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At the put in we quickly dropped boats, geared up and put on.   Down at Entrance/Railroad  Jeff lead off followed by Robbie,  then Jerry, Mike and Micheal followed in order,  I brought up sweep heading down and around right of the boulder river center below and then cutting back left behind and across to an eddy on the left bank where Robbie was already and then ferried out and across, playing down through the bottom two hydraulics of the rapid.  At the bottom we all surfed and warmed up at bit.

Next down the pool to ”On the Rocks”,  Jeff caught the eddy to the right of the entrance and then ferried through the top and dropped the chute nicely and made the left channel and hit the eddy along the river left wall.  Robbie followed running a nice line.  I dropped directly into the top moving right to left and hit the tongue of the drop coming off a bit left, and then getting seriously squirted in my playboat and rolling twice into the right slot just above ”the rock” and suffered a bit of bottom mapping in the rocks of the slot.   Micheal and Jerry hit the top eddy and then ran the left line below,  Mike came down and ran out the slot to the right.

Down at Jaws most of us took a couple of rounds of surfing the hole.  This rapid features a basically river wide hydraulic which at normal levels provides some awesome surf and spin opportunities.  Normally reasonably friendly to hard boats though I have have seen a raft or two experiance extended stays.   From here we worked a series of nice ledges, holes, and features down to “the Pearly Gates” which is an entrance rapid feeding into the start of ”Quarter Mile” rapid. 

At the top of “Quarter Mile” we all hit the staging eddy on river right,  where Mike and Micheal got out for a look.   I lead off down the tongue out of the eddy and ferried over to the right bank across the pool above “hungry jack hole”,  Jeff followed, then turned and ran the left line making the move to cut down the narrow tongue around the boulder just above the hole.  Robbie followed and ferried over to the eddy where I was,  Jerry went for Jeff’s line and got a piece of the end of Hungry Jack but made the eddy fine.  Mike and Micheal met Robbie and I in the eddy and we took the sneak line down the right to the right bank eddy and the others ferried over below ”hungry Jack” around behind ”Frances and Ivan” boulders to our eddy.  From here Robbie, Jeff, and I did the ferry over and down to river left, eddied out and then ferried around behind the boulders line in river center and hit the slot-drop down into the lower half of Quarter Mile.  Jerry, Mike and Micheal ran the right line down to the drop.   Below here we all played the various features and moves down the “Murphy’s Ledge” at the bottom of “Quarter Mile”, catching the eddy behind the rock outcrop on the right bank wall, then shot the drop just off the rock wall down the right to the pool below.

From “Quarter Mile” we played a couple of small rapids down the “Rooster-tail”.  I lead off from an eddy just above the main entrance along the right rock wall,  dropping in to a small staging at the wall just below and them ferrying out and cutting hard left behind a pour over boulder at the main drop just below to the left.  After working down the a row of huge boulders down below down the left of the main channel, I set up intending to get some pictures.  Jeff followed down while I was getting set and hit the eddy behind the pour over up top,  then ran across the main chute back to an eddy on the river right rock wall.  Robbie followed and entered headed left but was still in the diagonals along the right bank and discovered the inversion properties of these rather strong hydraulic features, attempted a roll almost immediately only to encounter another diagonal and continue the adventure tucked below.  After getting set up for pictures I found myself hastily stowing the camera unused, hollaring to Jeff and pulling out to catch the backflow behind a huge pour over just out river center from me,  just above which Rob was going for another roll but washed up over the pour over and with oxygen running low exited the craft.   Jerry, Mike and Micheal came down.  Jeff to Rob, I had captured the paddle but the boat had layed up on rock ledges to the right of the dogleg below,  so Jeff worked up and after a bit of work freed the boat.  Below with Rob reunited with boat and paddle we all took a break for lunch.

On down we entered “Roller-Coaster” and played our way down and then ran the boogie water and play-surf spots down to “Doo-Doo Hole”, which everyone cleared nicely.  Then on to “Rock Garden”.  Jeff lead off and found a nice line,  Rob followed and then I entered and had a good run,  followed by Micheal and then Mike,  all on good lines.  Down around the bend we enter “Hole-in-the-Wall” and worked down to the hydraulic ledge on the right side, cutting just behind the outcrop sticking up right of center, and back to the left onto the eddy below and staying out of the large nasty hydraulic back the the right bank.  Jerry boof the outcrop off its left side.  After running out the bottom,  we where off around the bend to “Sousehole”.  I ran down and caught the upper eddy along the right bank,  followed by Jeff and Jerry and then ferried out and across and down the far left through the souse hole, followed by Jerry.  Jeff ran down the right and caught the eddies below the ledge and boulders and then ran out the hole to the left.  Rob, Micheal and Mike ran out the left line. 

Below “Souse-hole we took a stretch break and then where off down through the three long bend and sections of boogie water, playing along the way, to “Twin Eddies”.  Rob led off from the left eddy above, ferried out to river center and caught the tongue down into the drops, I followed and ran down weaving the holes.  Jeff,  caught the eddy on the platform halfway down and then out the bottom.  Jerry,  Mike, and Micheal all ran down the left and caught the chute back right through the bottom hole.  Below we took  turns surfing the bottom hole and taking pictures.

Once we had our fill of surfing Twin Eddies we where running out the final boogie water to the pool at the campground and then down the lower section as far as the Chestoa take-out.   Jerry, Mike and Micheal headed home.  Jeff, Rob, and I headed to the campground for the evening.

Sunday June 14th was a beautiful sunny day,  warm and there had been a bit of rain up the watershed overnight so the level had pretty much stayed the same.  Jeff, Rob, and I did our breakfast, dressed out, then checked on our shuttle, and headed over the mountain for another wonderful day on the gorge.

