Spring has made its way into the southeast, bringing with it some good soaking rains to start things out right. In the past month I've been able to get back on a few runs that I've really been looking forward to. Finally, after missing several oppourtunities over the winter, I made it back to the Raven Fork. It was a spectacular day as the first signs of spring were showing, and the level was a nice 8". With the weather beginning to warm in such an amazing place, I was feeling great. So good in fact, I decided I was ready to be a Big Boy.
Photo: Challen Averill
There is so much spray at the bottom it's difficult to get a clear picture, but this one turned out pretty well. Scott Magley, Mac McGee and myself all ran it and had slightly different yet succesfull lines.
In between rains when the main creeks drop out, we head to Dukes ,which is good at low water, and the Chattooga which holds really well. The more I run the Chattooga the more it grows on me, It truly is wild and scenic. On my last trip there I saw a nest of brown water snakes above Raven Chute, a turkey vulture in its nest at Raven Ciffs, several hawks, and trout jumping up Five Falls.
Dukes Creek - Photo: Matt Hollingsworth
Baker Davenport running the Bull
Then there are the spring releases at the Tallulah Gorge. After the fall releases were cancelled last year, I was excited to hear as the realease dates approached in April that it was on. There were several longboats out there on the first Saturday, so on Sunday I broke out the Green Boat. It was well worth the hike down the stairs.
About two weeks ago I met Jeff up at Dukes Creek to put on for my first time. I had hiked and scouted this run several times previously but still didn't quite know what I was in for. The section we paddled is about 4/10 of a mile long, with nearly all the gradient at the very end where the bedrock creekbed drops nearly 200ft in 1/8th of a mile.
Looking up Dukes at low water
Today, after a night of light and steady rain I met Mac McGee at the putin for Dukes. We originally had plans for a day of lapping to score for the Southeast Gradient Showdown (SGS). Plans changed upon inspection of the gauge stick Jeff stuck in the sand a couple weeks ago, it was 1.5" higher today. 1.5" doesn't sound like much and wouldn't be much on almost any other run, but Dukes is . . . sensitive. We decided to put on and get out above the big stuff to see how it looked. After about 20 minutes of scouting and convincing ourslelves it was good to go, we dropped over the lip of the entrance, and committed to the next 5 drops.
If there is a crux move on this run, for me it's getting left at the 30 footer. There are now three ways I know of to make this happen. One option, which we did on the first lap, is to carry around the small ledges right above the drop and get in on the nearly boat-wide ledge right at the lip, with your bow hanging off the drop and seal launch. Another option, at low water, is to slide over the ledges, drop into the tiny one boat eddie at the lip and wheelchair against the left bank to line up. The third option, which we tried today for the first time, needs a little more water. After dropping into the small, boiling eddie at the lip you have two strokes to get enough momentum and get far enough left before rolling off.
The 30 footer
Alex Brantley running "Mullets Matter" at lower water
When we made it to the bottom we got out, walked the last big drop at the observation deck and took a breather before hiking up for another lap. We started checking out that last unrun rapid. Looking at it without much water it's obvious what has kept this drop from being run. Part of the shelf at the base pokes up into the landing zone.
We scouted from every angle we could find. From some angles it looked good, from others not so much. With the extra water we had today, that rock at the base was mostly covered up, with most of the flow landing to the right of it. We decided it looked too tight though, and to just go up for another lap.
Mac McGee running "For the Love of It"
The second lap went smoothly and before we knew it we were hiking again for a third. We checked the stick gauge one more time and saw it had risen another 1/4" or so. We boogied down and started to get things dialed in, making it to the takeout even quicker. I took another look at the last drop and had to give it a try. I told Mac, gave him my camera and walked back to my boat. I promptly peeled out and headed for the lip of my first 1st descent.
Getting a little sideways
We are now calling this one "Rock Bottom", or if you've ever been to the Bear it might resemble "Big Bang on Crack". Mac followed quickly behind me, nabbing the 2nd run and sticking one helluva boof.
Killin' it!
Access to this creek is somewhat sensitive. We tend to avoid going on weekends and times when there will be lots of hiker traffic. There have yet to be any negative encounters. Please be discreet and careful paddling here, a bad mistake could easily land you in the hospital. For more insight on Dukes Creek read Jeff's write-up on AW.
The last two days have contained some pretty darn good kayaking. Yesterday was my first time on Overflow Creek where we had a solid medium level that padded things out nicely. I can see why that river is such a classic, tons of fun. After a bit of a slow start today I made my way up through Chattanooga to Bear Creek for some high water action. We put on mid afternoon while the gauge read 21", on its way down from crazy high the day before. However, once on the river the Bear master Bryce informed us that the gauge has changed and it felt more like 26".
