The trials for the Olympics ( I think 1992) for various classes of Kayaks were held on the Savage River a tributary of the North Branch but they depended on water release from the Savage River Dam. Today there is also a flood control dam across the North Branch at Bloomington, Md. A number of years ago organized races were held in the Hopeville Canyon area south of Petersburg on the North Fork of the South Branch - this was done in the spring time when the water level was up. There are several outfitters who provide canoe trips on the upper South Branch, but they are not white water trips. A trip through the Trough will take about 4 hours for a 6 mile trip today. "An Atlas of Appalachian Trails to the Ohio River" by Carrie Eldridge discusses the early road systems beginning with Buffalo paths and indian trails. George M. Williams ---------- > From: Catbite <bhaines@tje1.com> > To: WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] More on early roads. > Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 9:44 PM > > It's not done on the North Branch, just rafting mostly. I think they do on > the South up towards Petersburg. > Becci > > HERMON B FAGLEY wrote: > > > They are re-paving the 4 lane out my window. That's what many of us think > > of as roads. > > But not back then. "They " say the NC coastal Indians moved up the South > > Branch,and > > across Pa's Path Valley about 1710-15,moving to NY to jon the 5 Nations. > > Most likely they > > were following buffalo paths from salt lict,to major spring,to salt lick. > > Those 'traces ' were the > > only roads,and only roads needed,besides the river. > > Sarah posted that there were no cabins from Polk's at Hancock,Md to > > Cresap's at Old Town,Md > > so,where were the workers coming from to clear such a road? The common > > thing is > > that the neighbors work on the roads in their neighbohood. This is a > > major highway. Was a > > fee tollpike for many years. Yet,one grandfather kept a team hitched at > > all times to > > pull model T's from a mud hole. The other had a steam engine powered rock > > chusher,on > > Clover Creek, and used his four boys to build his contract of 2 miles of > > gravel turnpike. 1920 era. > > Sarah posted that crossing cow > > paths were better than that road. Even if they made a road,all they > > would be doing is getting rid of those > > fallen trees,and cutting a few others. No rock or gravel. And when the > > mud road became impassable, > > as they all did,just move it. > > We noted,as above,the road going past the big mineral springs at > > Berkley Springs. > > 1st road across Ohio was Zane's Trace, cut by the Zane's for the federal > > govenment in 1796 > > in exchange for land,and ferry rghts at major river > > crossings-Zanesville,Lacaster,and Chilacothe. > > Cut the nearest,and best way. They cut it over a couple Sunfish mountians > > to get to the present > > fish hatchery spring at Latham,Oh. A BUFFALO TRACE. 1796. 1798,the > > new Adams Co,Oh's early > > business was to cut some roads to ferry landings, and to bend that Zane's > > Trace around those mountians. > > They added 10 miles,but likely had a trace to the big Sinking Springs to > > follow. > > Next thing was traces cut to the water powered mills. Flour,corn meal,and > > whiskey. > > Roads were about as much as anything to keep split rail fences from > > blocking the route. > > Sarah posted another thing . The river had enough water from where the > > North and South branches unite > > for water transport by bigger than canoes. > > I've never been exactly in the South Branch,but all around it. I > > understand roads ran around the > > Trough of the South Branch to reach Van Meters at his own Oldtown. > > Question,my grandau spent last weekend white water rafting on WV'S New > > River. Is white water > > rafting done on the North,or South ,Brabches,Potomac? > > ________________________________________________________________ > > YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! > > Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! > > Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: > > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. >