Fear, Confidence and the Green Narrows
Adam Davis had a new kayak, a sporty little rec boat he’d taken over from his dad. He’d paddled on the upper Haw with a friend and was bitten by the kayaking bug. Adam started watching paddling videos and saw one by an intrepid paddler on a flooded Haw. When rains drove up the Haw again, Adam decided it was time for him to get on the river. Cadging a ride to the put in and take out, Adam had already learned an early paddle skill, setting a shuttle. That’s when his skill set ran short.
The Haw at fourteen feet has a huge volume of water; doable in the right boat in the mid-channel on the Upper reaches but treacherous along the banks where strainers and swirling currents abound. Adam quickly realized he was in the wrong place. He couldn’t control the boat, he had no one to help him and he wasn’t sure how to get off this wild ride. As he neared the shore, the river decided for him, pushing him into a tree and flipping the boat. He flailed, trying to regain his senses and here his good decision number two came into play. Adam was wearing a PFD, in his case, literally a life preserver. He clung to the partially submerged tree and luckily wasn’t dragged under the branches by the surging water. Working his way up the trunk he was able to make shore: soaked, battered, beaten but able to call his shuttle buddy and limp back home. His rec boat was lost. No matter, it would be a month before he wanted to look at a kayak again.
Eventually the physical and mental wounds healed and Adam wondered what had happened to his boat. A friend told him of a guy named Pete Beck who had found an abandoned rec boat. Adam recognized the name. Pete had been the paddler who had posted the YouTube video of himself running the Haw at flood stage. Adam called Pete and they met. The boat wasn’t Adam’s but this chance meeting led him to a maiden run down one of the premier creeks in the country.
There were a lot of steps in between, although they were condensed into a relatively short time. Pete, after hearing Adam’s story, offered to show him the ropes. Pete: “I figured he could take what he learned back to his crew of friends and recreational kayaker crew and they would all be safer and better off.”
Pete was being helpful but also perhaps feeling a twinge of guilt since his video unintentionally influenced Adam into running a flooded Haw. “I hate hearing stories of new paddlers getting themselves into trouble simply because they don’t know better or don’t understand all the factors at play on moving water.”
Pete has a history of mentoring new paddlers. When his son, also named Pete but called P5, decided he wanted to run bigger rivers, Pete the elder (P4) made the time to address this interest, and more. Pete: “I was able to surround myself with about ten or twelve folks that also wanted to learn whitewater. I went back in time to rediscover the class II world of paddling with them and found it surprisingly fun. We basically went everywhere together starting from scratch. As my son and the crew progressed, we were able to bite off more and more, bigger and bigger rivers and rapids.”
Ironically, Adam had paddled the flooded Haw at a good time, balanced with his good fortune in surviving it, he was now included with a group of new paddlers in an unofficial paddling school. One of these new paddlers was Jerry Yang. Jerry worked at Haw River Canoe and Kayak but really hadn’t been on the river much. Adam and he met at a roll practice at Saxapahaw. Jerry’s early experience was mostly through the CCC but over time he paddled with Adam and Pete more frequently. Jerry and Adam were well matched in skill level and enthusiasm and Pete helped with the progression of both.
Adam thrived in this environment. Now he was with other beginners who wanted to learn and who were eager to help each other. He felt this was different from his previous outlets. Adam: “ Every sport I have been in has had some sort of competition to it, but it doesn’t have to be that way in kayaking. I raced BMX for many years, I also was racing champ karts up until I started kayaking and that lead to me selling my entire racing operation. Kayaking is my escape from reality; it’s where I find peace. Everyone in the sport is more than willing to help another boater. The sense of camaraderie in this sport is like no other.”
If Adam exhibited a bit of recklessness in attempting a flooded Haw in an ill-suited boat, the trait doesn’t seem to define him now. Jerry: “I’ve always viewed him as a paddler that understands his limits and has no problem calling it a day when he needs to. It takes a lot of courage to say no and to not give in to ego.” Pete seconded this observation, “He has the kill switch. When he feels overwhelmed or that he is just having a bad day and isn’t comfortable with the run on a particular day, he is not afraid to shut it down, walk off and come back next time.”
