The Pigeon doesn't have scheduled releases on Sundays, but the lake level was high and there was substantial inflow so we knew that Duke would generate at some time during the afternoon. There are several creeks that enter the 'Dries" between the dam and the powerhouse. Among them Hurricane Cr, Cold Springs Cr, and Big Cr, which can be seen from the put-in. On this morning the natural flow from these creeks was 700 cfs (minimum to run the Pigeon is around 300 cfs)
This list is partially transposed from soggy papers from the wettest WOR on record, from many emails and Facebook messages. All errors herein are probably due to Cruise Chair. Thanks to Bill Dement and Marlow Durbin who helped read wet and runny hieroglyphics and to Sarah Ruhlen for her editing and remarks. Happy Memories and Happy Reading All! Joan Monnig, Cruise Chair
Set up Circus Tent by 10 am, Dennis Lyons
The trip was advertised as "Paddler's Choice' and the votes were for Big Laurel Creek. It's normally a treat to catch Big Laurel up in the summer, however it has been above minimum from late June until the present. The level was about 5 inches on the painted gauge, a great level. It was still a treat. .A picture is worth a thousand words so Les Case's video must be worth a couple million. http://youtu.be/Di8c4-xdK4Y
What's going on in the video – after initially checking the gauge
Initial caveat, I don't know how to rate this river at this water level per the CCC descriptions. REALLY STRONG eddy catching skills are recommended.
Hopefully I'm operating the photo gizmo correctly and an image of four lovely sweaty athletic women in red canoes below a waterfall appears above. It's tough for me to imagine a better start to a paddling trip.
Trip attendees: Shelia, Pete and Rowan Chapelle from Maryland, Beth Zielinski from Virgina , Will from Virigina, Diana Haywood from NC.
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.
