Easter Weekend 2004: “Ask questions, assume nothing” – Chuck Hunley
| River: | Other |
| Skill: | All |
| Trip Date: | 04/09/2004 |
It seems that at every CCC event there is always some incident, good or bad, which provokes campfire conversation and laughter. The CCC 2004 Easter Weekend was no exception. As paddlers, there is a new quote that we should all exercise before putting on the river: “Ask questions, assume nothing”. I’m told credit for this goes to Ron Tolley, after a 6 hour trip on the French Broad from Barnard to Stackhouse. It’s a quote, after learning, which I failed to exercise myself before getting on the Nolichucky with 20 paddlers. Never again, it is now my golden rule.
Despite the lack of rain and water about 35-40 club members attended. We even had club members Sandy and Michelle Bate make a 13 hour trip from the Chicago area to attend.
Day 1: Friday April 9th:
No rain, no water, plenty of sunshine. I was a little nervous walking over to the morning meeting. As I got to the picnic shelter I didn’t see any ropes dangling from the rafters, so my tension eased. I’d live to paddler enough day…just not today. The only near by water to be found was the Nolichucky, 2 hours away and the French Broad, 1.5 hours away. A small group decided to head over to the Nolichucky, while a larger group headed to Section 9 of the French Broad. The third group that I was part of decided to head over to the Pigeon in hopes that there would be a release. Our fallback plan was to hike up the trail along Big Creek that empties into the Pigeon at the Power Plant/put-in. At the put-in a group of locals where suiting up for a low water run at 400 cfs hoping for release. It was a beautiful day and they didn’t seem to care. We waited around until 11 am, but the “projected” release never happened. We didn’t ask any “questions” and “assumed” since there were releases on the Easter Weekend:“Ask questions, assume nothing”by Chuck Hunleydays before that there would be one today. On to plan 2, Big Creek hiking. Our group consisted of Russ Scheve, Diane Owens, Billy Gray, Lisa Birskovich, Michele Pagnotta, Wendell Lawrence, Jack Barb and Mia Shuler, and me. Someone in the group (Lisa I think) stated that it was a class II hike up a class V creek. If you have never done the hike, it is well worth it. We did a 2.5 mile (one way) walk up past Mouse Branch Falls and went just beyond Carriage Bridge before turning back. The water in Big Creek was crystal clear and a slightly green tint. While the water was very low, it is still unimaginable how folks boat this rock and boulder infested section.
Mean while over at the French Broad they had split into two groups, forever known as the 3 hour group and the 6 hour group. The great thing about the CCC is the willingness of club members to shepherd folks down new rivers, help the lesser experienced, and watch out for their safety. If a river is new to you, ask “questions” and don’t “assume” anything. Ask about the river difficulty and fairly evaluate your skills. Do you have the skills to get down safely? Ask the trip leaders about their skills and experience. What safety skills do they have? Can they get you down safely? If you are the trip leader, ask “questions”, don’t “assume” anyone, even the folks you know, know anything. Do the folks in the group have the skill to get down the river? Do they have a river roll and does this river require it? Everyone, ask “questions”, don’t “assume” anything. Is there a first aid kit in the group? Is there a break down paddle or hand paddles? Where are the car keys? It was great to hear that Rich Ruhlen loaned Wes Dodson a set of cloths and some money for food since his where locked up in the 6 hour group’s car. Then I imagined being in the same situation. I pictured myself wearing Rich’s cloths. I would have broken a window. All’s well that end’s well. Sounds like folks in both groups had a great time.
Day 2: Saturday April 10th:
Saturday didn’t look much better. I was considering not going to the morning meeting. The Pigeon recording stated “no projected releases for the weekend”. The Nolichucky and French Broad levels are, at least, holding. A small group decided to go “creeking” on the Pigeon in hopes of a release. Turns out they got a release of 1500 cfs. Apparently, “projected release” means no release, and “no projected release” means they are releasing. Go figure! Rafting companys even ran trips. “Ask questions, assume nothing.”
A small group wanting something tame headed over to the Tuckasegee at Dillsboro. It must have been great to experience driving through Gatlinburg and Cherokee, twice in the same day. Where’s Rich?!?, I’d prefer to borrow a set of clothes.
With the Nolichucky at 1230cfs, 20 of us wanted a sure thing, so we organized and drove the 2 hours to Erwin, Tennessee. We divided into two groups:
Read and run group: Jade Wei, Dave Wei, Billy Gray, Wendell Lawrence, Wes Dodson, Russ Scheve, Diane Owens, Bob Bruekner, Mary Hebrank.
Stop and Scout: Chuck Hunley, Lisa Birskovich, Michele Pagnotta, Sandy and Michelle Bate from Illinois, Ian Pond, Ben and Thomas Gilbert, Kent, Len, Andy Malinowski.
Out of this group of 20, I’ve not paddled with 3. I didn’t make any “assumptions” and asked “questions” of the 3 to make sure they were capable of paddling the Nolichucky. Each had paddled it before and said they would be fine with the current level.
At the put-in I was going through my gear deciding what to take a long. First-aid kit – check. Throw rope – check. Next I pulled out my Power Pawz, I had them in my hand when I “questioned” to myself, “Do I really need these today?” “So what if someone one swims? “ I “assumed” We’d just chase down their gear. “It’ll be fine.” So, I put them back in the car.
