Paddlin’ Ed

Four of us paddled the Nolichucky Gorge today on Saturday April 28, 2007.  In the group were 3 K-1 kayakers, Brian C.,  Jason B., and paddlin-ed.  The fourth member of the group was Kevin K. in OC-1. 

 The last week had been a lean on for rain and rivers where falling most places, limiting opportunities.  The Nolichucky was running around 880cfs on the gauge, but had ample water for a good run.  About the only place it was getting pretty thin was in “Rock Garden”.  While on the shuttel it seemed the sun would poke through the day remained moderately to heavily overcast once on the river with temps in the 60’s.  During the day we had periods with spinkles of rain but nothing of significance.  Water was cool but not chilly and with a long dry top on, quite comfortable most of the time.  Overall a good day to be on the river.We met at the campground around 10:15 which was covered up by a paddling club out of Kentucky with around 80-90 people there for clinics.  While all these people where there we got an early start to the put in and missed the crowd and pretty much with the exception of a couple of kaykers and 2 or 3 rafts had the river to ourselves.

“Railroad/entrance” went without incident, though you had to negotiate a few rocks that where uncovered at this lower level, otherwise no problem.  “On the Rocks” gave us all a little suprise, as it was a bit quirky at the level and pushed all of us right just above the tougue while ferrying into position.  There seem to be a tougue of water above pushing from the left bank right into and through just above the drop where you ferry over and turn, so all the K-1’s ended up pushed off the tougue to the right and then ran the lower right chute below.  Only Kevin in the OC-1 made it left as the longer canoe seeming to bridge over the and allow him to move left.

“Jaws” was ok but had a bit of a secondary wave at the bottom of the main tougue that tended to push you off.  Those entering on the left seemed to be able to get a foam pile and work spins etc. better.  Pretty much it was far right or left today.

Worked our way down to ”Quarter Mile”,  just a bit more manuvering involve to avoid some rocks and ledges exposed with lower level but this just added a different challange, no big issue, still plenty of water.  At ”Quarter Mile”,  the tougue coming down out of the staging eddy was further right/upstream and narrower at the top so you had to enter almost straight and then turn into a upstream ferry angle as you came down it rather than enter in with ferry angle.  The far left line at hungry jack was bit more forgiving provide you committed left and went low into it.  I was able to get into the upper eddy on the left pretty easy without getting pushed to the 2nd eddy.  Some in the group ran the end of the ledge through the hole which wasn’t very grabby at all at the level, and they just turned and ran around the big rock to the right eddy.  Kevin opted for lift over the bottom of the staging eddy and work down the from the left side, the rest of us went to the right eddy below Hungry Jack and then ferried back over to the left and worked down the left and back over through the boulders to the right and down.  The far right line at Murphy ledge had a bit of a bang at bottom with the lower water.

At “Rooster Tail”, I ran down 1st trying to set up for pictures but the rest of the group came down before I could get the camera out.  My line caught the eddy above the entrance on the right then the slot into the eddy behind the pourover rock to the left of the entrance, then across to next eddy to the left the down to the 1st eddy in the boulder line along the left side.  Most of the group caught the slot behind the pourover at the top then right to the right side and on through the “Dog leg”.  Kevin did catch the eddy behind to top pour over and worked down.  I worked out from the left boulder line through eddies behind the rocks out in the center and then went for the tight left line into the curl line in the dog leg onto the platform eddy behind the ledge on the left, then down the left side.

Plenty of play down working down ”Roller Coaster”, ledeges down to dodo hole, and on through dodo hole, to “Rock Garden”.  Had to work the area above “Rock Garden” a little more  and “Rock Garden” was a bit thin.  Myself, I got a bit tangled getting through a thin area had to bang down a bit backwards to get turned around at the bottom,  the others ran a bit further downstream without any major problems.  My line was more the normal area, however I have noticed the last time or two there seems to be more water a bit further down now, think I will try that area the next time.

“Hole In the Wall” and “Souse Hole” no problem, just a bit more manuvering.  Others ran down the left side at ”Souse Hole”,  I did to the high right eddy and ferry over to the left (didn’t try the drop and lower eddy on the right, just to thin down there today for that one).

Did have to watch a bit more for rock under the surface on the stretches below “Souse Hole” down to the area above “Twin Eddy’s” but no big problem,  just had to stay alert and manuver a bit,  still some surfing opportunities in the run.  “Twin Eddy’s” was still a good run and plenty of action.  Surfed a bit at the bottom.  You had to really get to the left in the hole to surf.  My last surf I was down low and hooked my bow under a vexious rock in the far left end of the hole and did a little dance with it.  The whole group took a couple of passes surfing before we paddled out.

We where off around 3:30 changed out and left just as the sun came out.  Even without the sun it was an excellant day.  Enough water to have good run and fun.   Carnage was minimal and mostly from varying stories I heard from the others, on the way to the river,  something about the highway, flying kayaks, boat road rashes, and tying things on,  but I’ll let those of you who know them ask Brian, Jason, and Kevin about that.

 PS:(I did elect to strap my boat on personally however for the shuttle after hearing the road story).   Paddin-ed