Chota Canoe Club 2015 May Newsletter

EDDY OUT

May 2015

2015 School Shirts

Friday Skills Trips

A Weekend of WOW!

Pre-order your 2015 Kayak school skirts in either DRI-FIT or Cotton before June 1!

Read up on all the Friday afternoon trips club members have been taking. Get on one!

Wonder what us chicks do on the river without you boys?

Here’s your chance to find out!

Member Newsletter • Chota Canoe Club, Knoxville, Tennessee • paddlechota.org

EDDY OUT Click here for the full Calendar...

MAY

MAY

MAY

Evening Touring Paddle on the Tennessee River near downtown Knoxville, TN. 6:30pm

Volunteer to safety for the Challenge Knoxville Triathlon near downtown Knoxville, TN. 5:30am - 10am Sign up here, and remember this event financially benefits our club!

Evening Touring Paddle on the Tennessee River near downtown Knoxville, TN. 6:30pm

JUN

The Last day to sign up for Chota Canoe & Kayak School, June 19-21, for only $100. Fees go to $120 until the school.

Last day to order extra shirts too.

Email Rachel your order!

JUN

Chota Canoe & Kayak School will be held June 19-21. We will be camping at OAR CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Member Newsletter • Chota Canoe Club, Knoxville, Tennessee • paddlechota.org

from your editor...

Hey Kids!

What’s happening you ask? Well it’s nice to see most of us without drysuits have managed to crawled out from under the rock we were hiding under all winter and get some quality time on the water. Because, seriously, we all need a good paddling once in a while!

In this issue we finally have a boatload of trip reports! THANK YOU to everyone who is stepping up to write those and articles! (Even a bigger thanks to those who pre-edit what they submit to me!!!) Aside from trip reports, make sure you pre-order 2015 kayak school shirts and tell Kim Abney what a great job she did on the sketch of broken nose rapid. This issue will be your last chance to catch up on the efforts of the Ocoee River Council.

Just a reminder that we have online payments for membership renewals, paddle school enrollment, and donations setup for you on the Chota website now!!! Also keep in mind that this is the time of year to clean our your gear and donate what you’re not using to the school for the auction.

SYOTR (you actually will now!)

Rachel relise@me.com PS- Sign up to safety boat with me and the fellas for the Challenge Knoxville Triathlon!

NEED TO PUBLISH IN OUR NEWSLETTER???

Have a date that needs to be brought to everyone’s attention? Or a book you just wrote that could help us all find new rivers to paddle? Then let me know!

ALL information included in that months newsletter needs to be in to me by the 25th of the month!!!

Email your content to relise@me.com

Online Registration is open!!!

Pre-order 2015 kayak school shirts today!

It’s already time to get the word out again for this years Chota Canoe & Kayak School! So get out and talk it up, canoe school this year will certainly be a weekend to remember.

$20 Short Sleeved Navy DRI-FIT (you can paddle in this) $15 Short Sleeved Navy Soft Cotton

We are training Beginners and Intermediate boaters on the Hiwassee River, and camping at OAR Campgrounds.

The Registration fee is $100 before June 1. $120 after.

All orders for extra shirts must be in by this day too!

How you can help....

- Invite your family, friends, etc. to sign up today - Give us a shout if you are a certified instructor - Volunteer to safety boat - Make a tax deductible donation to the school - Donate a gift/item to the auction - Come ready to pick up good deals for a great cause

To Order...

Email me, Rachel Elise, relise@me.com your shirt request including sizes and quantities by June 1!

I will send you a link to paypal to complete your payment or you may pay by check.

Oh, and PS...

You don’t have to be enrolled in the school to come camp with us and pick up some great deals on gear, and foamie kayakers at the auction or even just have a great time with us!

The World’s Biggest 15’ Waterfall

By Jusbyn Lockard Apr il 4, 2015 • Upper

Tellico • 900 CF S

So my buddy Alex Ohman calls me the night before around 6pm, “Dude, the Tellico is up. We can run this and be back by 2 or 3 tomorrow, you in?” I had been looking at levels of numerous rivers on American Whitewater and throwing out hints to the wife about going on Saturday. “Yeah, let me check with the wife.”

Like a little kid asking to do a slumber party I slide into the living room. “Um, would you mind if I went with Alex to the river? I’ll be back by 2 for sure”. I’m 39 years old.

Of course I’m gonna ask for permission! My wife looks up from her magazine with this slick look. “That’s fine with me; I know its kayaking season”. I was so pumped. As I walk out of the room she stops me and says “But isn’t it always kayaking season. Rain, summer, cold, winter, warm”? As she laughs. I jump on the phone like a little kid and say “Game on, see ya in the morning!”

I awake around 5:45am knowing Alex will be there any minute, but in the back of my mind I have a feeling he might be late, as most kayakers are trying to get going in the morning.

It’s like herding cats sometimes, but I am as excited as always. Amazingly it is hard for me to get going Monday through Friday for work but you say paddle and I am up at the crack of dawn with a smile!

Gear placed in driveway, check! Boat, skirt, paddle, jacket, top, helmet...helmet...helmet?

Where is my helmet! I run around the garage in a controlled panic looking frantically for it.