At the staging eddy for Last Change/Entrance Rapid Lisa asked a “question” “Does everyone have a roll?” I guess it’s better late than never. Near the bottom of the rapid, I noticed a hole and dropped into it and side surfed marking its position while the others paddled safely around it and me.
At On The Rocks, we got out to scout while Lisa demoed the lines for us. Ride the tongue in the middle with left angle, then paddle left to stay off the rocks. The current pushes right toward some rocks. Those flipping or that cannot get left, can run a slot between the rocks. From the looks of things from the top there were a few flips and rolls, but everyone made it through just fine.
At Quarter Mile we got out to scout again. It’s a long rapid that can be pushy with a couple of big holes. One hole in the middle called Hungry Jack. Some folks opted to portage the top part of the rapid to avoid being eaten by Hungry Jack. Ian got caught up in the pushy current, flipped and tried a few rolls before being washed over the ledge upside down into Hungry Jack. I chased after him nervously waiting for signs of him and his bright yellow X to wash free…nothing. As I got below Hungry Jack I could see Ian swimming free, his boat still being chewed on. An orphaned water bottle and a disgruntle paddle floated by heading to the take-out. They were never seen again. Ian was able to grab my boat and we made it to an eddy in the middle of the rapid. Hungry Jack apparently didn’t have an appetite for a yellow X and spit it out. It got hung up on some rocks about 20 feet up river from us. I was able to attain up to it, get it free, and float it down to Ian. Stuck in the middle of the river with out a paddle does not leave many choices. Andy tried several times to get us a rope, but it kept falling two feet short. We all need to practice rope throwing on a regular basis. I had to ferry the rope over. Andy and Sandy pulled the boat over to river right. I ferried the rope back over and they pulled Ian over. Everyone else made it down just fine. There was hope of finding the paddle patiently waiting in any eddy just below and above Murphy’s Ledge. It was nowhere to be found. Diane had a break down paddle, but she and the other group are nowhere in site. My Power Pawz are in the car. Fortunately, Michelle B. had some of those Neoprene hand paddles, called Web Gloves. So, I loaned Ian my paddle and took the hand paddles. I’ve only hand paddled once before and that was with my Pawz and on some easy class II on the Nantahala. I had 6.5 miles and seven class III’s to go.
I was unsure I could roll with these things, so I asked Andy to stay close. Thanks again Andy, for looking after me! I did end up in a hole for some surfing at Rooster Tail and the rest of the trip was with out incident. Lisa guided the others down letting a few of them taking turns probing some of the remaining rapids.
We showed up at the take-out cold and tired, about an hour behind the other group. After getting changed, sharing a few river stories and a cold beverage, we headed into town for some burritos before driving back to camp.
This was my first, and hopefully last, time filling in as club President and it seems I failed in my responsibility, maybe I will not be asked again…there is no way we are going to make it back in time to hold the scheduled club meeting at 9pm. Not only are at least half the folks attending this weekend are with me, so are all the club officers in attendance. No one seemed concerned. It’s a paddling club after all, not a meeting club. We’ll just have to hold it in the morning before going over river levels.
Day 3 – Sunday April 11th:
The predicted rain did not arrive. At least we were able to pack up dry tents and camping gear. The club meeting went quickly and, as expected, the budget passed. Given the lack of paddling options some folks went by the Pigeon hoping for a release that would not happen. Another group decided to catch the French Broad. Some opted to head home, while a few others decided to check out Wilson’s Creek. As luck would have it, it started raining as the morning meeting ended and rained off and on most of the way to Wilson’s Creek.
Wilsons Creek at – 6 inches low, but runnable.
Group 1: Billy Gray, Lisa Birskovich, Michele Pagnotta, Mary Hebrank, Chuck Hunley
Group 2: Jade Wei, Dave Wei, Milton Wicker, Kurt McKissick
This would be Michele, Dave, and Mary’s first time down Wilson’s creek. Albeit low, it would be nice warm day for a first time run. While the holes would not be too sticky and the water not pushy, it was pretty boney in the rock jumbles between rapids.
At 10ft Falls Lisa gave Michele and Mary directions, while Billy and I waited at the bottom. Michele got stuck on the rock on river left at the lip of the drop. She was able to wiggle free and successfully negotiate the rest of the drop. 10ft Falls is more of a slide than a drop and usually has a keepy hole at the bottom.
Everyone had good lines at Boat Buster, opting to run the right side boof. We all collected in an eddy just below before running Thurderhole. At Thunderhole the river is constricted down to about 7 or 8 feet wide.
At Triple Drop, Michele had the cleanest line I’ve every seen. Everyone else seemed to get hung up just below the first drop in the little mouse trap on river left.
Mary ran the old traditional long boat line at Razor Back. Running the slide of the first drop on river right straight into the eddy, and then slipped out backwards. This seems the best route for keeping your hair dry. Everyone else hit the pillow at the bottom, then road it around to the left.
Despite the lack of rain for the weekend everyone made do. I did not hear any regrets in the choice folks made to paddle or hike. It was a great Easter weekend.