Youghiogheny Loops

Trip Start Aug 18, 2008
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Trip End Nov 27, 2008


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Where I stayed
Wilderness Voyageurs
(Ohiopyle hotels)

Flag of United States  , Pennsylvania,
Friday, October 3, 2008

We arrived at the campground early in the morning of the 30th September and set up camp in the dark. I set my hammock amongst the trees on the edge of the campground and was almost immediately surprised by the first train of the morning (about 4am) which was very long, very loud and honked it's horn before the crossing. This was a running theme throughout our time here - at first it felt like I was about to be run over as my hammock was only about 30ft from the tracks. I soon got used to it though.

The Youghiogheny (or Yough) river is a small, fun, rocky river which is very much like the rivers in the UK. We did the Loop section the first day, running Cucumber Rapid first. The second day we ran the Loop and then the Lower Yough. It was a very fun day and I think my kayaking skills have improved no end. I ran all the rapids (even the more technical Dimple Rapid) and didn't swim or even flip over at all.

Today I kayaked with Jordan Scott. We decided to run two Loops and we really raced through them. It was a great day as we were so far ahead of everyone else that we almost had the river to ourselves. I found myself taking the more challenging lines and didn't swim once - not even after I got surfed in the hole and ran half of Cucumber backwards. We also had time to climb up to the old railway bridge and look down at the river 50ft below.

The campground was lovely (except the trains) and I loved the river. There was a great paddle shop there and a pub. What more could we need? Onto the Gauley River at Hico now - we'll be staying with North American River Runners to do some rafting and kayaking on the Gauley and New Rivers.
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