Meadow (Gauley River trib.)

Access points:
-------------------------
Rt 41 Put-in:
N38.12482 W80.88574

Miracle Mile Take-out:
N38.13738 W80.88533

Rt 19 Take-out:
N38.15344 W80.92337

Hope this helps.

4/26/06 For years, I would look upstream from the lower meadow, or downstream from the upper meadow, and think that that is a section of river that I will never do. But let me tell you, this is a great section of river! It is very beautiful, with numerous large boulders, 50 feet high and up to 100 feet long, vertical and overhanging on all sides, one of which broke and has a 50-foot-high, symmetrical, V-shaped crack; many of these boulders are moss-and-tree covered, making this perhaps the most beautiful section of river in WV (top 4, at least). HOWEVER, while admiring the beauty of these gorgeous boulders, don't get sucked underneath them, because they are all table rocks, with plenty of space underneath to trap errant paddlers and boats!! I just ran it at an estimated 1200 cfs, and I'd give it a Class 5- rating above perhaps 900 cfs, but that's just a guess. There were numerous narrow lines between blind, keeper ledge holes and pushy currents slamming into undercut table rocks, occasionally cluttered with boulders. Reading the river safely and accurately took pretty much all of the skill that I could muster, because it is often quite subtle. This section seems to have more undercuts than even the dreaded lower meadow, excepting the big Class 5's on that section, and that's saying something!

Also, I found that the Class 6-ish rapid discussed below is actually the third rapid in the miracle mile, although I guess it depends on how one defines 'major.' Anyway, stay alert there; I snuck it on the right, past several disconcerting sieves; at that level, there was no way that I was going to try to scout the left side, and I didn't see anything over there from the bottom that I liked, anyway! A portage would be more prudent.

I scouted twice in the miracle mile, and twice in the section downstream of the last road, after putting on a mile below Nallen. The first and third scouts were difficult, but worth it. The second and fourth were easy, and worth it.

Don't go expecting beautiful, high sandstone cliffs; there is only one that I saw, toward the end, on the right. But this is still much, much better than the flat water paddle that I was for many years led to believe that this was. It may well be fun Class 3-4 at lower levels, but approach with caution, because at 1200 cfs (well below the 'maximum' of 2000), I felt fully engaged, and I've got quite a few Class 5's behind me, so I want to caution any Class 3 boaters from jumping on this with too much water.

It is steep enough and fast enough that I never took a paddle stroke downstream---only for control. It is as good as the upper meadow, which is the quintessential fun, Class 4 river at high water, but the upper is much safer than the middle, so you should be solid on the upper or its equivalent before coming here. But definitely put this on your list!

While boating the middle meadow today we had a near terminal pin. In the second main drop of the Miracle Mile you will see a river right, house sized boulder, with numerous trees growning on top (there is a yellow knotted rope on the backside that people climb up from). The rapid consits of a eight foot wide shoot, between a left center boulder and a center right slanting rock, that the majority of the current flows through. A green tongue drops over a 3' ledge and into a moderate foam pile with outflow moving easily down stream. At the level today, 800 cfs, there is no indication of any obstruction in this drop; definitive boil line, roostertail, etc.

When running the chute I went deep into the hole and my bow hit an obstruction and put me into a side surf with the tongue of water pouring on my side. I flipped upstream and was pushed upstream into a depression under the drop. All I could feel was rock to my upstream side and head/back. My paddle lodged between the depression and the downstream rock. I hand rolled up, surfed a bit with my downstream side bashing into the obstruction, flipped again, rolled, flipped, then I pulled the cord. Exiting the boat the cockpit was facing downstream and temporarily trapped one leg between it and the obstruction. Not good for anybody. I swam free but the boat pushed under water and pinned.

Examining the drop as the water level went down throughout the day, the main drop is formed by a three foot ledge that contains an upstream cave. About a foot under water, four feet downstream is an undercut rock, facing upstream, sitting perpindicular to the flow. I believe the shape allows it to act as a sieve. I have never heard of this hazard's presence before and has not been an issue at higher water. Be wary running this chute at levels less than 1000cfs...I feel very lucky to have exited this spot alive.

UPDATE - 3-27-04

Boat and paddle recovered...pics above.

Terminal undercut in river center right channel...not visible and dangerous between 800-1000 cfs.
Extrication mid pull
Attaching the rope to the pinned boat.

Got my paddle out too....it's busted!

This is the last rapid before the Wilderness PSD water plant and just before the river turns away from Route 41.