Russell Fork

The Russell Fork River is a free-flowing stream with 16 miles of great whitewater between Haysi, Va., and Elkhorn City, Ky. Every year in October the Russell Fork has guaranteed water releases on the the weekends. Since I started paddling I have never missed a year of boating at the Breaks Interstate Park on this beautiful Kentucky/Virginia river.

Hollis and Jennifer came along for the ride and to see the park while Jay Thomas and Myself met at Garden Hole for a Saturday run of the upper section. It was unusually warm on this day, an added bonus and great paddling weather.

The Russell Fork is a beautiful river wether your paddling it, viewing from the high above the gorge, or swimming it, out of your boat through 20 Stitches while hitting every hole through the rapid.

This year, since I had the family in tow, we stayed at the lodge, which was a decent room with a spectacular view. I'll certainly be back next year, if not again this October.

Russell Fork Schedule for this October

The annual Russell Fork Rendezvous has been moved to the first release weekend, October 2-3. The 2nd Russell Fork Free for All will coincide with Rendezvous on the 2nd. Here's a look at the four weekends:

10/2-3 | 800cfs | Russell Fork Rendezvous, Russell Fork Free for All

10/9-10 | 800cfs | Baddlun, Paddler's Appreciation

10/16-17 | 800cfs | Open

10/23-24 | 1100cfs |Lord of the Fork Race

The Baddlun is an extreme triathlon that includes a 14 mile bike course, 12 mile whitewater (Class IV-V) and 2.5 mile run. Not for the squeamish!

The Lord of the Fork is our annual extreme Class V downriver race in the gorge. Race history here.

Stay tuned for further information on all these events at http://www.russellfork.info

Breaks Interstate Park

The recent snow storm in Eastern Kentucky left it's beautiful mark on the mountains at the Breaks Interstate Park. Patrick Jeffreys was there when the storm hit and took this great photo.

Russell Fork Gorge: POV

Get a good look at the Russell Fork Gorge at 300 CFS. Shot in POV with a helmet cam.

Original link: http://www.vimeo.com/7836344

Russell Fork and Geology

Most of the igneous rock looked to be made up of  mafic material. The sedimentary layers looked to have been under enormous pressure at some time. The layers looked like waves on some of the river’s walls. …

A geologists's view of things around the Russell Fork River. Click here to read more.

Russell Fork Rendezvous

Spalding Hurst, Kenny, Jay & John Thomas ran the Upper Russell Fork river today in a Shredder and a Duckie. The Shredder proved to be an interesting vessel, though it was surprising how much water sits in the bottom on the boat. The fall colors were beautiful this time of year. The group hiked into El Horrendo to watch the Lord of the Forks race, taking the tressel side down to the river. Now they sitting fireside listening to the locals fire off shotguns. Another great day in Eastern Kentucky.

Upcoming Trip: Russell Fork Rendezvous Oct. 24-25

The Russell Fork Rendezvous is Oct. 24-25 this year. Get your taste of some good (and bad) genuine mountain moonshine as the Bardstown Boaters make their pilgrimage this year. We'll camping and hiking the area, running the upper and lower Russell Fork, watching the Lord of the Forks Race on the gorge section, catch some good music, and huge bonfires.

John and Jay Thomas will be backpacking the Pine Mountain Trail Thurs-Fri and hopefully walk off the trail into camp at the Rendezvous Friday night. Anyone is welcome to join.

For all the info you can handle on the Russell Fork visit the new rivers page here on Bardstown Boaters.

Russell Fork Rendezvous

Once again The Bardstown Boaters were at the Russell Fork Rendezvous for some glorious Fall paddling. The Rendezvous is a gathering in Eastern Kentucky to celebrate the Russell Fork River and the wonderful people of the area.

You could find The Bardstown Boaters camp at the trailhead for the Pine Mountain Trail.

On Saturday, The Bardstown Boaters paddled the Upper Section of the Russell Fork then hiked into The Gorge Section to watch competitors in The Lord of The Fork, a whitewater race through what is known as the Beast of the East.

