THINK RAIN

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Green Narrows

After getting skunked on the Green last month I wasn't too keen about trying to head down there unless there was a really good chance it would actually run. But Bobby had picked out this weekend to plan a trip down there and as both he and Sean claim to be unskunkable I figured it would be worth a shot.

Of course the Green had barely been running at all for a few weeks so things really just didn't seem all that promising. But somehow Bobby seemed confident. Lo and behold about a week before the planned trip date it started running at 100% just about every day. The lake level was up and the temperature was high in the south requiring extra power generation. So Tuxedo hydro was running daily.

Things got a little complicated as I had to be in Atlanta Wed-Friday for a training class. My original plan had been to meet up with my friend Jim who lives down there and head up to the Ocoee for the weekend. But with plans for the Green coming together it didn't take much convincing to get him to do the trip to North Carolina instead. I flew out to Atlanta on Tuesday night (after a nice morning run on the Falls and leaving my boat and paddle with Geoff with high hopes I'd be seeing them all in a few days). I checked the release schedule daily and worked out final logistics with the whole crew.

As it ran every day during the week I had my doubts about the Green actually going on the weekend. But sure enough calling the phone recording Friday morning:

"Saturday August the 11th and Sunday August the 12th Tuxedo Hydro station will be releasing one unit at 100% capacity from 11am to 2pm".

SWEET!!! Best news I've heard in a while!

("Operational schedules are determined daily")

So things were set. I would ride up with Jim and meet the rest of the gang on Saturday morning. I fought my way through horrible Atlanta rush hour to return my rental car to the airport. Jim was waiting for me when I arrived and after dinner and waiting out traffic some we headed north. We drove right by Tallulah Gorge and although it was too dark to stop and see anything it was nice reminiscing some. That night we met up with Margaret and stayed a Jim's friend Denise's awesome house in Franklin, about and hour and a half from the Green. It was nice to break up the already short drive (3.5 hours total vs the 8+ it is from DC) .

We arrived at the takeout at 10 am and met up with Bobby, Joe, Sean, and Geoff along with Jim (from DC). The guys (Jim excluded) were all looking rather wiped after narrowly avoiding arrest after some sketchy camping choices the night before (I was quite happy to have slept in a bed).
We were quite anxious to get on the water so we quickly drove up to the Upper Green put in (we'd decided it would be nice to see the whole run and also avoid both the hike in at the Narrows put in and the need for a "Green Key").

The Upper Green consists primarily of class II mixed into some flatwater pools and about three class III drops. A pretty run but not really all that exciting. Turned out we'd put on a bit too early and kept getting ahead of the water. For a while we played "broach up on a rock and wait for the water to pick you up". We also amused ourselves with various shenanigans including pine cone baseball and "how many trees can i push my buddy into" (I might add i won that game by getting Geoff fully wedged into a tree.. don't worry it wasn't too terribly dangerous) . All along "swim meet" points were beginning to rack up...

Bayless Boof, Upper Green

At the Narrows put in we met up with Ryan who would be joining us for the rest of the weekend. I followed Bobby down most of the way and he did a great job of showing me the lines. We got out and scouted Bride (didn't actually have to but it was nice to get out and look at as this first rapid is really pretty with high cliff walls on the sides), and Frankenstein. Really fun drops with cool moves and great boofs. After Boof or Consequences and some intimate contact with a few undercut rocks we were at Go Left. I couldn't believe the enormous crowd that had gathered. It was a total zoo. Like being on the Upper Yough on a crowded release day!

Geoff running Bride of Frankenstein

We got out to scout and Joe kindly helped me jump over the "Squeeze" so that I could get close enough to see (and by helped I mean literally held my hand cuz I wasn't going to make the jump otherwise!!). I had more or less figured that i would walk the Big Three on my first run. But standing there watching it did not seem like the move was that hard: Boof off the log with left angle, punch the hole and go through the slot. Of the Big Three, Go Left had always looked the most doable to me. After watching just about everyone have pretty good lines I decided that this was something I could certainly do. So I got in my boat and waited for the okay to head down (there was such a crowd that we were basically waiting in line for our turn and people on the rocks were giving a thumbs up when the rapid was clear).

