Concord

840 cfs R2

The take-out just below Middlesex Dam is on Davidson St, behind 77 E. Merrimack St.

Went left at Massic Falls on my Coleman toy raft because river right has a massive tree blocking the whole main channel. Got sucked under a log at the re-entry point, had to dismount and retrieve my raft from the suction. Putting back in at the confluence caused my raft to hit the Meaty Hole sideways because I couldn't get straight quickly enough. Got swamped, flipped, swam, lost paddle, hurt my shin on a rock, bled a lot, swam the falls. This hole is deeper at low flows than high. A couple weeks ago I ran it at 786 cfs and it wasn't nearly as evil, bounced right through it. Watch out at lower flows, not as pushy, but much deeper and stickier.

If you see a black paddle with a black duct tape handle. That was mine.

Summertime run on the Concord @ 1600cfs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOQrqgUJ0pI

March 29, 2008. The strainer is cleared now. You can pass both sides of the island clearly.

At the very top of Straight Shot rapid lies a very meaty surfing hole in the right channel.
There is a sweet river-wide surfing wave in the left channel just above Straight Shot.
There is a meaty wave at the end of the island at the beginning of Straight Shot.
Below Middlesex Dam are 19'th Century Locks used to raise boats into the canals.
At the very top of Straight Shot is a very meaty surfing hole.

On the Merrimack River at the takeout for the Concord River are a series of river-wide ledges with some great surfing waves.
Go over the dam at the center of a V-bend where a rooster tail wave help keep your hull off the rocks.
In the approach to Twister Sister most boaters catch an eddy on river-left along a concrete wall. Directly above this eddy is a steap surfing wave. Plan to catch it on the way down because it's not always reachable from the eddy.
The hydro plant, built in the 1980's takes advantage of the older 19'th century canal system of Lowell.

At the bottom of Straight Shot there are several huge river-wide waves.

It was great fun riding the big first wave, and a riot punching through the gnar gnar of the second.
Could not get enought of this roller coaster ride!!

Barry catches a rock on the approach and swims down the center route; a very bumpy swim.

Joe Fiala entering the top of the right edge of Middlesex Dam rapid. This is a perfect run, paddling hard towards the right edge of the drop to skirt the big rock and catch the eddy.

Summertime run on the Concord @ 1600cfs.

This low water run of Twisted Sister shows the rapid features. An 'S-turn' run is required to avoid the very sharp rocks.
Entry for Straight Shot rapid, just paddle down the center, aim to hit the
big waves head-on.
Running the traditional 'right edge' route. Start on river left in a shore eddy above the rapid, peel-out and cross the rapid, aiming for the edge of the dam building up as much speed as possible. Don't stop paddling even though you think you'll hit the dam (you won't) in order to avoid the rock at the drop bottom (just to the left of Tom's stern). At higher levels there is a hole at the bottom that almost jerks you to a stop, so be ready to brace.

Frank showing find form dropping down the right edge of Middlesex Dam. Start on river-left just above the rapid, cut across the rapid to the right paddling hard directly towards the dam. Don't stop paddling even though you think you're going to hit the dam, the fast current will quickly pull you by it and down a lighting quick 6' abrupt drop.