We quickly worked down through Entrance,  I got in some moves I hadn’t down in a while.  Jeff was making great moves as always and Rob was stretching her moves a bit after a long winter not paddling and doing well.  Down at on the rocks,  I seem to be having a vexed weekend with the move off the drop, but leaned forward and kept the hole from stern squirting me this time,  but had to roll in the right slot.   Rob and Jeff ran nice lines down the left.  Below here at Jaws we stopped briefly and Jeff did a couple of surfs,  then off down to “Pearly Gates” and “Quarter Mile”  where we all had good runs.

On downstream Rob redeemed herself on “Rooster-tail” moving left and cutting in behind the pour-over off the top,  and briefly catching the eddy behind the pour-over and staying out of the diagonals to the right.   I had run down first hoping to get pictures again,  but had decided after making the move through the pour-over eddy above to run back right and caught a unfamiliar hole off the bottom of the main chute,  flipped,  hung, and then rolled up coming over the huge pour-over boulder below,  which meant I basically had to go straight to the dog-leg.  After catching the hooked tongue and platform eddy to the left below the dog-leg entrance,  I ran out to the bottom and set up to get some nice pictures of Rob and Jeff running the lower half of “Rooster-tail’ which are in my picture Gallery.  Both had nice runs.

We continued on down and played our way down through “Roller-coaster” doing a surf or two at the bottom and then down some fun boogie water features below, stopping at a favorite surf spot for a bit more play and pictures.  Then on to “Doo-Doo Hole”.  From there we ran down to “Rock Garden” and on to “Hole-in-Wall” and “Souse-hole” with good runs and plenty of play for all of us.  After running the three boogie water sections down to Twin-Eddies,  Jeff and I took several rounds in the hole below with Rob taking pictures and videos.   After having a great time surfing the hole we head down the last water and across the final pool to take out at the campground and headed home having had a great weekend with friend, paddling the Noli Gorge.

SYOTR-Paddlin-ed

If you go back a bit in my blog post I’ve already noted runs for Sunday 3/29/09 at +12 inches – highest level I’ve done this on at with a group from CCC and also post for Sat. April 18th at -5 1/2″.  Since then its been running most days and we have taken advantage of this local run big time this year.

May 23rd-Saturday,  had a great time doing 3 runs.   First run was with 2 acquaintances from CCC and then I hooked up with a group of guys all from the Asheville area who where excellent paddlers -  Patrick, Rett, and Mark all in K-1,  plus myself in K-1 creek boats for two more runs.  The gorge was holding steady at a nice moderate -4″ level on the Akado bridge gauge.   This was really excellent group of paddlers and we had a great time.

Saturday May 30th – Met up with Darron P. to do a run and we where joined by several friends from CCC – Johnson R., Matt, Brian, Fran,  with all of us in K-1 creek boats.  Nice sunny warm day with levels of  +4 1/2″ on our first run and +4″ on the 2nd run.   Overall good runs with only a few altercations.    I discovered on my second run that the hole at the bottom of 10′ fall had developed a nasty disposition when run center (just left of the rock at the lip - right of center) at higher levels and did a serious session of throwing ends as did at least one other member of our group.  Since then when its several inches over “0″  I have shifted back to going off  left,  it seems the hole has shifted back like it was some years ago and this shoots you through at higher levels.

Sunday May 31st – I came back for more as the creek was holding nicely.  A beautiful warm sunny day,  I hooked up with a Eric and Trevin who where there just coming off their first run, and an old friend Jeff R. joined us at the top for the 1st run at +3″,  all of us in K-1 creekboats.   Jeff hadn’t been on Wilson’s in 2 or 3 years thought he is an expert paddler and had run it many time before,  so some of the changes since the flood a couple of years ago where new to him.  Most notably Jeff did a little hole dance in the ledge down below the remnants of Hunleys Retreat.   After our first run,  Jeff R. and I went back up, did a 2nd run at +2″, and had a great time.  I got a cocked at bit right going into the right boof a boat buster coming steep off the slide to the right,  which I discovered pretty much buries your bow and enders you over,  otherwise a good run.   Jeff and I did the goal post run at the remnants of Hunley’s on our 2nd run,  Jeff had a excellent line.

Wilson was running -1/2″ when I arrived on Sunday June 7th.  It was a nice sunny day and after a waiting a bit at the take out I hooked up with Jesse H., Chad H., and Lee H. all of whom where excellent paddlers and a lot of fun to run with.  This was good group and all of us new the creek well and followed good creeking  protocol.  Jesse, Chad, and Lee had just come off of a first run when we hooked up and I got in 2 runs with them.    I believe it was Lee on our 2nd run who did get into the 2nd hole on triple drop and was doing some serious side surfing,  when I dropped over the top and spotted him mid-hole,  so I hammered left to miss him just as his stern pushed left,  knocking him out of the hole and me in,  well needless to say I did the dance and flushed for our excitement for the day, otherwise clean runs had by all.  Gauge at the end of the day was at -1 1/2″.

June 27th,  brought the first Saturday in the July 4th week and most folks where either gone to week of rivers or off doing other things, but after a bit of calling I hooked up with Mike H. to do a run on Wilson.  While the creek had finally dropped some after a long spring and early summer run,  it was still up and quite doable at -6″.  Mike and I had a good time,  though Mike had a bit of an altercation coming out of boat buster into thunderhole but was able to recover himself just below.   After getting back together Mike did the left of center boof at Dental work and I went for the right line headed tight up against the ledge going left,  and was doing well till I got about halfway across and hit a pocket that took me for a roll in the hydraulic.  Going out of dental work Mike lead off and dropped into the slot on the far left from the left eddy and disappeared.  I dropped into the slot and rounded the boulder on line and found a hard current at this level suddenly slamming me right toward where I discovered Mike was laid up in the rocks.  I pulled back left and out, then worked back up to see if Mike need help.  Mike finally worked off,  but was visibly hurting in the pool below and needed to get out.  Seems the same current I had encounter, had pushed him too and he had pulled something bracing hard.  Well Mike took a break up on the warm rocks below in the sun for a few minutes, stretched a bit.  Popping in his rib area on his right side taking his breath away at times.  After a bit Mike felt a little better and decided to see if we could at least get a bit further (climbing out here would probably have been worse than paddling).   Being careful to to overextend and watching his braces we worked down the river.  With some twinges here and there but we made it to the take out.   We had a good time,  but for Mike it was time to call it a day.  Seems Mike’s on no paddling for 6 weeks – cartilage tear – hope it heal up quick Mike!!!

