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Pithole to Oleopolis 6.5 miles Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level III 44/70 Tiny(42/70) A-B/A Topographic Maps: Pleasantville, President County Maps: Venango Description: This small stream drains an area that once boasted a major oil community that is now a ghost town. A mostly wilderness hemlock valley is all that remains with a stream that paddlers are slowly discovering. The run is roughly split by a stone bridge on a secondary road east of Plumer. The run starting at Pithole offers a very small, meandering headwater stream with gradient increasing towards the stone bridge. Active oil and gas wells can be found along the otherwise deserted valley. About a mile below the stone bridge, a blind left turn leads to a 2-3 foot ledge. This is the first in a series of half a dozen that punctuate the next 1.5 miles of almost continuous Class III rock-dodging. At medium levels all offer straight passage, but this is not always obvious, so it is worth scouting them. The stream gradually flattens out again for the junction with the Allegheny, offering good whitewater to within sight of the mouth. [Checked 1999] Difficulties: Potential for tree problems. First mile below the stone bridge is very continuous. Several narrow drops have potential for pins. Shuttle: To reach the Pithole put-in, turn east off State Route 227 on State Route 1006 toward the Pithole historical site. About 1.5 miles later in quick secession the road bends right, a dirt road enters from the left, you cross west Pithole Creek, the road bends left and another dirt road enters on the right. Turn right on this second dirt road. It crosses Pithole Creek in about 0.2 miles. If you get to the historical site, you have gone too far. Take out in Oleopolis on State Route 1005 (the Oleopolis road) accessed from State Route 227. The State Route 1004 (the stone bridge east of Plumer) offers an alternative put-in. The bridge is reached by turning east off State Route 227 about 1 mile north of the Oleopolis road. Pithole Creek can be run from the second bridge above Pithole, adding 3 miles, but size, trees, and several above-water pipe crossings make this section undesirable. One can also put in at the State Route 1006 (Pithole Road) bridge near Runbaugh Corners. This would add 2.0 miles of Class I-II for a warm up for the lower part. Gauges: Rouseville. This gauge on nearby Oil Creek will probably read between 4.2 and 5.2 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 1,250 to 2,250 cfs. Check levels at the stone bridge on State Route 1004 for enough water. Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is tiny, it should normally be runnable only after a heavy rain or during spring snowmelt. |
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