After all the debate about Suncook, we didn’t end up going there. Paul, Tom, Andy and I ran the Lower Ashuelot in southwestern NH (Ashuelot to Tinsdale). Its listed in American Whitewater as a class III/IV, but it was running low which made it a bit easier.
We arrived the put in at the covered bridge in Ashuelot around 9:30 and ran the shuttle. The river is divided into three sections each divided by a dam. The first was an easy class II. The second was a little more difficult, but still class II at yesterday’s level. The third section was far the most difficult - to me, a tough class III at yesterday’s level.
I receive the Swim Award with 2 swims on the lower section. The first was relatively close to shore, and I was able to self-rescue quickly. The second was in the middle of the river at the top of a long, rocky rapid. I finally made it out about halfway down, but my boat didn’t feel like stopping and ran the entire rapid. Fortunately, Tom grabbed it just before it was about to enter the next rapid, or I would have had a long walk back to the car.
In spite of the swims, it was a good time on a fun river. I think I’d like to try it again with a little more water. The waves and holes in the Papermill Rapid would be huge, but there would be less rock dodging below that. I didn’t take any pictures in the lower section – I was too busy trying to stay upright – but there are a few pictures and a couple of videos from the class II section here.