Learning to paddle involves many skills. One must have the physical capacity to accomplish certain moves. The knowledge of how to handle changing situations. The forethought to prepare for runs. Most of all though, seems to be the internal game, the mental/spiritual aspects of paddling. Pete: “For Adam, the physical skill has come easier than the mental side of kayaking. Confidence is so important. When a paddler loses it, it can be hard to get it back. Some paddlers seem to be blissfully ignorant of their own limitations and their overconfidence can get them in trouble as the river seems to relish the chance to deliver lessons in humility. Trying to stay within that pocket of self-analysis and limit pushing can be very challenging. Adam has always been conservative in that regard.”
Progression in kayaking varies widely. Some take years to learn to roll. Some learn in one session. What’s important is a paddler progresses in their own way, with a bit of a push of comfort zones and a respect for their own individuality. Rivers and rapids are markers of progression. After spending time on smaller rivers: the Haw, Boiling Hole on the Mayo, Kibler Valley and Nantahala, Adam started making regular trips to the US National Whitewater Center and doing lots of laps on Wilson Creek. Jerry Yang shared: “I’ve seen his first laps on the competition channel at the Whitewater Center, him rocking it at Wilson Creek and his drop on Bald River Falls. I’ve also been there for a few of his swims, but that is just part of kayaking!” Pete noted Adam’s learning curve, “One thing that has helped him a lot is going for every hero move in the competition channel at the USNWC white water park. Not just bombing down the middle, but catching the eddies, making the tougher moves, running the big water nights. This is a fantastic resource that allows paddlers to hone boat control and learn how to deal with push. Coming back to a creeking environment after that makes boat placement and hitting the moves a lot easier.”
Without putting undo emphasis on equipment brands, here’s background on Adam’s boat history. First he started in the ill-fated rec boat that he quickly out grew (out swam?) Next came a ten-foot crossover boat, a vessel designed for occasional whitewater and recreational/camping pursuits. Then he bought a slightly smaller whitewater boat, a Stomper 90, purchased partly because it was locally available and largely because it was his favorite color. Pete guided some of these choices and next suggested Adam move to a Nirvana. Pete: “The Nirvana brought design aspects to Adam’s game that made paddling easier and more enjoyable for him. It took care of the deficiencies in his paddling performance which grew his confidence.” Adam would later use this boat on a milestone run.
And so, THE NARROWS
The Green River near Saluda, North Carolina is a river of many identities. The Lower Green is a playful, bouncy day-out-on-moving-water fun time for the family and occasional paddler. The Upper Green is for more experienced paddlers combining Class II-III rapids with a couple of greater difficulty. The largest difficulty perhaps, is the take out, a half-mile uphill walk with your boat. There is a way around making this walk, and that is to continue down the river, into the Narrows.
The Green Narrows is the Southeast’s most famous steep creek. It’s beautiful, remote, with a plummeting gradient and huge boulder strewn rapids. The run is roughly three miles, with an average gradient of 178 feet per mile. Bunched in this run are eleven Class IV+ to V+ rapids. Water is supplied by dam release and is available most days of the year. To aspiring kayakers, the Narrows represent an ultimate test.
I happened to meet Adam at the CCC Week of Rivers event this summer. He was eyeing a used play boat. I told him I knew someone who was showing a couple of paddlers down the Narrows that day. I jokingly asked if he wanted to go. He said, “No. Not ready for that yet, but Jerry Yang and some others are going.” I mentioned this exchange again to him recently. Adam replied, “As far as joking at WOR, I really had no intentions of running the Narrows anytime soon because I didn’t know I was good enough to do so at the time. I knew Jerry was planning to get his Narrows PFD and I was pretty stoked for him. Jerry and I met at the very beginning of our boating adventure and we were both progressing pretty well but Jerry has far surpassed me in skill as of this year and I know he’s gonna go places that I won’t.”
Recently I asked Jerry about his PFD experience. Jerry shared, “the Narrows is …. Unbelievable. There is no real way to describe it, other than being there. The river is in a gorge, and the gradient! The meat of the Narrows drops about 400ft/mile in a half mile, which is roughly equivalent to taking the Hwy 64 bridge over the Haw and lifting it 400ft. in the air and running the length of the Lower Haw from that height!”
How did Jerry end up on the Narrows?
Pete: “Adam, like almost every young gun paddler, mentions they want to paddle the Narrows.”
Adam: “It was not planned to do it this early.”
