From The French
to the Frio
By Donna Grimes

Every year the Carolina Canoe Club has the Week of Rivers over the July 4th week in the Bryson City area, and hundreds of paddlers from many states join the club to paddle from easy moving water to Class IV/V water. The Houston Canoe Club has been joining this group for at least 20 years and it is here that many of our paddling skills have improved.

This year only a small group went East. Debbie Snow, Rheda Boardman, Jim Barton and myself. A very small HCC showing. The reason – NO WATER. Yes, the East was having water restrictions while we in Texas were under flood warnings.

One thing about Carolina: there are dam released waters, so even in a drought, you can paddle the Hiawassee (Class I) Nantahala (Class II) or the Pigeon (Class III) or the Ocoee (Class IV)…..and….. that’s about it, Folks.

Debbie and Rheda got to paddle the Hiawassee on Sunday, but Jim and I took the more leisurely route, arriving later, and planning to paddle on Monday. Low and behold! It had rained a little – just enough to make the French Broad paddleable. It was running about 1000 cfs, and Debbie joined Jim and I to paddle here on Monday, July 2nd.

(group on the French Broad: Jim, Debbie, and Donna on rhs)

There were many shallow spots but enough play spots and fast moving chutes to keep us on our toes.

(Debbie surfs a hole on the French Broad)

On Tuesday Jim and I decided to paddle the Pigeon ( a dam released water). This river begins off I 40 on the edge of the North Carolina border at the Paper Factory. We watched to see how many turbines were open to determine how big the waves were going to be. Big waves, Big holes, and lots of opportunities to screw up existed.

(Put in for the Pigeon River; Note the paper plant on rhs which releases water)

On Wednesday…..since I declined doing the “kinder, gentler Ocoee” (that river has chewed my boat up and spit me out….as well as many others….and I’m too old…..for event he “gentler, kinder Ocoee” ) So. We decided to play tourist that day.

However,, Jim talked with his son Travis who was heading to the Frio for paddling! The Frio was running about 1000 cfs….and Jim and I hadn’t paddled the Frio in probably ten years. So our tents were quickly dismantled, gear loaded and we were Texas bound! Two hard days of driving brought us to Garner State Park on Thursday, July 5th.

Friday, Travis (our hot-shot kayaker) Jim and myself headed to the put –in…..where Travis tipped…..Jim tipped….and I – well- I MADE IT!
(Travis tips, but rolls back up)

(Jim tried to eddy before the drop...but there's not eddy and he came down backwards)

Shortly after that, Jim decided to surf a hole which ended up being a keeper and he couldn’t get out of the hole except to…..yes, you have it. Jim flipped.

OK – the two better paddlers had both tipped AT LEAST once, but not me….until my boat ran over my paddle which lodged between two rocks and I was catapulted over the side. Then there was a drop of about six feet where Jim decided to walk his boat around. Not me, I’m feeling cocky and don’t even scout and the first leg of the drop filled my canoe and the second drop caused the predicted flip.

(Travis tandems with Carey and succeeds on the drop that flipped me)

Then Travis traded out his kayak for the family tandem so he could take his daughter Brooke and girlfriend Carey paddling. Brooke (age 4) was a champion enjoying the ride…and the body surfing….with her grandpa Jim.

(Jim body floats with grandaughter Brooke while Daddy Travis watches)

But even this combination turned over at the falls near the end of the run.

So….big water in Carolina = no tips
Texas Class II water = six tips! Go figure!!

The Frio was so beautiful! For those who like the Medina, the Frio is like the Medina – just wider and more water. For those that like the Pecos, the Frio has the same flutes where you must carefully chose which seam in the lime rock you’ll follow. For those who have not done the Frio – it’s beautiful and worth the LONG drive.