Well,  that’s the kind of great season its been at Wilson Creek Gorge this year.  With steady flows we have not seen for years.  Good times had by all and lots of paddling.  Hope we get more rains soon.

SYOTR – Paddlin-ed

This run is basically dependent on releases which occur due to power needs or scheduled recreational releases when there is adequate water in the reservoirs.   This year rain and water levels in the reservoirs have been excellent and provided a both power releases and consistent recreational releases with many been full 9,000kw flows (releases on Dan 1 are rated in kw output of the power plant with 9,000 kw being a fairly full release and 7,000kw being pretty much minimum flow for paddling).

With this years flow I have probably run this more than I have in many years.  Being only about 30 minutes away for me its pretty much in my backyard.  The run is a creeky 2+ to low 3 for the first half mile and the remainder of the run is considered class 2.  For many regional paddlers in the Triad area for NC this is a convenient day trip-local run.

Saturday May 16th, 2009 – did an OC-1 run in on Kibler as I had not been in my open canoe during the winter.  Joining me was Mike H. in k-1 and Steve H. in k-1.    I came back on Sunday May 17th and did a k-1 run joining up with some of the SRVCC folks for the day.  We had good releases.

Again on Saturday June 6th, 2009,  I joined Steve H. k-1 for a run in my k-1 creekboat,  getting in a day working out and playing the river on a full release.

July 4th, 2009 rolled around on Saturday, with a warm and sunny day and there was a large turn-out at Kibler with probably 30-40 people at the put in when I arrived for another 9,000kw release.  While most rivers had begun to drop regionaly, Kibler had gotten more rain recently as was still releasing well.  I did this run in my k-1 playboat, joining Tim T. k-1,  Jim Van L. k-1, and Tease oc-1 for a nice day on the river.

Saturday,  July 11th, 2009,  being limited on travel due to other commitments on Saturday morning,  I arrived late about 1:30pm and joined the tail-end of a group of SRVCC & TRR paddlers putting on.  Paddling my k-1 creekboat,  and joining Trent oc-1,  Tim T. k-1,  Jim Van L. k-1, and others.  I went for a skills workout, and played the upper section hard along with a couple of play-spots and waves below,  getting in plenty of surfing, 360 spins, and working moves for a good workout.

Darron P. called me on Saturday 7/18/09,  saying that Will and Martinez wanted to see what Kibler was about,  so that afternoon we all met up and made our way up to run Kibler.  Great day with a full 9,000 cfs.  All of us in K-1 for a nice warm sunny run.   On our first run we played about every spot worth working along the way hard from the powerhouse down to the picnic tables.  Afterward, Martinez opted to hang at the take out and Darron, Will and I all did quick speed run down.

I am looking forward to joining others for the up coming “Kibler Valley Run-Race” on July 25th this year, and seeing many of my paddling friends who show up.  Now the “Kibler Valley run” is actually a fund raising event put on by the local Ruitan club for local charities and includes several categories for those who wish to race. Or if you just want to do a couple of runs the river,  you can also do that.  Parking area at the take-out and shuttles provided as part of you entry fee for both racer and non-racers.   This is a nice event and an opportunity for the paddling community to both have a nice day paddling and help support the local community.    You can learn more about this event at the following website : http://www.kiblervalley.zoomshare.com/

See you at the Kibler Valley Run.  Paddlin-ed

We set our shuttle from the Iron Bridge take-out and just as we where leaving a couple showed up with boats, looking about like they wanted to paddle but did’nt know the run.  So we stopped and met Chad and Jennie both k-1.  As it turns out they where wanting to do WTL but where new to the run and didn’t know much about it.  After a little discussion we offer to have them join us,  which they quickly accepted.

 It was turning to to a nice day,  a bit cool but decent,  sunny to overcast through the day,  with a spot of showers just in the last mile.  So we all head to the top put in,  five of us.  At the top we quickly put our gear together and launched.  Jennie was a bit worried by a video she had seen a couple of months earlier put out by some of the local paddlers of a beat down in a hole at one of the ledges.  I assured her I knew the individuals and the spot and it would not be a problem to avoid, nor was the level as extreme as the video.  We let Chad and Jennie know early on that the two most significant rapids we would scout and both could be portaged easily,  settling any concerns.  Both Chad and Jennie quickly proved to be good paddlers and Bill, John and myself all had experienced on this run.

Well WTL starts out fairly quickly with some nice boogie and creeky fast water. Tight and narrow at the top with plenty of features to work.  One of the biggest things to be careful of on this run are the many railroad trestles still used for the Virgina Creeper trail which runs on the old narrow gauge rail-bed and winds back and forth across the creek on these trestles, now used as foot bridges.  Problem with these trestles is most are wooden built with timber construction and are set at angles to the flow,  due to which they both catch strainers/deadfall wood and pose a serious broach pin hazard.  So where to and how to approach and run these, we made Chad and Jennie aware of early.  In addition many of these trestles have multiple steel cables upstream swung low across the creek and secured to rock walls to hold the bridges against floods.  One must be very mindful of these cable as in places they are chest to head high above the water and getting tangle or knocked over (and possibly knocked out) just upstream of a trestle is a serious hazard.

