Acton to Concord with the Assabet

This past Sunday morning a small group of canoes and kayaks went with the Assabet River's early spring flow from the Acton Canoe Launch down to Egg Rock in Concord.  The outing was put together by Erik E. one of New England's paddling ambassadors.  Link to Erik's account and photos.  There were 4 canoes and 3 kayaks and we actually enjoyed a little sunshine for the first half of the trip.  Sunshine has been a rare commodity around these parts of late.

At the Damondale Dam we noticed a lot of brush clearing had been done exposing the dam's remaining portion...

Then we dropped down through the breached section...

The river was at an ideal level (in my opinion), though I think the whitewater paddlers among us would have preferred it a little higher (the Maynard gauge was 2.5').

A little below the dam we encountered a significant obstacle in the form of a fallen tree across the full width of the river.  Here the canoes had an advantage as Tommy demonstrates by sort of see-sawing his way over...

 
We kayakers being stuck amidships didn't have that option but, luckily for us, a dry-suit wearing Erik jumped in and while straddling a tree limb helped pull us up and over...

The rest of the run was obstacle free with a short foray being made into Nashoba Brook.

Across from Willow Island  a couple of traps graced the river's north bank.  I suspect they're meant to entice musquash or possibly beaver...

Shortly we'd passed by the 'Leaning Hemlocks'...

...and approached the takeout at Lowell Road just as the rain began in earnest.

Some trash gathered up along the way...