Second Drop of Lost Paddle (V)

Upper Gauley

INFORMATION

RAPID NAME: Second Drop of Lost Paddle

RAPID RATING: Class V

RIVER SECTION: Upper Gauley

The main channel on the Second Drop is made up of of fast moving shallow, rocky water. The most notable feature here is the Hawaii 5-0 wave on the left side of the channel. It’s a great hit followed by a steep drop and a quick acceleration. The powerful main flow quickly carries you towards Six Pack Rock in the center of the river. It can be avoided on both the right and the left. There are numerous undercuts lining the left and right banks of the Second Drop that should be avoided. The house sized boulder below Six Pack on the right is extremely undercut.

The most notable feature in the Third Drop is the shallow and violent hole in the middle of the channel. It can be missed both to the left and the right. There is a bit of slack water at the bottom of the third drop, a big eddy on the right, and a last chance eddy on the left before the last and most technical section of Lost Paddle Rapid.

View Aerial Images of the Second and Third Drops in Lost Paddle Rapid

Second Drop of Lost Paddle at 3200 cfs

Video includes a description of the features present in the Second Drop of Lost Paddle Rapid and footage of whitewater rafting and kayaking through the rapid.

Second Drop of Lost Paddle at 4800 cfs

Footage from a special high water release from Summersville Dam on September 20, 2011.

The second drop washes out a bit at higher flows. Paddlers can either stay to the left side of the main flow, or square up on some large reactionary waves coming in from the right. Water pushes quickly towards Six Pack rock, which splits the flow in the center of the river downstream. Paddlers that go right of Six Pack will have to ferry hard back to the left to avoid a huge undercut boulder on the right. The third drop of Lost Paddle is just downstream. Avoid the huge crashing wave/hole in the center of the river. Eddies exist on the left and right before Tumble Home, the fouth drop of Lost Paddle.

Second Drop of Lost Paddle at 300 cfs

Video includes a description of the low water features present in the Second Drop of Lost Paddle Rapid and footage of inflatable kayaks running the rapid on an ACE Summer Gauley Trip.

Second Drop of Lost Paddle at 800 cfs

Video includes a description of the low water features present in the Second Drop of Lost Paddle Rapid and footage of 12 foot whitewater rafts running the rapid on an ACE Summer Gauley Trip.