Pigeon

1200cfs
Release Level

John and I ran the Pigeon along with 13 others of the Viking Canoe Club. It was a good run that I felt was challenging while still being pretty tame. I started off the day flipping at the first rapid then attempting my roll 6 times before getting it. I wasn't going to swim on the first rapid as an introduction to all the Vikings. I combat rolled a few other times as well and in all had a great run. Got some surfing done as well. I do need to learn some new rolls and hopefully some roll sessions will be available to me soon. On the hardest rapid, Lost Guide, I had a roll that really saved me. After hitting a small slot you have to paddle hard river left to avoid some rocks. I flipped after the slot, but quickly rolled back up and had just enough time to paddle river left. There were two swimmers about as I did this. No one else saw it, but I am proud of that moment. We skipped out on the French Broad because the level was low.

Elkhorn

280cfs  Just another day on the Elkhorn.  Jay was with me again.  We have started parking before the flat water, it really makes the trip more enjoyable.  The 4 Runner is the perfect kayaking vehicle as well.

4th of July Elkhorn Run

Well it was actually on the 5th, but Jay and I rant the Elkhorn on Monday at 480cfs. A small bit of rain and lightening came in, but nothing too threatening.

Beech Fork Camping and Canoeing

Finally got this thing in for the year on Friday and Saturday July 2nd and 3rd. The Beech Fork was low at 120cfs but always runnable. The rapid was too low to pass over, we had to carry over it. David Jury, David Jameson, Jay Thomas and I went. Add to that Beastie and Keiser. Great trip, I want to do this sort of trip again soon on a more sceneic river, like the Green.

Welcome to the Elkhorn

On Saturday June 27th 2004 I took Jay down the Elkhorn for his first trip on what should be one of many more to come. We had a great run at 1000cfs. We met up with some BWA boaters and ran with them. One of them even ran the dam against the corner wall. We'll be back very soon, I'm sure of it. Maybe now Jay will be more persuaded to buy a kayak of his own now that he has seen such a great creek so close to home.

Ocoee to the Hiwassee

Saturday, June 12th 2004

After not getting the raft down to Tennessee last year, this year we made sure to continue the tradition of rafting the Ocoee. It was the usual suspects this year with added newbies of Casey, Brandon and a couple of burg boys who had never gone whitewater rafting before. We made three trips on the river on Saturday, everyone left on Sunday. Ryan, Brandon and Casey punked out on us on Saturday and went home early. I stayed and kayaked the Hiwassee on Sunday. Casey and Chris Voit swam. River Rats was very good to us this year. After Brandon and Ryan kept everyone up all night they let us stay the next day, but they moved us under a pavilion out front. I am beginning to feel that I can run the Ocoee soon.

Sunday, June 13th 2004

The next day I went up to the Hiwassee and kayaked with Meagan and Darrin. The Hiwassee was cool easy run, which what I was looking for. Good little surf spots, side surfing and some ledge drops.

Elkhorn Creek: after the storms

3300cfs

After work on Thursday I ran the Elkhorn. The waves were big, this is a great level for the Elkhorn. The damn was a little tight. Not much room at the portage.

In attendance:
Bubba
Megan
Darrin
Spalding

Cheating Death on Harrods Creek

1400cfs (6 feet)

Little Goose Creek was at 89cfs

Last night John and I ran Harrods Creek.  We have been getting lots of rain and to go with it lots of storms.  Harrods Creek isn't bad to run at this high level.  It's all easy class II, but you have to watch for downed trees.  The thing is we bumped it up a level last night because we got caught in a storm while on the water.  Tornados were in the area and it was hell on the water.

It starts off fine.  I can see the storm in the distance but figure we will be off the water before it gets bad.  Not long after paddling through muddy class II drops, the storm catches up with us.  Lightening is striking every where.  That was the worst part.  The Lightening.  We keep going hoping it will pass.  We come to a tree laying across the river.  We have to portage.  I am the first to re-enter my boat after the portage.  I go downstream a bit around the bend and stop and wait... and wait.  Then bam!  Lightening strikes very close.  It was incredibly loud.  I wait another second.  John still hasn't come around the corner.  I start to think he has been struck by lightening.  I jump out of my boat and run around the bend.  He hasn't been struck, but it is almost worse.  The canoe is flipped, broached and swamped.  And there is John in the water pulling on it every which way trying to get it free.  To make a long story short it didn't look like we could get it free.  But we did, using my throw rope and John's strength we got that thing out.  I'm glad we did, I don't know what we would have done otherwise.



Now the rain is coming harder.  We can't see shit.  It is dark as well.  Don't go kayaking at night kids.  And don't go kayaking in storms.  But we make to the end and don't get hit by lightening once.  Thank you Jesus!  It would seem that all the madness is over now that we are out of the water, but it is not.

Now it's raining harder, trees are falling down everywhere.  John can't see out of his car window for shit.  We head back but are blocked by a tree that has fallen across the road.  We turn around and go the long way.  The way that has little trees spread all over the roads.  Every ¼ mile we have to stop, get out, get soaked again and move trees out of the way.  We do this for an hour until we finally reach my car.  But right before we do John's headlights go out.  So now he has no headlights, and today he has no car cause thing wouldn't start this morning.

So we begin putting the boats on my car and the damn roof rack slides apart into four pieces.  So in the rain, in the dark we have to take the boats off, reconstruct the roof rack and put the boats back on.  The we slowly drove home as the storm finally began to pass.  John had to follow me closely because he had no lights.

It was a good trip, scary but good.  It was stupid to be out in the storm, but I don't watch the weather channel so how could I know that shit was coming.

Elkhorn Creek: Why I don't golf.

On a beautiful Sunday after noon David had to sell us out on the trip because his brother was having a baby.  Besides it was his birthday so he can cancel if he wants to.  One day David will join our ranks.  But until then John and I are going strong with our river trips.  Michael and Zach joined us again, Zach got his first combat roll.  John brought a friend from work, Katie with the cool ass Jeep.  Hopefully she is down with boating now and can paddle again soon.
Water Level: 1000cfs

Great water level.   A lot of good waves at this level.   Lunch Stop is smaller, but that next wave spot is good.

Attendance:
John Mathews
Michael Mathews
Spalding Hurst
Katie Renfroe
Zach Wimsett

Back To The Rockcastle

Jay, John and I ran the Rockcastle river on Saturday May 8 th .   The level was at 600cfs.   John ran the Beech narrows, the class IV rapid of the river.   It looked pretty scary, but John made it look easy in the Blue Hole canoe.   Check the video below and pictures in the gallery.   The trip was awesome.   The Rockcastle is a perfect river to run.   The lake was up and so the last rapids on the lower narrows were not there.   But in all we had a great river trip.   Jay got his first roll on his third time trying.   I am a good teacher I guess.   I can't wait to return.

Water level: 600cfs

Attendance:


Jay Thomas

John Mathews

Spalding Hurst