Down a mile or so we came to a rapid called “The Slot”, a class 4+ with a narly entrance drop on far right just upstream with plenty of flip and trip features into the swirling short pool below and then a weave down to the “slot drop proper” below with a hammering run through a top hole across currents and down and rock slot or trough into a boiling pool below.  While a fair amount of flow goes far river right of the slot,  that’s a place to avoid as its a pinning sieve.  Far left is doable but  a rough bump and grind with some nasty flow features into and through a tight bend cut into the left wall with two drops (not very clean).  Jennie decided to walk along with Bill and John.  Chad was game for a go and did  great run after after looking over the run reviewing the line options,  he ran it nice and clean.

Below the slot the main chute out of the pool on river right had a bit of a vexious small tree into to it to the point we all opted to work the bang down on far left and enter the long non-stop run below, steep with almost continuous boulders, drops, pour-overs, holes, diagonal, etc.,  a real creeking thrill.  Everyone did fine,  catching eddies, chutes, boofing ledges and holes down through the bend well below to the next long pool.  This is an exillerating section.

From here we just kept having more and more fun working the ledges, chutes, etc. in the fast creeky water for several miles down to Taylor Valley area.  Just above Taylor Valley we enter a bend with a couple of down trees to be worked around and then one of the craggiest rock rapids and ledges on the run.  This one is just loaded with boiling water and rocks below, so its keep paddling, push your line, and brace, brace, brace.  Swims or flips here can be ugly as its really craggy, rough rock mixed in the boiling chutes and lines.  I ran on down first and set up for safety boat below as you want to get anyone swimming here out quick.  Everyone did ok,  except  Jennie flipped in the meat of the drops, but fortunately tucked well and rolled, then flipped just below and rolled again,  undamaged.

On down into the settlement of Taylor Valley below here we took out at the bridge and took a break to eat a bite.  Then after surfing the great little wave at the bridge we where off again into a nice fun section which has some excellent fall/drop with nice steep creeky runs though boulders and ledges and many features.  Along the way several big ledge drops are found with multiple routes, holes, chutes and boofs.  Everyone was having a great time and by this time Jennie and Chad where loving the creek and already talking about coming back.

After passing the put-in/take-out for the middle WTL,  we worked the narrow stream below where the creek divides into about 3 routes, furthest down.  From here we just plain had more fun playing the ledges, drops, boofs, holes and other features down to Big Rock Falls which in to past was rated a class 5 and is by most considered at least a 4+ primarily because of some features above, on, and below in certain places.  Basically a falls area you want to be on line and upright at.

We all walked down for a look, and to make sure Jennie and Chad got the choices of lines explained.  Down at big rock I met up with some of the SRVCC boys, who where studying and wondering about where to run the falls, and quickly came over to ask me.  After explaining the most fundamental line on river right to them, they went up and took their runs, giving our group a chance to watch from below.  After their runs one of the group asked me about the old traditional line on river left and I obliged and ran over the line from the bridge above down with him, as this one need some set up from well above to hit.  Well I went on upstream with the guy, and I ran on down the right line followed by Chad, then sat in to pool below to get picture of the left line run and be ready for safety.  Well the guy ran probably the best left line I have ever seen, with the nicest boof.

From Big Rock Falls we just enjoyed working more features packed into the remainder of this wonderful creek which from below Big Rock become a pretty significant flow with feeders coming in all the way down.  On down after some nice ledges and rapids,  we came to the rock wall along the road.  Tucking in behind a big boulder on river right just as this part of the run starts,  I told Chad and Jennie about the three hydraulic line holes coming up just below and the line options, and then led off,  booking far left just above the first hole to catch a small tongue through.  This first one is a nasty hole, that I once ended up in many years ago, in my open canoe along with two kayakers all at the same time, and I can testify its really sticky.  From there I lead off down the left through the two holes below. 

From the three holes its about a mile or so left with some nice boofs, ledges and rapids to the takeout at Iron Bridge.  WTL is a creek where the fun just keeps coming.  Well,  it was a great run and WTL has two new fans with Jennie and Chad, joining the rest of us.  Well we changed loaded up on the paddlin-ed van and I took everyone back to the put in.  After exchanging contact information with Chad and Jennie, we said our goodbyes till the creek runs again,  hopefully real soon.

End of the day gauge was about +7″ on the Iron Bridge and 1600 cfs -usgs SFH at Damascus  Great day, great time, fabulous run, great company.

SYOTR-Paddlin-ed

The top was a bit bony but doable,  just some places you had to alter your line a bit or throw a boof in to fit where the flow was channeling.  Enough was adding in from feeder streams that a little further down flow was better.  At the first big ledge/boulder pile, Bump & Grind we negotiated a entrance that was a tight drop with a tight right turn down a slot to the next level below and then hammer back left to boof through and over and back down a series of drop on far left and out to the pool below.  Everyone got through pretty good except on the middle coming back left it was bit thin and several of us had to push hard to clear through toward the drops on river left.

The entrance on this one was not a line I had used before and as I dropped into the tiny eddy to make the tight right turn I got hung in the hole at the base of the initial drop. After side surfing I decided to step out and set up on a flat rock beside the slot and slide off.  Once back in the saddle I dropped off the rock into the chute and work back left and joined the others below.

At the next big ledge/boulder pile, S***t-kicker we did a similar line.  This one I seem like I had always entered just left of center and booked hard left to avoid the right/center slot that should always be avoid as it leads in to a truly nasty sieve.  Mike however was out front and lead the line center going right down to the next platform then hammering back left across some vexatious low rock under the water.  Darron followed and had to push and dig a bit to get over the rock on the platform going back left, followed by Scott who also had to work that platform to.  I dropped down last and made the turn and as with Darron and Scott and to do some serious digging to work over the ledges going back left,  and after clearing these hammer down to drop to join the group.

