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Greetings Darius, great to hear from you again, and very cool to meet another who who so enjoys attaining too! I haven't to many others, Frankenstein DIY Kayak has been coaching me and introduced me to the all around and rewarding fun of the attaining world. I enjoy passing along all I can and learning from others. Where do you consider the bottom to be? This was the bottom most rapid where the current transitions into the pool at the bottom of the ledge system. We kayaked upstream from Sandy Hook and then went down to the Weverton ledges and Knoxville Falls to see what was in play, to compare from the last three runs from 3ft. to 5ft., and then took out at Brunswick. We also attained the Upper Section of the Lower Needles too: "Attaining The Lower Needles Section of the Potomac River: Low Flow Full Attainment, at 1.22ft." - th-cam.com/video/mC_EkJXEV6g/w-d-xo.html. Very impressive accomplishment in making it over Bass Rock, White Horse is my big goal. Would be great to join up!

Thank you; it's a fun river.

Thanks so much, it was such a pleasure and just as much fun in being a part of the great time in piecing it all together to showcase that being there in the moment kind of feel for the grand time it is. Was just as exciting with the surprise of hearing your name called for your medal at Red Mo!

Awesome my man; thank you, that is really nice to hear! The passion has me to keep them coming, and that's what it's all about, sharing the purity of the timeless beauty with likeminded people and making new friends! Looking forward to the next time in getting back out there with you and the crew!

I saw each of the boats returning as far as back up to Lock 34, at the Put-In we saw them take off from. It would be neat to see how they can power up and maneuver through Lunch Rock to Dam No. 3.

Greetings and thank you very much for taking the time to provide me that advice! I truly appreciate it, just as another kind person suggested which replacement oars will work best to replace the inefficient plastic oars with durable aluminum oars, which the Seahawk 3 and come come with. I never knew that about a weighted keep, really neat to know and can see how that works when taking on the impact of the waves. Thank you for your service in protecting and safeguarding our freedom!

Greetings, glad to help how I can. For this one, I used American Whitewater for the first two maps (which I used to created the second map, the first map was directly from American Whitewater) - "Gunpowder Falls 6 - Route 1 to U.S.40 or Mariner Point (Lower Gunpowder)" - www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/723/main. The third map was one I created. It's a fun run, which normally requires a heavy rain to get enough flow.

Hahahaha....oh man....Yes, Take Me Home...you know it! Best part was the - "See translation by Goggle" underneath it.

Better than any rollercoaster than I've ever been on....well, except The Savage, haha! Come on aboard and hop in a raft and down we'll go, powering through Robin's Nest, and seeing the exciting action of why Top of the World lives up to its name! Western Maryland at its finest.

Hey there, in general I've found the Seahawk 2 to be much more resistant to getting flipped than how it is advertised. I feel the biggest part of its stability comes from the operator's river reading and maneuverability skills, especially with having to anticipate the moves a little a head of time with the features and current/crosscurrents. It's a champ in taking on the wave trains head on, even in converging waves, but as I learned here, when hitting a wave slightly angled or sideways there was no control to compensate for it, making almost no chance of not getting flipped when above low flow. A plastic oars made for the greatest vulnerability, their flimsiness and small blades just coudn't crank out the power needed to change direction quick enough or to power into the wave trains. Next plan is to replace the stock oars with the upgradable aluminum oars, which come with the Seahawk 3 and 4. My other videos of the Seahawk 2 at White Horse Rapid at low and medium levels shows how capable it can be in taking on class I and II whitewater. The problem I had this time was I got off line when spun and due to the weak oars, I couldn't get back on line to ride right into White Horse's roaring jaws, and the left sideways converging wave got me on an angle by surprise, just like the winter water swim! Always a pleasure to hear from you!

Hey there! I remember you from your kind comments of two other of my videos. I'm flattered you closely follow my channel; I never really knew who did, really if any one did, as I'm here to make friends and show the good times, in not being motivated by the typically seeking attention and feel good "Likes" kind of thing, just trying to be real and share the passion of the wonderful beauty and making the great times even better in sharing it all with others of the same interest. The time that goes into the videos, which I passionately enjoy to the core, typically averages an hour per minute, and is so time consuming, that at times I need to remind myself to take advantage of living more playing out on the water and less behind the computer screen playing Movie Maker. So thank you, means a lot to know you follow my channel with interest, and that my stories of the good times mean a good deal to someone. Lately I have been putting my time into my friend's channel (which is why I haven't had new videos in awhile): Frankenstein DIY Kayak - www.youtube.com/@FrankensteinDIYkayak, which I feel you may equally enjoy, as I do the editing and some of the recording, and of which also features clips of me. So cool you also have the Seahawk 2 too! If you are close by it would be awesome to meet up!

Greetings Buffoon1234....lots of action in this fun run...about which part were you thinking of the same thing about?

