Class: III - IV
Leader: Trip leader needed
Prerequisites: Solid Roll, flotation, and cold weather gear. This run has lots of long contiguous rapids and the water can be chilly.
Summary: AW says, "The Savage is THE whitewater rocket ride! With an average gradient of 75 feet per mile (with sections exceeding 100 fpm) the action is fast and continuous. The Savage's overall difficulty rating below 800 cfs is Class III-IV. At 800 - 1,200 cfs it is Class IV. Above 1,200 cfs the Savage is the longest Class IV-V rapid in Maryland!! Due to the steep, narrow and unrelenting nature of this run paddlers should be: 1) Well insulated (water temp 46), 2) Adept at fast self-rescue and wave-crest scouting, and 3) In possession of paddling skills commensurate with water levels... below 800 cfs - intermediate to advanced, 800 - 1,200 cfs - advanced to expert, above 1,200 cfs - expert only.".
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/748/Latest release details:
http://www.nab-wc.usace.army.mil/northBranch.html