Well here it is, on my daughter’s dolls head in the stroller. A little reminder to take it easy I think to myself. (continued)

The World’s Biggest 15’ Waterfall continued

Alex arrives and both of us look half worn out from the work week, but smiling about the day to come. Loaded up, gear check again as it enters the truck, Skirt, paddle, helmet, jacket, shoes...shoes...shoes. “Crap! Where are my shoes?” Alex yells, “Dude you had time!

Why do we do this every time?”, “I got this!”, running to the shoe pile to snatch two matching ones.

As soon as we get in the truck “Can you stop and get beer?” Alex asks. “Already in the plans.

Need a full throttle or red bull?” You know, healthy exercise! Or is it two little kids headed to the woods to play...hmm....?

Fast forward past all of the bad music, random conversations, boat checks, and 3 bathroom stops over a 1.5hr drive and we are at the put in to the Tellico. No one is here? It is 60 degrees, water level is perfect, no traffic, and the place is all ours!?!?

The river is beautiful, crystal clear, sky is blue with no chance of cold rain, and I do hate cold rain when I kayak. I’m chugging a morning beer and load the boat in the water, pop the skirt on the deck, and slid effortlessly into the river.

Now, I have read on the Internet the details of the rapids, but as soon as I enter the water I forgot what it said, Crap! “Alex, what’s coming up!” “Chill out, your fine! Follow me!”

A common conversation between the two of us on all of our adventures. Suddenly a group of 5 boats comes around the bend, more boaters!

It’s always fun riding in a larger group I think to myself.

Alex pulls up beside me and says here is the first ledge, “Stay away from River Right!” Alex yells as we are hitting the flow. “Why?” I yell, but too late, off we go. A boof off a little rock over a nice 6’ ledge into a pillow of fluffy frothy water. “WHOOO! That was awesome!” I yell.

“How far to Baby Falls?” “You just got on the river!” Alex says laughing. I knew that, but I was pumped to hit my first waterfall.

We continue through the next round of rapids, Dirty S, and Mike’s Ledge. Each a more wonderful run than the last!

“Here is the start of Baby Falls!” Alex yells. He gives great description on where to aim, then a hard right paddle of the lip, and my stomach flips, and I forgot what he said. I look at him “Got it!” Off he went.

Why did I just tell him I got this? Crap, I wasn’t listening! Okay...breathe, 3, 2, 1...

I pull out and follow the flow he was in and next I see the curler wave at the top of the falls he said to aim for. Hard right stroke is screaming in my head as my boat touches the wave, weightless! I feel the boat submerge and in more control then I thought I land upright. My eyes pop open and a scream of joy bursts out.

High fives and passed to everyone. I thought about even getting out of the boat and giving that family high fives that were sitting on the banks watching a bunch of nuts throwing themselves over a waterfall.

Now at the bottom of Baby Falls there is a long rock slide that has two distinct directions to take. River left has more difficult because of a curler wave and a little rock pin that can happen. I chose to paddle across the pool and take the easier line down on river right. I was still so high from my waterfall run that I flipped at the bottom of the rapid. Okay! I got it...not indestructible, but I’m on top of the world now!

Alex and the new crew say “You up for Jared’s Knee?” “Well of course I am,” I say. “Why?” “It is a little…ah, you got it” one of them says. Now Jared’s Knee is a blast, but make sure after the first drop you stay away from the wall on river right. That can cause you to pucker up a little, not saying that I was there at all.

Okay, fine. I was, but I still made it down smoothly! Another favorite run!

“Wanna do another lap!?!” Alex yells back. “Nah, let’s just do baby and I’ll take photos.”

I decided to walk away with another first for myself with a feeling that forever draws me back to the Tellico.

Now the drive home we told stories of 30’ waterfalls, flips, death defying moments, laughing the entire time. It was a great day!

Clinch River Touring Trip

By Richard Redano

April 18, 2015 • Clinch River • Oak Ridge, TN • Guinn Rd. Park to Bull Run Creek

Shortly after 10 am on Saturday April 11, five intrepid paddlers headed out from Guinn Rd. Park in Knox County into the Clinch River. Guinn Rd. Park is located about 2.5 miles downriver from the Hwy. 62 bridge in Solway. The paddlers’ names and their respective boat’s vital statistics are listed in the table below.

NAME

BOAT MFG

BOAT MODEL

LENGTH

Richard Redano Rachel Elise Iris Leung Susy Ketner Doris Holtzclaw

Perception Jackson QCC Wilderness Systems Wilderness Systems

Expression Journey 600X1 Cape Horn Zephyr

15’ 14’ 16’ 10” 17’ 16

While it is evident from the above list that Richard was the only participant with a Y chromosome, he was definitely not the only participant whose paddling energy was testosterone fueled. These ladies paddled from their cores with the endurance of a marathon runner and the precision of a Swiss watch!

As we began our trip, the air temperature was in the high 50’s and the winds were remarkably calm for early April. We paddled to the Anderson County side of the river, exploring several coves and taking photos, as we made our way upriver.

Geese were out in abundant numbers, as they prepared for their long journey back to Canada. On shore in one of the coves, we spotted a wild turkey.

We paddled under the Highway 62 bridge and continued our journey to Haw Ridge Park where we scouted several coves for a suitable landing area to have lunch.

