What Almost Wasn’t

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There were supposed to be dams at Swallow Falls and Sang Run.

The Little Town In The Woods

Kendall is the name most people remember. But it wasn't the first name of the little town a few miles above Friendsville, nestled tightly between the river and its canyon walls.

The Upper Yough Race

From the very first race, the challenge became, how in the hell do you go faster than Roger Zbel?

Shootout At Sang Run

Boaters were caught between an environmental movement and a group of angry locals.

Tommy’s Hole

As Tom disappeared around the corner, I doubt his group imagined what would happen next.

Bastard Falls

Watching the other members of his group disappear over the horizon line at Gap Falls, Dan was nervous.

Wright’s Hole

Up until Jack's mishap at Wright's hole, a swim on the Upper Yough was really bad news.

Lost and Found

Bob Alexander put on to a rising river, and a single bad line gave the rapid a second name.

Charlie’s Choice

Your first run down the Upper Yough probably wasn't as memorable as the one Charlie Walbridge's first run.

Heinzerling

Bill Heinzerling had a really bad day on the river.

Meatcleaver

Meatcleaver was the only rapid named on the first descent, but it's a name that was forgotten soon after.

Rapid Names

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Boaters have been running the Upper Yough for over 60 years. Contained within that period are a myriad of stories, and a select few have given birth to rapid names.

The Learning Curve

It took a decade for boaters to tame the Upper Yough.

The High Water Mark

At high water, nobody makes it through Tommy's Hole unscathed.

A First Descent

Before May 31st, 1959, the Upper Yough was a line on a map, a guess in a guidebook. Three boaters changed that.

The Guides

As the Upper Yough grew in popularity, a new avenue opened up for the sport.

Cheesburger Falls

Cheeseburger Falls is one of the weirder rapid names in existence.