CCC Clinic

Saturday / Sunday, May 17th / 18th
Tuckasegee River, NC, Dillsboro to Barkers Creek, Class II-III, 5.3 mi.
Saturday 1660, Sunday 1000 cfs.

Attended clinic hosted by CCC. Left Huntington, WV around 7pm. Stopped for a few hours sleep at Maggie Valley comfort Inn. Saturday morning drove on to Turkey Creek campgound, Fontana Lake and met up with my clinic instructor and some other participants. After prelim. discussions at the campground, headed for put in at Dillsboro, the old put-in under the bridge was really crowded so we moved upstream, to new put in above Dillsboro drop. Our safety boater / instructor, Ben Mallard ran the drop, the others portaged to just below on river left. Our group, led by Wendy Krause, and participants, Susan, Jason, and myself joined in and headed on downstream. Took our time and worked on catching eddies, peel outs, and ferrying across current. Although at higher level than expected, Wendy put us in plenty of spots to work on these skills. Shortly into the trip, while practicing a peel out, I flipped on eddy line, however, this resulted in my FIRST combat roll. Wendy, Susan, and Jason had moved on, but Ben was there when I rolled up, I could'nt have been more excited! The day was not without failed rolls either, but primarily due to attempting moves in bigger water, i'll take that. Missed the line at Double drop, too tight to the rock on river right, spun off sideways and flipped, failed to roll in the run out and swam river left. We stopped here for a lunch break, group of paddlers here from Georgia Canoe Assn., many practicing rolls in the runout. I also had a swim below attempting a left channel run, that was open due to higher flow, it was fairly narrow and I lost my balance, let one hand go off the paddle, (I know big mistake), too much turbulence for me to get set up and roll up. Met up with a few rocks getting through the rest of that one, couple of bruises is all. Not sure if it's even named, but possibly was slingshot, I know it did slingshot me from left to right, but the boat continued on down the left side. Completed the run, I'm guessin around 5, got back to the campground, showered and made a run over to NOC at Nantahala falls to check things out for awhile.
On Sunday it was just Wendy, Ben and myself. We put on under the bridge at Dillsboro. Got to spend more time working on same skills, practicing draws, and talking about strategy and reading water. Again, early in the run, while practicing a ferry across current, I lost my angle and flipped, but was able to achieve my SECOND combat roll, both of these rolls were in fairly mild current, but nonetheless exciting, and a definite step up for me. Got through the rest of the run pretty well, although I did have another swim at Double drop, eddy line stall again I think……then at the takeout, Ben was really looking forward to getting his coat out of my car……he said "thats not a good look Larry", and yes, the key to my car WAS in Wendy's car back at the put in, I've heard of this happening before, well now it's happened to me. Worked out OK, the GOOD people at Smokey Mountain River Adventures, (see AW page), gave Wendy a ride to her car.
This was my first trip out this year, and my first trip on the Tuckasegee. Had a great trip, did not see much sun, water was cool, I wore Hydroskin pants, polartec shirt with a semi drytop and was plenty comfortable. Many thanks to the Carolina Canoe Club for putting on this clinic, and especially to Wendy Krause and Ben Mallard for the instruction and rescues, it was great paddling with you.  Copied from 2014 river journal post at wvwa.net.