We had planned to drop the Nolichucky Gorge for about a week and I was getting enraged with the white water bug. The Dalton bros, Wes, and I all met up and headed to the gorge put in. It all started with fun and games laughing and what not. We headed on down and everything was great. This was the first time I had gotten into the boat and felt like I was having great vibes with the boat. Well all was well for the first few little white caps I did fine.
We came up to the rocks and Wes told me what lines to look for and what I needed to try to hit. I started down and bammmm! I nailed the line but started to go right. I tried to correct it and go river left and I got stuck on the big rock just after the first drop. Well I got off of it and leaned up river alittle. I know, I know dumb move. Yea it was cold. I fliped and went with it hitting my head on everything there was to hit it on. It got hit one good hard thump and that is when I lost my paddle. I tried to roll by hand and at that point the water was soo cold that I was mentally in shock so I pulled and swam. Boy was I mad!
We gathered all the gear and I got back in. Things were going pretty good again. I ran Jaws with no problem. I got further down and decided to portage the first two rapids of quarter mile. I got in and ran the rest of quarter and of course I did it again. Ran the lines got through the rapids and at the bottom leaned up river and got flipped. Man that is a dumb thing to do. Did I mention that water was super cold. This time I was in the water for a few minutes until I could get out. Once out I had to gather my composure becuase of the cold.
I was again got back in and ran the last drop of quarter mile. I didn’t exactly hit the line Wes and Matt hit. I hit a line they didn’t notice that was much easier. Far river right along side of that rock wall there is a sneak of a line that if you rudder left just a touch to get your boat pointing down the fall you will punch right throw. I was thinking Good times. Awsome I did it.
Next up was a little rapid called turtle. Yep you guessed it. I got threw it and just at the end of it I leaned up river once again. Man this was really starting to suck! This was it though, the water had taken its toll on me. This time as soon as I pulled I went into a very small state of shock it was so cold. Let me remind you that all I had on was poly propalene tops and bottoms, dry top, fleece pants and a pair of rain pants of course with socks and river shoes. When I hit the water my legs started to burn. I felt my self starting to studder my words and chattering teeth. This was it. I got my gear and decided to hike back to the put it.
Wes and Matt ran the rest of it barely making it. Wes told me they ran twin eddies at dusk which was a good thing I didn’t keep up. That wouldn’t have been that good if you know what I mean.
I made it back to the put in just as the sun started to disappear. What timing too becuase I wasn’t there 10 minutes before a train came. That was close. I straightened out my gear changed into a dry fleece shirt, drank alittle water, and ate a power bar. As the night grew it seemed like a million things was going threw my mind.
Why couldn’t I hit my rolls….
I am coooooollllllllddddddd…………..
That’s pretty neat how they change the crews over in a train………
I even started to say my times tables to keep my mind off of being cold. I knew I had to keep my mind busy to keep from going into Hypothermia and shock. I already had a few signs of hypothermia. My fingers were hurting, I was chatering teeth, and shivering uncontrolably.
Finally what seemed like hours later, Wes got there and I jumped in the warm JAW! Man that felt like heaven.
There was a lot of things to be learned from this trip from beginner to expert. A beginner should never be paddling cold water at all. No matter what gear they have. Any thing could happen. I was lucky I had cold weather training as a Marine and knew the signs of hypothermia and shock. As soon as you hit that cold water your body goes into instant shock and you can’t think. You do what you have to, to get out of it. Face it, that is human nature. There is nothing you can do otherwise unless you are an experienced paddler. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or expert you shouldn’t be paddling cold water with bare minimum gear. That is plain stupid!!!!!!
The biggest thing I learned was they mean it when they say lean down river not up!!!!
This was a good learning experience and I guess a little tough love from my Brother-in-law. LOL Just kidding ole man.