Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.

Rapid WV Class III+

Deception

American Whitewater 39.2086, -79.9555

Save this feature with the run it belongs to.

Gauge Conditions

Tygart Valley River at Philippi, WV Upstream Primary

Runnable: 800.0 – 10,000.0 CFS

Data from American Whitewater & USGS

Photo

Photo courtesy of American Whitewater

Description

From here the Tygart ramps up thru the next 5 rapids and things can get serious at high flows. The fun starts with Deception (Cl III+), so named for the powerful pair of offset holes hidden below a placid horizon line. Multiple routes exist but most paddlers elect to catch the left eddy just above the 1st hole and ferry to the right below the 1st and above the 2nd. The 1st hole is not only powerful, but also bordered by rock on the right and turned upstream on the left. If you drop into this hole be sure to write "what the f&%!" on the rock as yer gettin shaded. The 2nd hole is somewhat more forgiving. The 1st hole can be boofed to the right of the rock for those so inclined. Downstream from here you'll notice how the wavetrain run-outs are getting some pop to them. Watch out for the fat pourover hole right of center.