A bit further down we dropped down through a series of ledges, working river left with a boof off the top up next to a boulder.  I angled off left as I boofed and caught the eddy below behind the boulder and then could setup for a nice line stair stepping down the next two drops and out the bottom.  While in the eddy, I saw Will hole dancing below and ran my line out the bottom to help Mike reunite Will with his boat at a rock just below on river left.  Seems he had eddied out to the left of the bottom drop into a whirlpool and got feeded back into the hole below the last drop, one of those narrow, deep, sticky ones.  An unusual occurrence for Will,  he was quickly reunited and back in the boat.   Darron and Scott worked down both boofing straight off and then negotiating the turn down the last two.

From there we worked the ledges, chutes and drops down to Hydro.  At Hydro we got out and took a look, particularly as this was Scott’s first time.  Mike set safety with a rope and then Darron and myself dropped the left slot behind the upper rock into the eddy down in the upper third of Hydro.  Darron led off driving for the line to river right and cleared the bottom ledge nicely on the far right.  I decided at this low level to drop down through the eddies along river left and then hammer for the left eddy at the bottom and try to either hop the ledge or if possible slide through the eddy behind the rock above the drop river center and then go far right.  Well the line did well till just above the river center rock and there the current pushed off the left wall and into a small rock just left of the center rock,  hopped the rock, then decided drive hard to the left and boof/hopped the ledge on that side which worked,  only below I had drive hard to clear the back-flow on river left clear to the right.  Scott made his run next and cleared river right, followed by Mike.

Coming up on Knuckles we caught an eddy, just upstream to its entrance, on the right.  Due to a recent incident at this one we made sure to give it the respect it is due.  This day there was a pretty wonky diagonal just before the entrance where it necks down between boulders just above the drop occurs.  This diagonal wanted to turn each of us sideways and bow left, so we all had to crank it up coming out hammering extra hard to straighten up and then push left beside and then behind the boulder on that side.  Making sure to hit the drop running hot, left, headed left, and doing a good solid boof off the lip.  We all had excellent lines and boofs.  A little further down, just above a rapid below here we saw the remains of the boat from a pin incident at knucles from a couple of weeks earlier, it was ugly.  A paddler had come off on the right side and dropped off into a pin,  my understanding is that she suffered significant injury and was pinned in the cascade for some time before being pulled out. The boat had significant damage,  basically destroyed.  It got my attention,   take a look at it if you paddle by, it will get your attention too.

At Diana’s ledge we all took the diagonal chute off the left end of the ledge.  The far right was way to exposed rock wise to run.

Well we worked long string of rapids and moves down to the last real pool upstream the run down to Stateline Falls.  Darron, Scott, and myself all got out and went for a scout concerned with the level.  After getting out on the cliff on river left below Stateline,  I quickly decided I was going to walk it this day.  Flow was low enough that most of the tongue was heading left and splatting on the now well exposed end of the rock ledge below.  Normally there is a significant amount of the tongue flowing right,  but not today.  I decided it was not worth the risk trying get far enough right coming off and there was just to much exposed boulder,  Darron and Scott looked it over and decided to walk it also.

Mike made his drop while we where scouting, and managed to land pretty flat off his boof and far enough right,  which was a really good thing as there was not much room for error and little aeration to pad the landing since probably 80% of the water was dropping left and splatting off the boulder.  On down stream the ledges at the abandon gauge tower where pretty thin, and even at better flows after entering left and moving back right of center the run can be scrappy,  today it was for sure with the drop off the end pretty much a bang down.

Watagua Slide had plenty of flow for us,  and we worked down the remainder of the gorge rapids through Last Hair,  where Darron and Mike went for it jumping straight into the opening left of center and hammering up to the ledge and down right to the corner and out on river right.  Scott and I both dropped through the opening going left into the eddy at the left bank and then work back right to the ledge.  At this level it was a bit troublesome getting around the rock just below the surface coming out of the left top eddy,  which Darron and Scott probably avoided with their line.

At Rewind, the last significant ledge of about 5′,  I lead off and took the line just to the left of the boulder/rock outcropping river center which puts you coming off on the right side of the main ledge.  Boofing,  I found that I was dropping onto pretty much a rock slide below with a couple of inches of flow.  I had tried for a good boof and fortunately landed fairly flat and braced left,  so I slid down and out through the flow nicely on my brace,  with little or no bang down.  Darron and Mike followed the same line nicely,  Scott went for the far left side which normally would be into the hydraulic but the water was low enough this day no to be an issue,  however the rock in the flow below was and gave Scott a bang down, but he paddled out fine.

At the island we turned left and worked, boofed, and scrapped our way down to the take-out, as water here is usually a bit thin at most levels.  Fortunately its not far.   While the flow was low,  it was adequate for a nice run and a great day on the river.  Beautiful day,  fabulous gorge, crystal clear water, outstanding rapids, good friends,  all and all what make a great day on the river.

SYOTR-Paddlin-ed

We worked the upper ledges and chutes with no problems on down through little Woodall and dropped down to just above Mank at 10′ foot falls entrance.  I elected to bang down an alternate route I use at low levels on far left to the pool below Mank.  Wes, Larry, and Leslie went the conventional line around the pointed rock at the top of Mank.  I entered the eddy below Mank and looked up as Leslie was rounding the rock, but got washed sideways between two rock guarding the exit below and hung bow and stern between them,  Larry was right behind and had to exit his boat post haste  to keep from jambing into Leslie and knocking her off her precarious position.  Wes managed to pull back in time above and not add to the situation below.  Larry’s boat came down and passed me and I stayed in the eddy till Larry managed to get to a safe position and Wes climbed down to help with Leslie’s situation.  Once Larry was in good position and Wes was helping I took off after the loose boat,  dropping the boof and looking around to make sure it was not pinned up on the way down to the falls.

