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Bobbing on the 'Nob
Amy Leppo updates from the Penobscot River's Big Eddy
(by Amy Leppo)
So, that high water everyone has been buzzing about? It’s here. Marker rocks are drowning. Company paddles are
disappearing fast and furiously. And boy, guides sure are quiet at the put-in these days...
The Penobscot has been running a juicy 3400-4200 cfs over the past week. Holy Water. There are a few theories on
why the dam is cranking so much H2O. Some say the turbines are being tested, others reckon that GNP is selling power
to the public. Personally I think some videoboater found a way to bribe the dam controllers – after all, the video carnage
awards are coming up.
4000+ cfs is big and pushy. I was nearly shot into outer space at the bottom of Turkey Chute. My buddy, skilled
enough to catch Pillow eddy during the run, told me I caught air while performing the unintended stern squirt.
FYI: Pain in the Ass Rock comes at you fast while upside down at these high levels. For me, that rock is now called
“Pain in the Neck.” Boy did it ring my bell. Thank you, Seda Helmet.
And Exterminator? It sucked my right contact lens out as I paddled by it. Over the past week, paddling the
Gorge/Crib has become something of a game of Russian Roulette during a tsunami.
On the lighter side of things, two words: Fluffy Muffin.“ There is a wave right after Nesowadnehunk Falls that is fun,
foamy and sweet for spinning and carving. It tends to pulse and disappear quite often so get it while you can. My friend
was on it so long one day, I though Fluffy Muffin was gonna charge him rent. The wave is about 8 to 10 feet wide when it
is going off. The best part? It is easy to roll up after and there isn’t any way to get blown downstream. In fact, I like the
wave so much I am naming my first born after it. That’s right. Fluffy Muffin Leppo. Well, maybe.
Two more words: wave wheel. Nesowadnehunk Falls is the only place I can throw my bow down and go vertical.
Intentionally, that is. The 12 foot waterfall drops off so abruptly, it does all the work for you! Then the enormous vortex
of whitewater at the bottom eats me alive and spits me out. I have only become detained once in the vortex, but a big
blue raft was considerate enough to plow me from the hole. Thanks big blue raft, I owe you one!
So, I figure if I: A. keep paddling every day B. don’t become permanently disfigured or drown C. find the fountain of
youth and D. don’t burn out, then I should be ready for national competitions by the fall of 2018. Maybe Red Bull will
take a chance and sponsor me now. It would be fantastic if they could subsidize my $20 a week sport drink habit. Either
them or Berry’s.
Email nick [at] noumbrella [dot] com with your questions, comments and concerns.
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