Potomac

The Center Lines has changed in the Spring of 2018. the ideal flows are now different, its not being run low as was previously possible. There is less water in Grace Under Pressure, and while the drop is the same, the entrance and landing are different.

Here is a functional link to a story about the kayaker who swam into Subway in 2004 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62644-2004Oct25.html
(link on the main page is broken)

http://www.lovelylightstudio.com/

Photos from Potomacfest 2009 in Great Falls, Virginia

Thanks for your input. As the streamkeeper, I have to use my best judgment when listing river data. The solutions aren't always ideal, but I will try to explain my rationale with regard to gradient.

'Please explain how a 1 mile stretch of river can have average gradient of 100 fpm and maximum gradient of 500 fpm.'

The river drops 100 feet between the put-in and the take-out, which are 1 mile apart. So the average gradient is 100 fpm. However, the heart of the run drops 50 feet in 0.1 miles, for a maximum gradient of 500 fpm.

'Maximum gradient figures cited 'up top' should always be computed across a full mile, otherwise they are meaningless.'

Says who? There is no standard way to calculate gradient. Leland Davis calculates gradient mile by mile in NC Rivers & Creeks, but Stafford and McCutcheon use terms like '200 fpm,' '200 fpm action,' and '200 fpm crux' in The New Testament. Which is right?

Great Falls is a park and huck, so calculating gradient mile by mile would be meaningless. Nobody puts in above Great Falls unless they plan on running it. They're not there for the paddle in and the paddle out. The only section that counts is Great Falls itself, which is 500 fpm. I would put '500 fpm crux' if I could, but the AW page builder doesn't give me that option.

Furthermore, removing the 500 fpm maximum gradient from 'up top' could mislead people into thinking Great Falls is no steeper than the Upper Yough.

'If you wish to convey that some shorter portion has steeper gradient, you may express that within the text of the description...'

The description includes the following statement: 'The main Falls lines drop fifty feet in one-tenth of a mile.' The reason I include the maximum gradient up top is that nobody reads the description.

Please explain how a 1-mile stretch of river can have average gradient of 100 FPM and maximum gradient of 500 FPM. Maximum gradient figures cited 'up top' should always be computed across a full mile, otherwise they are meaningless. If you wish to convey that some shorter portion has steeper gradient, you may express that within the text of the description (as 'the river drops 50 feet in a quarter mile, for an effective gradient of 200 FPM') but that should NOT be in the 'Maximum Gradient' area.

I was out here the other day to run the Spout. The temperature was supposedly about 93 degrees, but, even though I arrived on Flake Island after sunset, the heat was very, very oppressive. Sitting down to rest did not help, as the rocks were super-heated by the sun to around 120 degrees. I was rapidly becoming seriously dehydrated and probably lost about 30 percent of my strength before putting in to run the rapid. This rapid should probably not be scouted during daylight in the summer. So watch out for the summer heat; I came close to having a heat stroke!!! Also, the water temperature is close to 100 degrees, too, so it provides close to zero cooling.

The Dogg runs the Pinky Finger during the '06 Great Falls Race. Photo courtesy of Martin Radigan (http://martinradigan.smugmug.com).

EJ running the Ledges during the 2006 Great Falls Race. Subway is in the foreground. Photo by Martin Radigan (http://martinradigan.smugmug.com).
This is a photo of Subway taken at low water. Most of the water goes underground.
www.ipphotography.com
www.ipphotography.com
Adam climbs up the Flake with the Pinky Finger and Angel Slot in the background.

www.ipphotography.com
www.ipphotography.com
Eric Brooks runs the Fingers while Adam Cramer watches on.

www.ipphotography.com