Week of Rivers Firsts 2013
River: | Other |
Skill: | All |
Trip Date: | 06/29/2013 |
This list is partially transposed from soggy papers from the wettest WOR on record, from many emails and Facebook messages. All errors herein are probably due to Cruise Chair. Thanks to Bill Dement and Marlow Durbin who helped read wet and runny hieroglyphics and to Sarah Ruhlen for her editing and remarks. Happy Memories and Happy Reading All! Joan Monnig, Cruise Chair
Set up Circus Tent by 10 am, Dennis Lyons
Pigeon run twice, Matt Thompson *must share secret to removing double pigeon manky-smell from gear
Chattooga 3, Steve Saylor
Broke a Werner paddle getting into a Nanty eddy, John Long
Got holed in Tennessee, Alan R
1st Time Pigeon Gorge, Brittany Dargis
1st time on Middle Ocoee, Brittany Dargis
(Brittany was afraid of the Nanty in 2012 – look at her now!)
Lost a tooth on the Little, Elbow to the Y, Eric Bate, age 7 *note: small children are known to have the ability to regenerate teeth at an alarming rate
First time getting a perfect 10 from the judges at Surfers on the Nanty, Jeff H
First time running the pigeon twice in one day, Jeff Hatcher
Busted paddle on Big Laurel, Rob M
1st raft flip, Leon Pfeiffer
First time leading a trip (6 first timers at the Bull, they all survived!) Frank Ohrt
First round trip to the Atlanta Airport during WOR, Frank, Ohrt
First time running kayaker’s ledge on FB 9, and we styled in canoes, Laura and Sarah *ladies in canoes – always stylish
First ELF run in the men’s room shower, Ed Evangelidi , the full release came later! *note: don’t try at home, trained professionals were used in the creation of this stunt
PFD Nanty, combat roll on the bump, ran the Falls, Morgan Eliiott
1st Week of Rivers, PFD, Big Laurel, 1st disolocated thumb, (still rockin’!)
First time WOR no longer a desert! (RLJ) *went a little overboard, or forgot to knock on wood
PFD, Nanty Falls,
PFD, Upper Nanty, Tom Shen
First solid class V, Boxcar Falls
First time kayaking a river I guided for so long (Ocoee), David
First time in a playboat and running laps on something creeky, though not at the same time (David)
Got my roll (Mary )
First time Tablesaw on Ocoee with boat half full of water *see any good fish down there?
PFD, Upper Nanty, John McDonald
PFD, Upper Nanty. Darrell McPeake.
Elf, Cheoah, Joe Owensby
1st exploration of the headwater of the east Alarka Creek, (Evan, Stella, Erik, Trogan, Kaelin, Rowan, Michelle)
First run of Double Drop, Bull Sluice, (unintentional but rocked it!). T. Maines
PFD Spring Creek, CT
First time leading a hiking group Wesser Creek Trail to Fire Tower
First 360 degree mountain top views
First successful run, Nanty Falls in a kayak, Anika
First time using hand paddles, loved them. Thanks Dennis (David on the Pigeon)
First time bending down to pick my boat up and ripping the whole back side of my bathing suit in front of a couple of bus loads of rafters. *some days you see the show, some days you be the show
First time, raffle prize winner, Tom W.
Tubing, Rafting, first time in a kayak, Tuck Gorge, Nanty and Nanty Falls, Annabelle Sloan
First time on South Toe Gorge, Ed Evangelini
First time on Middle Ocoee, Jamilla
PFD Cheoah, ELF, Jamilla
1st combat roll, Mary
1st Cheoah run, made my day, Melissa
First Blind date on the Pigeon (Brian) *we would have chosen a more aromatic location, however, it was an excellent opportunity to go on a romantic excursion in which it did not matter whether or not one had showered that morning (or even that week).
PFD on the Little, (Brian)
PFD on Chauga Read and Run (Brian)
PFD on North Fork of French Broad, Dennis
PFD, Santeelah Creek, Dennis
PDS on Cheoah low water, Dennis
On Little Sinks to Elbow, Marcos Lightning
Swam like a rat on FB 9, paddlecraft was a Bellyak, Brother Wayne *we admire your courage, Brother Wayne.
