The Vermont Paddlers Club

Looking back, the VPC first discovered the NB PCat fall drawdown from Lake Horace in Weare, NH in 2016. This year, despite a prolonged summer 2025 drought across New England, the dam operators and the NH DEC were able to provide a full compliment of water from Lake Horace for 2 fluid laps, starting at 9am. Long stretches of splashy class II boogie water separate the more technical drops, reaching III-IV at most in medium water. Short carries/drags were needed around 2 river-wide strainers, not bad for a 4+ mile creeky run through a lovely hardwood forest decked out in its fall finery. Temperatures warmed to the mid-60's under bright sunshine and plenty of tri-state paddlers showed up for the fun. A second group of VPC paddlers arrived at the put-in shortly after our group of 3 open canoes had launched, and AFAIK they too completed 2 laps before heading back home to VT. Long live the NB PCat!