Big Coal River, Marsh Fork

This is a low water picture of 3 of 5 ledges known as the Stairsteps. I have a tree trunk gauge that I go by. The lowest I've paddled the Fairdale to Arnett section of the Marsh fork was a scrapy -2', the highest was a fast big water feeling 30'. This picture was low water, 1'.
I live about one mile from a tree trunk gauge I use to determine the level. From 0' to 20' this photo shows a low level of 1'.
On a tree trunk gauge ranging from 0' to 20' this photo shows a low level of 1'.
From 0' to 20' on a tree trunk gauge I use, this photo shows 1'. I call it Jail house because a big tree fell across the end of the rapid and branchs that resemble jail bars used to hang down into the water and you had to make it through the 'bars'. Most of them has broken off now and the tree is about 7 to 8 feet above the water.
From 0' to 20' on the tree trunk gauge I use, this photo shows a low level of 1'.
The tree crossing the river used to have branches hanging down into the water that resembled jail bars, you had to make it through the 'bars' then punch a hole. The tree trunk gauge I go by, from 0' to 20', this was a low level of 1'.
This rapid is pretty tame at lower levels, but at higher levels the water flows more into the undercut. I always get out on river right and look to make sure a strainer hasn't been lodged across the bottom (you can't tell from your boat). There was a strainer there for a while but it's been clear for a few years now. From 0' to 20' on a tree trunk gauge that I go by, this photo shows a low level of 1'.
I call this Rock wall #2 because just up stream there is a simular rapid that is a bit tamer. At higher levels the current slams into the 'rock wall' at the bottom right side of the rapid. I portaged it on river right one day, (there is a small clearing that makes it an easy portage), it was the highest I've ever run this section of the Marsh fork, the big rock on river left was sending a huge curler wave directly into the 'rock wall', I wasn't sure if I could punch through it. I have a tree trunk gauge that I go by that ranges from 0' to 20', this photo shows a low level of 1'.