Hypothermia Challenge- Chattooga 3 1/2
| River: | Chattooga |
| Skill: | Intermediate+ |
| Trip Date: | 01/28/2012 |
This was the 13th iteration of a trip that began in January 2000. That year the forecast early in the week was fantastic, but it deteriorated to the point that we were ready to cancel the trip the day before it was scheduled. When 14 people said they wanted to go, off we went. By the end of the day, we had icicles hanging from our helmets, and had to brave slick, icy roads to get home. The Hypothermia Challenge was born!
This year, the weather held beautifully, producing a mostly sunny day in the 50s, and a level of 2.1, which I think is the highest level we have had for this annual trip. When the dust cleared we had 15 boats, including a tandem canoe, and a tandem ducky. It was an experienced group, with a couple of first timers to round things out. We played our way down to Bull Sluice, where we ate lunch and watched the ones who chose to run the rapid. There was minimal carnage, but no injuries, and after our repast we headed down river.
Screaming Left Turn provided the stage for some dramatic unsynchronized swimming, as 3 open boats flipped in rapid succession. I roped in one of the paddlers as he floated by, but had no time to recoil and throw as the tandem canoe flipped, with 2 swimmers and an ensuing lost paddle (found 3 weeks later!), followed by the fourth swimmer, and a clutch combat roll by one of the yakkers. With the stouter than average water level, the chaotic water thru Screaming Left messed with people's minds, and pushed the swim team down river left where all eventually recovered. We had a few more swims along the way to the take out, but again, no one seriously injured.
As trip leader, I was very grateful to have such a strong supportive group of experienced paddlers.
The most damage of the day was done to the inventory of Humble Pie Pizza, where we had dinner apres paddling, telling all true stories, and saying our goodbyes until next time…