Let's Have FUN!!!!

I don’t want to scare you, just be prepared. If you Google ‘Zoar’, it’s nothing like the white water rafting adventures you’ll find. That takes place further up the river starting at the damn.

This video is more like what we’ll experience most of the time. The rapids are worse but I don’t think August will be that bad. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dfciZidVSM

It is not going to be like this . . . A couple miles up the river . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZKMOtaWOGU&playnext=1&list=PLCEA377C6EEA1A1F1

Fun Facts

• Deerfield River runs for 76 miles from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River.

• The Deerfield is one of the most heavily used rivers in the country with, on average, a dam every 7 miles (11 km) or so for its entire length.

• In Shelburne Falls, the glacial potholes and the Bridge of Flowers are popular tourist attractions around the river.

• The spooky Hoosac Tunnel is right near our launch point. Yes! It is part of our weekend plans! http://www.hoosactunnel.net/

·        The last dam built on the Deerfield was Fife Brook Dam, which was built in the early 1970s in conjunction with the development of the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage facility. This facility acts as a battery for power generated during times of low demand. By using excess electricity to pump water to the top of the mountain, where a reservoir was created by building levees around an existing high swamp, energy is stored. When electrical demand is higher (usually midday or afternoon/evening) the water from the upper reservoir can be released through the turbines (which act as pumps in reverse) to meet demand.

·        The third commercial nuclear reactor in the United States was built in the town of Rowe, Massachusetts on the banks of the Deerfield River by Sherman Reservoir. Known as "Yankee Rowe" it generated electricity for New England from 1960 to 1992.

·        Historic Bardwell's Ferry Bridge over the Deerfield River. The Bardwell's Ferry Bridge is a 198-foot (60 m) long pin-connected through truss, built in 1882 and spans the Deerfield River between the towns of Shelburne and Conway in Franklin County. It is the longest single span lenticular bridge in Massachusetts. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

·        The Deerfield has several key places for whitewater kayaking, canoeing, tubing, swimming, camping, and jumping off the cliffs (that scale upwards to about forty feet) that surround it. A spot by the Stillwater Bridge in Deerfield is a popular swimming area, where jumping off the aforementioned cliffs is condoned but not advised. There are two sections of the river for whitewater paddling: the Fife Brook section for class II and III paddlers, and the "Dryway" for class IV paddlers.

·        In addition, there are several tributaries of the Deerfield River that provide excellent whitewater creek runs, including the class IV-V West Branch of the Deerfield in Readsboro, Vermont, the class V Dunbar Brook in Monroe, Massachusetts, the class V Pelham Brook in Rowe, Massachusetts, the class IV Cold River in Florida and Charlemont, Massachusetts, and the class III Chickley River in Hawley, Massachusetts.

·        This is also an excellent trout fishery, great for fly fishing. Two sections between the Fife Brook dam and the Route 2 bridge are catch and release.

What time should we go?

Something I didn’t know is that this section of the Deerfield River is dam controlled. We’ll plan on entering the water at approximately 1:00 for the best flow.

We set out too early on our run and killed our feet. We were, eerily, all by ourselves for a long stretch. When the water raised (at least a foot) we were suddenly surrounded by tons of happy River Rats!

Another Rule: YOU SHOULD BE OFF THE RIVER OR BEYOND THE MOHAWK PARK NO LATER THAN 4:30 P.M.

FYI . . .

WATER SHOES or old sneakers are a MUST! You need something on your feet that can’t fall off. I don’t know what I was thinking but bare feet are not optional!

This might be a bummer for some but I totally agree - DRINKING ALCOHOLIC beverages while on the river is prohibited.

What kind of tube should you have? I was brought up with old-school black inner tire tubes. NOT a good idea for this run. I (literally) have 3 huge bruises on my butt from unexpected rocks! I saw some crazy expensive looking tubes and took mental notes on practicality. You need something under your butt whether it’s a bottom, like an inflatable snow tube or netting. Rocks get stuck between you and your inner tube and it’s really hard to ‘unhook’ when the force is pulling you. And I found myself constantly saying “Butts Up!”

I was like a pencil going down the river in fear for my poor, battered bottom! And my leg muscles kill from the constant pulling. Not relaxing at all. Tubes can be rented for $10 or purchased for $25 and up nearby.

Sunscreen: I have thick skin. I usually tan well but my legs got fried!! Don’t let a sun burn ruin your weekend. And seriously – don’t think you’re not in this category like I did. I had plenty of sunscreen on the boys and had them wear t-shirts because of ‘tube friction’ on the back & arms. They were good but I was cooked!

Cameras and phones: Everyone that knows me knows that I am a Picture Freak! Because my camera is so big, I was determined to take my smart phone to take pictures with. Again – Thank you Dad for insisting I didn’t! Even though I had it in a bag IN a bag and was going to duct tape it on my tube! I’m going to get a disposable, water resistant camera for our trip.

Another bummer for us ladies: No cell phone service at all in those parts! We do have good reception in the campground though. No worries.

Age Limit

First of all, I went by myself with 3 kids 10 & 13 years old. Big mistake! Mitchell said he will NEVER go again! It took Mitchell’s friend 15 minutes to learn how to even get on the tube and float but he did great and enjoyed himself! Cameron (13) LOVED IT!! He can’t wait to go again even though he flipped and almost lost his tube & glasses in some pretty heavy rapids. When Mitchell had an anxiety attack (seriously!) I knew I couldn’t let go of him again and we all held hands for the rest of our journey. At one point we got stuck going in different directions around a big rock. Cameron screamed that I was going to break his arm if I didn’t let him go. I had to but he had fun going through them after I released him.

Angelina (7) was begging me to go. I almost caved but my Dad said “No Way!” Good thing she didn’t! My Dad grew up camping and fishing the river. He knows it! By the way, he will be the only guy with us that weekend as our tour guide and tent setter-upper. LOL. Back to Angie wanting to go: I wouldn’t suggest anyone under 10 tube with us. A little girl, about Angie’s age, was on her dad’s lap in a big tube and she cried the whole way! I felt so bad for her. And him! A rule of the river really is: LIFE JACKETS are advised for all. CHILDREN under 12 and 100 lbs must wear them.

Girl’s Weekend on the Mohawk Trail ~ Deerfield River/Zoar Tubing Expedition ~ August 2011

Now that I tubed the Deerfield River, I would like to make some suggestions for our Girls Weekend. This river is definitely not what I’m used to. I grew up on the West River in VT. And let me tell you – the West River is a walk-in-the-park compared to Zoar! The trip I’m planning for us is 3.7 miles and 2 hours long.