First time on Ocoee, Shredded Upper and Middle, Joanie L
PFD on Big Laurel, Tom Shen
Little Sinks to Elbow, Joe Owensby
PFD Little Elbow to Y and FB 9,
First time to help rescue a boat, Rowan Chapelle
Paddled a shredder
Wendy Krause – first time to be roped out of campground creek *note: rumor has it your rescuer had some trouble getting you the rope, so we’re glad it all worked out
Stuart Samuels – First time down spring Creek
Joanie L – First upstream flip of a shredder in lost guide on the Pidgeon *partner claims no responsibility
Kevin Carter – first time doing throw rope practice on campground creek.
Allen F – First time live bait rescue out of campground creek
First Time at this event
PFD Tellico, 2 combat rolls, 2 rescue of others, Charlie Kemp
PFD Tellico for my entire family
Rowan’s first creek
First time to get in boat near a water moccasin or another water snake – Rowan
First time walking a rapid – Bull Sluice at 2.9 feet, Leon Pfeiffer
First time getting stung in the eye by a yellow jacket while flipping on Pyramid Rock, Stephen M
Down the Nanty Falls in an inflatable pirate ship, Allen Freeman *certain acts of piracy are permitted by the club, others, such as this one, are recommended
PFD North Fork of the French Broad, Stuart Samuels (Thanks Stephanie, Great Day!!!!)
On Comp wave on the Nanty, Wendy Krause. Thanks Anna Levesque, Girls at Play!
First Face full of flour, Frank Ohrt
PFD Toe Gorge, Rowan
First time stuck in a hole while ferrying, Rowan
First time to swim after my boat when I wasn’t in my boat, (dropped it carrying up a steep bank), Rowan
1st time down a river in a duo (Ocoee), Lexy Gerow
1st swim, Lexy Gerow
1st time to roll on my own effort, Lexy Gerow
1st time picking and eating blackberries while still in my boat, Joan
Rode a bear instead of kayaking, Matt Moore *it is to be noted that the said bear was stuffed, and currently resides at the NOC Great Outpost.
PFD on The Greenbriar, Daniel Richardson
PFD on the Upper Nantahala, Daniel Richardson
First two-lap day on the Ocoee, Daniel Richardson
First descent on Upper Nantahala, subsequently my first "shoulder boof" at PBJ, Greg Murphy
First time leading a trip: Middle Tellico, Greg Murphy
First time paddling the Pigeon Gorge at 2400 cfs (2 laps) , Greg Murphy
First descent of Little River, Elkmont section, Greg Murphy
First time camping in Weddleville (section 8 tenting), Greg Murphy
PFD, Santeetlah Creek, Ken Dubel
NOT the first time I found an error in the DeLorme Atlas, Ken Dubel
First run of Spring Creek; first swim on Spring Creek, Raymond Williams
First run of Santeetlah, Raymond Williams
First time on the Little (Smokies) this century, Raymond Williams
First time on the river I heard someone say, "I lost a tooth" and sound excited about it (It was a baby tooth from 7 year old Eric who styled the lower Little), Raymond Williams
First time I had to scout lines to walk through the campground, Raymond Williams
First WOR I heard people say, "I hope it doesn't rain today." Raymond Williams
First repair of a cracked creek boat with Gorilla tape. Raymond Williams
First Upper and middle ocoee with friends, Bob Wiggins
First time I led a Little trip, Bob Wiggins
First time I led NFFB, Bob Wiggins
PFD’s for Bob Wiggins: Chauga, Davidson (at normal flows- elfed it earlier this year), Upper nanty at 600, Brush (first drop over 30 ft for me), West Fork of the Pigeon, Big Creek,
First time on Low Flow Cheoah (5 gates open on santeetlah lake- the normally flat paddle out at the bottom was ~10 foot rolling waves and warm). Bob Wiggins
First Time I led greenbrier (first time at semi-sane levels) Bob Wiggins
First time a couple laps of nanty falls at 3000 cfs to wrap things up before heading home on last day. (HUGE waves!!) Bob Wiggins
First time getting high water skunked in July. Bob Wiggins
First time hearing a kayaker say "this rain is pissing me off!” Bob Wiggins
Donna Morgan: This Jersey girl would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all of you who make WOR possible! 8 runs, 7 personal first descents, over 6 days in 4 states is a new record for us (Middle Ocoee, Nanty- main stem, Upper Nanty, Pigeon Gorge, Chattooga 3, Santeetlah, and Middle Tellico). What a blast!!!
