Elkhorn City may beat out Bardstown on the chance at having the first Kentucky whitewater park.

From Boatertalk

We (the Elkhorn City Heritage Council) were notified yesterday that we'd won a grant to develop a feasibility study to create several streambed play features in the downtown Elkhorn City area.

As many of you might know, the Russell runs right through the middle of Elkhorn City, with a decent bit of gradient. There are several spots we've looked at over the years that, with minimal 'help', could become sweet play spots. Now we've got a few dollars (ok, more than a few) to pay the professionals who do this kind of thing.

Our mantra for this project is 'minimalism is best'. We're hoping to create features that come in when the river is down to its normal low summer flows (around 200cfs), but remain in as the river gets up to fall release flows (800+). We are absolutely NOT trying to divert the streambed, alter the normal flows, etc, etc. If we can't do it in the existing streambed with minimal work, we're not doing anything. Also, this work is NOT be tied to the efforts to get low water releases on the Fork in summer. What we have in mind wouldn't rely on any supplement to the natural flow.

Our goal, of course, is to broaden the appeal of whitewater on the RF and get more folks into downtown E.C. Our models are the several Colorado locations which have created these types of 'whitewater parks' in existing streambeds.

BTW, a major component of the grant is a local education campaign to try to wean everyone from the county judge to the local dog-catcher from referring to all whitewater activities as 'raftin'. While we got nothing against raftin, that's certainly not what the vast majority of paddlers are doing here. We'll also be heading into the local schools pushing the youth to get interested. The Council will be purchasing a creek boat and boating gear (paddle, helmet, pfd) for these public presentations, along with some whitewater videos featuring the Fork. We're always open to interested sponsors.

The Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council is a registered 501c3 non-profit corporation.

Tags: Whitewater Park | Russell Fork

Video by: Josh Carpenter

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It was an epic trip for the Bardstown Boaters at the Russell Fork this weekend in October. Many Bardstown paddlers came together in Elkhorn City, Kentucky for the Russell Fork Rendezvous and a Saturday run on the upper section. The trip was held as a bachelor party for Spalding Hurst, so it was quite a mixture of folks who came out to paddle, some for the first time in while.

Johnny Mathews led a group in the raft. Tommie Hurst, David Etheridge, Ryan Hamilton & Toby Thompson topped off that crew.

Bill Thomas & Stan Hurst styled it in the clubs 2-man duckie. I think they both have more whitewater runs in their future.

Zach Nelson & John Thomas both paddled duckies as well. John was in some wily, crazy, little duck that wanted to stern squirt and flip all over the place, but he kept it control most of the time. Zach is now a inflatable kayak zen master.

Spalding Hurst and Josh Carpenter kayaked as probes, finding lines and setting up camera for the rest of the crew while Jay Thomas and Ben Ballard led the group in their creek boats.
Michael Greenwell, Jeremy Martin & Patrick Jefferies joined up for the festivies back at camp that night.

The weather could not have been any better for this weekend. The bigger release on the Pound and the sunshine made for a perfect day of whitewater at a Kentucky whitewater jewel. The Bardstown Boaters can't wait for the next member to get hitched so they can celebrate again!

Did you hear that Zach?


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800cfs

Spalding Hurst was back at the Russell Fork on Saturday with the Viking Canoe Club for a another run on the upper section. There were about 20 people in the group. It was colder in the morning but it did warm up to high 60's by the afternoon.

It was a another great run down a Kentucky/Virginia classic. The Bardstown Boaters will be heading back to the Russell Fork in 2 weeks for the last release weekend and the Russell Fork Rendezvous. Be sure to join them for that one.

Pictures of the Trip • Video from the Trip

Tags: Russell Fork

Tags: Russell Fork

Spalding Hurst, Jay Thomas and Ben Ballard drove to Elkhorn City, Kentucky on Saturday to run the first release of the season on the Russell Fork River. The group put on at the Flanagan Dam on the Pound River, then connected up with the Russell Fork running the upper class II-III section. Some of the highlights of the run are 20 Stiches and Bartlick Bridge.

The group put on the river at 12:30pm, the run took about 3 1/2 hours. The group headed for home after the run and did not stay for the Sunday release.

Posted here are some pictures from the trip.

• Google Pictures • Russell Fork Info

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A group of us from the club will be going to the Russell Fork in Elkhorn City, KY on October 12th - 14th. The Russell Fork releases every Saturday and Sunday in October. It runs through the Breaks Interstate Park and consists of a variety of different runs ranging from class II-III to the huge class V whitewater of the Russell Fork Gorge. We'll be running the Pound Section and Upper Russell Fork. Some may also be interested in the Lower Russell Fork.

This is a trip for anyone. There is plenty of great whitewater, great hiking, great views and most likely beautiful fall weather.

