Paddlin’ Ed

Ran White Top Laurel near Damascus Va. today Saturday March 3rd, 2007.  Nice level – SF of Holston read 1850 early morning,  AFS-NOAA SG Damascus read 3.9,  and Paddler gauge on the Iron Bridge read +7 to +8″ getting on at 10:30am and +6″ getting off at around 4pm.

 Washington and Grayson Counties had rain gauges with 1 to 1 1/2″ of rain on Thursday before and the SF Holston at Damascus gauge had peaked on Friday evening at around 2660.  Saturday morning one of the group that lives up in the Grayson Highland area that feeds WTL indicated that in addition to the area still having plenty of water run off that morning it still had a lot of ice on the ground melting which would keep the level/flow up through the day.

Had 10 paddlers in the group, 9 kayak, and 1 OC-1.  Good run for all with minimal carnage, but quite a few braces and some hole and curler dancing occasionally.

 Day was clear blue skies and sunshine all the way.  Morning temps where nice with only mild breeze till around noon and wind picked up steadily through the day.  By 2:30 or so at Big Fall it was getting quite chilly and the last 2 hours wind would occasionally whip spray up on us.  But it was an excellant day on both the upper and lower sections with good water.  Water was crystal clear and moving nicely.

Ed B., Darron P., and Ronnie G. from N. Carolina, plus Brian C., Billy A., Jason B., Burton Y., Jed M., Joe, and Brain from Damascus area and other parts of Va.  Great day had by all,  an excellant run.  Everyone was however ready to dry off and get into warm clothes and go eat at the end of the day.

To see more pictures/video from the day scroll down to and  click on the “My Pictures” link in the side-bar to the right.  That will take you to my picture Gallery – then look for the Album for White Top Lauel – March 3rd, 2007