South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Feather- Trip 3

Our 3rd trip down the SB was by far our fastest as we knew every line from the previous trips. We were ninja swirl chargen forsho!

Will on something...

LJ Groth- on the 15s

Dustin Marquart and Rodrigo Tuchner- onthe 15's

Will Pruett- 20 above 99 Problems- stompn

Drew Duvall- 99 Problems

Rodrigo Tuchner- entering 99 Problems

Halfway down the portage 100 footer

LJ about to seal launch at the bottom of the portage 100 footer

Dustin Marquart- lowering his boat down the portage

Steep portage!

Good crew atop the hike out enjoying some cold brew!

South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Feather- Trip 2

Running the South Branch day after day Will Pruett and myself felt the need to go faster and push our selves into the familiar Charge. It was a super nice feeling to rally through the many clean steeps the SB had to offer.

Darin Mcuoid- when u hit the boof behind him u could look straight out into the vast canyon as u are right above a 20 into a 50 into a 30 into a 100 into a 50 into a 100 into a 200... wow

Will Pruett- 20 right above 99 Problems and right below the last pic

Me on 99 Problems

Me on the 50 footer

South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Feather- Trip 1

The South Branch is one of the most beautiful runs I have ever had the privilege to paddle. We dubbed it the "Edge of the World" because this place is the definition of clean steeps. From the take out perched above a 100 footer leading into a 200 footer one can look up and down the gorge and see a good 2000 feet of vertical drop- wow! We camped at this run for a couple of days and repeatedly tapped into its goodness before moving on due to its gnarly 1000 foot hike out, which felt straight up and made that cold beer at the car taste oh so good. So enjoy the photos and expect many more from the 2 month cali trip as I will be updating frequently now that I have returned to the South East.

Jakeb Nemec- on one of the first of the goods

Darin Mcqoid- Freewheel Sequence

Sequence 2

Sequence 3

Double 15's

Typical 1st half of the run b4 the steeps

Jakeb Nemec- Taken in the steeps

Darin Mcquoid- 20 footer above 99 Problems

Laura Farrel- above 99 Problems and the China Slide

Will Pruett- 99 Problems Sequence

Sequence 2

Sequence 3

Sequence 4

Jakeb Nemec- 50 footer

Darin Mcqoid- 50 footer

Edge of the World safety meeting b4 hiking straight up and out!

49 to Bridgeport

Raven Fork

"Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul"

Times have been cold and water has been slightly sparse in comparison to last season. I keep leaving my camera in the car and usually remember it about the time I'm putting on the creek. I do however have these photos from this winter on Henderson @ -3 (prime level).

I have snagged some new runs in the area including a First Descent on Connel Creek while attempting to join our buddies a ridge away on their First Descent of Middle Creek which all flow into Rock Creek (Waldens Ridge). The little creek was blown out brown with no eddies and reminded me of a juiced Colorado run.
Link to Middle First D- http://waldensridgewhitewater.com/waldensridge/middlecreek_rockcreektrib.htm

I recently ran Pocket Creek in Sequatchie Valley @ 1ft on the gauge. I would easily group this run with the Bear and Henderson as the 3 best runs in the greater Chattanooga area. The run was mostly continuous with sweet long slides up top and a fairly tough boulder section on the bottom half. I ended up running the portage for a First D and think it should be called SKITTLI-WOMP-BOMP.

Most recently got on The Bear 20 inches and brown. Had an exciting day with Javid Grubbs and Bett Adams being the only lucky few to paddle such a prestine run (rowdy). Followed it up the next day with a run on Rock Creek(Lookout Mtn.) Sweet run but Hand Paddle Kurt ended up breaking his back on the last rapid before the portage above Insurance Bluff.(Nasty Rock) - would be a good name for that rapid.

Here is a link to Pruett's Toxaway footage of Dustin Marquart and my self from early winter-
http://fullthrottlewill.blogspot.com/2010/01/last-charge-of-09.html

Spring starts in two days- SE Creeking.......Cali here I come!

Kurt Bag- Spinal Adjustment

Bryce Evans- SpoonMan

Mark Bowman- Spoon Man

Kurt Bag- Spoon Man

Javid Grubbs- Second half Fire Escape

Bryce setting safety?

Mark Bowman- Timber Rattler