7/1-North Fork of the French Broad at ~7", Dennis Ashford
7/2-Santeelah Creek (not sure on the level), Dennis Ashford
7/2-Cheoah at ~ 170 cfs, Dennis Ashford (Thanks to all the WOR Organizers!)
First time to make a high water run through the Tuck Gorge, Susan Eda
First time that high water prevented me from leading a novice trip on any river for 3 days, Susan Eda
First time I worried about being flooded out of my motel room on the Tuck, Susan Eda
First time I saw vehicles being towed out of the mud by a tractor in camp, Susan Eda
I'm already looking forward to next year! Susan Eda
PFD Snowbird Creek, Sarah Ruhlen
First time considering up-ending the Big Tent and using it as an Ark! Sarah Ruhlen
PFD, Jonathan Creek, Jen Fahey
First time sharing an eddy with a giant teddy bear, Jen Fahey
PFD, Snowbird Creek, Jen Fahey
PFD Middle Tellico, Jen Fahey
PFDs for John McDonald: Upper Nantahala, Lower Santeetlah, Tellico Ledges, East Fork of the Pigeon
PFD, Davidson, Tremont, Paul Scrutton
First time down a Class IV Creek, Big Creek, Carin Pendergraft, Ken Athison
PFD, Jonathan’s Creek, Barret Black
First time anyone ever came all the way from Shanghai to attend WOR!!!! Junling Ma (Way to Go!)
PFD’s in a K1: Middle Lower Little River, Kaelin Friederson
First time in a C2 on the Middle Lower Little River, Trogon Friederson (this might be transcribed incorrectly – sorry guys!)
PFDs for Sylvia Durant: Middle Tellicon, Spring Creek, Upper Nantahala
PFD’s for Lisa Kara: Middle Tellicon, Upper Nantahala
Rowan Chapelle (14) says, “First time paddling my own boat all through WOR. I can’t wait for next year. I had a great time. I was a baby the last time I cane here!” (Joan, Cruise Chair and Boater Mom says, “Way to Go! And That’s precisely why I do this job! Thanks Rowan!”
Rich Ruhlen: First time I led a trip on Snowbird Creek. 10 people. Jen Fahey, Randy Welch, Vince, Martha Mount, Amy Rae Fox, Wendy Krause, Doug (Stager?), Jeorgia Urbanski, Sarah and myself. PFD’s for all. What a day!
PFD’s on Jonathan Creek for Mary Ellen Griffin, Jen Fahey, Randy Welch, Sarah Ruhlen, Barrett +!, Don and Jo Beyer, Jonathan Arendt.
PFD’s on Big Laurel, Don and Jo Beyer
PFDJonathan Creek, Cort Caldwell
First time I arrived at WOR, Margaret Weise
PFD’s: Greenbriar section, Little (Elkmont to Metcalf), Cheoah (230 cfs), Margaret Weise
First time to get trashed in Top Hole on the Nanty Falls in an inflatable Pirate Pod Flotilla. I appeased the River Gods! Marlow Durbin
First surf on Eternity Hole, Marlow Durbin
PFD’s: Big Creek, Entirety of Tellico Ledges, High water on Greenbriar section/Middle Prong, Marlow Durbin (Woo hoo! What a WOR this was for me!)
Greta Durbin says this is the first time I was Sooo Tired of paddling for 8 straight days that I opted NOT to paddle one day and to take care of an ADORABLE dog named Spike instead! 🙂
Dennis says this is the first time animals built a (dry) home in my playboat at WOR because it was not being used!
Joan M says “this is the first time I took this long to compile a list!”