Below the falls I rounded up the errant boat which had caught the whirlpool below the rock wall left of the falls.  After wrestling with the boat and getting my tow line on it,  I then wrestled the whirlpool and got it downstream to a workable area along the long rock slope on river left.  Shortly Wes showed up and then Larry and Leslie walked down we got everybody back in boats and proceeded down through the ledge below to no-name ledge and its sister below and then on to boat-buster.  At boat buster I dropped down first, caught the eddy right and then ferried to eddy left,  Wes dropped down and I went down Thunderhole and eddied back right followed by Wes,  then Larry came down followed by Leslie into the river left eddy.  Leslie decided to call it a day and Larry, Wes and myself moved on.  I did the far left slot into dental work sliding left at the base of the upper ledge,  Wes followed and Larry did the boof on river left.  From here we worked down the ledges and features to triple drop,  where we all did the far left line cleanly.

On to Fat Moma’s Squeeze,  I did the right slot into the staging eddy and then down the S-turn catching the right eddy just below the drop coming out of the turn, then ferried back and forth and down and out to the eddy below.  Wes and Larry worked down past me as I played the lower half.  Below here at Maytag we shot the ledge right of center and then boofed the Corner Eddy ledge below right on its left end, nice boof had by all.  From there we worked down the ledges to Razorback and all took the right line down the dog-leg,  a bit bumpy at this level at the out-flow,  as it seems a couple of rocks low in the water have progressively moved and become more exposed over the last few years.

Down at the remnants for Hunley’s retreat we did the left side “Goal Post” run.  I cleaned it nicely,  Wes banged a bit and Larry did a bit of an ugly in it but rolled up below ok.  After running the lower ledges out we paddled to railslide,  Wes and Larry pop’ed the rail into the eddy below,  I slid down and through the boil below and down the bottom chute.  From here we played the paddle out to the take-out.  Wes and Larry called it a day.

I hooked up with a couple of guys I had run before with who wanted to do a quick second run, and went back up for another round.  The three of us where a solid group, all knew the run and we moved down the Gorge well.  At 10′ I got to take a bit more time to work down the run this round.  Everyone cleared down through Boatbuster and Thunderhole and then ran dental work from the right slot.  On down at Triple drop this time went for the big right eddy above up in the rocks and shot the slot move dropping down into the meat of triple drop to the left.  The slot made for a really sweet line at this level, keeping well right until the very bottom this time.

Water had dropped a bit from the first run and Fat Moma’s took a bit of boofing and working, and again I worked into the right eddy on the lower half and played on down.  Below we all spent a few minutes playing the bottom hole,  which surfed nicely at this level.  At corner eddy the I did the boof again but as the water was down a bit it was a hard boof.  After playing on down to Razorback those pesky rocks at the outflow gave me a little trouble being fully exposed now with level now down to about -6″, and I had make a hard right and work out of a slot between them braced out.

We all made clean and quick work of Goal Post down at Hunley’s,  two of us cleaned it nicely,  the third did a bit of an ugly flip and rolling the middle of it and got pushed down the far left.  After working Railslide below we paddled out after a great day paddling.  I think we did the second run in about 35 minutes which is pretty good time, or about a fifth of the time of the 1st run.

After  dressing out running shuttle to recover cars and loading out we said our goodby’s till we met up and do again.  Excellent day.

SYOTR-paddlin-ed

Jerry H. in K-1, Mac R. in K-1, Mike in k-1 and myself paddlin-ed in K-1 made up our group.  We had a modest but good level in the range of 1400 to 1450 cfs.  After surfing the wave above entrance/railroad rapid we turned downstream and began working down this initial rapid.  Mac and Jerry entered a bit right of center,  I peeled out of an eddy on the right bank and moved over to catch a chute just off the rocks on river left, moving down along the left rock formation and then pulling right and passing to the right of the boulder dividing the river below the rock ledge and then ferrying back to the eddies along the left bank.  Mac and Jerry had caught an eddy on river right across from the boulder at river center and then made ferries behind the boulder and down river left.  I peeled out of the high eddy on river left and did a ferry across the flow and out the right end of the hydralic below and eddied out on river right.  We all surfed at bit in the out flow waves.

Next we dropped down the top chute in “On the Rocks” all three of us making the left line below,  which was taking a bit of effort this day as the current was pushing everyone into the left pillow off “the rock”.  I caught the eddy behind “the rock along with Mac and played down the left run out.  From here we all played down to “Jaws”,  where there was minimal surfing, as water was still pretty cold.

Leaving “Jaws” we worked down river left and ran out into boogie water area below, loaded with features to play though, and then on to “Pearl Gates” and on down to the staging eddy on river left for “Quarter Mile” rapid.  We all surfed down the tougue to the pool above Hungry Jack ledge hole and ran the left line.  I got blown off the hooking tongue a bit and bashed the end of the hole,  turned right and ferried behind “Frances and Ivan” rocks over to the eddies on river right.  Jerry ran down and joined me.  Mac headed down going back to river right.  I ferried out and across to run down river left,  dropped a low ledge just above the boulders mid river and caught the eddy along the left bank,  Jerry followed into the eddy.  From here I ferried out to the boulders mid-stream and work eddies down and around and then across to river right just above the drop below.  From here we all dropped down through the ledges and chutes working and playing the river to just above Murphy’s ledge and then ran out the drop down a chute on river right.

We played our way on down to Rooster-tail,  where we ran the far right entrance and skirted behind the pour-over rock to catch the back flow eddy behind it and then each picked our routes down to the dog-leg below.  After catching an eddy at the boulder row on river left,  I ferried out and caught the dog-leg entrance far left down the hook of the tongue headed hard left into the platform eddy below a ledge just left, then ran out the bottom of the rapid.  From here we took a break at the beach on river right below.

Back in our boats we headed on down through several nice boogie water rapids with nice play features we stopped to enjoy briefly, then on to Roller-Coaster rapid,  where we all picked our own routes to run and surfed the waves at the bottom on river right.  Continuing on downstream we worked the many smaller rapids, ledges, holes, and waves down the long straight-away down to Doo-Doo hole,  ran the boiling entrance above and then out the ledge chute past the hole.

