Great Chazy

https://youtu.be/z9JY4nRSjuw

Awesome run!

We skipped the first big whole referenced below as it looked absolutely gnarly at 3k.

From Justin Crannell's 2006 trip report (very helpful and must read if you are going to consider this run) -

'1400 is minimum

we ran it at 2800 and it was very good level a solid class V run

At this level make sure to scout before-hand as there are many moves in the first rapid 'white mile' to memorize. Also without proper saftey you will want to put in below the first big hole due to the undercut sides that you are forced into if you do not make the line. Just below the first big hole is an opportunity to seal launch off the sides. This would be my recomendation for a put in. Below this u will pass under an old brigde but a nearly river wide hole forces you into the birdge abutment on the left. To avoid this hit the first big wave on the right side and skirt the hole (which is about 100ft below this) to the right just missing the abutment on the right. After quickly move center to avoid large reactionary waves coming off the lower abutments or even in our case that day, to avoid the abutments themselves. For the next 1/3 of a mile u will jsut have to make ur way down the middle avoiding what waves holes and reactionaries you may encounter. I cna say this, Even though this rapid is just one big slide it is still supprising how well u can maneuver around, but beware the water is much pushier than it appears to be and if you dont scout previously you will find yourself in a serious case of survival mode. Just as things begin to get good you will notice a long eddy on the right hand side of the river as the river begins to bend to the right. This is your signal to pay attention, as you probably noticed from scouting the rapid ends in a large 50ft wide keeper hole. the only pleace we saw to miss it was to huge the left shore but even still the area in which u could sneak the hole was only 5 ft wide so be on your line. All this empties this into a large pool at the bottom. One thing is for certain swimming on this rapid is not an option and if for some reason you do swim, move immediately to the left hand shore to avoid the bottom hole at all costs.' -- Thank you for the very helpful writeup Justin.

Wood Falls at 6.5 ft

6.5ft

Good Day,

The ice broke on Friday March 18th overnight.. We headed down from Canada on Sunday and the levels was at 8ft when we left Ottawa..By the time we put in..It got down to 7.5ft. We put in above the dam and ran the right line/slide.
My buddy scouted the hole and gave me the green light.. Fired it off but the reactionary caught me and ended up in the hole.. Ive never seen it a lower level but I wouldnt say its a IV+ hole..I flushed out quite easy... If something on this river is Class IV+ it would be the slides and going upside down would rape your face. Water is pushy and you got to be on top of your game. Holes along the way are easily avoidable and you can sneak the bottom ones on left and even right if you missed your line. We wouldve actually loved to see a bit more water.. So I would not agree with not going near there at 3800 cfs... Halfway down there is a 2-3 ft ledge/pourover that is a bit sticky as I missed my boof but I got out just fine...It ends in a pool anyways.. The waterfall would be IV or IV+... By the time we ran it, level was 6.5 ft. The line is obvious but you have to pick landmarks to figure it out.. Going left would land you on rocks and it doesn hurt a bit... Going right would land you in flatter and stickier water/eddy but no biggie.. its easy to set up safety.... Take your time on that river.. Eddy hop your way down... Have a solid leader and youll be fine! Gets your heart pumping for sure!

Slide at around 7.3 ft

First hole at 7.5ft

Fisrt hole at 7.5ft

Ran this baby on a warm August 5th day at 2700 cfs after a 5.5 inch rain. It was about Noon....12 hours after peak flow (midnight) of 7.75 ft (aka 3800 cfs). Note the gauge is below a major confluence and you cannot be sure if the North Branch or the Main Great Chazy has the good water. The upper section was not at a good level and we had already missed the good level so we puton downstream on this section. The high water of this event was easily 4-6 ft higher than when we were there depending on the width of the river. We would have loved to see a significant more water but certainly not near the peak flow that prior day. The creek had been paddled the previous late afternoon on the rise. The hole at the bottom of the quarter mile long slide was a badass river wide hole which was punched on the 'weaker' Left side. It was full on serious as are most flooding creeks. That slide is amazing with huge slosh factor and reactionary waves galore!!!!!!

1400 is minimum

we ran it at 2800 and it was very good level a solid class V run

At this level make sure to scout before-hand as there are many moves in the first rapid 'white mile' to memorize. Also without proper saftey you will want to put in below the first big hole due to the undercut sides that you are forced into if you do not make the line. Just below the first big hole is an opportunity to seal launch off the sides. This would be my recomendation for a put in. Below this u will pass under an old brigde but a nearly river wide hole forces you into the birdge abutment on the left. To avoid this hit the first big wave on the right side and skirt the hole (which is about 100ft below this) to the right just missing the abutment on the right. After quickly move center to avoid large reactionary waves coming off the lower abutments or even in our case that day, to avoid the abutments themselves. For the next 1/3 of a mile u will jsut have to make ur way down the middle avoiding what waves holes and reactionaries you may encounter. I cna say this, Even though this rapid is just one big slide it is still supprising how well u can maneuver around, but beware the water is much pushier than it appears to be and if you dont scout previously you will find yourself in a serious case of survival mode. Just as things begin to get good you will notice a long eddy on the right hand side of the river as the river begins to bend to the right. This is your signal to pay attention, as you probably noticed from scouting the rapid ends in a large 50ft wide keeper hole. the only pleace we saw to miss it was to huge the left shore but even still the area in which u could sneak the hole was only 5 ft wide so be on your line. All this empties this into a large pool at the bottom. One thing is for certain swimming on this rapid is not an option and if for some reason you do swim, move immediately to the left hand shore to avoid the bottom hole at all costs.