River: French Broad

On Labor Day we had 8 people and 7 boats on our French Broad section 9 trip.  It was a low water run around 1200 cfs and a good level for a pfd.

What started as a Club trip turned into a varied  group of boaters. Mat Henry (from Marietta, GA) and I were the only two club members who signed up. I asked if he knew anyone else who could join.He invited Dawn Katz who then asked Shawn O’Banion (both also from GA). He also posted on his Facebook page and that is how Carl Schoonover (GA as well) joined.  Shawn invited Asheville boaters Ben Whittle and Ashlee McGhee who then asked Taylor Cole. The power of social media.

Trip report – French Broad Section 9, June 23 and 24, 2018.  Trip coordinator – Wayne Jones.

On Sunday May 13th we had a group of 6 on the French Broad. 5 people joined me for a trip from Bardhard down to Stackhouse. The trip went well.  There we two people that joined me hand paddlng Frank and Koz. It's a rare thing to have 3 hand paddlers on one trip. Also on the trip was Greg and Donna as well as Elliot. It was a nice day on the river.

Trip Report – French Broad River, Section 9, 8/13/2016.  Level 2,100 cfs.

Wayne Jones (trip coordinator), Lee Thonus, Jim Cyrek, Joshua Gross.

Hot August day, lots of paddlers at the Barnard put-in around 11 am.  We decided to set shuttle at Hot Springs, and do both sections, from Barnard to Stackhouse, and then Stackhouse to Hot Springs.  This a first time trip on the French Broad for Joshua, with 2 days on the Nantahala and a few Tuck trips under his belt.

On a frosty, chilly January morning, a small but dedicated crew set forth to paddle Section Nine of the French Broad, and had a pretty danged good time doing so. This was actually the very first CCC trip I had officially coordinated, even though I’ve been a member since 1992. Luckily, this crew was totally up to the task. Mostly kayaks, with Benji and Sarah in a shredder-type raft.

The weather forecast undoubtedly suppressed turnout, but on game day the elements cooperated and 5 paddlers had an excellent run down to Stackhouse at 2000 cfs, with only a few minutes of light drizzle.  Kathy Simes styled her personal first descent, and everyone had a good time at an excellent level.  we coulda/shoulda gone down to run Frank Bell's (Plan A), but the forecast was for increasing rain and dropping temperatures so we opted to get off sooner.

We had a small group show up for our trip from Barnard to Hot Springs on March 30th.  Most people were at the CCC Easter camp, but 3  (Marty Vaughan, Wes Dodson, and Jim Behr) came to help Merridee and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary in style.  We had a playful, uneventful run with only one swim and a few combat rolls.

Sunday's trip was, once again, democracy in action. The vote was predictable; on Sundays people want to be on the road home earlier. French Broad 9 is closer, short shuttle, and a moderately short paddle (4.1 miles).