Joe Going Left

Geoff running Go Left or Die

I got a good boof off the log with good angle. The hole slowed me down a bit which was actually a good thing as it set my up for the slot nicely without being shot through it at mach speed. I did flip at the bottom but pretty much just right in the pool. Awesome rapid! We continued on through Zwick's and Chief and eddied out above Gorilla. I had already decided I was definitely walking that one. I was quite content with this decision as the low summer 100% (about 6.5" on the stick gauge) was not making the main drop look very appealing. We all hung out for a good while so the guys could scout out their lines. Ultimately only Bobby and Geoff ended up running it that day. Surprisingly few people were running it overall due to the low level.

Geoff running Pencil Sharpener

Geoff approaching the Notch

Geoff running Gorilla

Geoff's run was the first to really accumulate some serious "swim meet" points. He had good lines through Pencil Sharpener and the Notch but flipped coming off the Flume and hit his head and shoulder hard. We were all rather concerned as he rolled up in obvious pain. He was able to complete the last two drops (Scream Machine and Nies's Pieces) and returned an "okay" signal from the bottom.

Looking up towards Gorilla

The rest of us (except for Bobby who had already completed his run) quickly gathered our gear and seal launched in below the Flume. I had a good run through Scream Machine and Nies's Pieces but ended up too far right at the bottom to make it to the left eddy. In attempting to do so I realized I was getting swept downstream so I turned to Ryan for a quick description. He told me where to go and off I went, running Powerslide somewhat blind. It was way fun though and I had a good line. Ryan joined me at the bottom and we both hiked back up to check on Geoff and everyone else. I watched as they all started pealing out to run the slide. I was thinking they were all rather close together. Sean got slowed down by the hole at the bottom causing Jim, who was probably way to close to behind him to get surfed in the hole. I watched, slightly concerned, as Geoff was unable to avoid collision and once again hit his head, this time against the hull of Jim's boat. Ouch!! Two head injuries in the span of just a few minutes. not good. He unfortunately spent the rest of the run in a fair bit of pain but recovered quickly and had no problems paddling the next day (but did earn a whopping 100+ "swim meet" points).

Powerslide : Imminent collision

Next came Rapid Transit, a rather junky slide from what I could tell of it. I screwed up a bit and ended up going far right against the wall. Nice and scrapey. I actually ran it to the right of the rock at the bottom. lol. We portaged Nutcracker and ran the middle line next to Groove Tube (at the low flow the tube was just not at all inviting). We watched Geoff, Joe and Bobby run Sunshine and the rest of us portaged. The enormous roostertail off the rock pile at the bottom did not make me want to run it in the least bit. An intimidating drop for sure!

Maggie running center line at Groove Tube

Joe running Sunshine

At this point we were starting to run low on water. All that scouting cost us some time and we ended up having to scrape down some of the boogie water at the end. Hammer Factor was very easy at this level. Overall though the run was great fun and I looked forward to doing it again.

That evening we ate a big dinner while waiting for my new Burn to be delivered to me (as luck would have it I found someone selling one in Hedersonville) and then headed out to to Pisgah National Forest (near Looking Glass Falls) to camp. It was great camping weather and sleeping under the stars with the occasional heat lightning illuminating the sky was awesome.

The next morning we drove to the takeout and found a rather incredible surprise. The river was running... on natural flow! We walked down and watched the brown water flow past. We met up with Rob who suggested running Big Hungry creek into the Narrows. This is the creek that comes in right at the put in. So we headed on up.

Big Hungry starts off with a big slide below a dam followed by some class II-III and flatwater ending in another enormous dam / wood jam. Next comes another slide (this one didn't look like enough for to me so I chose to seal launch below it). After this the creek drops on down toward the Green with a handful of fun class IV drops. Definitely fun.

Ryan running first slide on Big Hungry Creek

Joe on Big Hungry Creek

Sean on second slide of Big Hungry Creek

When we arrived at the confluence we found the Green to be running quite high, 15 inches on the stick gauge, so over 200%. I was a bit nervous but Rob assured me it wasn't going to be any harder and promptly assumed the job of leading me down (and did a great job at that!). At first it did not look like the same river. But once we got to the rapids i didn't find much of anything to be any harder, in fact most of the rapids were a lot better with more padding. We ran through to Go Left with no incident.

Go Left looked thoroughly gnarly and I immediately made the decision to run the sneak, which at this level actually provided two very fun boofs. Rob, Sean, Ryan and I ran down and waited while the rest of the group scouted. Ultimately only Geoff chose to run the main line (making it look good but still not for me!) . Here the change in water level was actually pretty dramatic. The pool that had existed below the drop was now a huge swirly mess and the eddy recirculated continuously. Potomac style foam floated around as well. Quite the odd sight. We ran the sneak line at Chief this time and eddied out above Gorilla. The volume flowing into the Notch was impressive. I hiked my boat part way down (no way I was running it at this flow either).

