The Weverton Cliffs Attainment Playground: Surveying the Potomac River’s “Weverton Rapids” Ledge System Knoxville Falls with @PotomacPassageOolikhanna, at 3.67ft./10,600cfs: Mid Level & Prime Surf, With All The Hallmark Makings for The Knoxville Falls Attainer’s Challenge
The primary purpose of this trip was to survey & scout the attainment lines & surfing features of the entire length of the three ledges to plan out attaining routes for the warm water season. The secondary purpose was to compare Knoxville Falls at 3ft. to the previous trips (and videos) at 4ft. and 5ft. This was the first time using the Werner Ovation paddle. The Prijon T-Slalom rocked in stability & required more skill & made for more feel than the Pyranha 9R.
Looking to attain, creek, micro-creek, or river run around Harpers Ferry, or join up for local and/or regional kayaking trips, kayak races, or making kayaking movies/photography? If so, please reach out and come in join in on the fun good times!
Peacefully tucked away in-between the havoc of the tuber invasion, overcrowded Weverton parking & polluted party pad shoreline, and the Grand Central Station atmosphere of the Brunswick Pool & Boat Ramp are the quiet & lesser traversed Weverton Rapids AKA Weverton Ledges, consisting of three ledges: Weverton Rapids AKA Short Hill Ledge, Old Mill Rapids AKA The File Factory, and Knoxville Falls (including Momma & Papa Bear) AKA Pain’s Falls. Near Lock 31 are the remains of the Weverton Gates Ruins & the Old Marble Cutting Mill. Each of the three river wide ledges (the second portion of the Potomac Water Gap) offer multiple line options. Featured in this trip, the VA side of Knoxville Falls offers the second most action packed option, with the center line offering the steepest gradient and fastest ride, being prime at 5ft. and higher, where as the left line (MD side) surf & primary features of the first two ledges were at a prime level for surfing & challenging attaining. The MD side is much tamer, and home to the best and widest surf wave of the three ledges. The center line strongly resembled the entrance of 100 Yard Dash & the Chutes of Mather Gorge. At 5ft. the the center line becomes a class III plunge into a long wave train, making for a true rollercoaster ride, to the likes of Bull’s Tail and tail of White Horse at 5ft.+.
Featured Scenes:
– Opener 00:00
– Weverton Rapids AKA Short Hill Ledge & Weverton Cliffs 1:08
– Weverton Gates Ruins & Old Mills Rapids AKA The File Factory 6:40
– Knoxville Falls I (center line entrance) 13:09
– Knoxville Falls II (right line) 13:56
– Attainment Surveying I 14:20
– Knoxville Falls III (right line) 20:47
– Knoxville Falls IV (bottom of center line) 24:33
– Skelton Island 27:42
– Attainment Surveying II 28:38
– Knoxville Falls III (left line) 31:57
– Downriver Talk 33:51
– Mapping, History & Hydrographs 34:52
Trip Details:
Date: March 24, 2024
Class: I-II
Level/Stage (flow rate):
– Potomac River: 3.67ft./10,600cfs (Point of Rocks)
– Shenandoah River: 3.52ft./2,890cfs (Millville)
Water Temperature: 49°F
Elevation: 220ft.
Stream Gauges:
– USGS 01638500 POTOMAC RIVER AT POINT OF ROCKS, MD
– USGS 01636500 SHENANDOAH RIVER AT MILLVILLE, WV
* The NOAA Harpers Ferry Gauge, which is the most accurate gauge for The Needles, was offline & has been offline ever since it was destroyed from severe damage from the CSX train derailment at Harpers, Ferry, WV on 12/21/2019. The combined readings of both the Harpers Ferry & Millville stream gauges provides the most accurate measurements of the true flow rate for all of the rapids from The Confluence to the U.S. Route 340 Sandy Hook Bridge.
* The Point of Rocks gauge is used is approximate the flow rate for the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry, WV.
Location: Weverton, Maryland
– Potomac Water Gap
– Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park
– C&O Canal Lock 31 (mile marker 58.0)
– Blue Ridge Mountains/Appalachian Mountain Range
– Appalachian Trail
– South Mountain
– Short Hill Mountain
– Weverton Cliffs
– Weverton Gates Ruins
– Middle Potomac River Water Trail (Dargan Bend to Brunswick)
Put-In: Sandy Hook Potomac River Access
– shoreline underneath the U.S. Route 340 Sandy Hook Bridge
– 18954 Sandy Hook Rd, Knoxville, MD 21758
– 39°19’31.5″N 77°42’24.7″W / 39.32541, -77.70689
Tale Out: Brunswick Boat Ramp (Brunswick Bridge, MD 17)
– 100 S Maple Ave, Brunswick, MD 21716
– 39°18’39.2″N 77°37’50.3″W / 39.31088, -77.63063
Featured Kayaks:
– Dagger Green Boat
– Prijon T-Slalom
– Lithology: Conglomerate, Quartzite, Slate
– Geologic Age:
– Cambrian (542 Ma – 487.3 Ma ago)
– Precambrian Proterozoic – Cambrian (2500 Ma – 487.3 Ma ago)
“He Said To Me: “It Is Done. I Am The Alpha And The Omega, The Beginning And The End. To The Thirsty I Will Give Water Without Cost From The Spring Of The Water Of Life. Those Who Are Victorious Will Inherit All This And I Will Be Their God And They Will Be My Children.” – Revelation 21:6-7