Difficult Creek

I drove by here on March 20, 2007, and the creek looked runnable at a minimum level, although I didn't try it, due to the shuttle situtation (I didn't look for a gauge). However, the Savage River gauge at Barton was 2.7/400 and rising (up to @2.8), so that might provide some rough correlation. The road over at Laurel Run was thoroughly iced, so bring your crampons if you want to take out there in winter. Also, the Blackwater at Davis was 5.3/1100, the Stony at Mt. Storm was 4.4/475 cfs, and Kitzmiller was 5.8/@2500. Also, there was a lot of snow, presumably melting, on this north-flowing rivulet.

Take out is easiest via Wallman Road. On the MAryland side of the river

Yep its been run we ran it a few years back - here is the write up:

Difficult Run (WV) - Tributary of the North Branch of the Potomac River

Difficult Run in WV

4 miles of 170 ft per mile most of the gradient found in the last mile

7-10 significant rapids

Rating: IV+ due to wood and the last 1.3 miles of the stream

Runnable Levels: if the bridge base is underwater or if the spray painted gauge is over 2.5 feet

Major Rapids

The first 2.5 miles or so consist of steady gradient with no drops of over 2 feet but potential for wood is high as the stream is as narrow as five feet in a couple places. Most of the problems stem from gravel bars with rocks of 2-4 feet in size the most significant drop in the upper section is the 100 feet of sliding drops above the Rt. 50 bridge.

The 2.5 -3 mile section is steeper with on significant 5 foot boof (IV+), and rock pile rapids similar in type to those found on the easier sections of Fike's Creek(III-IV). The final miles has cut into more stable bed rock and has about half a dozen slide drops with more opportunity for wood and changes caused by mud slides from the eroding banks. There is a 2 drop rapid of note which includes a slide like entrance into a 6 ft drop with a piton rock ledge 12 feet past the drop, a 25 ft pool and then a sliding 10ft vertical drop with no landing pool and several interesting lines. The slide type drops continue below this until you hit the N. Branch of the Potomac about 2 miles above the confluence with the Stoney River