Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge fire?

[Lynx]

I need to go by the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, VA where there is a fire. Any reports on the waterways close to this that I need to be aware of?

[hearsejr]

I don't think it's closed.  there is a guy livng in the yard where I'm working on my boat and he told me that the water was 7' deep almost the whole length. I think he came through a few months ago.
when are you going through? G otta pass through there next month, when I bring PRETTY LUCKY home.
Bill

[s/v Faith]

A great place for info that Dan "Psyche' turned me on to is the Salty South east Cruisers net

  Found this post on thier 'NC cruising news' page.

Depths On Dismal Swamp Canal - Mid-June, 2008
Published: June 18, 2008
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Captain Michael's report on Dismal Swamp Canal depths is most encouraging!

The swamp was a delight with nothing less than 6 feet all the way.  Never bumped or touched anything.  The tree overgrowth was no trouble for those big sail boats some of whom have done it a dozen trips so go for it!  We tied up at Tide water Marina in Portsmouth and find it pretty first class.  Great to visit Norfolk and Portsmouth which can be done in two afternoons.  Moving on to Salt Pond Marina tomorrow.  One footnote, it was a real shocker to come out of the gentile and pleasant Dismal Swamp into the bustling Norfolk area.
Michael La Porte .

[Lynx]

Thanks. There is no NOAA warnings about this. So it looks like I am good to go.

I am planing to follow the ICW up per the charts. I will let you know how it goes. On the way back in Oct I may go outside and sail as much as I can.

A lot of the bigger cruising boats are going a displacement speeds and best mpg. Things are slowing a bit on the ICW due to higher fuel prices.

[Joe Pyrat]

Good to know.  I'll be heading south through there later this summer or fall.

[Lynx]

Just passed there, no problems. However -

Pamlico Sound South to Moorhead City via ICW is a real challenge. No not go through the ICW if you have a keel draft of more than 3 feet. Charts are bad, bad wind tides, .....  I had to swing everything up 3 times to get through. However, I would love to spend a month or more in the area playing on the islands.

[Joe Pyrat]

Lynx, do you have exact positions on these shallow areas?

[Lynx]

Let me work on this. I will have to give GPS as this is a big area and I hope that I can creat it. Right now I am in the Dismal swamp park/reststop/free dock. Fire is little way away. No problem.