Level: approx. 400 cfs, Belington gauge on the Tygart
December 16, 2000
Paddlers: K-1: John Wiggins, David Lohr, Jerry Engnes, Susan Klimas

I needed a December trip, after not having paddled for close to a month. Water levels initially looked good, but fell throughout the week. Also, most rivers were pretty well iced up. We finally decided on the Tygart Loop, on Turner’s assurances that there was enough water for a non-scrapy trip.

I checked the river on the way — some ice but the channels were clear. None of us had run this section before, but it was supposed to be Class II with a couple of IIIs thrown in. The Twin Giants Rapid was clearly at least a III.

The shuttle for this run has to be the easiest on record. The shuttle was about three miles of secondary roads for a five mile run. I kept wondering where the 5 miles of river went, but it became obvious why it is called the Loop.

The weather was just barely above freezing. We broke ice sliding off the riverbanks into the water. I was surprised at the thickness of the ice in the eddies. It looked like a skim of ice, but it was thick. However, the main channels were clear.

The run started out as Class I and II rock gardens. We were told that the Twin Giants Rapid was the only difficult rapid on the run, but no one really could tell us where it was. We kept watching for it, and it was unmistakeable from a good distance upstream — large boulders framing the river.

We paddled down to the rapid, and took out to scout, a requirement for this rapid. It is long and complex, and you can’t boatscout. We discovered that one of the top chutes was blocked by a log, while another chute was too low, and yet a third chute funneled into the same log. We therefore sneaked the top drop on the far right.

The main drop is between huge boulders and is very impressive. Lots of pourovers, wave action, and undercuts were obvious. I elected to run it on the left hand side to avoid the worst of the undercuts on the right. Some of the party used good judgment and decided to walk the rapid due to the cold day and the remoteness of the area.

Below the Twin Giants were a couple of more juicy rapids, narrow twisting drops. However, once you pass under the Rt 33 bridge, the action disappears and the rest of the run is scenic flatwater.

I would give the Twin Giants rapid a solid III or III+. A couple of the rapids below it are IIIs. The rest of the run is enjoyable Class II and scenic. The Twin Giants rapid is easily walked for those who are intimidated by its impressive looks.

The worst part of the run is the takeout, hauling boats through underbrush, up and across a railroad track, and across the road to the parking area.

At the take-out, we warmed up with a shot of liquor, rescued Turner from his Rivers Coalition meeting, and finished the day with dinner.