On the first Saturday in November of 2021, Adam and Pete were on hand to watch the Green Race, a yearly event featuring the world’s best creek boaters trying to outrace time and the river. The race is one of the most storied and hotly contested in kayaking history. This was a first visit to the area for Adam. He marveled, “Seeing it for the first time in person is different than the videos. There is what is called the “GoPro effect” and I was amazed by the actual gradient change of this river just from Gorilla down to the bottom of Rapid Transit.” Pete noticed, “Just seeing the gradient in person and the size of the rapids can cause one to reconsider but deep down in Adam, there was a fire that was lit that day.” Adam thought, “I would just keep paddling and training and the day that someone thought I was ready, I would be invited. That day came just under a year from that day at the race.”
Meanwhile, Jerry Yang was now living the dirtbaggers dream. His progression had skyrocketed. Jerry was living out of his vehicle and working as a freelance kayak instructor/guide and a YouTube video maker. Jerry had been working with Adam and offered to take Adam down the Narrows. Adam declined this first opportunity, as he was not comfortable with the crew. Jerry offered again. Pete observed, “ A week or two later, I was going to be on the Narrows with Wade Harrison, Matt Wallin, and Kyle Hicks. Somehow leading up to the run, Jerry’s group and ours had merged. I was excited and was not going to miss Adam’s PFD and I felt the crew was perfect for showing Adam down.”
As the big day approached, Adam prepared in various ways. “I watched an older video on YouTube “How to run every rapid on the Green Narrows” that does a great job of breaking down every rapid and every line.” I worked on eddy catching at the Whitewater Center and I took to low water laps on Wilson Creek in my Nirvana to work on making tight clean lines in a big boat.” Adam slept well the night before. His pregame meal? A drive-thru bacon egg and cheese biscuit. Somewhat unusual fare for Adam, he said, “Long story short, I was 220 lbs at the beginning of the year, felt that my poor diet and weight effected my paddling, so now I’m down to 190.”
What was Adam’s mindset going in? Adam: “The nerves really set in on the drive to the Green River.” Pete: “He, like all Narrows PFD’ers, was reserved and lost in thought and imagination as to how the day would go. He was calm. He was laughing on occasion and yet, he had his game face on. He was ready.” Jerry: “Adam was definitely nervous, which is normal for any PFD, especially the Narrows. But Adam is an extremely capable paddler and had a crew he trusted that could lead him down, and I think that gave him a lot of relief.” Jerry also advised, “Take the rapids one at a time, and that anything he looked at that he didn’t like, he could walk.”
The group decided to do the Upper Green to get loose and shake off any nerves. Pete recounted, “Having smooth lines at both Bayless and Pinball (the two Class III+’s of the Upper) will also tell the tale. Displaying any significant trouble in either of these two would suggest perhaps the paddler should hike up the hill before entering the Narrows and come back another day. As expected, Adam looked really solid and comfortable on the Upper.”
Now for an interlude to discuss the methodology of running the river. Who led the group and who swept? Jerry stated, “We regrouped in eddies in between the major rapids. Senior members of the group would lead and sweep, depending on the rapid and the situation.” Safety was set with group members standing by with ropes on the major rapids. Scouting? Pete mentioned scouting can be a two edged sword. Sometimes seeing the rapid and all it’s difficulties can spook a paddler. Sometimes it’s better to just get on-the-spot information (beta) from the lead paddler above the rapid and then run it blind. Jerry was leading Adam’s PFD and his standard protocol was to get out at the major rapids to scout. Seeing the rapids from above gives a better idea of the location and proximity of hazards and sometimes a view of pin hazards difficult to see from the river. The decision to scout ultimately rests with the leader of the group.
So, the first rapid in the Narrows is Bride of Frankenstein, followed by Class V Frankenstein. Warmed up by the Upper Green, Adam saw Frankenstein and “I knew that it was game time and had to push any negative feelings out.” Pete said, “As we began the Narrows section, he looked great. He pin-balled a bit through Frankenstein – which is a rapid that is not prone to smooth lines for a first timer. It is a bit of a bang through there. I think not smoothing that first big one seemed to stick in his mind. That is part of creeking though. Sometimes we do it ugly and just keep going.”
