Cheat
Cheat Canyon - 2007
Teeter Campground to Jenkinsburg Bridge
9.5 Miles
Class III-IV
Avg Gradient: 25 fpm
Max Gradient: 40 fpm
Gauge: Cheat River
at Albright, WV,
Cheat River at Hwy 50 Nr Rowlesburg, WV
&
Albright Bridge Gauge
6/2/2007
Level: .76 ft @ Albright,
782 cfs @ Rowlesburg
Craft: ThrillSeeker
Various views of "Coliseum" including "Recyclotron"
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5/27/2007
Level: .70 ft @ Albright,
865 cfs @ Rowlesburg &
1.40 ft @ Bridge
Craft: ThrillSeeker
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Bruce running "Big Nasty" |
Cheat Narrows - 2006
Cave Rapid to Lick Run
Approximately 5 Miles
Class II-III
Avg Gradient: 20 fpm
Max Gradient: 30 fpm
Gauge: Cheat River at Hwy 50 Nr Rowlesburg, WV
*Pictures
compliments of Patty Hachick
Click
pictures to enlarge
**Must have
QuickTime Player to view videos**
(get QuickTime
Player)
6/10/2006 &
6/11/2006
Level: 6/10 - 11:30 AM 6.37 ft, 1190 cfs
1.90 ft - Albright Bridge Gauge - Visual Reading
Level: 6/11 - 12:00 PM 6.19 ft, 884 cfs
Craft: OC-1
Put-in - Cave Rapid
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| Zeth at Cave Rapid | Bruce at Cave Rapid |
Next Rapid
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Calamity Rock
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| Zeth at Calamity | Bruce at Calamity |
Wind - At least one 4 ft wave & a big hole!
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| Wind Rapid | Hole in Wind Rapid |
| Click hyperlink to view Wind video |
Rocking Horse - A big, beefy hole.
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| Rocking Horse | Rocking Horse Hole |
| Click hyperlink to view Rocking Horse video |
A rapid with a good creek line and some nice surf holes complete the run.
| Bruce Creek Line | Bruce Surfing |
| Click hyperlink to view creek line video | Click hyperlink to view surfing video |
Cheat Canyon - 2006
Teeter Campground to Jenkinsburg Bridge
9.5 Miles
Class III-IV
Avg Gradient: 25 fpm
Max Gradient: 40 fpm
Gauge: Virtual Gauge
3/25/2006
Level:
1.25 ft, 800 cfs?
Craft: ThrillSeeker
This was a good
level. It was slower and less pushy. I ran the left side of Big Nasty which was
not much of an issue at this level. We walked High Falls. I swam Colesium after
the second big wave. It looked like there was more going on in this rapid at
this lower level.
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Cheat Narrows
This was always a "good one" That's why they call it "The Cheat."
Since route 72 parallels this section of river, there are several access points. However, the whitewater section starts opposite the caves which are about three miles below Rowlesburg. The action ends at Lick Run.
This gives the paddler a 5 mile trip of good class 2-3 action.
Gauges: The Albright Bridge correlation can be used. Also, consider the gauge at route 50 near Rowlesburg for flow rate.
Shortly after put-in, the class 2 rock gardens begin with "Cave Rapid" The higher the water level . . . . . The bigger the waves.
The beginning of the trip is just a prelude to what is about to come your way.
The river widens and becomes shallow with riffles. This marks the lead-in to "Calamity Rock" (class 3).
Work towards river right. Some may want to catch the eddy on the right bank.
Scout if in doubt!
Or just run it and take photos later.
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It was kickin' pretty good that day. (9-1-03) 1740 cfs @ rt. 50 2.8' @ Albright Bridge.
Photos from my first time down (6-26-03) 1150 cfs @ rt. 50 1.54' Albright Bridge virtual gauge.
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| Notice the stranded dog on the boulder Dave had to rescue it |
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That's not the only fun on this run. The next major rapid is right around the bend. "Wind Rapid" (class 3)
Big waves!
Working your way from left to right to avoid the big stuff can be interesting. Sometimes ya just gotta "go with it"
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Photo from "Cheat Fest" (5-4-03) |
Let's not forget about "Rocking horse" (class 3) You'll ride this one for about a hundred yards
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| "Cheat Fest" |
Before the take-out there are some good play spots and a technical boulder garden
Cheat Canyon
"High
Falls" |
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Put-in at Teeter Campground to Jenkinsburg Bridge
Approximately 10 miles
Class 3-4
Level Reported: About 2 ft. according to the Albright Bridge Virtual Gauge About 1200 cfs @ Rowlesburg
5-17-04
Craft: Hyside Duck
Highlights: The level reported was excellent. Below a foot on the bridge is considered low. Above 4 ft. is high. This section of river offers a beautiful setting in a remote canyon. There are several rapids of drop/pool nature (said to be 30 of class 3 difficulty or higher) So, I will definitely have to make more runs to give a good description. At moderate levels the pools are short and action is frequent. As I can recall, some points of interest are known as:
Decision: If you don't like this one, then the "decision" should be to take out before you are committed to the Canyon.
Beech Run: Run right to left.
Big Nasty: Big hole!
Typewriter: Playable ledge below Big Nasty
Even Nastier: Long, complex rapid
After these, you will enter a section with less significant rapids known as the doldrums.
Cueball: Several slots exist.
Teardrop: Fast chute on river right
High Falls: Named for the waterfall on river left. This is one of the most difficult rapids on the run.
Maze: The path between boulders gets tighter as you go through.
Upper Coliseum: Stay left of Recyclotron (huge hole), then get back to the middle to miss another hole known as The Particle Accelerator.
Lower Coliseum/Pete Morgan's: Work left immediately below Upper Coliseum to start this one off.
There are some easier rapids before the Jenkinsburg Bridge is reached.
Parsons to Rowelsburg
Photos from a cold trip |
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