Due to the high water levels, prime landing locations were submerged. We then beached our boats and bushwhacked our way through a briar patch to a mountain bike trail in the park where we ate lunch.

After lunch we decided to paddle a bit further. To our chagrin, there were two picnic tables conveniently located within five feet of the water’s edge in the next cove. We paddled to the point where Bull Run creek flows into the Clinch River and then headed back to the put in. At times during our return leg, we paused in amazement in the main channel of the Clinch River as we listened to the quiet e.g. no motor boats. By next month, this section of the Clinch River will be teaming with power boats on any sunny Saturday until mid-September.

We arrived back at the take out shortly before 2:30 pm. The total distance paddled was approximately 10 miles. By the time we reached the take out, the temperature was in the high 60’s. It was a perfect spring day for paddling.

Everyone enjoyed the trip. Those readers interested in learning more about paddling opportunities on the Clinch River in Knox and Anderson counties should consult the blueways map located at http://tnlandforms.us/blueways/

Friday drills with the old boat

By F. Wes Breitenbach Apr il 17, 2015 • Litt le

River • Wal la nd , TN

On of the things I enjoy about living in east Tennessee is all of the history that we are surrounded by. From Native American and Civil War to industrial, forestry and science there is history everywhere you look. That goes for kayaking too. Some of the greatest kayakers and boat designs came from this area in the early years of the sport. The N.O.C. has been a training ground for Olympic athletes and has been holding competitions since the 70's. I mention this because it helps explain the boat I took to this past Fridays skills building trip. Gunny has been having these trips for a while now and I have been on a few but I have to say that once you start to develop some skills a class 2 run starts to loose its appeal quickly. But building skills is the point of these trips. Sometimes Gunny has too many people sign up for just him to look after so some of us paddlers with a little more experience come along to help with the group.

This was one reason I found myself joining the Friday trip down the Little River in Townsend, TN. The other is because I had recently finished the outfitting in an old kayak I had acquired.

I was doing some yard work and trimming some over grown brush behind my house when I noticed a yellow triangle poking out of the bushes. Upon further examination I realized that it was a kayak in an overgrown shed. I also realized that I was now on my neighbors property. I went over to their house and explained what I had found and asked about the boat. They told me that they used to kayak sometime ago and hadn't had the boats out in a few years. I would guess 20 or so from the way they looked. “Boats?” I thought, I had only noticed the one.

I was then told that I would probably do a better job storing them and I should just take them. So without debate I freed the boats from their viney grave.

One boat was a Prijon T-Slolam, a French manufacture, and the other was a Noah Jeti, made right in Bryson City, NC. Let's just say I spent a little time researching the boat and it's designer Vladimier Vanha. What a cool guy and a crazy story...for another time.

Well, I am too large to squeeze into the Jeti but I was able to get into the Prijon. It was an older long narrow boat and had no outfitting other than the bottom of the seat. At the time I had no idea about how I would want my boat to fit I had to put her away until I had a better plan.

Fast forward 2 years.....

I have fashioned some outfitting in the T-sloam. It should work well enough to get a feel for the boat. I had it done just in time for the Friday run on the Little. A mellow class 2 run to see how she handles.

With the boat loaded up I headed out.

As usual I fly into the lot last which doesn't typically raise any questions, but today I had a funny looking banana boat on top of my truck. That raised a few eyebrows. I enjoy paddling different boats. It keeps you thinking and recalibrating your moves.

This boat was no exception. It has speed, handling and length.

Coming in just over 12 ft it is 4 ft longer than what I am used to.

We set up shuttle and I put the old girl down by the waters edge.

It was nice to think of getting her wet again. It is an odd thing, but I know I am not the only one who personifies their boat.

I slipped in, snapped my skirt around and launched into the cold pool by the ramp. She sits very low and tracks much better than my creak boat. I paddled over to the group and once everyone (Continued)

Friday drills with the old boat continued

was together Gunny broke us up into groups. In my group was L.J., Aaron, and Rachel. Now, L.J. I had paddled with but not the other two. Aaron had a whitewater canoe and was honing his open boating skills as for the rest of us we would be sitting inside for the remainder of the ride. And a beautiful ride it is.

The Little River is a great trip for those early spring runs as a way to check yourself after a long winter break. It is equally as good for newbies to try out the new things they are learning without much consequence. The run can be long if you spend to much time in the still waters and there are some beautiful homes along this stretch of river that can be distracting as well.

There are many pools to practice rolls or just swim. Keep in mind and respect private property when on this section. If you must go ashore near private property, stay within the high water mark along the river. All in all this is a fun section to take a relaxing spring paddle. I'm sure there will be more trips to this section in the future and I will surely be getting this old boat back on the water again soon!

Apr i l , 201

“Y” to the Bridge 5 • L it t l e R

iv er • Wa l

Our Friday training trips have gotten to be the norm, but with Tom and Sandy Snyder out of town and limited water flowing as a group we had decided to skip this last Friday. I was okay with that we had just come off a three day weekend of paddling.

Then I got a message from LJ asking if I wanted to find something to run. It was already early afternoon and we decided to run the Little starting at the y and ending at the bridge by the Catholic Church in Townsend. It was the last pool session at UT and didn’t want to miss it so we limited our time on the water.

