Trip Report: Week of Rivers
by Christy Long
Christy Long
These are the hard facts about the trip. The exciting and fun stories you will hear around the campfire or in an eddy. Such as driving off with the gas hose in the tank, getting lost on shuttle three miles from put in, who broke their nose on the first day of paddling, how fast Accelerator rapid on the Ocoee pushes your boat, and running Table Saw upside down and rolling up at the end. I could fill a book with these tales but will stick with the hard facts so I can get the trip report to the newsletter editor in time. Als0, I will list the other boaters on the trips that I was on, but this was one detail I did not list in my journal so please forgive any exclusions.
Friday, July 1, 2005 -- We left Pearland at 8:30 am, Friday, slept in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Murphy around 1:00 am Saturday.
Saturday, July 2, 2005 arrived at Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground at 7:30 am Central/ 8:30 am Eastern Standard time and the crowd under and around the big tent looked 200 strong. We set up camp, prepared for the day's river-run, and departed for the Tuckaseegee River around 12:30 pm. Susan Eda was trip leader and waited for us so we could run the Gorge section. It was bright and beautiful with lots of water which made for a great warm-up day. We had to remind ourselves NOT to play too hard because we had seven days of paddling in front of us. I got pinned in about 12 inches of fast moving water against a flat rock and had to allow myself to turn over to get off rock; and so, performed my first combat roll for the week. First time on this river. Ate at Cheings Buffet in Bryson City I recommend it. Trip Participants: Susan Eda OC1, Pat Isley OC1, John Orht K1, Frank Orht K1, Marilyn Peery OC1, Marty OC1, and Jim OC1.
Sunday, July 3, 2005 – Drove 230 miles and never got the boat off the racks. Scouted the Cartecay and the Chattahoochee both were too high for me. It started out a dark drizzly day and stayed that way. Ate at Guayavitos, Bryson City, the place is good, clean, and fast. Trip participants in my van: John Orht and Cliff Peery.
Monday, July 4, 2005 – French Broad, Section 9, take out at Stackhouse. 3650 cfs. Warm sunny day. Mark was the trip leader. We went through the mountains; my brakes were smoking once we got to put in. River was swollen but not out of its banks. Most rapids were washed out but there were plenty of eddies to catch if necessary. I had a combat roll and one swim but I do not remember where. We ate at Shoney's buffet big variety, clean, and we got to eat right away. Trip participants: Mark K1, John Orht K1, Amy K1, Justin Ceterski K1, one other K1.
Tuesday, July 5, 2005 – Upper Pigeon, Three Turbines, pushy. Joe trip leader. Warm sunny day, I had a couple of combat rolls. I stayed to river right on Lost Guide and scraped my knuckles. I was told that once I past "the hole" I should angle to river left and come out about center. Each rock I past looked like "the hole" but I must have ran the rapid correctly because I never got in a hole. I swam Accelerator, at least it was deep. We ate at O'Malley's in Sylva, thumbs up. Joe K1, Kevin Cuisak OC1, Kathy Cuisak OC1, Colby K1, at least two others I can't recall.
Wednesday, July 6, 2005 – Chattooga, Section 3. 2.3 on the gauge. River was at great level. Charlie Laws trip leader. Twelve miles makes for a long day. Warm and sunny. I snuck Dicks Creek Ledge, combat roll at the Eye of the Needle, combat roll at Painted Rock, walked the Bull. Ate at Nick and Nate's in Sylva, thumbs up. Trip participants Kevin Cuisak OC1, Kathy Cuisak OC1, Colby K1, Cliff Peery OC1, Donna Grimes OC1, Bill Gimes OC1, Jim Barton OC1, Jonathan K1, two K1s from Rice University.
Thursday, July 7, 2005 – Drove to Occonoluftee and Upper Nantahala I declined to run either. I ended up on the Nantahala from Ferabie (sp) to the Falls, lots of water, river was on for twenty-four hours, 7 miles, cool cloudy day. Self guided. One combat roll but not at the Falls. It might have been the first time I ran the Falls without swimming or performing a combat roll. I did have to use a mighty big brace on my right side and it felt like I went vertical at the end of the rapid, Yee Ha! We ate at Rivers End at NOC. OK food, slow service, but nice view of river. Trip participants: John Orht K1. After Tommy Ward K1 and Robert Ward K1 ran the Upper Nannie they joined John and I along with their dad, Bob Ward K1, about thirty minutes after we put in.
Friday, July 8, 2005 – Ocoee, Double Suck to take out below Powerhouse. The river level was above average. I followed Tom Snyder in his version of the Kinder-Gentler Ocoee which was quiet thrilling. He is a great guide. I had one combat roll on a riffle, a swim at Table Saw, and Powerhouse. Trip participants: Tom Snyder K1, Tommy Ward K1, Robert Ward K1, Bob Ward K1, Justin Ceterski K1, John Orht K1, Frank Orht K1, Judy K1, Dave K1, young woman K1, young man K1.
We got on the road about 4:45 pm to head for home. Stayed in Laurel, Mississippi, at an Econolodge. Got home about 7:00PM Saturday.
Put 2604 miles on the van. I drove my van on the following trips Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday.
This type of trip does not allow me to rest but it does recharge my soul for the next six months of work.