Noli 2.0 low water
| River: | Nolichucky |
| Skill: | Intermediate+ |
| Trip Date: | 11/10/2024 |
Sonya Korabelnikova and I hit the Noli. Takeout parking is at AT trailhead Chestoa on river right where the bridge is no more (not on hostel side), can’t really go any further up toward the campground, and that’s not going to change soon (road part gone). The word is that parking at put-in is not recommended (unless you cut a deal w/ Patrick who lost his house but welcomes kayakers, other locals may not and there’s no street parking due to construction), or even better ask for a shuttle (a number of USA raft employees will happily help you out for a little fee). At low level, new lines are mostly read and run, except for 1 drop in 1/4 mile (scout on left), where best line is far left (more outflow) followed by the juicy curler drop right below, definitely the crux of the river now. Mason later pointed out on FB that the curler has rail in it (not easily visible), so maybe take the middle drop instead for the time being. And another riverwide drop (I think below Roostertail, which has changed), where a left line looks best due to a nice autoboof that we missed (hard to see from top). Rock garden should be run left w/ a late drop to the right, everything else is manky. Final rapid past campground is run river right, right of rightmost railroad bridge post due to strainers. The gorge is full of railroad tracks, you’ll have to wheelchair or portage over one of them and look out for submerged tracks esp. on river left in many places, but they are mostly not in play. Water seems to channelize quite well even at low levels. CSX construction is out of control w/ a river crossing for heavy equipment at putin and midway down, where you have to search for a break in the rocks they placed as a ford, but it just works OK. We’ll see how much they will destroy w/ their mining, even on Sunday crews were busy. Some side creeks have pipes, one was completely covered by rocks to allow crews to run trucks for track rebuilding. Expect that to be the norm for a long while as most tracks are gone, airborne, upside down or in the river (both banks or in riverbed). Other than that, not much trash in trees (unlike FB9), a few landslides and lots of changes in the flow. Enjoy w/ care for locals, please.