This trip is all class ll-ish but it has its challenges. It was at low runnable level so it was very technical and the eddy’s seem to all have a difficult approach or hidden guard rocks. Yes, we did catch eddy’s and did some surfing just like we would any other Friday in the Smokies. We missed all our other usual suspects but we enjoyed the scenery and had each others back. The river has a much different complexion below the Y, and it winds through town like a snake in the grass and gives the views of cabins lining the river with an occasional dog or two there to greet you. The bigger rapids were at the Y and just below but the challenging parts were just past the turn at the K.O.A and down the river. The river widened slightly and there was less water covering the rocks. To some this would be reason enough to never run this section. There is a lot to be said about low water runs and boat control, we were constantly picking the best flow lines and dodging rocks and I is much easier to learn these skills

la nd , T N

By Derek Geary

here and apply them to larger water flows than to find yourself stuck on a rock in a big rapid and not know what to do.

I found it very challenging to ferry in this section it was below the dam and the river had split around a little island. I found an eddy on the right and caught it as I looked across to see what I could play on I found there was a small surf line leading to a cluster of rocks in the middle of the river so I surfed over just above the rocks, that is when I realized that the water above the rocks was too shallow and that I needed to attain up to another eddy just above me. The water was channeling in one spot and one spot only so there was not much paddle room. I had one shot at this or I would be beached in the shallows forever. So I took my shot and charged up the 4’ wide channel to that eddy and peeled out into the current with one movement then I was in a spot where I could eddy out behind the rocks in the middle and watched LJ work a small surf spot that I had floated right on by. This happened all the way down the river. There are spots of flat water that are perfect for practicing paddle strokes or just leaning back and letting the river take you down its up to you.

I admit that I was less than excited about this river section, I figured at least I will be on the water and I get to hang out with LJ. It’s not like this is a step up from what I have been doing but it did challenge me. Thats what life is all about to me. Spend some time in GOD’s country with like minded friends and enjoy it!

Hope to see you there!

Florida Touring Trip Report

By Jim Martin March 21, 2015 • Port St. Joe , FL

Four touring paddlers in need of escape from the winter headed south for a week on the beach in late March the plan was to camp four days at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park near Port St. Joe then head for the Suwanee River for a few more days of paddling.

Paddlers Jim Martin, Doug Johnstone, Dave Cole and Deb McCarter arrived late Saturday March 21. Our campsite reservations started on Sunday so we spent the first night in a hotel.

The highlight of that experience was that Morgan Freeman… yes the actor from Driving Miss Daisy, The Bucket List and many other films was also a guest of the hotel. We had breakfast with him….sort of.

Thanks!

We had four days of great weather. No rain, light winds and lots of sunshine. We got in three good days of paddling on St. Joseph Bay and one day where some decided to go hiking while others went biking. We ate well, drank a bit and had a great time!

Thought, the last two days didn’t go quite as planned.

We stopped for lunch in Tallahassee where the weather caught up with us. Thunderstorms and torrential rain hit in the afternoon and were predicted to last the next few days. Rather than set up tents in the storm the group voted to head home early.

Overall a successful trip. It was a relaxing time with good friends and a few good days on the water despite the weather.

Just in case you missed the last Club meeting We’d like to say thank you to Jen Jones, president and CEO of Great Smoky Mountains Institute @ Tremont for speaking at our March meeting.

Check out www.gsmit.org for info about Tremont, how to volunteer, contribute or take a class.

OOH’s & AAH’s on Big Laurel Creek

By John “Gunny” Wiser April 11 , 2015 • Upper Telli

co • lev el -2

For the second weekend in a row Derek and I were going to get personal first descents on a creek together. Last weekend we joined Kim and John for our first trip down the Greenbrier and we all had an awesome day together. This weekend featured the same cast of characters along with the familiar face of Lee Belknap joining us for a trip down the legendary Big Laurel Creek. I have been waiting to run this reach for awhile now and the stars finally aligned to make it happen. We met at the Big Laurel Store located at the put-in and had a chance to chat a bit with the owners. They are wonderful people, fellow paddlers and take the time to post up the visual gauge readings on their Facebook page if the water level is up high enough to run since there is no electronic gauge, so please support them if you are in the area. They also had some pretty awesome prices on throw ropes and Derek took advantage of it. Congrats on acquiring your first throw rope D! After setting up an amazingly fast shuttle of only about four miles each way we geared up and set off on our newest adventure.

know what to expect other than it was obviously a big drop of some nature. There wasn’t anything to do but to do it so I sallied forth and pitched headlong over the precipice. It wasn’t a beautiful waterfall, a graceful slide or a nice smooth tongue of water as I had envisioned, but rather a bumpy scraping bone jarring drop over a ledgy eight foot rock face. You know, the kind of drop that you never feel like you ran it right because you just know there has to be a better line than the one you just ran. Kim came next and I could hear her muttering something about “I can’t ever run that right” as she glided into the eddy. I am glad I wasn’t the only one that felt that way!

Not long after John bounced his way down in his Jackson AllStar and then he promptly disappeared into the frothy white “suddy-ness” at the bottom. For a brief moment all you could see was his wrists, hands and paddle before he and the kayak exploded upwards like a breaching humpback whale.