From here we worked down to Rock-Garden and took our turns working, boofing, and banging down to the pool below via various routes we each selected.  Then on to Hole-in-the-Wall,  where we each worked various routes down to the main ledge and then ran just right of the rock out crop right of center, angling back left to slice through the narrow end of the hole, that opens up to a nasty keeper back toward the right bank, and into the eddy below the ledge.  Then after running out the bottom drop we paddled the pool below down the the bend right entering Sousehole.

At Sousehole we all pretty much entered the bend to the right and then caught eddies just above the Sousehole and ledges,  then peeling out and ferrying back to river left and out.  Below Sousehole we paddled and played down the three long sections between bends where there is an array of holes, low ledges and line hydraulics, diagonals, and various features to play along the way.

Arriving at Twin-Eddies and running this last major rapid,  we stopped and each played the hole below a few times each.  By this time it was starting to get cool again and signs of severe weather moving in fast where visible, so we made a quick paddle down through the boogie water to Cherokee rock and across the pool to the campground and takeout.  After changing and packing up we headed home, and found we where wise not to stay longer on the last part of the river as winds and downpours hit just after we packed up and started home.

We had been fortunate to catch a nice sunny break in the weather for the day, and had a great time.  SYOTR-paddlin-ed

We headed over to Webster Springs and picked up the road out of town up to Back Fork,  dress out, dropped vehicles, and head over the mountain to the put in. The day was turning spectacular,  bright sun and blue skies and warming up nicely for late winter in the WV mountains.  Now if you have never done the BF of the Elk, its a great run,  just has a memorable shuttle, long and takes you through some true WV backwoods with multiple turns and forks where you scratch your head and wonder “now which fork is it I take”.  Well after a wrong turn and double back or two we finally arrived at the put in.  Fortunately we had a couple of shuttle bunny spouses along to take our cars back.

We quickly geared up and put on.  Now to get on the Back Fork of the Elk,  you actually put on a tributary creek – Sugar Creek.  Now the thing about this is things get interesting pretty quick as about 100 yards down Sugar Creek as there’s about a 7′ drop into a pool below, where above the drop you have to hammer hard left to keep from being pushed to far right and jambed into the right wall.  All of the group cleared the initial fall nicely.  From the fall down to the confluence with the BFE,  there are nice creeky features to work and plenty of boulders and ledges to negotiate,  making this entrance creek fun.

Once at the confluence with the BFE,  the river is mostly boogie water and some features, low shelfs, etc. to play for a bit till the main show starts about a mile and a half downstream.  The river is has magnificent scenery and is very remote for most of the run, with water that is crystal clear,  a whitewater gem.  Well just about a little over a mile down the BFE,  Darron looked over at me and said “are we coming to more ledges like that one on the creek on this thing”,  to which I grinned and said “well it’s fix’in to get get even better”, and about that time the first of many horizon lines came into site below us.

Well once you get into the falls area,  thing pick up quick.  Coming up first is a  nice set of step ledges and chutes ending down at a huge horseshoe shaped rock ledge,  with most of the water into the center of the bend left of center.  Problem is at this ledge the horseshoe bend is concave as is typical where water has worn the ledge back over eons of time, and being concave back up stream the central bend of the ledge forms a huge seething and boiling hole below.  To run this ledge the normal line is off the right back where the ledge is not as inset and catch some outflow from the center.  All of the group took out upstream on river right and went down for a look and consultation on the line on.  We then took our turns working down the ledges above on river right and then driving hard and trying to boof over the ledge on its right end.  Most cleared ok, a few flipped and rolled,  don’t remember any obe’s happening.  This fall is quite impressive and beautiful both below and above and is about an 8′ drop on the right.

Well just below the horseshoe fall after a short pool is about a 4 to 5 foot ledge pretty much straight across the river.  This one you just need to boof well and be driving at the bottom to clear the hydraulic.  Most folks tend to run this on over to the left end as you need to immediately hit an eddy on the far left as there is major fall just below.  This is both a fun ledge to drop and a great spot for super pictures.

Seems like the next fall is around 12′ and is nearly vertical on the left half with some steps on the left.  Most folk catch the eddy on river left and then ferry out behind a rock, turn and run 15 to 20 foot off the left back,  boofing off the lip for what is pretty much a clean drop.  A couple of folks in our group ferried out higher and ran off right of center and dropped the steps moving down angled right and out river right.  I went for the left line myself.  This is a great photo spot both above and below as the views are spectacular.

Down below we gathered up our group and moved on downstream through several smaller features to the another major ledge.  This ledge is river wide with about half the flow focusing on and inset just off the bank on river left, at which point the ledge is angled and forms a inset and hole below at the break of the angle.  In the center the ledge juts out in a huge “V” downstream but with irregular and jagged edges, and lots of irregular rock obstacles above.  Far right the ledge runs to the right bank with irregular shape and gets water but is very bony and not very runnable at this level.  Several of us tried a number of routes down through the center with varying results, as there are lots of rock features above here to mess with your line.  I got through but ended up dropping through a tight inset further right than intended and found it a bit shallow at the bottom and banged down a bit.  Several others hit other variations including dropping off over toward the far left inset where the hydraulic at the bottom would mess with them and make breaking clean below a bit nasty.

Two or thred of the group went for the left line, including Darron who started center of the flow and tried to move far left at a step in the middle of the drop in order to work toward the outside edge of the hole below.  This however while a good plan proved to be a bit sticky as it had sticky spot on the step in the left corner and the ledge appeared to have some guard features just underwater that stalled a paddler trying to stay far left and basically force boat back toward center.  Darron after working out of the middle step got down and squirted just left of center in the hole below and then spent some quality time side surfing and throwing and end or two before working out to a flow on the far left,  still in control but receiving a work out.