On Sunday, many in the club paddled the Upper Section of the Russell Fork River once again.

The Russell Fork runs every weekend in October with scheduled releases on Saturday and Sunday. The scenery is always spectacular this time of year. When the Fall comes it continues to invoke memories of the Russell Fork into the minds of Bardstown Boaters.

For some first-hand recounts, a run down of the winners, and more images from the weekend visit the forum.

Rusell Fork Rapid Descriptions

The upper and lower sections of the Russell Fork offer fantastic views and great Class II-III action. The upper is fantastic for intermediate paddlers who want to work on surfing and boofs, the lower is a great beginner/intermediate training ground. If we could only figure out how to jam them together!

Visit the great Russell Fork Info website for a run down on all of these rapids.

Upper Section
Splashdam
Railroad
Twenty Stitches
Johnny Rock

Lower Section
MeatGrinder
Pinball

BADDLUN

For those hardcore adventure types, try your hand at Baddlun at the Russell Fork.

Ratliff Hole, Elkhorn City, Ky
Noon, Saturday, October 11th, 2008
13 mile bike, 9 mile paddle, 3 mile run.

Mass start bike from Ratliff Hole to Bartlick Bridge, paddle down Russell Fork to Carson Island, trail run back to Ratliff Hole. No entry fee, no prizes, no teams...we do this shit for fun. Great training for Lord of the Fork Race. River safety and a sweep wagon will be provided.

More info: Baddlun

Russell Fork Video

Video by: Josh Carpenter

Russell Fork Bachelor Party

It was an epic trip for the Bardstown Boaters at the Russell Fork this weekend in October. Many Bardstown paddlers came together in Elkhorn City, Kentucky for the Russell Fork Rendezvous and a Saturday run on the upper section. The trip was held as a bachelor party for Spalding Hurst, so it was quite a mixture of folks who came out to paddle, some for the first time in while.

Johnny Mathews led a group in the raft. Tommie Hurst, David Etheridge, Ryan Hamilton & Toby Thompson topped off that crew.

Bill Thomas & Stan Hurst styled it in the clubs 2-man duckie. I think they both have more whitewater runs in their future.

Zach Nelson & John Thomas both paddled duckies as well. John was in some wily, crazy, little duck that wanted to stern squirt and flip all over the place, but he kept it control most of the time. Zach is now a inflatable kayak zen master.

Spalding Hurst and Josh Carpenter kayaked as probes, finding lines and setting up camera for the rest of the crew while Jay Thomas and Ben Ballard led the group in their creek boats.

Michael Greenwell, Jeremy Martin & Patrick Jefferies joined up for the festivies back at camp that night.

The weather could not have been any better for this weekend. The bigger release on the Pound and the sunshine made for a perfect day of whitewater at a Kentucky whitewater jewel. The Bardstown Boaters can't wait for the next member to get hitched so they can celebrate again!

Did you hear that Zach?

More Pictures

Russell Fork with the Vikings

800cfs

Spalding Hurst was back at the Russell Fork on Saturday with the Viking Canoe Club for a another run on the upper section. There were about 20 people in the group. It was colder in the morning but it did warm up to high 60's by the afternoon.

It was a another great run down a Kentucky/Virginia classic. The Bardstown Boaters will be heading back to the Russell Fork in 2 weeks for the last release weekend and the Russell Fork Rendezvous. Be sure to join them for that one.

Pictures of the Trip • Video from the Trip

Lord of the Fork Race

Russell Fork

Spalding Hurst, Jay Thomas and Ben Ballard drove to Elkhorn City, Kentucky on Saturday to run the first release of the season on the Russell Fork River. The group put on at the Flanagan Dam on the Pound River, then connected up with the Russell Fork running the upper class II-III section. Some of the highlights of the run are 20 Stiches and Bartlick Bridge.

The group put on the river at 12:30pm, the run took about 3 1/2 hours. The group headed for home after the run and did not stay for the Sunday release.