As we neared the “False Narrows” we piled into an eddy and Lee gave me a verbal scouting report of what lay waiting for The run started off innocently enough giving us plenty of time us ahead. It’s funny how the actual rapid never looks like what to get loosened up and into the flow of the river with a mile or so I envision in my mind as I listen to these descriptions. I try to of some easy rapids. Before long though we found ourselves at focus on the lefts, the rights, the rocks and the holes as the beta the top of “Stairstep” (Class III+) so we exited the boats and did is being given and I usually glean enough from that to navigate a bit of scouting from the right shore. Soon we were back on the my way through the rapid. Lee and Kim decided to run the more water watching Lee show the way down followed by Kim. direct river-right line while John and I opted for the more Derek went next but didn’t quite run it like the first two did. He “interesting” must make ferry to the left and then run a chute sort of ran the same line but in an inverted position, presumdown between two rocks. John showed me how to do it with ably to not scrape up the hull of his boat anymore. Each time he his usual good style and then I hurriedly followed. As we apbumped or a rock we all went “oooh..that hurt” and there was proached the final part of the rapid John took off digging hard. several of those on the way down. He valiantly tried to hold out I didn’t see the swimmer and capsized boat until they were until he got to the bottom so he could go for his first successful almost to shore and I was plenty surprised at who it was as I combat roll, but it was not to be. With his usual good nature have only seen Kim swim once before…ever! That just goes to Derek smiled and laughed the whole time he was draining his show that we are all in between swims and it is just a matter of boat. I think it helps to let paddlers that have just experienced time before it is my turn again. In fact, I am by my own admittheir first rough swimming day to know that we have all had tance, well past due! Yes, I just knocked on wood…real wood. those days when things just weren’t clicking and felt like a pinball going through a rapid. Derek seemed to take a bit too much With no rest for the weary we decided that this was the pleasure in hearing the story of my swim on the Nolichucky opportune time to scout the “Narrows” as the crux rapid lay courtesy of the Roostertail. That is one swim that neither I nor dead ahead. Really, there isn’t much that is similar about the nerve endings covering my left shin bone will ever forget! the False Narrows and the Narrows. It’s kind of like saying to a newer paddler that the Nantahala is like the Ocoee. Both have “Suddy Hole” was the next significant rapid and Derek had no water, rapids and rocks but one is inviting and fun-looking issues agreeing with the suggestion that he might want to walk while the other looks intimidating, burly and mean. After the this rapid since there is a trail that follows right along the Creek. scouting trip was over most of us climbed back in our kayaks It is quite possible that decision may have had a little bit to do and pushed off. As usual Lee went first and gracefully entered with him having just completing another uncomfortable swim the rapid between the two guardian rocks. I saw him work and he was now limping around saying oooh..ahhh..oooh with through the first two smaller drops and then disappear. every step instead of every other step. As he did all day, Lee assumed the point man position, paddled towards the horizon (Continued) line and…disappeared. We had not scouted it so I really didn’t

OOH’s & AAH’s on Big Laurel Creek continued

Yours truly was next so with a good peelout I made for the entrance chute that was left of center. The rest is kind of a blur.

The powerful current grabbed my boat and started to hurtle me to the left and downwards. I knew that about halfway down I needed to start heading right to avoid the two nasty rocks at the bottom so when I could I started to ferry right. OH NO! I started to the right too early and caught the front of the boat on an unseen rock. I was immediately pointed upstream as the rear of the boat hastily traded places with the bow. Unfazed I just kept paddling and somehow exited at the bottom still upright.

It wasn’t stylish or pretty, but I am not complaining. I was soon followed by John who made the line look much smoother which is the usual.

After listening to some more ooohs and ahhhs as Derek got in his boat and some friendly ribbing, about how much worse he would feel tomorrow, we set off again. After several easier rapids we were greeted by the sight of the confluence of Big Laurel Creek and the Mississippi River, er the French Broad River.

But it was so wide it felt like it was the Mississippi in comparison to the creek we had just run. We worked our way down the latter part of Section 9 of the French Broad through Windy Flats (i.e. flat water with the wind blowing in your face for too far of a distance), Kayakers Ledge, the sneak around Frank Bell’s and finally we coasted into the take-out.

With a few more ooohs here and ahhhs there we hurried with the shuttle and the load up as we were pressed for time to get to the Smoky Mountain Diner before they closed. A tasty dinner at one of our favorite paddle trip restaurants was something we were all looking forward to. If you haven’t eaten there yet it needs to be on your bucket list, but only after you have been paddling all day. Not sure if it would taste that good otherwise, but I have never been disappointed with my meal there.

After many stories later and a few ooohs from Derek whenever he changed positions we all sat back with our appetites sated and our faces graced by smiles of contentment and expelled a collective “ahhh!”

NANTY Rookie Run

by Derek Geary

As a rookie not so long ago I jumped at the chance to go on a trip with a first timer. Over the winter in the pool I’d watched all the new paddlers that were trying to get a head start on this paddling season and had seen JJ learning his basics and his roll, so I thought that it would be a great opportunity for me to see things through his eyes. Lj had volunteered to take him down the river for the first time and I was excited when LJ asked me if I would lead the trip so he could do safety and work one on one with JJ. The plan was that we were going to help JJ down the Nantahala River for his first real white water trip. The day was perfect for the trip and spirits were high. We met at the N.O.C. to figure out the shuttle. So the plan was to skip Patton’s run and see how the day goes, and then decide about the falls. It would be a lite version but a great first experience. You never know what to expect when you are paddling with a new boater on a river that they have never seen before but JJ did great all day, I led, and LJ swept, and except for one tricky eddy line there was no rescuing to do. We caught eddies and did some attainments, paddled and shared any wisdom that came to mind as we went along.

