It's time to reserve campsites for the Delaware and Mongaup trips. The plan is to stay at the Dingman's Campground and paddle the Delaware from Staircase to Matamoras on Saturday. The Mongaup will have a 2 barrel release on Sunday. One group will paddle the Delaware, the other the Mongaup. We'll meet for lunch and paddle to the Sparrow Bush take out together .
Read Ed Rohrbach's review of the Mongaup: The Mongaup is a short but eventful run in NY state near Port Jervis. It runs from Rio Dam, (a hydroelectric dam) about three miles down to the Delaware. It is about the size of the Nescopeck, Tohickon Creek, or Big Gunpowder Falls. The gradient is near that of Tohickon Creek, but is more constant and the rapids are not as steep. AWA classifies it II-III, but I would say it is II+ to III-. Two tube releases are not more difficult than a single tube as more of the rocks are covered and it becomes a little less technical. It is very popular with White water paddlers in North Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, and there will be plenty of paddlers there for any scheduled release. There are no major hazards, and it is a good step between the Lehigh and The Tohickon. At two tubes a river wide standing wave forms at the put-in, allowing people to surf while they wait for their friends to get into their boats. At the end there is a popular park & play spot on the Delaware called the Mongaup Wave.
PLease let Chris Stranahan mcstran@comcast.net or 731-1094 know if you're planning to camp on Friday and Saturday or if you plan to drive up for the Mongaup on Sunday. Camping sign ups due by 8/15/08.