Next came Pin Cushion and Whale Tail, followed by Boof or Consequences. B or C is where the gradient picks up to a level of 400’ drop per mile. The group stopped to scout Boof or Consequences and Adam could feel the tension growing. Pete thinks Adam studied the rapid too long and the dangerous aspects of it became his focus. Adam revealed, “I found myself fighting a mental battle at Boof or Consequences, roughly a 8-10 ft drop between two large undercut rocks with a hidden piton if you miss the boof. As soon as you land, you have to go hard left to avoid being pushed into a giant sieve. I decided that this rapid wasn’t going anywhere and decided to walk it since I didn’t feel good about it.”
The mental battle continued. Pete observed, “There is never shame in that decision (to walk) and I respected Adam’s decision to do so. I believe it was the right call for him after seeing it and not feeling good about it.” Jerry briefly pinned at the next rapid and the visual did not help Adam’s frame of mind. At this point Adam was considering whether to continue. Pete recalled, “He still had some moves he had to make to get to a place where he could walk. He ran the sneak at Go Left, made the class III rapid below and then chose to walk the next sequence of rapids.” The group advised him to put on below Gorilla, the halfway point in the meat of the Narrows. Some felt hiking out here would be a significantly negative experience. Jerry observed, “Head game is something that is extremely difficult to manage, and at that moment, I believe Adam was struggling a bit. However, Adam was able to pull himself back together and put back on and finish very strong.” Adam said, “I had a big adrenaline dump and feeling overwhelmed, I found it challenging to put back on the river but I really impressed myself and my peers by overcoming this mental battle.”
Below Gorilla are two slides, Powerslide and Rapid Transit, big but straightforward. Pete said, “Just what Adam needed to remind him of how much fun upper end kayaking is. Just running those rapids shut down all his negative thoughts and he was smiling again ear to ear, full of confidence and ready to enjoy the second half of this glorious run.” Jerry remarked, “Fear can cause an adrenaline release, which then wears down the paddler and puts them in survival mode. Fear is only human and is the mind telling you that there is danger! The mental focus that a paddler should be going for is an immersed flow – a state of mind in which there are no distractions, where the paddler is fully present and focused, and where time seems to slow down and things become natural. Adam was in this state, especially after he put back in after Boof or Consequences.”
When putting back on below Gorilla, Adam told Pete he didn’t want to run Hammer Factor, an intimidating Class V. Pete advised him to wait and see. After walking Gorilla and Sunshine, the Class V+ that is considered the most difficult Narrows rapid, Adam came back into his own. Pete: “He absolutely crushed the rest of the run. He was going for the extra moves, the boofs, the rock spins, and all the other fun nonsense that paddlers like Wade Harrison will get you into. He came into his own. He shined. He even fired up Hammer Factor without a moment’s hesitation, and without scouting. He delivered a picture perfect line.”
Adam had ran the Green Narrows or as he judiciously phrases it, the Narrows Lite, having walked Boof or Consequences and the Big Three: Go Left or Die, Gorilla and Sunshine. How did it feel? Adam: “It felt great! I think it’s safe to say that every boater in the southeast knows the nature of the Narrows and any successful descent of the Narrows will be a win in my book.” The dream of going from an overturned rec boat on a flooded Haw to a successful run down the Green Narrows had taken two years. “I had just made a dream become a reality and was riding an adrenaline high for the rest of the day. The next morning however, I felt like I had been hit by a truck.”
Pete offered a final observation on Adam’s battle with fear and confidence, “I told Adam I was not impressed with his paddling out there. I already knew he was good enough. Rather, I told him I could not be more proud of how he handled himself, how he pulled himself together, dug deep and found the will to finish strong! He stepped out of his boat at the take out a different paddler. He stepped out a Narrows Boater. I thought back to the first day we met and how far he had come. I was impressed, proud and humbled. What a journey!”
So where does Adam go from here? He tries to get better at the little things that can use improvement. To continue to work on his mental outlook. To dream of other rivers. Adam: “There are definitely other runs I want to make that the Narrows have given me the confidence to make such as Talulah Gorge, Elk River and Gragg Prong.” He also seems to remain humble. His email pen-name is World’s Okayest Beater. In case you didn’t know, a beater is a kayaker whose flips and foibles (beat-downs) entertain the other paddlers. Adam offers this advice to would be Narrows runners, “Go with a solid crew that knows it, don’t lose focus, and don’t be afraid to walk something that you are not feeling. A mistake made on the Narrows could very well be your last.”
By Alton Chewning