Popolopen Brook

Jared Seiler runs Hell Hole at 610 cfs.

Jared Seiler runs the dam at 610cfs. Possible first descent on 3/1/2013.

As per the ranger they are gonna put a gate up on the takeout facility. Also the ranger said the cops always stop by in the parking lot at 5:30 keep them beers hidden even after the ranger leaves for the day.

Wayne Gman at the finale 15' drop of Chutes and Ladders 5.2
Most opt out on the uppers section and get this sweet lead in and drop.

This is the final set of moves on Sorry.

There are some lead-in moves upstream from here with good eddies. And then the crux move through this chute. Immediately downstream out of view is another 5-foot ledge with a chunky hole, and then about 100 feet of class IV before the final sloping 10 footer.

This one is probably the trickiest of the rapids below Concentration. There is a tight move between two boulders at the top, followed by a couple of ledge holes.

Immediately below Concentration

Two laps, 5 descents of Hell Hole, 4 different lines on Hell Hole (all good), 1 scary swim, great day.

Two laps, 5 descents of Hell Hole, 4 different lines on Hell Hole (all good), 1 scary swim, great day.

Popolopen Gorge Trail to Close Fall '08
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Trail to Close for Six Months During
Water Main Replacement Project

Hkers planning outings in Bear Mountain State Park in the fall are advised that the Popolopen Gorge Trail, including the co-aligned trails (Timp Torne, 1777W & 1779) on the south side of the Popolopen Brook and along both sides of Queensboro Creek will be closed for approximately six months, likely beginning in October. The parks department will be replacing the water main between the water filtration plant at Queensboro Lake and the storage tank at Bear Mountain State Park. This water main supplies all of the Bear Mountain complex, the NYS Bridge Authority, and park residences at the bridge circle and in Fort Montgomery.

The main generally follows the route of the Popolopen Gorge Trail. There will be disturbance to the trail from the construction and the trail will be closed while the project is ongoing. The project plan includes restoration of the trail and extensive landscape plantings to replace trees and shrubs removed during construction. A start date for construction is not yet firm, but officials anticipate that the majority of the work will be completed between October 2008 and April 2009.

Because the start date is unknown, park officials suggest hike leaders planning to hike along these trails in the fall have an alternate hike plan in place as of October. Check for updates in advance of your hike at the Trail Conference website or call Bear Mountain State Park at 845-786-2701.

Alex Nicks in the second drop of Hungry Hungry
Hippos. The bad hole and sieve are just upstream.
Upstream view of Chutes and Ladders. This is the
bottom of the rapid (although the last big drop is not
visible). It is this steep for about another 50 yards
upstream.
Setting up for the final drop.
You can see most of the rapid in this shot. The near
vertical 15 footer that ends the drop and the lead in
moves are not pictured. The picture doesn't do
justice to the steepness and complexity of the rapid.
It is really quite impressive.

Alex in the middle of Concentration.

Lead in rapid to Hell Hole with dam in background.
Alex seal launching around Hell Hole.

This is the lead in to the vertical drop (not pictured)
in Chutes and Ladders. Putting in where the
paddler is standing in the upper right hand corner
cuts out the toughest part of Chutes and Ladders
and sets you up perfectly for the last drop - a nearly
vertical 15 footer into a pool. Sweet!

This is the crux move in the first third of Sorry!. After a
left side sneak, you thread the two boulders John is
approaching and then boof an angled ledge into an
eddy on the left.
After Concentration, you have back to back boofs
through narrow slots. This is the second.
Looking back upstream at the first series of moves in
Sorry!. The best line is on the left out of view.

Check out the full-sized version of this pic by clicking here.

Matt heard that some guys had run this a few weeks before, so we decided to check it out.
I'm glad I borrowed this Java instead of taking my Id!
This hole that I am dropping into was a little deeper than I expected, but luckily, the next hole (below the big drop just downstream) was flushy.

The slots above this drop were a little too log choked for my taste, so I dropped in here.