Geoff running Go Left, 200%

Joe running the Squeeze, 200%

Bobby at Chief, 200%

The gang below Chief, 200%

Once again we spent a good bit of time at Gorilla so that everyone could decide if they were running it. This time Geoff, Bobby, Joe, Rob and Ryan all chose to fire it up with mostly good results.

Joe watches Bobby run the Notch, 200%

Maggie at Gorilla, 200%

Geoff running Scream Machine / Nies's Pieces, 200%

I put in below Nies's Pieces and throughly enjoyed Powerslide and Rapid Transit with the extra water (even at 200% I thought that Rapid Transit was rather bony though). This time we were able to run Groove Tube with no problems. It's a super cool drop.

Bobby Running Powerslide, 200%

Groove Tube, 200%

Rob assured me that Sunshine was good to go right down the middle at this level so I decided to go for it. Unfortunately I didn't get quite enough of a boof off the lip and pitoned slightly, putting a dent in my bow (which popped out within a half hour so no big deal. As a matter of fact the dent in my bow also popped out this weekend, the Green truly is a magical place). We hung out there while Geoff, Bobby and Joe all did a couple of runs. Also got to witness one of the most heinous swims I've seen in a while (no one in our group thankfully). With the extra flow the rest of the run was much more enjoyable than the previous day and we continued on down to Hammer Factor where I received a fair bit of a beatdown but eventually was able to roll up.

Geoff running Sunshine, 200%

A few locals commented on how lucky we were to have caught the Green at that flow. Amazing what a little localized rain can do! So I guess not only are Bobby and Sean unskunkable but their presence actually brings on the water. Good job boys! It was definitely interesting to see the difference between a low 100% and a high 200% back to back like that. It was truly a fantastic experience and I look forward to going back again soon! Thanks to our runs on the Upper Green and Big Hungry I didn't get to experience the hike into the Narrows... maybe next time.

Bobby running Gorilla, 100%

Geoff running Gorilla, 200%

Gorilla, 100%

Gorilla, 200%

Geoff running Pencil Sharpener, 100%

Bobby running Pencil Sharpener, 200%

Pencil Sharpener, 100%

Pencil Sharpener, 200%

Go Left, 100%

Geoff running Go Left, 200%

Sean at Hammer Factor, 100%

Sean at Hammer Factor, 200%

More Green photos at 100%

More Green photos at 200%

Check out Chris Gorman's video at 200% - That's me and Rob running Groove Tube

Also check out the First Annual Green Narrows Swim Meet results.

After the run on Sunday we parted ways with Ryan and made our way back to DC, arriving at about 4 am. The next morning we drove right back out again to paddle with Scott on the Upper Yough for his last day on the East Coast before heading to Oregon the next day. A great finale to an already fantastic weekend!

Labels: Big Hungary Creek, Green, NORTH CAROLINA

First Annual Green Narrows Swim Meet

Team C

It started off as a joke on Paddle Prattle. But we quickly adopted it as a good way to amuse ourselves and now the results are in:

So after sitting around the dinner table 2 nights in a row, recalling our runs, calling out each other for various screw ups, debating the fairness of the scoring system, and making up new point values for unforeseen incidents such as the 'body brace' 'assisted roll' 'the dry exit' 'general bodily injury' , 'debilitating bodily injury' losing a paddle and being landed on. and arguing over whether points should be given out for portaging or sneaking a rapid, amid some contraversy, a preliminary winner was crowned. It all goes to show that it pays to know a river.

10th place- 9 points - Boofsquire. the man can paddle, and he opted not to scout or portage anything on either day. he also carried back up to run gorilla again without a paddle because "the ladies wanted me to, and

9th place- 45 points - Ryan Moore. (pays to be local) also, beached seal award. no portages day 2

8th place - 52 points - Chuck Norris. earned points exclusively by waiting until an anonymous boater was stuck in a hole, then ramming them with his boat, and deliberately swimming into undercuts and then hiding underwater, punching any boater unlucky enough to flip close to him.

