friday 8/8 ocoee trip

[painterbob]

the boys from jasper are making a leap to the ocoee on friday it should be good !! i already contacted the bail bonds man so if you want to tag along ,post up!.... should be able to get out of jail on bond before monday morning

[sugarmtngal]

Can't make it Painter Bob - maybe next time. Be safe and enjoy!

[painterbob]

we had the time of our lives!! got the 9:15 safety meeting and jumped on the bus ran the upper and middle section , of the ocoee. then the next day, we took the drive to the nantahala for our first run! ... oh!.. when you see the big orange road construction sign that says BUMP! and all the people lined up with ropes ... you might have gone too far! but silly us parked a little farther down than that! so we got to run the falls and then some .

[Karla]

Bob,
What kind of boat did you paddle on both rivers? Your own or rented?

Karla

[painterbob]

we took the raft ride at the ocoee first .. then we hit play spots along the road, below dam #3 i paddled my mohawk probe12. 2 canoe, and for the nantahala i was the only canoe we saw all weekend ? we stopped in at rockcreek outfitters ,and one of our guys demoed a remix59 for $25 ( they are having a huge sale labor day weekend on demo kayaks) the water at the ocoee was cold! but the nantahala was freezing cold (ice water) so bring your cold weather gear , don't go in your shorts and tee shirt LIKE I DID. or your legs will turn that funny BLUE COLOR!! it was a lot cooler in the mountains low 80's for highs and low 60's at night for us this past weekend....

[okieboater]

I grew up in North GA and spent a lot of time in the Bryson City area.

For you Nanty first timers, do not under estimate the weather in the Nanty Gorge. It might be breath taking heat at the Nanty put in parking lot, but once on the river, that water is ice cold. For me in a kayak, it is light fleece and a dry top at a minimum. Bare legs may be fine inside a kayak, but in a raft or canoe, bare legs are pretty cold to most of us. Water does warm up a bit by the NOC takeout, but the Nanty river water is still awfully cold.

Also nights in the Gorge are often a lot more cooler than you think.

Also the Nanty gorge is famous for afternoon showers. Some times just light rain, others -- down pours with lightning all around.

So, take a dry top, some fleece, maybe something for your legs, a rain suit and nice sized Tarp if camping and don't forget a nice fleece blanket or summer weight sleeping bag.

Ocoee is a lot warmer than the Nanty but a dry top or paddle jacket will come in handy if it does rain in the afternoon.

[Shark Attack]

Bob, did the guys from Jasper bring their knives & hot wire along this time?

Wes

[painterbob]

:twisted: ... nope!.. BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT MAKES THE HAIR ON MY ARMS STAND ON END FROM GOOSEBUMPS

[RomanLA]

the nantahala was freezing cold (ice water)

The instructors for my guide class said it's actually 2 degrees colder in the Summer. :shock: