Mass Start at High Noon on Saturday May 6, 2023

The Peavine Whitewater Race is a downriver paddling event on the White River, to benefit the Ridgeline Outdoor Collective (ridgelineoutdoorcollective.org). Whitewater paddlers of all experience levels and abilities will challenge themselves and each other on this beautiful section.  The event takes its name from the narrow-gauge rail line that once clung to the sides of the valley.  Floods and washouts doomed it to failure but traces of the Peavine Railroad can still be seen along the way.

Racers need to have experience paddling class II and class III whitewater to safely participate at seasonal water levels (below 3000 cfs).  Please use good judgment if the race coincides with a high water event as some of the rapids do become more difficult at high flows.

PFDs and paddling helmets are required for all racers.  Bike helmets are not allowed per our insurance policy.

Flotation is recommended for open canoes.  This is a spring whitewater race; dress to get wet.

Think twice before using delicate carbon/composite/fiberglass paddlecraft.  There are rocks everywhere, not to mention significant whitewater requiring technical maneuvers...not all of these rapids are point and shoot.

 If you aren't prepared to compete yet, consider getting some instruction from the Vermont Paddlers Club (https://www.vtpaddlers.net/), a college outdoor program, or ask a boater for help.  Learn the basics, work on your skills this summer, and come back to race in 2023!

We need volunteers too! Setup, sign-in, timing, photography, safety boaters and shore safety...if you don't want to race but would still like to be involved, we could really use the help!!  Please send an email to mikemcdonnell.watershed@gmail.com to be put on the volunteer list.

Entry fee is $40. This race is covered by insurance from the American Canoe Association at a cost of $10/racer which is included in the entry fee.  Current ACA Members are covered already and may deduct $10 at registration checkout by entering coupon code ACAMEMBER. (You'll need to validate that by providing your member number on the race waiver.) 

Swag and Brag awards for division winners.  Gear prizes will be distributed to younger paddlers and those newer to the sport to help them get out on the water more and keep learning!  

Our goals are to grow and strengthen the paddling community through inclusive competition, and to highlight the tremendous resource that the White River is to paddlers of all kinds.  

Questions, or to sign up as a volunteer:  mikemcdonnell.watershed@gmail.com

Course description:

From the Peavine Observation Site, ¾ of a mile of quickwater leads to the Route 100 bridge near Ted Green Ford dealership.  A quarter mile later, the first rapids appear around a sharp right bend where the Tweed River joins the White River at a weird head-on collision confluence (Mile 1).  Shortly afterward, you arrive at Moment of Doubt, an abrupt ledge typically run on the far right (Mile 2).  A quarter-mile further on, a high erosional bank on river left marks the Refrigerator Flats Access Point on river right.  The river immediately pitches through a long section of haystacks and runs parallel to Route 107 before taking a hard, swirly left turn and passing beneath the Blackmer Boulevard bridge (Mile 3.5).  After several more class 2 rapids you’ll see a large stone bridge piling — a remnant of the Peavine Railroad — on the right side at the Stony Brook confluence (Mile 4.25).  Just below is a super pushy left corner called Deep C.  Avoid being pushed against the ledge that forms the left bank.   A 150yd pool sets you up for the biggest rapid: Scary Larry is a steep constriction with a few diagonal holes and a wavetrain finish (Mile 4.5). In a quarter mile you’ll reach Z-Turn, the boily entrance to the Gaysville Gorge, where powerful tongues and seams slam against rock outcrops on both sides of the river (Mile 5).  A hard right turn is necessary to avoid being pushed against the left hand wall.  Beyond Z-Turn you look down the barrel of the gorge to the finish line beneath the green trusses of the Gaysville Bridge (Mile 5.5).  There is a large cobble beach here where you can catch your breath and tell some tall tales.  The casual paddle down to the takeout points along Route 107 involves more fun wavetrains with fewer technical constrictions.   The takeout, racer parking, and some good food will be at this pullout (Mile 8):  https://goo.gl/maps/ALM3ePuA6g2PpXi6A . 

River Information 

Real-time flows in the White River can be found here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=01144000

1000cfs Low, 2000cfs Medium, 4000+ High, 8000+ Mega

Historical mean flow for May 6 is about 1800cfs, an ideal race level.  Fluid and technical.

The West Hartford, VT gauge is located about 25 miles downstream of the race section and is influenced by a number of large tributaries.  Gauges on several nearby rivers serve as corollaries and provide useful information on flow trends in neighboring watersheds.  Some of these are:

Mad River: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/vt/nwis/uv?site_no=04288000

New Haven River: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/vt/nwis/uv?site_no=04282525

Ottauquechee River: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/vt/nwis/uv?site_no=01150900