Hollow Brook

This run is Full-On. With an average gradient of about 285 fpm (390 fpm for the last half mile) and only 3 or 4 individually identifiable drops, this creek just doesn't stop. It's all jumbled boulder piles and chunky ledges, and none of them are smooth. There are no big waterfalls, or slides, and very few eddies. Grab them when, and if, you can.

It's entirely roadside and within Teetertown Preserve in Hunterdon County, so you can scout the entire run as you drive (or walk) shuttle. It's got a small drainage (~2.7 sq. mi.), and despite the swampy land it drains, it will flash up and down quickly. Have your gear ready, watch the forecasts and bring your A game. A swim, or even a roll here could be very painful.

Despite how continuous it is, three spots stand out as individual rapids. Each deserves special attention during scouting.

Look for the Spruce Run gauge to be heading straight up as an indication that this might run. You'll need at least 350 cfs at Spruce Run to bang down Teetertown Ravine. But remember, the gauge is at the bottom of Spruce Run's drainage, so it's probably about 1.5 to 2 hours behind what's going on at Teetertown.  (In other words, if the water has just peaked on Spruce Run, it did that on Teetertown about 1.5 to 2 hours ago. If it's heading straight up, the water has already gotten to Teetertown, so get your butt over there!)

On our first time down (Mike Pennucci ran at least half of this run in the late 90's, but portions of it were clogged with strainers) the Spruce Run gauge had peaked at 500cfs, then come back down to 336 and stayed there for an hour or two before dropping. We caught it in that pause.

The second time I ran it, Spruce Run peaked at about 2,200cfs about 90 min later, so I was lucky enough to catch Teetertown just as it peaked. It was just a bit juicier than the first time. Fewer rocks to hit, but truly, almost no eddies big enough for a boat.

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