Week of Rivers Multitude Descends on Santeelah Creek – and then Continues on to the Tellico
| River: | Other |
| Skill: | Intermediate+ |
| Trip Date: | 07/05/2013 |
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.
A Forest Service Ranger soon appeared and demanded to know what we were about. She was eventually satisfied with our explanation that we were a band of "adventurers in common". She proclaimed that our 10 cars could not be left in the Group Campground parking area. All but one (a large van) were parked at our intended takeout, the motor boat ramp on Lake Santeela.
Dennis Huntley specified that we were to divide for the run into autonomous groups with at least 2, but not more than 7 members. This arrangement worked very well for this "read and run" situation (every drop could be boat scouted). A delightful 600 cfs was flowing after extensive rain. The class III+ rapids were managed by all without significant difficulty. The 5-foot natural dam was run by all, and the subsequent 8-foot artificial dam featured an easy portage on river left. A river wide tree fall between these dams was somewhat problematic in that the line of portage lead across a fallen pine tree with several Poison Ivy vines!
Most of us then went on to the Tellico River in Tennessee before returning to the campground. It was running a very comfortable 300 cfs (with the Tellico Plains Gauge at 1.7 feet). John Jackson took about five of the group to run the Middle Tellico. An unknown Tellico regular took two in the group down the Upper (as his friend set rope at all the rapids). Dennis Huntley lead a group of 10. He writes: most of my group were first timers on the Upper, and the first time with vertical drops (like Carrie Hood styling it) and waterfalls (Baby Falls). Thanks also to Mark Canada. Apologies for not listing all the names!