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CCC Clinic Trip Report:
First Descent of Ocoee and Wilson Creek

FastFred paddling Wilson Creek May 3, 2009Friday May 1, 2009 I met Trent, Rick, and Russ at NOC to paddle the Nanty from Ferebees back to the parking lot. I had a couple of beers while I waited. We only had one swim at the falls; Russ was trying to show off and run the second hole sideways. Russ almost made it too! We went back to the camp to drink more beer while Rick grilled us some nice steaks. This was followed by a nice campfire as old and new friends dropped by to drink beer, tell stories, and get out of the rain under Russ’ canopy.

This was the second year I attended the Carolina Canoe Club N/I Clinics. This year I was placed in the high intermediate class taught by Kurt McKissick and Milton Wicker with Pat Kessler assisting as safety boater. Considering I have only been paddling one year and seven months I was just a little nervous when I learned we would be paddling the Ocoee on day one of the clinic. However one of my classmates assured me that I had paddled harder rivers such as the Noli. Trent was also in my class and we rode together to the Ocoee. We encountered a thunderstorm just as we reached the river that only added to the nervous tension.

Paddling Can Be Terrific Fun stands for posture, cube; balance; traction; and focus.

After a brief roll session on the lake above put-in and a short briefing about balance, traction, and boofing we scouted Grumpy. Upon leaving Ocoee’s small put-in eddy the Class III fun begins with ferry from river right to river left above Grumpy’s Ledge. After completing this ferry there was a long delay as one of our classmates failed to make the eddy and became separated from his boat and paddle; his paddle traveled a considerable distance before friendly boaters found it.

During this delay I lost focus as I eddy hopped down river left; I bumped a rock in a hole but rather than look where I wanted to go I looked at the rock. This resulted in a flip in shallow water; I missed a few roll attempts as I was drug across the rocky bottom and took a short swim. Thanks to Trent’s timely assistance I was able to enter the first eddy; this was my only swim of the weekend.

The most common remark heard on the river was “is it flashing?” generally followed by “get in there!” as Kurt recorded video with his helmet cam while we played in holes. Kurt and Milton recorded videos at most of the major rapids and play spots. I ran all the standard lines but saved the six eddies of Broken Nose for another day and took the right boof at Double Suck. Ocoee offered up some of the nicest big wave trains I have yet seen; the experience of cresting the waves reminded me of riding dirt bikes in my youth.

At one point along the run Kurt told all of us student to “read and run” a rapid. He then proceeded to run the rapid first. Just to check to see who was following the leader rather than following instructions Kurt ran through a few holes. There were colorful boats upside down as I weaved my way down the rapid. This was actually quite humorous for all involved. I picked a nice line and punched a few holes for fun. The Ocoee was a lot of fun; according to other on the trip the Ocoee was juicier than normal thanks to all the rain.

I had so much fun Saturday I only drank on beer at the take-out and a Fat Tire while watching the day’s videos back at camp. The videos provided the best feedback for improving technique. Our group also checked online gauges Saturday night and Sunday morning to determine next destination. Sunday morning it was determined we would run Wilson Creek. A few others and I had never run Wilson and expressed some concern but our instructors assured us based upon our performance on the Ocoee we would be fine.

I was a long wet ride on my motorcycle towing my kayak to Wilson Creek. I got in the creek and the water was warmer than expected. Kurt and Milton provided a short discussion about creeking techniques and etiquette prior to the start of the run. Many of the eddies had room for only one or two boats thus you needed to wait fro the next eddy to be vacated before leaving your eddy. I did one practice roll to relax before heading down the creek.

FastFred's first descent of ten foot falls on Wilson CreekTen Foot Falls was the first major class IV rapid we encountered with a tricky class III entrance rapid. Everyone in the clinic had good lines through Ten Foot Falls. I enjoyed a smooth ride. Not only does Wilson Creek Gorge have great class IV for two miles but the gorge is beautiful and the water was crystal clear. I missed only one boof and penciled a drop which resulted in a backender into the hole; I was able to sidesurf out of the hole but this would have likely lead to a beatdown at a higher level. Following this lesson I nailed the rest of my boofs.

Later in the run I picked the wrong side of rock in a class IV rapid and took a hard flip result in a blow to the back of my helmet and two more blows to the back of my bad shoulder. However I immediately rolled up once I felt water and earned my first class IV combat roll. No one in our class swam on Wilson Creek.

I urge anyone wishing to step it up to the next level to join the Carolina Canoe Club and take part in the best clinics money can’t buy.

FastFred

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