Connecticut River Sumner Falls Flow Study – June 2014

In June 2014, American Whitewater and a number of local paddlers participated in a Flow Study of the Sumner Sumner Falls Rapid (aka Hartland Rapid) on the Connecticut River. This as part of TransCanada's relicensing of the Wilder Hydroelectric Project upstream. The rapid is located in Hartland, Vermont at the Sumner Falls Recreation Area.

Click here for a copy of the flow study

Satellite photo (at very low level) with various rapid features labeled. During the weekend flows ranged from 4700 cfs to 13000 cfs. Image © Google Maps, borrowed from study document.

Main [Center] Wave.

Zoomed-in view (room for many boats).

Slight interruption on the first day to rescue a recreational kayak that attemped to paddle the whitewater by mistake.

SUP paddler passing to right of Main Wave heading to Right-center Ledge.

Right-center Ledge.


One of the Right-center slots (there are several).

Orli Gottlieb surfing Sign Wave (yes it's really spelled that way).

Sign Wave at a higher level.

There are ?? nests on the rock island.

Along with centuries-old grafitti.


The Saga of the Fawn.

So these guys paddling wood-strip canoes down the river found a fawn trying to swim along the side of the river that had been abandonded. It had either been hit by a car or just fallen down the embankment and broken both hind legs.

Our heros took it aboard and brought it back to the park and called Animal Rescue. There is no Animal Rescue in Hartland (or even a police force), so the State Police showed up.

The officer put it down with one shot; she told our heros they could have the body. Being Vermonters they promply skinned and gutted it (can't let it go to waste after all).




Hand-crafted wood-strip canoes. Impressive.

Camping in an Art Gallery.

The group stayed at the Path of Life Sculpture Garden, located in Windsor, Vermont [Google Maps Link].

It's located behind the Harpoon Brewery. To get to the garden travel thru the "Tunnel of Oblivion" under the railroad and enter a fantasy land. (When traveling out it's called "Gateway to Eternity").

It's not a normal commercial campground; groups can stay there only by special arrangement.

The eighteen (or more now) works of art on the grounds symbolize the journey from birth to death and beyond. This one, located on the "Hill of Learning" makes an impressive dinner gong.

Jam'ing around the camp fire; this piece titled "Creativity", made from Russian River driftwood.

I don't remember if this was art or just camping equipment...

This piece wasn't labeled, nor did I see it on the map.

"Union".

"Family".

"Nieces & Nephews".

"Community".




(This couple was off to the side by themselves.)

"Solitude".

"Ambition" (a large earthen mound near a working bee hive).

"Sorrow".

"Forgiveness" (surrounded by "Joy").

"Forgiveness" ("Joy" in the background, a garden of blueberries and raspberries).

"Respite".

"Contemplation".

"To The Present Moment Yield".

"Death".

"Re-Birth".

"Birth".

"Hope" (with Tori gates and prayer wheels).

"Tree of Wisdom".


"Adventure" (the hedge maze) appears behind "Community".

It's a pretty decent maze. Created in 1998 using 800 hemlock trees.

I'd guess the trees are six-seven feet high.

It's hard to get lost. Just follow the well-worn path.

Ring the bell at the center when you find it.

Wrong turn on the way out.

The exit appears to be less worn the entrance. Hmmmmmm... Perhaps there are ghosts just like "The Shining".

Groups can use the large teepees.

There are also 5+ miles of hiking trails on the property, usable year round (dogsledding, showshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter).

Here's the boat launch on the banks of the Connecticut River.


All unattributed photos ©2014 Skipper Morris.

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