Kayaking

You could say I'm a paddler converted tree climber... used to be on a river somewhere 3 out of every four weekends, sometimes more depending on local water conditions. Always whitewater or ocean surf though in kayaks... canoes on flatwater, mainly for fishing.

Perception blackballed me from their warranty list because I broke so many boats.

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Whitewater rules. It's too bad I have to travel 1200 kilometers to get to the first decent spot. But hey, than there is the Grand Canyon du Verdon and that makes the trip worth while.

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I read about the Verdon Gorge years ago in American Whitewater. If I ever go to France...

Good climbing there too if I remember right.
 
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Whitewater guide for ten years- ran the Colorado,Arkansas, New, Gauley, and numerous others.
Whitewater kayaked all over rockies and the southeast.

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The Gauley is the funnest river I know... Chattooga is my spritual home. Haven't done any big Western rivers yet but I love my steep skinny Eastern creeks.
 
We have no water in the rivers i have been on - the Chattooga is a hikier paradise at this time. Have to hit the Dam ones. he he

i know a group that took pictures of crack in the rock and found the under the rock escape route.

BUT i will hit a good low end class 3 as long as a line is set. I have no roll so i tend to swim a bit.

Give me my Barge, 15.9 canoe and a long pole or paddle and i will pole for you, my favorite for that is the Hiwassee in reliance.

see you on the rocks or rivers when it rains.

jz with a PFD and PPE
 

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We have no water in the rivers i have been on - the Chattooga is a hikier paradise at this time. Have to hit the Dam ones. he he

i know a group that took pictures of crack in the rock and found the under the rock escape route.

BUT i will hit a good low end class 3 as long as a line is set. I have no roll so i tend to swim a bit.

Give me my Barge, 15.9 canoe and a long pole or paddle and i will pole for you, my favorite for that is the Hiwassee in reliance.

see you on the rocks or rivers when it rains.

jz with a PFD and PPE

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Saw a body at Crack once... last time I ran it come to think of it... some wackos tried to dislodge it the next day and... well... they got part of it.

I nearly wound being a body at Sock'em Dog on my first run... it was pumping at 2.6' and I wound up in the hole, out of my boat... only time I've ever been recirculated. Not fun... I still walk that one sometimes even when I'm doing great everywhere else.

When it's low like now the Chattooga is fun to snorkel, I used to hike into Long Creek Falls, snorkel the ledges and camp on the rocks with the water breezing by a few inches from my head... that place is heaven.

I've got a million stories about that river... ask me about Section III at 7-1/2' sometime... had some tree experiences.

Haven't run the Hiwasee but the Ocoee over near Cleveland was always a reliable run no matter what the water conditions were... I've probably got more time on it than any other river.

You need to get a roll! Changes everything, lots more rivers, winter paddling... all kinds of good stuff. If you're flexible enough to climb trees I can teach you a roll in a day, no problem.
 
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Paddled the nolichucky (sp?) and watauga gorge years ago. fun stuff in Carolina!

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Dislocated my shoulder at Quartermile on the Nolichucky... reduced and finished the run... and then ate a half bottle of aspirin on the drive home. That was in 1982 and the shoulder is still messed up. Pretty gorge though, eh?

The Wautauga is the one river on my list that's eluded me... something has always come up whenever I had plans for it. Pisses me off too, all my friends say it's the perfect creek run. Done Wilson's several times, once at 6"... that was an exciting day.

What about the Yough or Blackwater? Worst I've ever been spooked in my life was the Upper Blackwater with Roger Zbel and Jeff Snyder. Snyder did it in a Projet... insane. Did the Cheat at 7' (commercial trip!) that same weekend, very impressive. Zbel and I were the only safety boats and Snyder dumped all his clients at Typewriter, nearly lost a couple of'em.

Can you guys tell we're on my favorite subject now? I gotta get back on the river soon.
 
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Whitewater guide for ten years- ran the Colorado,Arkansas, New, Gauley, and numerous others.
Whitewater kayaked all over rockies and the southeast.

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My company went on whitewater rafting trips yearly (back in the good old days), and we went up to do the Gauley in the fall. What company did you work with when you were at the New/Gauley?

SZ
 
TO MUCH concrete at that place in charlotte and skin off the body is not a good thing.

I am thinking of just moving to an open boat WW so I do not get stuck. i have taken that barge on the nanty and got laughed at, until i made the eddy's and all but the falls.

Ya I need a roll and a little bit more winter gear. Still did the jan 1 on the cartecay at 3 foot - scary and i walked most of the big stuff.

thanks for the offer to teach a roll - need a river with water to do that - hiawassee is damed - ocoee is a zoo and nanty is ok

see you on a river as you get ready to climb a tree.

thanks

jz
 
Easy P
I worked on the New and Gauley with Rivermen and ACE. I spent five falls there, great place to be during color change!
I got some great stories about working on the Gauley!!! People offering huge tips for flipping at the class V's, most paddle crews never went to bed- stayed up all night partying!
 
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Used to boat the crazy stuff before kids.....Gorrilla on the Green..yee hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

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Ok, so you've climbed El Cap and run the Green... including Gorilla... you have got to be the baddest azz on the planet... done Denali in the Winter yet?

My guess is when you're 85 you'll still be doing long routes too.

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I don't like shivering that much. In that pic my wife is standing on the top thinking " HOLY shat!" We weren't married so I was trying to impress her, now she says I can't creek boat anymore....dang it...
 
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Easy P
I worked on the New and Gauley with Rivermen and ACE. I spent five falls there, great place to be during color change!
I got some great stories about working on the Gauley!!! People offering huge tips for flipping at the class V's, most paddle crews never went to bed- stayed up all night partying!

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I was there... used to hang out late late around the fire with Frankie Hubbard over at Southeastern... sleep a couple of hours in the truck and head early to run the upper and the lower. Ran safety in a pinch for Precision a couple of times on the Cheat... never guided though... never even been in a raft now that I think about it. Been under a few though.
 
I personally bumped Volkswagen rock with my posterior at Pillow Rock on the Gauley. Our company went up and hooked up with Class VI, and we always had a great time. Camped at the campgrounds close to the NRG bridge.




River Life is Good Life!!!!


SZ
 
You haven't run the Gauley till you've hiked out at Panther Creek with your boat. Nobody hikes out at the 1/2 mile RR tunnel anymore that I know of but we did it the first time we ran it... THAT was spookier than anything on the river.

I was up there one weekend when Dan Quayle ran it... gunships, convoys of white Suburbans, suspicious characters at the put in... pretty weird.

Usually camped at the dam or Southeastern. From 1984 till 1999 I never missed a season. One of my very favorite rivers of all time.
 
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