I was wondering about the guy in the swifty. I

I did do this run!! It’s fun and I love watching the videos 👍👍👍

​@@buffoon1234 Oh, hahaha...I so almost put that in my reply to you, so funny! That was my friend, Fankenstein DIY Kayak (www.youtube.com/@FrankensteinDIYkayak) who thought that too, and became quite the laugh and mystery afterward! At the Take Out of my and my friend's full run videos, you can hear him talking about wondering if the Swifty made it down.

​@@buffoon1234 Were you there too? Would be awesome to have you join up with us! Do you mean my videos? If so, wow, thank you so much, truly means a lot in the so much that goes into my videos to bring people enjoyment and guidance/educational value, and just to share the good times of living it up with great friends in Class V scenery!

Right on, you know it! I'm an experienced whitewater kayaker, and enjoy whitewater rafting too, and was testing the limits of the Seahawk 2 in this fun wave train rapid, called White Horse Rapid (and also "The Spout," as President George Washington referred to it from his canoeing and surveying trips at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia), which changes in form and difficulty at every half a foot up to about 8ft., where it become uniformly large from then on. This was my third test, and with the first two hitting the converging waves head on at low and medium flow; this level was approaching the higher end and at class III. Unfortunately, the spin threw me off, and the flimsy paddles were too inefficient to get me back on the main line AKA The Tongue/Green Highway, and I got broadsided at the worst angle by the left side of the one of the two of the converging waves. Precisely, the Seahawk II is advertised flat water, for both rowing and for use with its electric trolling motor. I enjoyed the challenge of being able to show that the Seahawk can take on whitewater to a fair degree, maxing out at class II waves captained by one who is well acquainted with the river reading and the features of whitewater. Here are two other videos of me successfully making it through White Horse in the Seahawk II at lower levels: "Intex Seahawk 2: Rafting The Needles & White Horse Rapid (Potomac River) at Low Water" - th-cam.com/video/7BumvPLWSFM/w-d-xo.html "Intex Seahawk 2: Rafting the Potomac River's White Horse Rapid, at 2.74ft. (POR), 3.7ft. (Millville)" - th-cam.com/video/xYJLWaGFovQ/w-d-xo.html

the tiny raft is designed for just dinking around and not much serious as the ends of the oars come too close together and the control isn't the best.

You know it...all about being out there and taking it all in, and just living! If you really want to see some excitement, check out what happened at my third capabilities test, at more than double the level of this low run - "Intex Seahawk 2: Capabilities Test No. 3 - Whitewater Rafting White Horse Rapid at 4.80ft./15,800cfs" - th-cam.com/video/0aiSnScOOYE/w-d-xo.html The paddles made the challenge what is was, in being inefficient, and having since learned about an aluminum upgrade option, of which comes with the Seahawk 3 and 4.

Absolutely, you know it the most in having ran it over 50 times in a variety of classes of kayaks, spanning from a low 441cfs to a kicking 2,000cfs. The excitement of Robin's Nest always adds to the highlights of how the annual North Branch Blast Downriver Kayak Race lives up to its name!

Haha, thank you, and yep, Cameron has a very cool and well crafted channel. His narration makes for like a true to life television series...lots of entertainment value and tributes to classic rides.

Hi Stage4ligma; we used the traditional Frederick Road (MD44) Bridge as our Take Out because this trip was our first time kayaking this section of the Patapsco, and was not assured of the next take out option beyond the bridge. In our run afterward, at higher water, I took out a little ways after Doughnut Bend (at the bridge), which made for my favorite rapid of the ride. It is difficult to scout the section downstream of the bridge, from how it is difficult to view from the road, making the possibility for unexpected strainers after recent rains, which would add some difficulty in knowing what to expect. Many people do contnue down to the Ilchester Bridge from what I have seen online.

Nice to hear that, and glad it helps to serve as a study guide in a way. Frankenstein AKA Frank The Tank is going to have a real blast cruising down dialed in The Needles style. Friday is for learning the lines with the Race Director, Saturday is race day, and Sunday is The Gorge day...making for such an awesome mix and range to be enjoyed by those of a variety of ability levels, from beginner to advanced, making for more flare of how Slip Fest is so great in how it caters to and welcomes such a wide range of skillsets...in the same fashion as the Stonycreek Rendezvous does, with its Canyon and Lower Stony sections in conjunction with the many off the water festivities.

Hey there my man...oh yeah, you can count me in for the November release...which I always so look forward to, which draws in a bigger crowd than the March release. I've got several videos on my channel from the 2023 release (I think you'll like the ones of Race Course and Hat's Rock). Gotta get back out there with you soon! Starting the Race Series off at Red Mo on March 30th, followed by Slip Fest on April 13th & 14th!

