White Water Paddling Galleries

Nantahala 09-09-07 : A day trip on the Nantahala - myself, Donna Spoon John Lea, Dave & Dorothy Vezzetti, Gilly & Ed.

Nantahala 09-09-07

A day trip on the Nantahala - myself, Donna Spoon John Lea, Dave & Dor ...

Updated: Sep 12, 2007 8:55am PST

Ocoee 08-18-07 : Ocoee trip, 08-18-07. Subjects: Myself, Barry Smith, Jason Specht. Photos by Barry Smith and myself.

Ocoee 08-18-07

Ocoee trip, 08-18-07. Subjects: Myself, Barry Smith, Jason Specht. P ...

Updated: Aug 20, 2007 12:32pm PST

Ocoee 08-12-07 : A Sunday trip on the Ocoee. Gabriella Schlidt, Jason Specht, Gavin Fay, two Robs and myself.

Ocoee 08-12-07

A Sunday trip on the Ocoee. Gabriella Schlidt, Jason Specht, Gavin Fa ...

Updated: Aug 14, 2007 9:23am PST

Nolichucky River 08-03-07 : An all open canoe trip on the Nolichucky River in North Carolina / Tennessee. Barry Smith, Edward Stockman, Bill McKinley, Bob O. and myself. Photos be Barry Smith and myself.

Nolichucky River 08-03-07

An all open canoe trip on the Nolichucky River in North Carolina / Ten ...

Updated: Aug 14, 2007 8:21am PST

Nolichucky Pigeon Nntahala 7-20-07 to 7-22-07 : A three-day trip. Friday Nolichucky at about 600 cfs flow rate. Saturday Pigeon at about 1450 cfs. Sunday Nantahala at normal flow.

Nolichucky Pigeon Nntahala 7-20-07 to 7-22-07

A three-day trip. Friday Nolichucky at about 600 cfs flow rate. Satu ...

Updated: Jul 24, 2007 10:14am PST

Chattooga Section IV – 07-15-07 : Another ELF (extremely low flow) run on Chattooga IV. Thanks again to George Hedrick for arranging it!!

Chattooga Section IV – 07-15-07

Another ELF (extremely low flow) run on Chattooga IV. Thanks again to ...

Updated: Jul 16, 2007 4:14pm PST

Ocoee 06-25-07 :

Ocoee 06-25-07

Updated: Jul 24, 2007 8:04am PST

Chattooga Section IV 06-24-07 :

Chattooga Section IV 06-24-07

Updated: Jun 30, 2007 4:41pm PST

Ocoee 2006 : Three Ocoee trips in 2006. Photos by Barry Smith, OcoeePhotos.com and myself. Subjects were Barry Smith, Gabriella Schlidt, Warren & Andrew Little, Wade Lucas, Mike McGinnis, Dave & Dorothy Vezzetti, Michael Abernathy, Tom Keller and myself.

Ocoee 2006

Three Ocoee trips in 2006. Photos by Barry Smith, OcoeePhotos.com and ...

Updated: Apr 30, 2007 2:20pm PST

Ocoee 2005 : Two Ocoee trips in 2005. Photos by Barry Smith. Subjects were Gabriella Schlidt & myself.

Ocoee 2005

Two Ocoee trips in 2005. Photos by Barry Smith. Subjects were Gabrie ...

Updated: Apr 30, 2007 1:50pm PST

Ocoee 2004 : Three Ocoee trips in 2004, 7-23, 7-24, 8-27. Photos by Bary Smith. Shown were Gabriella Schlidt, Wade Lucas, Billy Dunn, Edward Stockman, Suzanne Welander, Louie Reynolds (raft guiding), Michael Houchins, Knox Worde, Jodi Kaufmann and myself, as well as a few people I don't recognize.

Ocoee 2004

Three Ocoee trips in 2004, 7-23, 7-24, 8-27. Photos by Bary Smith. S ...

Updated: Apr 30, 2007 9:33am PST

Nantahala 2006 : Trips on the Nantahala 3-12-06, 4-1-06 & 12-17-06. Photos by myself & Barry Smith. Participants were Gabriella Schlidt, Barry Smith, Bill Lacik and me.

Nantahala 2006

Trips on the Nantahala 3-12-06, 4-1-06 & 12-17-06. Photos by myself & ...

Updated: Apr 30, 2007 8:23am PST

Nantahala 2005 : Nantahala trips on 11-20-05 & 11-27-05 photographed by myself and Barry Smith. Participants are Barry Smith, Gabriella Schlidt and myself.

Nantahala 2005

Nantahala trips on 11-20-05 & 11-27-05 photographed by myself and Barr ...

Updated: Apr 30, 2007 7:50am PST

Upper Chestatee 7-23-05 :

Upper Chestatee 7-23-05

Updated: Apr 30, 2007 7:25am PST

Tellico 2006 - Various Dates : Photos from 3 trips on the Tellico, 2-26-06, 4-23-06, 6-3-06. Photos taken by myself and Barry Smith.

Tellico 2006 - Various Dates

Photos from 3 trips on the Tellico, 2-26-06, 4-23-06, 6-3-06. Photos ...

