Great trip yesterday led by Paul and Pat on the Upper Millers, and for some the Lower Millers. This was a joint trip for RICKA and PPCS (“Chowderheads” for short). We had four from RICKA (Paul, Pat, the new guy Ben and me) and three from PPCS (Kenny, Ryan and Brendan). All three of the “chowderheads” were paddling open boats, so the open boats outnumbered the kayaks on this trip 4 to 3. The water on Upper Millers is controlled by releases from the Birch Hill Dam. The river was cranking along at 1,650 cfs, just under 7 feet on the South Royalston gage – the highest I have run it.

There are three class III rapids. The first starts just below the put-in and continues down to the first railroad bridge – lots of big waves, just the way Paul likes it. The second is a little further downstream at Mile Long Rapid – a long class III rock garden. I don’t remember Mile Long being that difficult, so maybe it was a little washed out. The last is the Gorge that begins below the big waves at the lunch spot. I took a dump going over a pour-over at the top. I grabbed my boat, but after seeing what was downstream I decided to let it go and concentrate on getting myself to shore. From there, it was a long walk down a well-worn trail to the bottom of the rapid where Pat had corralled my boat. Great day just the same – thanks Paul and Pat.

Paul running the waves below the lunch spot



Pat running the waves below the lunch spot