On Friday, 7/5/13, approximately 30 of us from Week of Rivers gathered at the Rattler Ford Group Campground to take on Santeelah Creek – a primary source for Lake Santeela, from which the Cheoah River flows.
Participants: Rick Steeves, Mark Kieran, Garrick & Alyssa Taylor, Kathryn McNeal, John McDonald
Mother Nature spoiled us this weekend, delivering perfect water levels, weather, and even a pretty spectacular nightlight for a pre-WOR trip to the Nolichucky.
Having published weeks in advance a trip on the Cape Fear, as the date arrived I was about ready to cancel. On the 15th it was running around 4.5', but by the 18th it was running at just barely over 2' which, while higher than the 1.6" I'll never run again, isn't off by much. I'd received a few inquiries, but said that if it was below 2' I'd cancel. But still, I felt committed.
Most everyone was clinic-bound for the weekend, so I didn't know who I'd have the chance to paddle with. John McDonald was providing safety for a clinic on Friday, but was to join me on Saturday, and I figured I'd play it by ear on Sunday. My wife Marnie had also come along in "shuttle bunny" capacity.