Posted here are some pictures from the trip.

• Google Pictures • Russell Fork Info

Russell Fork with the Vikings

Russell Fork River

Release level ~800cfs

Jay and I went to the Russell Fork with the Viking Canoe Club and had a great weekend.  On day 1 we ran the Pound and Upper Russell Fork at the standard release level.  There were about 25 Vikings in the group.  A very strong showing.  It was fun to run a rapid then turn around and get to see about 20 more runs of what you just did.  We camped at the Breaks Interstate Park ($9 per night), we were off by ourselves there in section B.  The camping down at Ratliff Hole ($10 per night) looks cool too.  This is where the gorge runners camp.

The upper has some really good technical rapids. I always forget the order and how far until 20 Stitches each time I go. But after the Railroad rapid there is one more rapid and then you are at 20 Stitches. It's right after a big turn in the river. Afterwards there are 3 or 4 more good class II-II+ rapids.

After our run down the upper we hiked into the gorge and checked out El Horrendo and Triple Drop.  We hiked in from the Garden Hole side. I think hiking in from Garden Hole or the road close to the gorge take out are about the same in time walking the tracks.  The more I look at the gorge section the more I start to think I can run it. But I ain't going to. Yet.

On day 2 we rant the Lower Russell Fork, putting on above Rat Hole which is a pretty good surfing spot.  The damn released water didn't reach the lower section until 12:45 so we had to wait for that.  It was cool to watch the water rise so fast and I was able to get 6 kayaks onto my truck. A new record.

Meat Grinder on the lower section was the scariest rapid.  It turned out to be pretty easy, but it was exciting to run.  I guess it shouldn't be rated higher than 20 Stitches, but it looks like it should. I have video of my run through on it here.

Awesome trip.  I hope to do the Russell Fork every year in October.  Great weather and a great river that's only 4 hours (from Louisville) away!

Russell Fork Rendezvous

950cfs (release)

Bubba and I went to Elkhorn City this past weekend for the fest. We left early Saturday morning and met up with Darrin, his girlfriend and two others and ran from Flannigan Dam to Garden Hole. Good run with no swims or carnage. The run is very technical on the Russell Fork, while the Pound is easy and has lots of play. That night we did the field party, drank moonshine and go drunk. Had fun there. Day two I hiked into the Gorge section and got to see about 30 runs of El Horrindo. Pretty amazing rapid to say the least. I picked up the crew and then headed home. Awsome weekend.

Upper Russell Fork

Ran this for the first time with Bubba, Kerkhoff and Bubba's friend who used to live over on Big Eddy. I learned to always eat before I go out and to not get dehydrated. I got dehydrated and got a killer headache at the end. I had a blast though.

Russell Forkin'

Low Water 150-200cfs

Back then John and I didn't give a shit that the water was low at the Russell Fork. We just wanted to go boatin'. To go exploring an see what was out there. So we loaded up early in the morning and hit the road for a 4 hour drive to the lower Russell Fork. Even at low water Meat Grinder made me swim. There wasn't a whole lot to the rest of the run. But we enjoyed it. We looked at the gorge from the Breaks Park and hitch hiked back to our car. We should haven't gotten a run in on the the upper while we were there, but hind sight is 20/20.

found from an email:
John and I went down the Russell Fork today. These are pictures of the middle section, the Russell Fork Gorge (class IV-V+) taken from the Breaks National Park. I never knew it before researching this river, but the middle section is crazier than the upper Gauley. We did the lower section which was only II+, but pretty technical in the low water. It was a great stretch of river. When more water is running we want to go back and do the upper section, and one day when we feel like kings of the water, the middle section.

We talked to a local guy who was swimming with his dog and had black teeth. He was at the take out. He says he runs the middle section all the time. He didn't seem like he knew shit about shit, but he does run that river all the time and he doesn't even blink about it.

They also have a festival down here: The Russell Fork Rendezvous, which is a bluegrass, roots music and boating festival. 1st weekend in October I believe. They also have damn releases all through October here.