Greetings briteidea, you're on the right path and doing it in the right way. You got it, above the dam is just right for the recreational kayaks and a good place to begin at to learn the basics and get a good feel. Right on, you definitely want a whitewater kayak for running the stretch below the dam, which is the whitewater section. I'm happy to help out however I can, if you would like to get into whitewater, have questions about which kind of whitewater kayak would best suit you in starting out (as they drastically vary stability and specializations). American Whitewater is the most popular and excellent resource for rivers and creeks in every state, and they have a great section for the run below the dam, which is referred to as, "Patapsco 2. Daniels Dam through Elkridge (Old Ellicott City, Oella & Former Bloede Dam section)" - www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/735/main. This video was my first time kayaking Patapsco, and at it's minimum runnable level, which made one just the learning experience I needed for what to expect at higher flow. To see the difference, here is the link to my other video of this run, at a typical whitewater level: "Kayaking the Patapsco River: Daniels Dam to Ellicott City, at 2.95ft./804cfs" - th-cam.com/video/j4DgKUe7OT8/w-d-xo.html. Also, "The Needles" to White Horse (www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/3289/main) stretch of the Potomac River, at Harpers Ferry, WV is such an awesome place all around and excellent for learning whitewater. I'd be glad to show you and help you how anytime. I've got a great group of friends that would enjoy showing you the way too.

Smart move! Where did you purchase the aluminum oars from? Someone else from my first rafting video commented that Intex makes replacement aluminum oars. I see the Seahawk 3 and 4, along with the Excursion, Mariner, and Sea Eagle series all come with aluminum oars.

@@PotomacPassageOolikhanna I've replied 3 times, but they keep disappearing for some reason. I'll try again. The oars I bought are Sevylor KC Compact 215 Convertible Paddle from Amazon. They have the canoe type T handle at the top, but you can split the oars to get them through the oar rings on the boat. Hope this reply gets through! Cheers.

​@@KK-no7be Thank you very much, alas it is a success! I truly appreciate you not giving up on me, that means a lot my man. So many others just would not care in helping a person out after a try or two in making sure they get what they need. This is a huge help in know the "Sevylor KC Compact 215 Convertible Paddle" oars are the right and best ones to get, and knowing where to get them! Thank you for the advice with fitting the oars to the oar rings. Are these the stock aluminum oars that come with the Seahawk 3 and Seahawk 4 too? I see on the packaging they include the durable aluminum oars and the Seahawk 2 still comes with the flimsy plastic oars. Replacing the plastic oars with the aluminum Sevylor oars is going to be just what I need, and keep me from holding back and maneuvering how I need to in the rapids with finally enough power. I did get an email notification from your second comment - "Potomac Passage Oolikhanna Hello, I got the oars from Amazon UK. They're Sevylor KC Compact 215 Convertible Paddle , you can use them as 2 oars, or as one kayak type paddle. The same sort are available under different brand names. I did reply a couple of weeks ago, but looks like it didn't get through." - but I see it did not post on here, so weird. I don't recall seeing your other comment though. Where are you from, the United States by chance? Thank you for your support and for caring!

​@PotomacPassageOolikhanna Hello, I'm in the UK. Glad one of my posts finally got through. They look like the same oars that come with the mariner, but mine have the T shape handle at the top, but I haven't had any trouble using them. You might find the same oars with normal handles if you look on a few dinghy websites. The only one I know is Boatworld, but they're in the UK.

You are most welcome, collaborating with was a big part of making the Gr8 happen! Thank you for the compliment, and of course, got you on the cred each and every time my man! Thank you for your awesome video, and super cool music that made it next level! Looking forward to getting out there with you soon and team up for this year's movie making of the good times with great friends!

Yeah man, I definitely found Middle Creek to be the special and prized secret of our area, and really the whole county. I grew up along Catoctin Creek my whole life, and learned of Middle Creek once I started kayaking, and was just amazed, from the waterfalls in the Upper Section (downstream of Spruce Run Road) to that peaceful deep north woods feeling it gives off. Thank you for the compliment too. What I most enjoy are hearing the growing. up and around the campfire stories of those who grew up in special places like this, like the back in the day stories that my grandparents would tell me what it was like growing up on the Potomac at Harpers Ferry, WV. I'm hoping to get the pleasure to run Middle Creek this year, as you know it takes an enormous amount of rain, and tends to be about twice a year...which is good in protecting is seclusion and beauty, unlike what has happened during summer to Catoctin Creek at the Rt. 17 bridge, where the USGS gauge is.

Thank you my man, having you there was a big part of what made it such a good time!

The model of this raft is the Seahawk 2, by the brand Intex. I find it to be a lot of fun and just right for one person, with the Seahawk 3 appearing to more comfortable for two people.

