Our group of more than fifteen put in at 4:15 on Saturday afternoon. The skies were mostly clear and the temperature near 70; the water was not as cold as we had expected, just below 60. The gage at Embreeville read just over 1,300 cfs. Many of us were concerned that we might in the gorge past sunset, but Stuart and Wesley assured us that would not the be the case. 
Our our group we had a nice mix of Paddlers for Christ and paddlers from Eastern Tennessee State University. We also had two first timers on the gorge section: Stacy Stone, who styled the river in her playboat, and Scott Forrester in an open boat.
Our our group we had a nice mix of Paddlers for Christ and paddlers from Eastern Tennessee State University. We also had two first timers on the gorge section: Stacy Stone, who styled the river in her playboat, and Scott Forrester in an open boat.
On the Rocks: in, out and over them
We promptly moved down to the trestle for a few quick rounds of surfing. From there we threaded our way down through Railroad rapid’s boogie water and impressive holes. Below we all stopped at the larger river left eddy above On the Rocks. There Stuart and Crunchy talked about the line. Ferry over to the staging eddy on river right; from there peel out and approach the 6 foot drop with a right to left angle. Below you have two choices: go to the left; or, choose one of the chutes on river right. Sitting in the staging eddy I waited in line to peel out and run drop. I ferried to river center and had a clean run of the drop. As I tried to head to the left I faced an obstacle–an upside Dynamic Duo with two swimmers. I stopped paddling; I didn’t want to bulldoze the boat in the rocks on the right. I also didn’t want to become one with the Duo as some kind of weird river feature The Duo did slice on down through the last chute on the right; I did too! The chute is narrow and I had to brace across the boulder on river left. I stayed upright and our swimmers made it into the large river center eddy.
The Duo did slice on down through the last chute on the right; I did too! The chute is narrow and I had to brace across the boulder on river left. I stayed upright and our swimmers made it into the large river center eddy.Stylin’ Quartermile
We all stopped at Jaws where the playgroup, Justin, Wesley, Stuart, Wayner, Kerby, and others played. Chris (Crunchy), Stacy, Jen, and I all headed downstream through the first section of Quarter Mile. We zigzagged our way down threading rocks and holes. After the first drop, whose hole stopped but did not keep the Everest, we headed to river left to set up for drop just before the ledge that forms the hole appropriately named Hungry Jack. We all made the ferry and caught the large eddy above the ledge. From there there was a lot of discussion on how to run the drop, with the goal of missing the hole. Looking at the ferry and remembering all the fun I had in Hungry Jack three years ago; I looked for plan b. Terry provided it! I followed his lead as we banged down the ledges river right of the hole. We were followed by Stacy and others. Terry and I caught each other in an eddy below where we laughed about our line.
We then paddled down a series of ledges to the drop just to right of Copper Top (large and seriously undercut boulder). I followed Stacy, Jen, and Terry. They and everyone else had great lines through the toughest section of Quarter Mile. Below we eddied out on the right to talk about the last ledge. Chris, not Crunchy, led Stacy and others down a sweet line just to the right of the impressive hole at Murphy’s Ledge.
Roostertail, Roller Coaster, and Lost Cove
As the river bends to the left, you can see the rock formation on river right descends into the river forming the massive roostertail. Most of us ran the right to left line. Crunchy had a sweet line starting right center and then paddling hard to the left, skirting the reactionary wave. Several of us in the staging eddy commented on his line and gave our best shot at duplicating it. After the first big drop most of us eddied out above the second drop. Terry and I caught the far right eddy and decided that the far right channel was not runnable. As we were there we witnessed some carnage, after several valiant roll attempts. Our swimmer and boat made the drop fine, but her paddle was lodged in the channel. Wesley eddied out below to climb the rock to rescue the paddle. As Wayner came downstream, he snatched the paddle out; Terry and I had a a box row seat for a most impressive rescue!
Stuart led the group down Rollercoaster. We all had clean lines on the upper and lower sections. At Rock Garden, a long rocky shoals as the river turns left, several of us waited too long to make the move the right. We had some fun banging and bracing our way down. Soon on the left you can see the massive retaining wall on the left for the railroad, signaling Lost Cove rapid. Our group was evenly divided on the first ledge. Half on river left; the other half on river center. Stuart, Justin, and others had sweet boofs off the rock that forms the center channel. Others opted to run the center channel. We watched Wesley head down the channel with an impressive line. His boat was held by the hold below and then tossed into the air. Seeing that we all ferried further river left for the first drop.
At Sousehole most of us paddled to the left; our play group, led by Stuart and Wesley, stayed to the right to catch eddies and to venture into the hole. The river banks to the right as we entered Tennessee – the state line is painted on the rocks on river left. The last section of the is far less technical, but is punctuated one considerable drop, Twin Eddies
Chuck’s Launch at Twin Eddies
As noted in AW, “this is the last rapid of any consequence.” I was following Chris (Crunchy) down the first part of the rapid. At the bottom is a narrow ledge; which Chris made a beautiful S-turn around. As I looked at the ledge, I was thinking ramp: visions of the Everest sailing over the beefy hole below. I did make it over the rock, but I didn’t exactly sail I dropped into the rock stern first. I set up for one roll and nothing happened; I did wait and I was out of the hole. Soon I was giving Wayner and Crunchy a chance to work on their rescue skills. Thanks to both of you. Wayner saw my line and told me that he said to himself “what is Chuck doing?”
I dropped into the rock stern first. I set up for one roll and nothing happened; I did wait and I was out of the hole. Soon I was giving Wayner and Crunchy a chance to work on their rescue skills. Thanks to both of you. Wayner saw my line and told me that he said to himself “what is Chuck doing?” For the last two miles we all commented on how beautiful the gorge was, especially with the new leafs and a variety of different types of green. There were so many greens, several in the group said it was like fall. Crunchy and I were the last ones in, just before 8PM. What a beautiful day on the river, what big boomin’ fun too!
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