Dates: September 8, 2007
Participants: Ed Boswell, Sejal Shah, Ashely Cowan, Ben Gilbert, Jill Dinsdale, James Woods, Raymond Williams, Stuart Samuels, Lee Belknap, John Zadrozny, Lisa Birskovich

Well, pretty much the key thing I can say is “Gauleyyyy” that’s a run. Tighten up your backband, snap on your spray skirt, and make sure your thigh braces and foot pegs are in place, then hang on.

Trip Date: Saturday, August 25, 2007
Trip Leader: Michael Carter
River Level: 1.33 ft (USGS @ Lillington)
Weather: 100 F (Erwin, NC)
Trip Length: 4 miles, 8:30 am to 4 pm

Participants: Gil Williams, Bob Brueckner, Kate Kelleher, Larry Ausley, Nancy Guthrie, Brian McPherson, Kevin Kizer, Brent Langston, Bobby Simpson, Ryan Poling

Boats: 2 tandem canoes, 3 solo canoes, 2 kayaks

WOR, drought conditions, high gas prices. Why was I again driving a long distance to a very dry area? To paddle the “same old” dam released rivers? No. To meet friends from many far flung areas that I haven’t seen in a year? Perhaps. To hope for unpredicted “weather”. Sure, it has happened before.

I led several trips during the WOR, to the Upper and Middle Ocoee on the first Sunday, a kid’s trip on the Nantahala on Monday, a low water fish release on the Cheoah, a full release trip on the Cheoah on the last Saturday, and a kid's trip on the Upper Cheoah on the second Sunday.

Dates: June 27 – July 2, 2007

 

I want to dispel ALL the rumors of a great Middle Fork Trip.

Plainly put, it was AWFUL, six full days and nights of suffering.

The Narrows is a special place for many reasons: the reputation, the race, the gradient, the mystique. I got a chance to paddle it this past Sunday after getting skunked on a Saturday run (Operational schedules are determined daily, but I secretly think it's hourly sometimes).