Big Laurel Creek 5/14/16
It's unusual to get the highlight of the trip before you finish setting shuttle, but this day was different. On the way back from dropping off the cars in Hot Springs there was a mama bear in a peach tree with a cub on the ground. She was pigging out after winter and apparently oblivious to how unripe the peaches were.
I've run a novice trip at the end of April (with a few notable gaps) since 1996, normally just non-boating friends that I've dragged along. I pick the end of April because it's the best window for possibly having water yet being warm enough for novices. A common complaint I hear is that the club needs to post more novice trips, and this year I extended that out to the club community.
Friday: Nantahala gorge: Jamilla Squires, Jim Wendling, Art Berg (PFD!), Me. Had a cloudy, cool day to warm up our first day of the weekend. Sprinked a litlle but was really great to be back on the river.
The CCC Beginner Kayaking Clinic was held this past weekend. I was assisted by Ian Pond and we had three students in attendance, Cyndy Falgout, Frank Mueller, and Rachel Force.
This trip was better attended despite the Nanty Open just up the road. It must have been the great weather! I heard several positive remarks regarding my new Ocoee River Guidebook for Raft Guide Trainees from random boaters and guides. The guidebook is my latest attempt to panhandle a few beers; if you like it consider bribing me with a craft beer or two to create more online guidebooks.
Lee Martin met me at the put in early at 10:00 AM to run a couple of laps. We worked on walking the plank and eddy hopping broken nose among other moves. Raft guide trainees provided entertainment getting stuck far off line during the weekend. Watch a short video of some of the fun.
No dogs were rescued in the course of this Ocoee trip.
I haven’t spent much time on the water this year. Kayaking the Haw last week I was wondering whether I could even still roll. Then I screwed up at the bottom of Moose Jaw and at least answered that question. I know the Ocoee well (and can still play back all the rapids in my head), but it’d been almost a year. Wonder how that will go? Adding to that the weather reports showed close to freezing temps in Ducktown for the weekend.
Lee Martin and Lara met me at the put in for the first lap. There might have been six boaters in front of us when Lee and I put on Saturday morning. It was a fun lap. I think Lee had a quick flip and roll but otherwise a dry hair run with no sneaks. The afternoon lap was spent helping POC recover swimmers and gear. Sunday temps dropped and reduced the number of boaters. The morning lap was quite chilly for spring.
Trip Coordinator: Jeff Hatcher
Paddlers- Rick Steeves, Steve Lott, Kevin Tuttle, Joe Mount, Jeff Hatcher
Temp 50, Level 5.8', 2300 cfs, 1' on the 64 bridge.
Really great day on the Haw with new friends (Kevin), old friends (Rick and Joe) and really old friends (Steve was in Triad River Runners and helped me learn how to paddle back in 2002!).
Chapel Hill Roll Session January 27th
In the spirit of Trip Reports gone by.
There were around 15 boats. 2 really long kayaks. One 2 man kayak with a woman. 4 playboat kayaks. 1 ruined kayak. 2 creek boat kayaks. 4 river runner kayaks. Some of them were blue. Some of them were red. Some of them were green. One of them had blue, green, yellow, red, fade, orange, black and white. One of them was orange. Several had several colors.
There were a lot of kayaks upside down at one time or another.
The end.
JMB
