapid is to drive a little bit right just before the boof as it has a tendency to carry you left into nasty rocks, then plant a big boof and continue down and eddy out immediatley left. By eddying out left you set yourself up for the cleanest line down through the runout. From there it is a cool ferry/attainment across the front of a big boulder then continue down the right side making sure to boof the man made ledge hole under the bridge. The next couple 100 yards are fun boogie. When you see a nice little cabin on the right side start thinking about getting out on the left and scouting the next rapid, potential.

Potential (Class IV+, Mile 0.7)

Libby Klein Shows her Potential

Libby Klein Shows her Potential
Photo of Libby Klein by Nate Lesch-Huie taken 1/06 @ 2'

This is a long multi stage drop. Begin by staying river left, punching a couple holes and passing a couple boulders in the river center, then drive back river right. At 2' and above you can stay left through the whole rapid running a slot on the left as oppose to driving right. After driving right prepare to punch a good size ledge then staying right to avoid getting pushed into a boulder spike type thing and eddy out immediatley right. There will be one more little two stage drop that is boofed directly off the center and then immedialtey eddying out on the left. The gangler lurks directly below.

The Gangler (Class 5.0, Mile 0.8)

On-line in The Gangler

On-line in The Gangler
Photo of Brad Croteau by Nate Lesch-Huie taken 11/04 @ 1'

The gangler is the hardest rapid on the run. At 2.5' and below there are two lines, one river right and one river left. Neither line are particularly good looking and you must be willing to take a bit of a hit when running them. The right line requires setting up river center then driving as far right as you can and boofing with a big left boof off the corner of a boulder. The landing sometimes requires a little finagling through a slot. The left line has a harder lead in and requires precise landing between two rocks that offer pin potential. At 3' and above you could probably boof directly off the center over a big hole. From there down to the Ashuelot its mostly class 3 boogie. Have fun and as always use your own good judgement.



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