Pigeon Gorge – August 22
| River: | Pigeon |
| Skill: | Intermediate |
| Trip Date: | 08/22/2026 |
Our intrepid band of 6 (James, Tom, Donna, Chanel, Matt and I) met at the “new” post-Helene gravel takeout. No longer muddy / swampy after a rain. Since fewer private boaters paddle the Pigeon post-Helen it also doesn’t get crowded. We travelled up Waterville Rd, almost the the old put-in at the powerhouse and put in at BFR. Big “Friendly” Rock although the origin of the “F” is in dispute.
The former “Full of Water” rapid no longer exists and is now part of a slightly more extended Razor Rock. There is still an ender spot at the bottom of Razor Rock. There is a yet unnamed rapid with 2 surfing spots and an also unnamed rapid just above the bridge that the rafting companies us as a put-in.
A somewhat changed Vegomatic is immediately below the bridge followed by a slightly change Big Bend. Vegomatic possesses a hole worthy of respect (avoiding) as one of our group discovered. Dragonfly/ Snapdragon and Roller Coaster have merged into a longer rapid.
From the former Playground to Accelerator the I-40 reconstruction crew has filled in the right 25 ft of the river with riprap to provide a base for the retaining wall construction. This makes the river narrower, faster, and pushier. If your favorite (or survival) line was on the right, you need to come up with a different plan.
Everything from Playground to Lost Guide has merged in to a long Super-LostGuide. Lots of waves, some holes, some are pretty big. None hold you long. Intentionally or unintentionally I’ve tried about every line. The group did better than my average. We ran the new line to the left of the island at Duck and Run.
Double Reactionary can be a little more challenging that pre-Helene. The sneak / bailout line is now under all that riprap, so you are forced to run the meat. Everyone was up to the task. Accelerator has changed more from the construction crew moving boulders and the riprap than from Helene. The is a sneak line on the right but everyone chose a beefier line down the center.
A good time was had by all; a second run by most.