Bearcamp

Ran for the first time today with Darryn DuShane at 5.5ft on this page's gauge - so much fun!  I would say it is class III if you skip the gorge drop as we did.

No wood to worry about other than a riverwide tree immediately after the put-in bridge that has a tiny sneak route - which works fine since the river is pretty much still water at that point.

Cold Brook rapid can be scouted from the bridge on Mill Rd., and we beached at the head of the island at Bearcamp Gorge and scouted both sides.  We did the easier left channel after taking a look at the class IV drop.

After that there are lots of fun surfs as noted in the 'Ossipee Surf' rapid description.  The hole it mentions is there but not menacing - could be punched at this level without too much trouble.  To give a bit more context - the river goes behind a house next to old bridge abutments on both sides (with a really fun surf in between) and then suddenly turns left from the road.  Right at that point is the almost riverwide hole.

Overall, very enjoyable rapids with nice variety and lots of fun surfs at this level.  Cold Brook rapid was the hardest probably, but still I would hesitate to call it a III+.

In a way this reminded me of Fife or the West, iust a great time.