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Come out the last weekend in October to see some of the best paddlers in the country as they descend into the mountains of Breaks Interstate Park to test their skills in one of the country's most extreme kayaking races! Professional and amateurs alike will attempt to maneuver their 11 foot race boats thru some of the most treacherous whitewater on the east coast. The race will begin at 2pm sharp in the flatwater pool above the rapid know as "lets make a deal". There will be plenty of groups meeting at Ratliff hole saturday morning to hike into the gorge to watch the race! So come on out and enjoy the race and the festival in Elkhorn city following the race! For more information visit www.russellfork.info and http://russellforkrace.blogspot.com.

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SAMIRA JAFARI - Associated Press

ELKHORN CITY, Ky. - Gerald DeLong has paddled whitewater rapids across the country for nearly 30 years, but it's an eastern Kentucky river that courses through his veins.

Like the thousands of others who have kayaked, canoed and rafted their way down the Russell Fork River, a 15-mile stretch of water from Virginia to Kentucky, DeLong finds its rocky twists, turns and treacherous gorge irresistible.Read More...

Tags: Russell Fork

Russell Fork River

Release level ~800cfs

Jay and I went to the Russell Fork with the Viking Canoe Club and had a great weekend.  On day 1 we ran the Pound and Upper Russell Fork at the standard release level.  There were about 25 Vikings in the group.  A very strong showing.  It was fun to run a rapid then turn around and get to see about 20 more runs of what you just did.  We camped at the Breaks Interstate Park ($9 per night), we were off by ourselves there in section B.  The camping down at Ratliff Hole ($10 per night) looks cool too.  This is where the gorge runners camp.


The upper has some really good technical rapids. I always forget the order and how far until 20 Stitches each time I go. But after the Railroad rapid there is one more rapid and then you are at 20 Stitches. It's right after a big turn in the river. Afterwards there are 3 or 4 more good class II-II+ rapids.

After our run down the upper we hiked into the gorge and checked out El Horrendo and Triple Drop.  We hiked in from the Garden Hole side. I think hiking in from Garden Hole or the road close to the gorge take out are about the same in time walking the tracks.  The more I look at the gorge section the more I start to think I can run it. But I ain't going to. Yet.


On day 2 we rant the Lower Russell Fork, putting on above Rat Hole which is a pretty good surfing spot.  The damn released water didn't reach the lower section until 12:45 so we had to wait for that.  It was cool to watch the water rise so fast and I was able to get 6 kayaks onto my truck. A new record.

Meat Grinder on the lower section was the scariest rapid.  It turned out to be pretty easy, but it was exciting to run.  I guess it shouldn't be rated higher than 20 Stitches, but it looks like it should. I have video of my run through on it here.

Awesome trip.  I hope to do the Russell Fork every year in October.  Great weather and a great river that's only 4 hours (from Louisville) away!

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950cfs (release)

Bubba and I went to Elkhorn City this past weekend for the fest. We left early Saturday morning and met up with Darrin, his girlfriend and two others and ran from Flannigan Dam to Garden Hole. Good run with no swims or carnage. The run is very technical on the Russell Fork, while the Pound is easy and has lots of play. That night we did the field party, drank moonshine and go drunk. Had fun there. Day two I hiked into the Gorge section and got to see about 30 runs of El Horrindo. Pretty amazing rapid to say the least. I picked up the crew and then headed home. Awsome weekend.

Tags: Russell Fork

Ran this for the first time with Bubba, Kerkhoff and Bubba's friend who used to live over on Big Eddy. I learned to always eat before I go out and to not get dehydrated. I got dehydrated and got a killer headache at the end. I had a blast though.

Tags: Russell Fork

Low Water 150-200cfs

Back then John and I didn't give a shit that the water was low at the Russell Fork. We just wanted to go boatin'. To go exploring an see what was out there. So we loaded up early in the morning and hit the road for a 4 hour drive to the lower Russell Fork. Even at low water Meat Grinder made me swim. There wasn't a whole lot to the rest of the run. But we enjoyed it. We looked at the gorge from the Breaks Park and hitch hiked back to our car. We should haven't gotten a run in on the the upper while we were there, but hind sight is 20/20.

found from an email:
John and I went down the Russell Fork today. These are pictures of the middle section, the Russell Fork Gorge (class IV-V+) taken from the Breaks National Park. I never knew it before researching this river, but the middle section is crazier than the upper Gauley. We did the lower section which was only II+, but pretty technical in the low water. It was a great stretch of river. When more water is running we want to go back and do the upper section, and one day when we feel like kings of the water, the middle section.

We talked to a local guy who was swimming with his dog and had black teeth. He was at the take out. He says he runs the middle section all the time. He didn't seem like he knew shit about shit, but he does run that river all the time and he doesn't even blink about it.

They also have a festival down here: The Russell Fork Rendezvous, which is a bluegrass, roots music and boating festival. 1st weekend in October I believe. They also have damn releases all through October here.

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