Curt Lamberth at Fishbowl
Unnamed Boater commencing kayak evacuation
A little photoshopping
Pushy water and munchy holes were the order of the day. I ran everything and was fortunate to have good lines. There was however one swim and a few scares, but everybody made it down in one piece. It was one sweet day on the river for sure.
It's been months since I've even thought about updating this thing, but I have been very busy, paddling a lot, and there is now much to update about. I will try to keep the words to a minimum in this post, and let the pictures and video do most of the speaking.
It's been a long time since the actual trip, but I finally edited some of the video from the Ottowa last spring. The quality isn't the best, but here it is:
This year I raced in the eastern qualifier for the LVM Giant Slalom Series. I have done many flatwater races in the past, but this was my first whitewater racing experience. The race had two parts, a downriver portion from the Big Hungry confluence to right below Chief, and the slalom part which was two laps on the awsome course set up in the slides below Gorilla. The race was a blast, and when all was said and done I had made the top 20 and qualified for the final race, scheduled for the end of August. As you may know, the organizers were unable to secure the extended release necessary due to the drought, and the final race was cancelled. Provided there is enough water next year, I will definitely be out there racing again.
Racing through Zwick's in the downriver portion
Coming around gate #3
Later in the summer I had the oppourtunity to paddle the Raven Fork for the first time. I had been looking forward to this experience ever since hiking the Raven a year earlier. We wasted no time on the hike in or on the river, as is always the case when paddling with Jeff, so I didn't even take my camera. There are no words to accurately describe how amazing this place is, so I won't even try. I just can't wait to go back!
As summer came to an end and classes began, I started to focus on getting ready to compete in my first Green River Narrows Race. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a Green boat over the summer, and was excited to start training in it. Everything was going great until the weekend before the race when my boat cracked during a practice run. I owe a huge thanks to Ben Davis, who was layed up with a shoulder injury, for letting me race his boat this year. I decided to compete inthe Ironman, racing both long and short boats. This was a lot of fun, and made for a full day of paddling and hiking. I could go on for paragraphs about how the race went, but just check out the video.
It is now winter in the southeast, and that means true creeking season. A month or so ago I got up to the Lower Cullasaja at a fluffy 4.5 feet on the gauge. I put together a video with some of the footage that Alex shot and it was recently featured on Immersion Research's website. Here's the link:
Recently we've had a pretty big rain event that has left many rivers still holding water. I got on Go Forth Creek at low water for a few runs after finishing my last final at school in the morning. When I got to Go Forth all I had with me was my Corsica, so oldschool I went:
The next day started at 5am as we headed for the Bear. Jeff, Cory and I put on at daylight with a fun level of 14 inches. I got three runs in before the cold go to me, Jeff and Cory did five. On the third day in a row of natural flow, I got two runs on Suck Creek. All was fine and dandy there until Kuckle Head on the second lap.
Photo: Jordan Rice
I flipped onto the rock at the top and rolled back up as I went over, tearing a muscle or tendon in my ribcage. It's only a minor tear so I was able to paddle to the bridge, but I'm taking a few weeks off to let it heal.
I may have written a litte more than I originally intended, but oh well.
It's been a while since I've put anything up here but the results from yesterday's trip to the Green are blog-worthy. I headed up in the morning with some guys from ATL and we made it on the river by about 11. We cruised on down to Go Left and hopped out so a couple of the guys could scout and run it their first time. Here's a couple pics of Robbie and myself going left.
Yours truly
Robbie
After Go Left my mind was set on Gorrilla, I wasn't really satisfied with my first run having my skirt implode. I wasn't nearly as nervous this time either and was very deliberate with stroke placement.
In the Notch
Spankin' it
I got a little sideways when I landed in the flume and ended up in Speed Trap. I was so happy about being right side up and still having my skirt on though that I was smiling the whole time I surfed it.
Robbie fired it up also and had a good line.
I was feeling pretty good so when we got to Sunshine I got out to scout. After looking at it for a minute I made my decision and ran Sunshine for the first time, taking the left line. Here's a photo and video, courtesy of Mason and Greg (Please excuse the excessive yelling ;).
I gotta say it was pretty scary, but felt really good. Robbie took a few minutes to think it over and decided to try the left line as well.
Success!
It was a great day on the river for sure, and definitly my best on the Green.
On a playboating note, Toby and I met up at the Ottawa a couple weeks ago for some Mini Bus action. we are still compiling photos and a few video clips and will be posting that soon. Till then, later!