I got a taste of what all the experienced boaters that had helped me along got to feel as I watched a new boater achieve new goals. You could see the fun all the way down the river.

The best part for me was watching JJ try everything that we pointed out and then some. He was not on a three hour cruise, he was not doing it just to say he had done it. He was learning and pushing himself to try new things. He tried a roll, did a t-rescue, and did several attainments that he found on his own.

I was very glad to be a part of this trip and I thank LJ for letting me be part of it.

At the end of the day we sat down to eat and reflect on what the day had brought us. We’d a boat load of fun, enjoyed a great stretch of river and learned a little bit more about each other in the process. LJ will be a great teacher and I can see that his heart is in it. I would be glad to take anyone down the river that approaches it the way JJ did. He had a great attitude and was willing to put himself out there to learn, and I think that’s all it really takes. Who’s Next?

A weekend of WOW!

By Rachel Elise Left-Right: Rachel Elise, Terra McGill, Jen Maxwell, Sue Spalding, Ashley Teel, Sandy Snyder, La Dawn Wolfe, Heather Curry, Sandra Massey Walker, Julie Wright-Carlson, Kristin Evans, Ali Reddington, Kim Abney and Debby McRae. Not Pictured: Teagan Hiscock

Relia n ce, T N • r e iv R e e s s • H iw a GA Apri l 2 5, 201 5 iv er • Nort h ern R a g u a s a n o C • L ower Apri l 26, 201 5

So over the past nine months of getting my "boater chick" on it's been fairly entertaining to sit back as a newbie and listen to all of the "knowledge" veteran boaters could dole out…especially from the men. Particularly their eagerness to teach me everything from what a "piton" or "boof" was, to the different local rivers to paddle (and don't forget what order to hit them in!), the "best" way to camp, or even the whole brown claw thing.

I must say the most interesting bit of insight I got was sitting around with the fellas and a kick-ass lady boater, La Dawn Wolfe, and the topic of rating women came about.

Apparently there is a curve that every woman is rated on, yet once she becomes a paddler she earns an extra 2 points of hottttt-ness! A girl that is a 4 on the street automatically becomes a 6 if she boats. If she's a 7 on the hot scale, then look out! That chick is now a 9 if she's in a boat! And, no, I dared not ask what we were, or why with this boating handicap they were accounting for the scale only went to 10. Especially since I'd say most girls are above a 5…haha, but then again maybe I'm wrong since I don't swing for that team.

So, anyway, this got me thinking, as I looked around our crew, that I really am surrounded be dudes all the time in kayaking.

Then I wondered, what would a weekend without the fellas be like? Don't get me wrong they are all wonderful, but seriously, I was betting it would be a completely different experience.

Fast forward a few months and I would get my chance to find out as TVCC (Chattanooga's paddling club) and Chota Canoe Club (Knoxville's paddling club) setup a Women of Whitewater weekend on the river and camping at OAR Campground by the Ocoee.

Well, the weekend had finally arrived, and stoked that the water and air temp had finally warmed up enough to possibly brave a swim, I stole the keys to my dad's mountaineer, packed my gear up, loaded the cooler, and after a very unproductive day of work I set course for OAR before nightfall. Yeeeaaah…that didn't happen. After missing the turn into the campground 2x I finally found it, staked out a campsite, grabbed my headlamp and a full Pint Night glass, and like a moth to a flame went in search of "our people". Come to find out I was the only one from either club to show up Friday night. But making friends with the silhouettes of some newb raft guides and watching the fire die wasn't half bad! To be honest the best part of the evening was realizing that my camping in the truck plan was stellar…no bugs, no humidity, just the sound of mother nature dumping buckets of rain on the car.

Saturday morning came round and as "our people" finally started to roll in I knew it was going to be a good day!

(Continued)

A weekend of WOW! continued

First off, this dirtbag found out that camp was FREE for the weekend! Then Ashley Teel brought me non-instant coffee (can I get a hallelujah?!?!) and finally we were going back to a river I knew we all could enjoy…the good ole Hiwassee!

18 Boats loaded and chicks crammed into shuttle cars later, and we made it to the put in. At this point I'm laughing because I was scared to freakin death of whitewater on my first day at paddle school last June, and now this river is so small to me! This was to be my 12th river run, and 5th since getting a facial from 3 second rock (Lesser Wesser) on Labor Day…for those of you who saw my face on the internet and wonder if that chick still boats.

Um….yes.

Come to find out many of us began our kayaking careers on this river. You just can't be a the Hiwassee as a place to make memories…first swims, all the different kinds of fisherman with all their little gadgets, swimming Devil Shoals after running it, or the ceremonial jump off the train trestle. Now, though, one of the most enjoyable trips down this river was with a group of women who were ready to cheer anyone on and pump you up!

