Contact People: Ken Nowak, Neil Grabowsky
The portion of the West River just below Ball Mountain Dam near the town of Jamaica Vermont and Jamaica State Park (About 1.5 hour drive from Troy) is normally dry, but there are two recreational releases every year -- one weekend in the spring and one in the fall. This is a very nice river. The upper section from the dam to the state park is suitable for rafting and for intermediate kayaking trips. The section below the state park is ideal for beginner kayaking (and really easy rafting). There is a large club trip to the West for every release. We usually camp at the nearby Windhall campground (The campground at Jamaica State Park is way too crowded and you have to make reservations about a year in advance).
Saturday September 20, 2003 is a single day release for the West River. We will be meeting at the RPI armory at 6AM to carpool to the river.
Unlike most club trips, we will not all be travelling to and from the river together. Everyone has to work out their own transportation (we will help arrange car pools). Contact the leaders listed above for carpool information. A large group is leaving from the RPI armory at 6AM Saturday, so if all else fails show up and we should be able to give you a ride (You might have to wait around if you are on the mid-morning or afternoon trips, but Jamaica state park is beautiful and has lots of hiking trails).
From Troy, take NY Route 7 East. At the Vermont border, NY 7 becomes VT 9; continue East on VT 9. In Bennington VT, turn North on VT 7 (Yes, this is correct. NY and VT highway numbers weren't coordinated very well). Turn East on routes 11 and 30 near Manchester. Take route 30 when routes 30 and 11 split.
To get to Ball Mountain Dam (Put-in for the upper section of the river) do not turn North on route 100. Continue on route 30. The exit for the Dam is a left turn on a fairly steep down grade. There is a sign.
To get to Jamaica State Park (Take-out for the upper section of the river, put-in for the lower section), take route 30 into the town of Jamaica. Turn left at the white church. DO NOT CROSS THE RIVER AND ENTER THE STATE PARK. The park itself is very crowded; they will want to charge you by the person; it is impossible to find anyone there. Pay the Soccer mom standing in the middle of the road $2 and park on the soccer field. Look for outing club people over near the river.