Ausable

Put in is:
37 Old State Rd, Keeseville, NY 12911

Just before the bridge on the left there are four spots. Access to the the water is directly to the right of the power company gates

257 cfs

D. Brucas runs right line at 257 cfs

At 257 cfs

Paddled the chasm on 8/31/2012 at 257 cfs. We did not encounter wood or beams in play; but saw beams on the side of the chasm so its probably best to scout if in doubt or after heavy rain. The rapids are boatable at this level (not deserving of the IV+ ratings though). The paddle out was boney (a few parts we did need to portage), but from our groups perspective, worth it for the experience of the chasm if you are not usually in the area.

There is a large steel I-beam extending across the river just before the put-in for the Chasm raft rides. It is hard or impossible to eddy out before it and would advise not running it below 800 as it creates an undercut. At higher levels you go right over it but I would highly advise using serious caution at this section of the river and scout it first.

At 450cfs we had 5 runs of Elephant though the meat. A center line in the chute driving hard right and tight to the right wall. We had one swim and there was another swim by another group. The reported hazardous pin rock in the right of elephant was undetected by our boaters and was frankly reported by the chasm mgmt and not a class 4-5 boater (to my knowledge) take it for what it's worth and use your own best judgement. The 2nd rapid under the bridge is the most deceiving and so far sees the most swims outside of the rare running of Elephant.

The Chasm is finally Open for boaters on Friday 6-18-2010 barring any last minute issues with access. It should be available every day through October. The Chasm owners have made it known not to scout above the Medium High water mark or legal action may be taken. They have mentioned that they think Elephant rock has a New Significant Pinning rock in the right line...Hero Line if you will. Look for the River Left channel at Elephant Rock for a first run.

This is the entrance to the last rapid. This I-beam is visable at highler levels, but would prove difficult to get around at low levels as shown here.
At this low level the I-beam would prove difficult to navigate around
This I-beam is on the left hand bank. At higher levels (300 CFS)it is partially submerged.
This gave me concern. When I run it at higher level this steel bar is not visable (it is hard to see in the picture but look towards the tongue).
AT lower levels it is clear the bar goes straight in to the run out. I have concern it may connect to the pile of steel further down.
If a paddler flips here, it is highly possible that they could become entangled on the bar.
Look carefully at the tongue and to the right of it you can just see the steel bar.
My concern at higher levels this bar is submerged and if a paddler flips it is highly possible they could become tangled with it.
A concern is that it may also be joined up with the steel further down
At higher levels it was percieved the Steel carnage was just in the Eddy and was easy avoidable. At lower levels, you can see the steel extends in to the rapid run out.
I have raised concern that this maybe attached to another piece (see other pictures) which raises a concern that if a paddler was to flip here. There is a high chance they may become entangled with the steel wreckage.

Jennifer Laslovich has now taken over for Yvonne as the coordinator of the flow study. So email or call her

716-679-7909

[jlaslovich@neanewyork.com]

scouting right side of Elephant Rock, good idea if possible. paddler Jim Janney (red helmet pictured) ran it. he was sucked under - just before - the lip of the drop. resurfaced near islands end. said he was temporarily pinned/pinched while under. photo taken from the undercut used to scout/hike around the drop before running.

low water, taken from my boat...didn't break any rules for this shot. taken in the smoothest/steepest walled part of the chasm, as you exit, past the Hudson river co. put-in.

this will show the I-beam worth taking a look at before running. can't remember the name of the boater just finishing the run. river was almost too low, but not hard to scout at 320 cfs (a generous guess at level).
note - this was taken while scouting, and for future referance. the hazard may not be visible at higher water.

downstream look at this rapid. i chose the river left line of Elephant rock, at this level its all but dry. the river description gives a class III/IV designation of the sneak at a more runnable level. this must be a case of a named rapid (Elephant Rock rapid), with a left or right side line that have features of different names. the river print-out given us by the study claimed the hole on river-right of Elephant rock was named Devil's Oven.

This spot allows paddlers to quietly float through a very tight section of the Ausable Chasm and enjoy the fine scenery.

At moderate flows the actual hole at Mike's was relatively mild, with an easy fast boof into an eddy on river left.
The left hand sneak around Elephant Rock was a fun class III/IV line at medium flows.

Sorry these are so small, they are for the rapid descriptions on the streamkeeper page...

Thanks Willie!

Rainbow Falls hydropower project located
on the Ausable River. Boaters must
access the Ausable just downstream of
the powerhouse on river left to paddle
the Chasm downstream. Access is blocked
by the power company. AW is working to
get public access in the relicensing of
the project.