Kayaking The Upper Needles Section of the Potomac River at Summer's Low Flow: Drop-In to Lunch Rock

How Low Will The Flow Go? - Kayaking The Upper Needles Section of the Potomac River At Summer's Low Flow, Featuring: Drop-In, Vietnam/Cambodia Ledge Drop, Funnelation, Lunch Rock, and A Good Time of River Talking With A River Riders Raft Guide with ‪@PotomacPassageOolikhanna‬ (Race Director of the North Branch Blast Downriver Race) & ‪@chancerhodes5123‬

No matter the level or the scrappiness, the flow is never too low to not be overtaken by the shear beauty and the nourishment to the soul that the mighty Potomac River gives, especially throughout Harpers Ferry, WV/Sandy Hook, MD to Weverton Ledges/Cliffs. All of the features that shape and determine the lines and hydrology of the rapids at higher levels were in full display. The taking it all in feeling was enhanced from putting on after the conclusion of the tubing traffic and the the day was a pure one, with the sky absent of spraying, keeping the air as it is meant to be breathed and the sun as it is meant to be seen. It all starts with dropping into the action after Dam No. 3 (the first rapid of "The Needles") with Drop-In, the second rapid, which offers great surf and play from the ultra low flow, with presents more features for rock moves and spins, to about four meet, where the drop washes out. The majority of the primary surf spots were out of play at Lunch Rock, but it made for a great display of seeing the rocks and rock ledge that create the three primary surf waves/holes. Double Drop - the two drops at "Funnelation," of Vietnam/Cambodia Ledge Drop was about half foot too low to have enough float to lock into some fun surf, especially at the first drop, which is a favorite, akin to and on par with S-Turn on the "The Needles" Lower Section.

Please comment if you:
are looking for a crew to join up with
would like to join up for kayaking or whitewater rafting trips/festivals
are interested in attaining in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
are in search of or have kayaked rare running microcreeks, such as those of Harpers Ferry, WV (e.g. Piney Run AKA "Crazy Creek" and Stikey's Creek)
compete in whitewater kayak racing & would like to join up
would like to team up for whitewater photography and movie making projects

Details:
Date: June 22, 2024
Class: I-II
Level/Stage (flow rate):
Potomac River: 1.22ft./2,260cfs (Point of Rocks)
Shenandoah River: 1.60ft./617cfs (Millville)
Water Temperature: Potomac River: 91°F
Location: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
"The Needles" Section of the Potomac River
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park:
C&O Canal: Lock 35 (mile marker 62.3)
C&O Canal: Lock 34 (mile marker 61:5)
Blue Ridge Mountains/Appalachian Mountain Range
Maryland Heights
Potomac Water Gap
Featured Kayaks:
Dagger Green Boat
Prijon T-Slalom ‪‪@PotomacPassageOolikhanna‬
Stream Gauges:
USGS 01638500 POTOMAC RIVER AT POINT OF ROCKS, MD
USGS 01636500 SHENANDOAH RIVER AT MILLVILLE, WV
The NOAA Harpers Ferry Stream Gauge, which is the most accurate gauge for The Needles, was offline & has been offline ever since it was destroyed from the severe damage to the Winchester & Potomac Railroad Bridge & the Goodloe Byron Memorial Pedestrian Walkway from the CSX train derailment at Harpers, Ferry, WV on 12/21/2019. The combined readings of both the Harpers Ferry & Millville stream gauges provides the most accurate measurements of the true flow rate for all of the rapids from The Confluence to the U.S. Route 340 Sandy Hook Bridge.
The Point of Rocks gauge is used is approximate the flow rate for the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry, WV due to the following statement from the NOAA Harpers Ferry Stream Gauge " This gauge ["Potomac River at Harpers Ferry"] does not provide readings below 3.1 feet. To determine an estimation of values at low water, view the Point of Rocks gauge. At low water, values at Harpers Ferry are generally within a quarter foot - usually slightly higher - of those at Point of Rocks. Streamflow is typically a few hundred cfs lower at Harpers Ferry than Point of Rocks at low water."

Resources:
American Whitewater: " Potomac 0.7 Dargans Bend Boat Ramp to Potoma Wayside, VA or Weverton, MD ("Potomac Needles")" - https://www.americanwhitewater.org/co...
Potomac River Guide: "Water Recreation in the Harpers Ferry Area" - https://www.riverexplorer.com/details...
Featured Scenes:
Introduction 00:00
Drop-In 0:50
On The Way To The Ledge Drop 2:33
Vietnam/Cambodia Ledge Drop 6:39
Funnelation AKA Double Drop 8:11
Lunch Rock 8:47
River Talk with River Riders Raft Guide
Hydrographs & Map 12:20

"For I Will Pour Out Water On The Thirsty Land And Streams On The Dry Ground; I Will Pour Out My Spirit on Your Offspring; And My Blessing On Your Descendants. They Will Spring Up Like Grass In A Meadow, Like Poplar Trees By Flowing Streams." - Isaiah 44: 3-4