Swift

Unfortunately, many gauge links and flow information have been lost since the latest AW code update.

Upper Swift

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/detail/id/45492/

Lower Swift

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/detail/id/45943/

All NH Gauges

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/view/state/NH/

I will stick with the 'Low Flow' designation, as I know this river can go much higher, but 0.6 ft on the calculated gauge was fluid and powerful the entire trip.  Took 45 minutes and we only boat scouted Triple Drop from the river, though I did stop on the road and made sure that the path was free of wood (always important to get eyes on a blind drop).

Ran the Middle Swift today at 0.85 ft. Great run, starts scratchy and I would say that it requires Class III technical skills to avoid a potential pin. We cleared a strainer and the whole river is quite clear, assuming new high water does not pull something into the river. The low level does leave a nasty piton rock exposed on a drop too difficult to identify in a comment, just use caution. I love this run, how it starts slow and really picks up about half way and then never stops. The run takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, depending on how much you pause on the river. Like the guide says, pay attention at the end or you will end up unwittingly running Lower Falls.

Ran it on 10/22/11 at about .7 ft. This is well below what AW says is minimum, but I though it was a great level. We did shorten the run on both ends though. This was my first run, so I can not say what changed after Irene. Other members of the group said the changes were minimal. All the rapids were fine.

Has anyone run Rocky Gorge? The story about that gal in '49 or whenever it was that got sucked in that underwater cave gave me second thoughts, if anyone has please post best route (straight through on river left or snaking through a little to the right). Thanks!

This launching point is just below Upper Falls in the Rocky Gorge; the foamy water in the pic is from the falls and they are launching into the Rocky Gorge. I do know a few people who have run Upper Falls, but no one in our group did. This is also the put-in for the Rocky Gorge to Lower Falls (middle) section.