Paddlin’ Ed

The now annual Mean and Ugly Ocoee-Cheoah CCC Weekend for this year started off Friday evening with the initial gathering at the Campground just over the Tennessee state line.  The group gathered up on Saturday morning and set plans for the initial days paddle of the Upper and Middle Ocoee,  with a few folks opting to do only one or the other section.  After setting up shuttle and waiting for all of the group to gather we got in at the upper put in just after noon with a sizable group.Everyone did a little warm up on the small ledge hydraulics just out from the put in, then it was off to the first good surf spot where we hung for a while, took turns in the wave hole and I got some pictures of the action.  Then we all worked down playing the rapids to Alien falls.  Most of the group got out to scout, while about four of us that where familiar with it did runs for the others to watch.  At the bottom I set up to pictures of the rest of the group coming down.  After that serveral of us portage back up, ferried across to river right and ran “Mikey’s” on the right.  From there it was down to the drop on the far right through the 90 degree slot drop and down the run just above the suspension bridge near the whitewater center.

Just at the top of the Olympic section run we all got out on the right, took a break plus walked the course and looked at lines, then back the boats and off down the Olympic run.  A couple of folks did some right side lines near the top, I opt’ed to head for the left line and work down,  after a couple of eddies most folks where pretty much on the left line.  Down near Humongus one of our group had an altercation with the big hole and did a little bottom mapping, we all caught up below the lower course bridge on the left.

On down to Roach motel, most did well,  I got cut off just above the bottom hole and moved left to avoid a collision which put me just far enough off line to hit the wave hole and allow me the dubious opportunity to side surf and then hang in the hole, after flushing out and gathering back up, the group ran on down with part going far right to avoid the powerhouse outflow sluice and the rest of us hitting it booking on the far upstream end of the sluice.  We all paddled down to the pool above the dam at the middle put in.  We took a break, and then gather up and headed down the middle.

The level had been good and full on the upper and added to the flow of the lower it was a beefy flow, really nice level.   After getting past the rafts at the put in the group headed down Snow White on past Grumpy with no problems.  I however, began to notice about halfway down my boat sure was stern squirting a lot, and after riding down the wave hole at Whirlgig and hitting the pool on the left I noticed it sure seemed a bit wet in my boat,  sure does help to remember to put that drain plug back in between sections.  After draining and plugging the group headed to Gonzo Shoals,  clean runs.  On to Broken Nose,  I did the hop the top of the tongue and rock on the left to the left end of the hole for the drop and spin into the #3 eddy,  Kurt coming down at the same time did the eddy 1-2-3 thing.  From there on down to the bottom drops on the left and then the run over down the main channel going far left, playing the run and catching eddies out in the main current.

Slice and dice was big and even a hole or two below the main two wanted to play.  A little  surf time on the wave and then down to Moon Shoot for a little more. Then play and work down through Double Suck and Double Trouble, and on down through Hollywood and the others to the doldrums.  On past Suprise ledge and then we all did our runs of Tablesaw.  At diamond splitter most did the run to the far right eddy above and then down behind the splitter, a few worked some alternate lines on the left.  Some surfing of witches hole below by Kurt and one or two others and then on down to for a brief run at the spin hole/ledge below, and on down through “Acelerator”.

Below there serveral lines where taken down to just above Hell Hole,  Myself I went for the  ”skin the cat” move. At hell hole most in my group went to eddy left,  I ran the hole, eddied right and then on down power house ledge to the take out.  From there after packing up, drying off and changing we all met up at Herbs for some serious eats - some of them boy’s can put away some serious racks of ribs after a good paddlin.

Great time and great group to paddle with.  Beautiful warm day in the 80’s and sunny, with warm water.      Paddlin-ed