Paddling downstream we came to a final ledge/drop formation of note.  While this one is not particularly it may well be the most dangerous place on the river.  This one is spotted by the long low rock ledge on river left, which start just upstream and curves out into the river, forcing the flow to the right into a narrow channel.  This is a place to get out on river left at the rock ledge and walk out to the end of the ledge which extends out into the river overlooking the channel.  From this vantage point just out from then end of the rock point you can see two rock formations in the left half of the narrowed channel.  The upper one is slanted downstream and has a undercut below it with the lower rock formation just below the undercut, forming a “clam shell” undercut sieve.  To make this a bit more hairy, from the river above the route looks to be on the left side of the channel which would put a paddler on line to drop into the “clam shell” which has no open exit and get trapped by the backwash in the undercut and blocked by the rock below,  you can literally see a dark pit up under the upper rock formation.

Well we all got out and took a look at this last formation and noted the clam shell.  Most went for far right along the bank.  Usually you can get an eddy along the right bank above and line up for a nice run but a strainer had this blocked so folks had to just hammer down.  I did far right and move left below the hazard,  but caught ledges just below the surface which inverted my position.   From here we did the short paddle out to the cars which our nice shuttle bunnies had left for us. 

We had a great day on a wonderful run, and where ready to dress and drive and hit the chow line.  Back the camp that night we had a great party and band just as we had the night before as part of the festival.  Good time had by all.

SYOTR-paddlin-ed

Right off it was a different beast even compared to 8-9 inches.  Some of the early ledges it was very pushy to eddy out between without being blow down into to the next ledge,   pushy was the word here.  However a couple of places were definitely easier.  At little Woodall everyone made sure to push hard right and hammer down and out the tongue,  this was not a hydraulic you wanted to end up in this day.

Down at the “Mank” boulder choke entrance to 10′ fall,  I elected to run the conventional line around the pointed rock along with the rest of the group,  several had some altercations in here, including myself.  I rounded the rock and my bow dropped into a hole I had never seen before, catapulting me over,  which started my epic run through 10′.  Down below catching up with my boat along the steep rock face on river left,  I heard Milt behind me holler, reporting that he to had found the hole and done the same, where upon I turned and thanked him for making me feel better about being OBE along with a paddler of  his caliber.  Several others experienced various rolls and OBE’s at various points.  Seem watching from below the average was about 50-50 being in or out of boat through 10′ falls.  Definitely let you know it was there.

After everyone including myself gathered up,  we where off down through the ledges to “No-Name” ledge and its sister just below.  At no name most everyone did the creeky sneak around the right of the hydraulic ledge.  This rather tame looking ledge is not tame and has dangerous hydraulic at high levels.  I ran left of the rock on the left side of the hydralic ledge and down the rock shelf up against the ledge on that end which lands you in a nice boily place at high levels, then shoot you out down the left.   Running the sister ledge below pretty much everyone went for the line running from left to right above, cutting behind a small hydraulic/eddy on the far right and down a chute that forms on the the far right of this 2nd hydraulic ledge at higher levels.

On down to boatbuster,  where most entered left of center and worked right.  The boof on far right was out at such a high level and probably a keeper hole below.  I ran down left of center  entering the top of the drop angled back right and then started moving back left to try to hit the eddy below left above Thunderhole.  My line was good until I start working back left to catch the eddy, got whipped over and experianced the run through thunderhole inverted.  Most of the group got through ok but a few  got hammered in Thunderhole with one spending quality time doing rodeo moves after having dropped in off the right lip into the diagonal and nasty hole down the right side.

After Dental work ledges below Thunderhole, we dropped the next ledge far left,  where it was a slide,  just right of this point and over to far river right it was on massive hydraulic line hole with serious boil and keeper attitude.  From here we worked down to above triple drop and everyone got out for a look down from the pool above.  After a look see and watching one of two of the group lead off and run we took our turns coming out of the pool and down the run.   Pushy would definitely be the word, though most of it was just keep hammering and paddling,  other than that it basically had some much flow it pushed you down and over what ever was in front of you.  Several had rolls or obe’d at the very bottom,  it required hammering all the way through.

Down below at Fat Mom’s squeeze there where several clean lines into the top with this much water.  Once staged in the entrance it was hammer down and across the S-turn at the top on the right, then turn, paddle, and brace like crazy.  Enough push that you had to be hammering well in advance of any obstacle still out of the water to avoid it.  Hitting the bottom hydraulic hammering through was a must.  From there we ran the ledge at Maytag rock and hole.  Maytag had a definite attitude at this level.  I dropped over well right and found myself fighting the hydraulic along the ledge bottom to keep from getting pulled back left into what was a truely nasty version of Maytag hole/undercut.  To clear I had to hangout and extended underwater upstream and catch the bottom flow-out.  Several others had varying versions of my experience and we signalled the group to move even further right coming down.

At corner rapid the right boof line looked to have a nasty hydraulic hole between it and the rock wall below,  we all did the alternate high water line river left down the chute to center.  From here we worked the drops and chutes to just above Razorback.  At Razorback the eddy was more like a large whirlpool,  you had to get in just the right place and even then work a circle.  About half the group dropped the high water line toward center down the rock face and the other half of us ran the conventional right line and dog-leg.  The dog-leg was  a rush,  pushing you off the boof high and fast,  I extended a brace left and back up stream and rotated the boat under me, and “whoosh” pillowed down and was squirted out over two large boils exiting out the dog-leg.

Down at the new rapid formed a couple of years ago from the remains of Hunley’s Retreat,  all of us did the boof off the ledge to the right and worked the ledges below which had some big sticky holes at this level.  Down below at Railslide,  I went for the hop and slide over the rail as the bottom of the slide looked pretty nasty.  One or two slid off to the bottom and got whipped over in the hole but flushed and rolled.  From here we played down to the take-out.

Several went for a second round, myself I said my goodbye’s,  after having plenty for the day with a run at 12″, it was quite an experience, wore me out the 1st time.

SYOTR- Paddlin-ed