(aka “the greatest trip report ever told” - subtitle inspired by Hee Haw Jones )

Scott Houser and I were Wayner’s students in an NOC class, taking us on our first descent of the Upper.  The weather forecast was not favorable; 70% chance of thunderstorms but we had only one clasp of thunder while on the river and some drizzle after Roach Motel.   Often we had patchy clouds, with some blue sky–a beautiful day.

We put in and ferried through the trees to mid-stream.   There we warmed up with some ferries and surfing some of the small waves.   For the first quarter mile or so,  we were probing the best route through the trees.   We then worked to river left for a short rapid that over a series of ledges, and then paddled to the right.   As the river rounded to the left,  we took the right channel and eddy-hopped down Tombstone, a little more than half a mile from the put-in.   On one of the ledges, Wayner showed Scott an attainment move up the ledge, which he got on his third attempt.   Below we took a short break, and then Scott and Wayner lined up for some surf fun at Dee Dee’s Secret.  I headed downstream for a few hundred feet for some surfs in on some smaller waves.  Check out pictures of Wayner and Scott shredding:  http://chucks.smugmug.com/gallery/5170287_EC95E

Wave rock fun

After a mile the river banked to the right and we eddy hopped down a long ledge drop rapid.   Towards the end of the rapid we took out on a large rock for a short break.   As a flotilla of rafts came down,  some of the rafters waved at us and we waved back.   They were followed by some kayakers, who we waved and they reciprocated.   The wave fun continued with the next raft trip that followed the kayakers.   Wayner said it felt like being on the train in the Nantahala gorge.  :-)   Lest we spend the rest of the day there, we headed downstream.
 
Alien Boof

A little more than a mile and one-half down stream we approached Mikey’s Ledge.   We eddied out and walked downstream to scout the ledge and the classic line at Alien Boof.  Wayner described the line:  follow the current (to avoid the notch) and then hit the left corner of the last wave and then glide off the ledge, keeping the boat trim.  I had second thoughts, but decided to fire it up.   We ferried over the staging eddy and then one-by-one headed down.   Wayner first, then Scott, who had a sweet run and then Chuck.   I paddled too far to the right on the wave and then slid off the ledge sideways.   I was over, I tucked, and then I had a such a sweet sweep roll Wayner said it was like candy!  I could hear Cathy, Jason, and Tim on the rock below cheering me on!  Thanks!

We then headed down to Blue Hole, just over two miles into the trip.  This was my favorite rapid, followed by Roach Motel.   Earlier on the trip Wayner had showed Scott and I a different technique for catching one-boat eddies;  ferrying into them from the side, as opposed to hitting them high and tight.   It paid off in Blue Hole where we both caught the small eddies working down the ledges.   We then lined up on the last part of the rapid and busted the big hole!   The bridge was in sight, and the start of the Olympic Course.

Olympic Course

We paddled past the Entrance wave then took a break for lunch.   We then walked down to Slam Dunk to look at the next set of rapids.  Back in the boat we headed down to Smiley’s going river right so we wouldn’t get slammed or dunked.   We then ferried across the river to the left below Slam Dunk.   I nearly didn’t make the ferry to river left.   I was paddling tentively and not well; not good with Humongous down below.   In the left eddy Wayner made it clear that this approach would not work; I agreed, I had to dig in and drive the boat.

We rode the big waves down through Callahans and then headed left at Humongous and the biggest waves I have ever paddled.  For Scott this was the highlight of his day, save for waving at folks on the rock.  We could see some eddies on the left, but they were guarded by diagonal waves and holes, and to the right was the mother of all holes-Humongous.   It was truly impressive to see from river level.   My glances were brief, since my sight and concentration were focused on climbing and descending the big waves.   Soon we were past the second bridge; we worked over to river right and caught an eddy to catch our breathes.

Roach Motel

Following Wayner’s lead we negotiated the three holes to be avoided.    We paddled to the left of the first, and to the right of the last two.  Looking up the river left bank we noticed an observation platform, so that you could watch someone getting worked in one of the big holes there.    We slowed our pace as we paddled underneath the Thunder Rock Bridge, approaching Edge of the World.   Wayner and Scott took the “kinder and gentler” line far river left.   Chuck went for the “It’s showtime” line,  following the raft down the middle over the four foot ledge into the large hole.   We both made it clean.  As I was taunting Wayner and Scott about their line, I was slammed by a raft into the wall. The raft guide called it a love nuzzle.  I said it was more like a hug from Hee Haw Jones…but everyone knows that he doesn’t do hugs.   I did have a good lean though! 

It was nothing less than big big boomin’ pro fun!