Seriously, if any of us were doubting our boating skills for the season that rust was knocked off right there at the put in!

Take Kristin Evans for example, she got her Jackson Karma sucked into a ledge for a nice side surf, but when things got knarly and she was sculling like a champ and swam there were no sarcastic bro comments to be had! Oh, and we could pick our own lines! Every girl in a boat has been told this by a dude…"just follow me". But not this day. Same thing with a little roll session in Pee Creek. Although admittedly I used the creek for its namesake. It was a relief to know we could go surf, play, attain, practice a combat roll or two and not feel like you had to follow the direction of anyone…just have fun!

Now, I said there were no dudes on this trip, but in all honesty we had one dirtbag daddy, Aaron Hiscock, bring his dirtbag baby girl, Teagan, 14, to paddle with us. You might say he was like a seahorse…he cared for his young but let her play with her friends and kept his distance. The vibe was so chill out there we even forgot he was around until he nearly swam a few times. (FYItake a note from Aaron. If you want to know what it feels like to be a beginner again, get an open boat)

Fast Forward to the takeout, and the party began right there on the tarmac. Fresh baked cookies, an impromptu safety meeting, a game of slap the bag, and plenty of women changing clothes like the takeout lot was a women's locker room…it was the beginning of a good night! Oh, and if I was a dude, I would have been very jealous of how much fun was missed!

Back at camp everyone broke out their scraps and slugged through the mud provided by the torrential downpour the night prior to find that Alex Vargas was making us Tacos (you have no idea what you are missing people!!!) and Ryan Glasser was ready to grill for us! After a quick, and very eventful, trip to the store (my apologies to the clerk for my hilariously lit passengers… but at least you got a laugh) my cronies and I got back and Terra McGill was ready to make Kristin shotgun a beer for the swim. In all the excitement though she tore a freakin 3" gash in the can and wondered why it wasn't going the way she planned. Add my stereo, and the 6 cases of social lubricant (that's for you Terra) we brought back the party was alive!

(Continued)

A weekend of WOW! continued

By the way, I did hear a keen insight made by one of the ladies, "Does anyone else realize all of the guys we had on the river or cooking for us were open boaters? They are so chill. Hard boaters would just want to know what rivers we paddled and then eat our food! Forget cooking for us!" True story.

As the fire, and my phone, died down and everyone made their way back to camp, or to another "meeting" the plan was finally set to send the class III+ girls to the Ocoee and the rest of us would head down to the Lower Conasauga.

The previous weekend I'd paddled the Lower Conasauga guided

by Kirk Eddlemon, so Aaron and I figured even with the water much lower this free flow river isn't one to pass by if we could run it again. This time it would be Teagan Hiscock, Carrie Callaway, Aaron Hiscock, and myself from Chota, along with three TVCC ladies who's name I cannot remember…I feel like a jerk.

Anyway, we paddled the river and just enjoyed the views. It was so very peaceful. It was reminiscent of backcountry paddling.

We had only maybe one swimmer, but all in all a good day and it was mostly a sightseeing trip.

and waste everyone's time." Haha! Dripping with sweat I finally reached the car. We grabbed drivers and brought back all the vehicles for our final weekend farewells.

Word on the street is that a few of the girls who went to the When it finally came to an end we hiked out with our boats and Ocoee let some guys be honorary Women of Whitewater for the I laced up my running shoes for my next workout…getting our shuttle car. "It's just a half mile away" Aaron said. SCREW THAT. day. It could be a farce, but we all know they guys just want to be one of us. If I had a dollar for every time I heard a guy say, "I I'm telling you, the whole "as the crow flies" thing applies here! wish I had boobs!" ….I won't even go there. You know what I'm It felt like I was running the dragon! Every turn I'd pray the car getting at. was there…and it wasn't. All I could think is "They are waiting on my slow rear to fetch this car and I'm not going to be "that girl" So thanks to all of WoW (as Terra and Julie coined us!) for coming out to have a great weekend without the fellas! It was so much fun and we'll have to get on the river together soon!

Save the Ocoee River!

Like many of you, I was astonished to find out that the Ocoee River might not release after 2018. The Ocoee River is the nation’s most popular whitewater river with nearly 250,000 visits annually for rafting, kayaking, and open boating.

Currently, outfitters have a contract with the TVA that provides water releases for recreation and it will expire in March 2019.

For the next contract, TVA is asking for $1.8 million annually to pay for water releases and this estimate is only for the first 5 years. It is important to realize that TVA is the only utility allowed to collect fees for water releases. For example, Progress Energy provides releases on the Pigeon River without reimbursement for lost power.

SO, WHY DOES ANY OF THIS MATTER TO PRIVATE BOATERS?

Source: “The Economic Impacts of Visitor Spending and Whitewater Rafting on the Ocoee River,” 2012, Dr. Steve Morse, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Well, the drastically increased fees on our outfitters are simply unsustainable. These fees represent a 780% increase from the current cost. If the outfitters are unable to pay for the water, releases will be jeopardized for private boaters and rafters alike. As an avid kayaker, I cannot imagine our area without the Ocoee River. It is a great source of pride for our community and a valuable economic resource to our region.

