Trucking the Youghiogheny

There is a good eddy on river right at the end of Snaggle Tooth before the second phase of Triple Drop, which is nothing more than some Class II ledges. The third part of Triple Drop contains National Falls. The easiest way to run this from the eddy below Snaggle Tooth is to work your way to the far left over the intervening Class II+ ledges.

Then, from the eddy just above the main drop on river left, turn left as you ride the curler down. The other route from the right over Class V National Falls is not for the faint of heart. Crank hard if you go this route, and expect to be trashed by the hole at the bottom if you miss your boof.

Beyond Triple Drop lies Tommy's Hole. Located on the left, this hole is tightly packed between an upstream and a downstream boulder. Some small boats with no edges have trouble getting out. A good sneak route exists to the right near the middle of the river, but you should work your way back quickly to river left just below Tommy's Hole.

A Real Zinger

After a steep sequence just below Tommy's Hole (called Little Niagara) the paddler confronts Zinger, a diagonal wave-hole combination. Enter from the top eddy on the left. There are two routes. You can stay far left as you exit the eddy, heading about two o'clock (cocking your bow 60 degrees to the right of downstream) and go straight, punching the diagonal curler-hole.

To take the other route, first go right toward the large boulder that forms the right side of the drop, then surf the diagonal curler from right to left as you pass the large boulder to your right. Sanctuary can be sought in a good-size eddy next to the left bank below the large boulder. The exit from this eddy is obvious (to the right if you opt not to catch the eddy). Zinger is not a notorious troublemaker as Upper Yough rapids go, but it has given some paddlers problems. You can sneak Zinger on the far right.

After Zinger and Trap Run Falls, and some Class III type stuff, look for the right-side entrance to Heinzerling, a Class IV V rapid. If you miss this hard-to-find approach, you will be forced to take a much tougher route down the center and left. To catch the best approach (called Rifle Barrel), cross a shallow rocky area on the right to reach a shady pool upstream and to the right of the initial drop of Heinzerling.

The first phase of Heinzerling can be boat-scouted from the bottom of this pool, and it is truly a classic whitewater spot. From the eddy at the top it looks much steeper and more complex than it really is. First you drop several feet over the first ledge and catch an eddy to the right or left to look over the bottom drop.

From either eddy you head directly downstream toward the big pillowed boulder visible at the bottom. Ride the pillow on the boulder, bracing right and sliding off it to the left. If you ride high enough on the pillow, you will avoid the nastier parts of the holes just to the left of the big boulder. Going to the right of the boulder may be bumpy. Just below Heinzerling is an interesting little jumble called Boulder Dance.

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