Delaware Water Gap Trip - 07-26-2014 to 07-27-2014

I drew on my wife's Girl Scouting from her childhood to get her interested in kayak camping with me.  She was game to do an overnight trip through part of the Delaware Water Gap so I set a plan in motion.

My plan was to start at the Eshback access in Lehman Township, PA and go through the water gap with pickup up Kittatinny National Park Access just off of I-80.  Our daughters provided the drop off and pickup.

Here is the trip.

Kayak Camping in the Delaware Water Gap with my wife (July 2014)

South Branch - 06/14/2014

It rained like crazy last week with flood warnings after the downpours on Friday the 13th.  The USGS gage at Stanton Station was at over 5.5 ft Friday night.  I did a quick check Saturday morning around  9 am and it was still at 4.5 ft.  This was the highest that I had opportunity to try the river.  I quickly loaded up kayak, paddle, PFD, 2 water bottles, and my waterproof mobile protector.  My middle daughter road with me for the 15 minute drive up to my drop off point on River Rd.

I didn't waste any time getting the boat in the water.  It was 10:20 when I pushed off.  The water was very fast.  There was dull roar from the water going over the low head dams at the water plant.  I didn't have any concerns about hitting bottom and just took off.

Overall the trip was really great.  This is the first time that I have done this trip where I didn't hit bottom in any meaningful way.  I could just follow the current the whole way without constantly search for the deepest channel.  I could tell that I was really moving quickly, particularly since I was in an 8 ft rec boat (Emotion Comet).  There were lots of riffles, but no real white water.  I didn't see anyone on the river until just after going under the route 31 bridge.

After going under the route 523 bridge, I went through the partially wash out dam at Darts Mill.  It had nice drop and I had bit of wash over the front of the boat.  I continued on to the next washed out dam roughly mile further.  This is where I took on a lot of water last trip.  I though it would be smoother this time due to higher water, but this was not the case.  There was a large drop where I hit a rock just before a small wave that had significant wash over the boat.  I had roughly 2 inches of water in the boat.  Unfortunately I didn't take a pump or sponge, so I just let it go as I was only 3/4 a mile from my take out.  The weather was warm so it was no big deal.

I reached my take out at intersection of Case Blvd, Pennsylvania Ave, and River Rd at noon.  It drained the boat and waited for Jill to pick me up.  The 9 mile trip only took me 1 hr and 40 minutes which is at least 40 minutes faster than my normal time.  I'm going to continue to watch the gage at Stanton Station (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?01397000) for water of 4.5 ft or higher as this was absolutely the best trip that I have had on the South Branch of the Raritan.  Clear paddling!

Scott  

First Trip of 2014 - South Branch of the Raritan River (05-26-2014)

Things have been crazy busy recently, but I did get out for short trip on South Branch of Raritan river this afternoon.  I was encouraged after looking at Facebook posting of Karl Fritz kayaking Appoquinimink Wildlife Area off of Delaware River basin.  I decided that I had to get out for a break.  This was my first trip of the year and it is almost June.

The conditions were perfect.

• Stanton Station USGS: 3.3 Feet.  This is really where it needs to be both from depth and water speed.  I've done this river at 2.7 ft and this is just too shallow unless you enjoy dragging a boat.
• 85 Degree temperature with low humidity.  Just enough to have minor sweat, but not get drenched.

I took my 8 ft Emotion Comet kayaks as they are prefect for this small river.  Also, as I have mentioned before, they fit into the back of the mini Van, so it is really easy to use them.  Interesting that I didn't see a lot of wild life on this trip, but nether less, it was refreshing to get away.  There were numerous other people on the river who were mostly fishing.  I was careful for changes in the river as this was my first trip.  There was one new tree that had recently fallen into the river just south of the Rt 31 bridge.  It didn't block the river.  Also, the large tree that blocked the left branch around Packers Island was washed clear of the channel so it is now passable. 

The put in was River Rd off of route 31 just above Camp Carr.  The take out was River Rd and Case Blvd intersection in Flemington.  Trip is roughly 12 miles which took me 2.5 hours.