With the current contract set to expire, we now have a unique opportunity to protect the Ocoee River in perpetuity. Right now, the only defined purpose of Ocoee No. 2 (Middle) is for generating hydroelectric power. The Ocoee River Council is proposing legislation that would reclassify Ocoee No. 2 and Ocoee No. 3 projects to include whitewater recreation as one of the project’s purposes. This would effectively mean that whitewater recreation on the Ocoee River would be protected for your children, your grandchildren, and future generations to come.

For many of us, the Ocoee River is where our love of whitewater recreation started. It is such a unique, beautiful river where one can safely practice difficult moves and prepare for winter creeking season. With over 5 million visitors to the Ocoee River since 1980, it is clear that we cannot replace this river as an asset to our state and region. How much does the Ocoee River mean to you?

Still need more information & Help?

How much power is lost?

Did you know the Ocoee River might not release after 2018!!

By Stacy Stone

What’s really at stake?

• $43.83 Million in total economic activity • 622 full time jobs • $14.12 Million in worker paychecks • $3.57 Million in total federal, state & local taxes generated

Please visit our website to read our mission statement, documents, and blog. This is a tremendous issue with many moving parts. It is difficult to outline the entire issue in a newsletter article. If you have more questions regarding why the Ocoee is at risk, please contact us!

The amount of power lost is minuscule. It represents less than 6/10,000ths of the TVA system’s generating capacity and the power generated by Ocoee No. 2 project is not noticeable in payer rates

Thank you for your support!

Let’s keep the Ocoee flowing!

Write letters to your US Senators & Representatives in Congress.

We even have sample letters here on our website, or use the letter on the next page.

Stacy Stone Grassroots Campaign Coordinator, Ocoee River Council

How can you help?

What should your letter say?

• Ask Congress to direct TVA to include whitewater recreation as a purpose of Ocoee No.2 and Ocoee No.3 projects.

• Ask that TVA be obligated to provide water releases consistent with the current schedule without reimbursement for lost power.

• Personalize your letter by conveying how much whitewater recreation means to you and especially the local and state economies.

Save the Ocoee River!

Contact your Representatives

How to go about this letter Below is a model letter to Congress for the Senate and the House of Representatives and then customize it by expressing your personal interest in the Ocoee. Here are a few tips: • Be sure to thank the Senators/Representatives for their interest in the river and proceed to tell them what the Ocoee means to you. This customization is very important!

• Politely tell members of Congress that the Tennessee Valley Authority should make whitewater recreation a purpose of the Ocoee No. 2 and Ocoee No. 3 projects and provide releases at least consistent with the current schedule without reimbursement for lost power.

• The legislation should include a provision for the state to continue management of the river and give them access to the property.

Model Letter:

Honorable Senator__________ United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator ___________: Thank you for taking time to consider my views on the future of the Ocoee River in East Tennessee.

I am writing in support of continued recreational whitewater releases on the Ocoee River in Polk County TN after the current contract expires in 2019. As you know, the Ocoee is the nation’s most popular recreational whitewater river. It provides over $43 million in economic benefits to our area annually. We must protect recreational use of this wonderful natural resource and not make recreation subordinate to a wooden flume line generating 21 megawatts of power. TVA is the only utility allowed to collect reimbursement for lost generating capacity due to recreational releases on our waterways. Releases on the Ocoee do not negatively impact lake levels at Blue Ridge Reservoir.

They also do not substantially impact peak demand generating capacity within the TVA system.

I hope the Congress will direct the TVA board of directors to designate Ocoee #2 and Ocoee #3 projects as multipurpose projects to include downstream whitewater recreation as a legitimate use of the river and project purposes. Future recreational releases should be provided consistent with the current release schedule without reimbursement for lost power.

Thank you so much for considering the important of the Ocoee River as the center piece of a truly remarkable recreation area which will only grow in importance.

Your Name Address Contact email (this personal information is important to verify that you are a real person)

Save the Ocoee River!

Contact your Representatives

TENNESSEE

GEORGIA

SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER (click to email)

SENATOR JOHNNY ISAKSON (click to email)

455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

131 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

SENATOR BOB CORKER (click to email)

SENATOR DAVID PERDUE (click to email)

Dirksen Senate Office Building SD-425 Washington, DC 20510

B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

CONGRESSMAN CHUCK FLEISCHMANN

REPRESENTATIVE TOM GRAVES (14TH)

(click to email) 900 Georgia Avenue, Suite 126 Chattanooga, TN 37402

(click to email) 2442 Rayburn House Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515

Boat Building Update

by Jim Martin

The 18 foot racing kayak is coming along as planned. It’s taken almost 2 months of laying down the wood strips and I have the hull completed with just need a few more strips of wood to finish the deck.

The next steps are to plane down the rough edges, then sanding, sanding, and more sanding.

I hope to start to fiberglass the deck and hull in the coming weeks. The plan was to have the boat in the water by May 30 for the Volunteer Kayak race. I’m really going to have to work hard to make that deadline. The more time I spend on boat building the less time I have to spend training for the race.

spring roll sessions...

Roll Practice Roll practice at UT is done for the winter season, but we will be resuming at the Concord Park Cove once the water warms up enough for instructors to stand in it without getting hypothermia. So keep a lookout on the calendar.

If this looks like you’re jam, get a hold of us and we’ll drag you along to our next misadventure.