scranton living? (Archbald, Jessup, Duryea: waterparks, neighborhoods, cost)

[NEPA-x-pat]

Boy you guys are gluttons for punishment! Dan you put in up in Jerymn and go to Scranton...wow! Jerry that is a long way from Forest City to Jessup. I am not that young anymore. The 12 miles on Riverfest is more than enough for me, especially with a white water boat. Sort of plod along the flat water in the lower sections.

Good enough though. Will let you guys know what are plans are like for May 10'th weekend. It would be really nice to have a large group along. Do you guys ever park and play in Mellow Park. Looks like you could surf a lot of that section. We have in the past but the waves get a little trashy.

[weluvpa]

Mellow doesn't have depth. The waves are formed by the smooth contours of the bed rock so the water has to really be up to surf then you run the chance of the waves flattening out from too much depth. I like the hole in Jessup the best for surfing around but the river has to be at 3.5 to 4. Jermyn to Scranton when the water is up is a hoot. I leave the WW boat home for that one and take the modified 12' with the thigh braces and the neo skirt.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Yeah Dan, know what you mean about the waves. Trashy for the most part, poor eddy service too. There is one nice wave when the water is a bit low in the park though. It is right above the deep pool just before the foot bridge. Bonus, the water is deep enough to roll should you need to. Nice deep pool.

I have seen a lot of touring boats on this section (Arch to Blak) most without skirts. Would really make the flat water starting in Dickson a lot easier. I suffer down there. I have a planing hull, sort of like a surfboard, so I tend to just push a lot of water rather than slice through it. Just got off the phone with my paddling buddy from down here in VA, looks like we will be doing the Lehigh on Friday. He is bringing his wife and is staying at a Band B in Jim Thorpe. So, if we are going to paddle the Lacky, it will have to be in towards evening. Could get in a four miler. Hey and then stop in Andy's or Colarusos for dare I say it....(don't want to start another pizza thread)

[weluvpa]

Yeh I have a 2003 perception acadia 12.5 which has the smaller cockpit before they enlarged them. I added thigh braces and heavy duty foot pegs and you can use a neo skirt and it can be rolled. I have had in class III water, it can handle alot. Its no different really then the old perception river runners that were 10ft+. It is nice in the flat water. Little more work in the WW but worth it when the flat comes. If I'm just playing from Jessup to mellow I'll pull out the old creek boat or the WW boat.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Good plan Dan, my friend just used his Pungo 10 and did a good job with the stuff from Archbald to Blakely. I thought I would post a link (hope it is ok) to paddling site that has some information (and a couple other pics I submitted) of the river.

Pennsylvania whitewater - Lackawanna River, Lackawanna / Luzerne County

[NEPA-x-pat]

Well it is up and official now, LRCA has the preliminary information on River Fest 2008.

Lackawanna River Corridor Association

I think this is one of the nicer events you can find in Scranton Living.

So who is up for the race?

[weluvpa]

I'm not going to be entering the race but I will most likely paddle that day. I'm not exactly on the same page as Bernie so I choose not give them any money. I think that the LRCA would be able to do more with what they have and have a greater ability to raise funds if he was not as involved as he is.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Well Dan, fair enough. I will keep an eye out for you. Will be able to give specifics as time goes on. Looking for a new boat, so don't even know which one I will be taking.

[weluvpa]

You should see the water today. The river is running at 5 1/2ft tonight and it hit 6 1/2 the other day. The water is just too cold right now and I'm the only one that has a full wetsuit for paddling so I won't do it alone.

The wave in Jessup is just a little messy but man you could ride it all day along in these conditions.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

You should see the water today. The river is running at 5 1/2ft tonight and it hit 6 1/2 the other day. The water is just too cold right now and I'm the only one that has a full wetsuit for paddling so I won't do it alone.

The wave in Jessup is just a little messy but man you could ride it all day along in these conditions.

I have been looking at the levels on American Whitewater...for sure that would be a fun ride. At that level water is in the trees isn't it. Makes for a long swim and tougher rescue.

I have been in contact with LRCA. Thought it would be a nice resource to have a detailed river map for paddlers to use. Starting up at the remains of the old Stillwater dam down through the anticline in Duryea. Have you ever done that last section before the sweeping right hand turn? They say it is class 4. I sent them some pictures from our adventures along the way. A picture page would add more interst too I suppose.

I hope Jerry has his ears on. Would be really neat to get a group together on the Friday before the race. Still not sure if we will do the Lehigh or the Lacky that day.