Labor Day Trippin: Beat The Heat 2008!

[RomanLA]

It's raining like cats and dogs out east...all previous plans have been made null and void thanks to Fay.

I know I'm supposed to be excited, but I'm not. I don't want to spend all weekend in a raft. I was really hoping to work skills on the Nanty.

[Fish]

We are still planning on the Nanty or possibly substitute a run of equal difficulty on Saturday. Get in touch if you want to paddle.

- Fish

[Karla]

Scott what are meaning null and void? We are heading that way tomorrow for paddle Saturday on the Nante and Ocoee on sunday(raft), ducky on Nante. Does this mean the rivers are higher due to all the rain from Fay? Is the Chattooga up and running. I would really like to raft it rather than the other two.

Karla

[RomanLA]

Scott what are meaning null and void? We are heading that way tomorrow for paddle Saturday on the Nante and Ocoee on sunday(raft), ducky on Nante. Does this mean the rivers are higher due to all the rain from Fay? Is the Chattooga up and running. I would really like to raft it rather than the other two.

Karla

When I was there, the Nanty was big and pushy, but it rained or snowed every day. I just got off the phone with NOC. They're not expecting this to effect the Nanty too bad other than while it's actually raining. It looks like the chance of rain drops later in the week, so hopefully your ducky plans shouldn't be affected. The Chattooga is looking really good right now. It's runnable and still rising fast. You might want to ask about it when you arrive, before it gets a chance to drop much.

[Karla]

OK, need some advice. We are booked for the Ocoee on Sunday but the Chattooga is available section 3 on Friday. What is your thoughts, do the Ocoee commercial raft or the Chattooga rafting? I won't do all three but will do only 2.

Karla

[Scott]

Karla the Chattooga is a bit of a drive past the Ocoee however it is worth every penny and second of time if you can handle it.

If you have the opportunity and are able to make it I would say go for it!

Saying that the Chattooga is at 2.5 and still climbing with lots of rain on the way. It is tuesday however the Chattooga holds its water really well so be sure to check with your outfitter there and make sure it will not be too high to raft on Friday.

[Karla]

I spoke with NOC and they say it will be ok I guess. Do you have to drive to Chattooga or do they shuttle you from their outpost? We are staying near Bryson City and if it is a great river, I am willing to drive to it and forgo the Ocoee in place which they said they could change.

OH, and what about section III or section IV. Looks like quite a bit more streneous on IV for me and more chance of flipping rafts.

Karla

[RomanLA]

OH, and what about section III or section IV. Looks like quite a bit more streneous on IV for me and more chance of flipping rafts.

I have a reservation with NOC for section IV Sunday morning at 8:30.

[faxon]

Does anybody have room for one more person/boat?

[David Mac]

Is anyone else going to be in place for a Saturday Morning run on the Nanty? I'm planning on being at the powerhouse put-in as soon as the release starts if I can find at least one other taker to help with safety and shuttle.

David Mc

[nathan richard]

i plan on being there with a couple friends tomorrow morning. we're gonna camp at Nelson's Hideaway tonight. i'll pm you my number.

[Zach]

I'll be there, but not till noonish.

[Zach]

Awesome weekend!
I think there were at least 20 or 25 ACC folks floating down the Nanty on Saturday (only a little carnage).
And for those thinking of going in a ducky, looked like a blast. My parents had a lot of fun, and I think they hit every hole and hazard they were supposed to avoid. They went off the ledge at Patton's and straight through all the holes at the falls without any trouble (I think I might have told them go left at Patton's).

Sunday on the Ocoee was great. I think Terry wanted to make sure everyone got the whole rafting experience, so he dumped the whole load of them at Gonzo shoals (like a pro guide, he stayed in the raft ). After that I stashed my kayak in the woods and hopped in the raft above broken nose and we bombed on down (styling every line). Only minor carnage in the late afternoon upper run that followed, though I don't think I listened very well to Kaylan's directions on how to find my boat at broken nose, so it took some work to bushwack back through then drag it back to the road.

Monday morning Cowper, Jason, Sabrina and I did a super speed run chasing the water down (we caught it at cat's pajamas). We were down in about 40-45min; being out there without a single raft or other boaters was great. I think that is how I want to hit it from now on. Put on just after the release and have the whole river to ourselves, then head on down for a late breakfast before doing it again.

Only bad part was the campground. To our surprise, the first night was our best night's sleep. We got in a 3am from LR and got to sleep at 4am, getting up around 8:15ish. That was the most we got all weekend.
Sunday night especially was horrendously epic. 70-80 frat guys partied till 5:30 in the morning: yelling, drinking, fighting, playing music (they had 4 empty kegs laying around the campground in the morning). We should have left and gone to a hotel, but we kept thinking they'd stop soon; at 1am, 2am, 3am we kept thinking they'd have to quite down soon and by 4am, 5am just figured if they didn't we'd be getting up soon anyway.

[Crane]

For future reference, in campgrounds where partying goes late, late, late, it is customary for old farts who normally rise at 4:30 or 5 am to get up and continue the party... loudly, from 5am until 9 am, or so. The youngsters really appreciate it when we pick up their load and go forward... loudly!!

[Zach]

Monica took care of that . She drove her car over and starting yelling at them.

We realized what we really should have done is called the cops. Private property or not, I'll bet they would have showed up since there were 4 kegs and probably at least 50 underage drinkers.
Plus with the beer garden there, AU must have a liquor license. Hopefully they would have gotten in trouble too which might have taught them to rein things in next time.

All of us looked like the walking dead. Most of the bleary eyed conversations the next day went along the lines of:

"****"
"Yep. ******* ****"
"Seriously, ****"