7th place- 60 points - Bobby Miller. (would have won if not for his dry extraction at sunshine.)no portages ran all rapids but snuck go left (Sunday@ 220%)had only injury free run of gorilla day 1

6th place- 61 points - Joe Stumpfel - ran much of the river upside down both days but avoided the major beat downs. edged boddy out for 5th by flipping twice in boogie water near the take out on day 2

5th place- 76 points - Sean Devine - generally clean but added points by playing in undercuts and fighting with Chuck Norris. Accused by Boofsquire of fixing his score by sneaking or carrying the big 3 rapids.

4th place - 124 points - Billy Costigan - Solid runs in most of the big rapids kept him out of the top 3, but backwards runs of several rapids including Zwick's and a 35 point beat down in Rapid Transit propelled him over 100 points, also had perhaps the funniest piton of the weekend, getting whiplash, face planting his deck and leaving a trail of snot all over. all in all not bad for only having run the green once before, if i may say so.

3rd place - 187 points - Maggie Snowel - Maggie accumulated an impressive score to grab 3rd place, even without the help of a serious pin or beat down. Maggie ran the west coast offense to perfection with a dazzling combination of rock braces, missed rolls, and brief broaches against undercuts, and pulled out all the stops in the end by pitoning off Sunshine (25) and denting her bow (12), then flailing around in hammer factor to seal the bronze.

2nd place - 276 points - Geoff Calhoun - rarely do you get the chance to witness spectacular bone jarring carnage and hilarity without a cable TV. geoff went big on day one with a 100+ point wipe out at gorilla, complete with rock on collar bone and helmet contact. grabbing the 'debilitating bodily injury' bonus. he, however, failed to break a paddle, bone, or his helmet, however so he went for the kamikaze in the next rapid, Powerslide, as one paddler was being surfed, Geoff slid down, penciled under their boat but made solid boat on forehead contact, lost his paddle and hand rolled up, but again, failed to catastrophically injure himself. Injuries a non-issue the following day, he competed again, but failed to hurt himself in all the major rapids, and it wasn't until a 3 point pin in one of the last class 3 rapids that he pulled away and earned himself the silver.

1st place - 2007 Green Narrows Swim meet champion - 827 points - Kyle Black.
Never before has the world seen a boof stroke so fruitless, or seen someone piton so hard that they altered the riverbed. Kyle managed to dent both ends of his boat in the warm up rapids, go through the right slot at go left, twice, bruise several anonymous paddlers rib cages by running into them, put 2 cracks in his boat, vertically pin in cheif, pencil under the rock at sunshine and get pinned upside down in an undercut for a full minute, requiring extraction. Several locals who obviously have 'localist' or elitist complexes pleaded with him not to put on on day 2 with the green near 250%, but he resisted their pleas, and had one of the most spectacularly ugly upside down and backwards runs of the first half of the creek that came to an epic climax when Kyle went over the handlebars and landed upside down off gorilla on day 2, breaking his neck, swimming all the way through nutcracker and having to be carried out by a team of volunteer firefighters who found him unconscious muttering something about how awesome his boof stroke was.

Congratulations Kyle!!!

Thanks to all who participated except Chuck Norris, who still owes me 50 bucks for gas

Honorable Mentions:

Jim Sterett- Old man award, loudest piton award, and profanity screaming champion
Rob Tomkins - Scariest brace award for his quick recovery above the Gorilla Flume
The C-1 paddler - who broke his paddle in Pencil Sharpener, hand braced through the Notch, and managed to eddy out above Gorilla with just his hands - extreme bad ass save award
The guy who - penciled, broke his paddle, blew his skirt, got recirculated through the cave, and eventually swam out of Sunshine @200%

(written by Geoff Calhoun)

Labels: Green, NORTH CAROLINA

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Green Narrows

On our second say in Asheville they finally released on the Green so we headed out to take a look. I had gotten directions to the trail from boatingbeta.com. After a two mile walk along a pretty easy trail you start to descent to the river. I had read that there were ropes to guide you down the steep trail but when we got there we saw none and ended up sliding our way down the mountain, grabbing onto tree branches along the way. (turns out we picked the wrong trail, had we walked a bit further we would have seen the right one, we did find it on the way back at least). After a little over an hour of hiking we reached the river. The trail put us just above Sunshine and we hiked all the way up to Go Left. When we got there we saw some boaters coming down and got to watch them run Go Left, Zwicks, Chief, and all the drops of Gorilla. We later saw another group run Groove Tube. We both decided that Green Lite (walking the Big Three and also Chief) would be a feasible goal to run sometime in the relatively near future. I asked Mark when he decided he wanted to run the Green: “About half way down Oceana”.