@@PotomacPassageOolikhanna I e searched it more , I’d rather the intex excursion for fishing it’s bigger

@@Jango975, Nice, that's the way to do it, find one that looks good and then to the research to find out about the other models to choose from. I agree, the Excursion offers more room than the Seahawk 2. Also, Intex makes an electronic trolling motor for the Seahawk series. You may want to check out to see if the trolling motor also fits the Excursion, because if not, you may want to take a look at the Seahawk 4 because of the enormous amount of space it has for gear with one to two people.

I hear you on that...given the current sustained subfreezing conditions, I imagine with being at base flow, it is or is progressively approaching close to being frozen all the way through, making for a cool sight to explore, especially the icy ledges...like with White Horse, always a special sight in that short window every couple of years in seeing the unrelenting persistence of its thrashing splashes when most of the surrounding flow has become solid on top and slush underneath amid the icy rocks and shelf ice shoreline.

Me too...those were precisely my thoughts too, from how it remained unseen given the significant amount of time we were at the Take Out...can only wonder about Hat's Rock...the green kayaker whacked the The Purple Haze in getting mashed into the raft train upon entering the first ledge drop....over he went, with Steven and I attending to recovering his kayak and asking if he was okay. Whew...the way you said, and caught the attention of the others in, "Oh, a Swifty," was so so funny, and when Captain Glenn said, "You wouldn't want to fall out at the top of it...you would want to fall right here," that alone made it!

All thanks to the Captains doing another great job! Are you describing the video or Race Course itself? Haha, and sure wold be fun to turn Race Course into the name it is, and see what that fastest is! "Oh, a Swifty," was so so funny, and when you said, "You wouldn't want to fall out at the top of it...you would want to fall right here," that alone made it!

Thank you very much Captain!...The guiding was top notch, where the laughs were more continuous than the rapids, haha. Was fun capturing shots of you all from being in both my kayak and the party raft. You know that rock at the Covered Bridge is going to be named after you now...that scene from John's video - maybe the best one yet, haha...good times & great memories!

Now I know why rafing is so much fun, the entertaiment was in every way just as much of a good time as the rapids. This made the trip, the way you said it, haha - "Oh a Swifty. That's the first time that I have seen a Swifty down this far...That Swifty guy I think doesn't think he can do it.," and when when talking about Race Course, when one of the finest River & Trail guides said, "You wouldn't want to fall out at the top of it...you would want to fall right here," that alone made it!"

Greetings Richard! Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. This was actually my first time kayaking the Lehigh River, and what a wonderful surprise I sure got with the high water. The level was estimated between the two gauges to be approximately 2,500cfs. Mud Run was my favorite part of it all, the continuous back to back waves made for one fun ride! I competed in this year's Lehigh Classic race of the same section, at 1,700cfs, but unfortunately my camera malfunctioned after the start, only capturing a few minutes of the action. I may add it though, and combine it with many of the photographs that were taken of the race. Feel free to let me know if you would like to meet up on the river some time! I am always looking for more fun-going people to the nice crew I'm a part of. I make it out to just about all of the regional releases and races, with my home rivers being the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers at Harpers Ferry, WV. Here's my video from last year's Lehigh Classic race and RiverFest, from the Lower Section - "The 2022 Lehigh Classic Kayak Race & Lehigh Riverfest: The Lower Section, at 1,000cfs" - th-cam.com/video/NN4bhc33eiM/w-d-xo.html If you're interested, here is a video that my friends and I ran of The Upper Section this summer at 865cfs, and falling, was such a huge difference for me - "Kayaking the Lehigh River: the Upper Section - White Haven to Rockport, at 856cfs & Dropping" - th-cam.com/video/9Wy4EvGm8JI/w-d-xo.html

So cool, and would so enjoy hearing those stories of what it was like...and the totally different, and almost surreal feel to the air that must have abounded all over. I'm glad that these pictures were able to bring back some of the nostalgia of being out there in what probably felt like other worldly place. I was so surprised, like stunned to see the entirety of Piney Run Falls frozen over.

the big thing was the ice came out from the rocks and the channels reminded you of a small creek. you coulldn't tell where the pillows were in front of the rocks like usual so you had to go slow and always be ready to pivot and stay away from the ice which you really didn't want to be under@@PotomacPassageOolikhanna

Thank you very much, I tried out going for a new kind of flare to this one, in trying out a new style of telling the story in taking you guys along for the ride.

Was just so great in every way, the best year yet! Great times with wonderful friends, and plenty more learning experiences. It was a true pleasure in capturing the memorable moments! You got it, plenty more trips to come on the radar, where the camaraderie is just as thoroughly enjoyed as the white knuckled action!

Haha is right, your Thanksgiving surprise! We so gotta do this again and take a ride on ol` White Horse when the big flow comes back! What a paradoxical day that was....so low and slow in coming down on The Needles, and then the all at once change of the sight at The Confluence..that stark dividing line of the Potomac's clear low flow mixing with the hard pumping hot chocolate of the Shenandoah.