Today I paddled with Shannon McGuigan, Spencer Muse, and Kevin Sisson; Jay Manalo joined us from Goforth down. The weather was dreary at the put-in with light rain. By the time we reached Goforth we had blue sky and sunshine! The level at Noon was 1,404 and the river continued to rise through the day; by the time we took off at 5PM it was 1,953. This was Shannon’s first descent of the Ocoee in an open boat. She styled the river from Entrance to Powerhouse, running the main lines (when her guides took the cheats 
), making ferries, and catching eddies. She even had the chance to help out with a rescue
We started out with a quick scout of Entrance looking at the different lines, and the lines to avoid. Shannon opted for the left line, following the lead Kevin and Spencer. She made the ferry and stayed left throught the rapid, catching the river left eddy below the ledge! Way to go Shannon! I worked down the right side of the rapid and we all met at an eddy on river right. From there we all worked to river left for the last drop in Staging Eddy, running just to the left of Whirlybird.
Broken Nose- guides not necessary
We eddy hopped through Gonzo Shoals and the then worked down to the staging eddy on river right above Broken Nose. Our plan was to ferry out from the eddy and run the cheat, with Kevin and Spencer in the lead, and Chuck at sweep. Well so much for the best laid plans of mice and men. As we ferried out we were met by two rafts, which were not heading downstream very fast. We all scattered around the rafts catching small mid-stream eddies to avoid running with them. I was behind the second raft taking powerful backstrokes. Shannon caught some rocks and was turned around facing upstream. Spencer, Kevin, and I went ahead of her down the entrance ledge and then to the left around the island. We looked back and saw no Shannon. She freed herself, turned the boat around, and ran the main line at Broken Nose! We all gathered together in the eddy below the last ledge where we congratulated her and told her she didn’t need any guides
We ran the run out of Broken Nose and eddied out on river right as a parade of rafts worked downstream. We ferried over to river left to run the main line at Slice n’ Dice; Shannon caught the eddy below the top hole and styled the rest of the rapid. At the wave below Kevin, Spencer and I caught a couple of surfs before we parked our boats for some lunch.
We weren’t going to play at Moonshoot and there was considerable raft traffic so we eddy hopped down river left. At the bottom eddy we talked about our lines for Double Suck. Kevin and Spencer went right, with Kevin going for the boof. Shannon and I threaded our way through rocks and ran the left cheat. On river right the guys stopped at Automatic Transmission for a spin or two. On river right Shannon and I paddled down the channel left of the island.
Below the island we all entered the main current for Hell’s Half Acre. I was in the lead but not for long. I flipped in a ledge hole and spent considerable time banging down ledges (and other rocks); after at least 3 roll attempts I was out of the boat swimming to the left bank. I was able to launch myself up unto a rock; upstream my boat was still surfing one of the ledges. After the surf, Kevin, Spencer, and someone in an Aire went after my gear. Shannon was downstream of me making certain I didn’t continue my swim. I needed to cross one more section of current to get to the river bank so I dived in with the whitewater swim position and made it to the eddy! Thanks to all for help with the rescue.
“Big water big boats“
In the river left eddy above Double Trouble I was trying to describe the right line and the far left line, but was drowned out by the clamour of “big water, big boats.” Kevin was first followed by Shannon who ran the meat of the big waves. Shannon went big on the first wave, really big! She was was soon separated from her craft. She swam quickly into the river left eddy as Kevin went for the boat. Both Spencer and I showed our solidarity with Shannon by running the meat too. Spencer eddied out on the left to tow Shannon downstream while Chuck raced down to help Kevin.
After a short break we entered Left – Right – Left starting on the left (unusual for Chuck
) and then working to the right. Below the launch rock we headed down the big water on the left to the slack water above Flipper. Shannon ran the right line, but caught one of the reactionary waves. She stayed upright with a sweet brace! we started left, worked to the right, and then to the left to stay with the main flow. The guys all went for the boof. We opted for the river left line below Flipper with Chuck as the probe. I did thread the rocks where you want to go to the left; Shannon did thank me. Soon we were past Hollywood Hole and into the Doldrums.We took a short break at Goforth and then headed downstream. We were joined by Jay Manalo who paddled with us to Hell Hole. The five of us paddled down river right through Hiawasse Shoals until we reached Suprise Ledge. Kevin and Jay took the far left line; the rest of the crew threaded through rocks on the right. We then eddied out on the left far above the entrance to Tablesaw.
Stylin’ Tablesaw
Our plan was to run the rapid straight out. I was the first one down; Shannon was in my sixes but she eddied out at the staging eddy. There she was joined by the rest of the guys. The river continued to rise and Tablesaw was beefy; the second and third waves were surging. Kevin headed down the rapid; soon followed by Shannon. She had a great run! She was followed by Spencer and Jay; Spencer had a great roll in the rapid! Shannon and I ferried to the right to set up Diamond Splitter. Kevin and Spencer headed down first, followed by Shannon who caught the river right eddy below the drop. Jay went big and caught the micro eddy below the rock!
We paddled the three sections of Western Flyer and then made turn into Accelerator. Below we stopped to play on the waves. Kevin, Spencer, Jay and myself all surfed and spinned. Shannon took a break and Kevin fired up Shannon’s canoe on the river right surf wave and then attempted the bigger wave to the left! We all got back into our boats and headed down Cat’s Pajamas. Kevin and Jay went left busting holes; Shannon, Spencer and I went right. Shannon and I threaded our way down, it seems Spencer hit every rock he could head on!
We caught the river left eddy at Hell Hole, where we said our goodbyes to Jay. The rest of the crew took right line at Powerhouse, save for Shannon who sailed over the ledge in the middle and then busted the hole below! A fitting way to end a great day on the river!
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