Updated: Apr 29, 2007 3:36pm PST

Upper Amicalola 1-2-07 :

Upper Amicalola 1-2-07

Updated: Apr 29, 2007 2:57pm PST

Upper Ocoee 2006 : Two Upper Ocoee trips, one on 8-27-06 and one on 9-3-06. The last two photos are on 9-3 and were taken by Barry Smith. Subjects on 8-27 were Barry Smith, Gabriella Schlidt, Bill Lykos, and Louie Reynolds (raft guide).

Upper Ocoee 2006

Two Upper Ocoee trips, one on 8-27-06 and one on 9-3-06. The last two ...

Updated: Apr 29, 2007 2:12pm PST

Chestatee River - Grindle Falls : Scenery shots at the biggest drop on the Chestatee.

Chestatee River - Grindle Falls

Scenery shots at the biggest drop on the Chestatee.

Updated: Apr 10, 2007 8:48am PST

French Broad River 04-29-06 : A trip on Section 9 of the French Broad River in North Carolina at a fairly low water level.

French Broad River 04-29-06

A trip on Section 9 of the French Broad River in North Carolina at a f ...

Updated: Apr 09, 2007 7:15am PST

Upper Chattahoochee River - Various Trips : These pictures were taken on various trips on the Upper Chattahoochee River.

Upper Chattahoochee River - Various Trips

These pictures were taken on various trips on the Upper Chattahoochee ...

Updated: Apr 06, 2007 10:01am PST

Chattooga River, Various Trips : These pictures were taken on various trips on sections of the Chattooga River. Photos are by various photographers.

Chattooga River, Various Trips

These pictures were taken on various trips on sections of the Chattoog ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2007 3:09pm PST

Russell Fork River Trips 2003, 2005, 2006 : Photos from 3 different trips on the Pound / Russell Fork Rivers in Virginia. Photography by various photographers.

Russell Fork River Trips 2003, 2005, 2006

Photos from 3 different trips on the Pound / Russell Fork Rivers in Vi ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2007 2:01pm PST

Tellico River 11-19-06 - Photos by Barry Smith : Paddlers: Allen Hedden, Gabriella Schlidt, Barry Smith. Photography by Barry Smith.

Tellico River 11-19-06 - Photos by Barry Smith

Paddlers: Allen Hedden, Gabriella Schlidt, Barry Smith. Photography ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2007 12:50pm PST

Tellico River 08-12-04 - Photos by Barry Smith : A rare treat - summer paddling on the Tellico. Paddlers are Allen Hedden, Wade Lucas, Gabriella Schlidt, Barry Smith. Photography by Barry Smith.

Tellico River 08-12-04 - Photos by Barry Smith

A rare treat - summer paddling on the Tellico. Paddlers are Allen Hed ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2007 10:36am PST

Nolichucky / French Broad paddling trip - May 2006 : The trip included a day hike on Rock Creek and paddling on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers

Nolichucky / French Broad paddling trip - May 2006

The trip included a day hike on Rock Creek and paddling on the French ...

Updated: Jun 17, 2006 8:41am PST

Serious River Hazard - Log in the Tellico : The log in the Tellico is located about a mile above Wonder Woman. You'll approach a sharp bend to the left and run through a short rapid. Then you'll see the boulders on right and in left center as shown in the pictures. (There is a pull-out on the road at this location.) The log is located across the face of the left boulder. The root ball is in the left hand chute jammed against rocks just upstream -- it extends to the right across the face of the boulder out into the right channel where the chute is normally run. It is just under the surface at normal levels and creates a small wave, occasionally breaking, on the left side of the right channel. STAY RIGHT! We watched a kayak swing its stern against the log at 525 cfs -- 2-3 feet farther left and the kayaker could be dead. I pinned my canoe there a few weeks ago with the open side upstream jammed against the log and barely got out before it pinned. A friend pinned his canoe there some weeks later UNDER the log with the open side flat against the river bottom -- he barely got out before the pin. It took us over an hour to rig a Z drag and get the boat free. A kayaker couldn't get out of the boat as fast as a canoeist and would probably be pinned under the log before being able to wet exit. We tried to cut the log out with a saw April 23, but there was too much water to get to it safely and make a good cut. We'll try again later at a lower level. Until then, BE CAREFUL!

Serious River Hazard - Log in the Tellico

The log in the Tellico is located about a mile above Wonder Woman. Yo ...

Updated: Apr 24, 2006 2:51pm PST

Cartecay River Labor Day 2005 Weekend : Participants: John Lea, Donna Spoon, Dave & Dorothy Vezzetti, Allen Hedden

Cartecay River Labor Day 2005 Weekend

Participants: John Lea, Donna Spoon, Dave & Dorothy Vezzetti, Allen H ...

Updated: Feb 28, 2006 8:36am PST

Fightingtown Creek 04-27-08 : A Georgia Canoeing Association trip on Fightingtown Creek coordinated by Edward Stockman. Participants: Edward Stockman, Doug Ackerman, Jack Taylor, Steve Smith, Kellyu Harbac, Lisa Haskell, Dave Soltice, Christine Blumberg, Greg Spencer, Dawn Southern, Allen Hedden.

Fightingtown Creek 04-27-08

A Georgia Canoeing Association trip on Fightingtown Creek coordinated ...

Updated: May 08, 2008 8:56am PST

Nantahala 09-20-08 & 09-21-08 -- GCA Fall Gala : Photos from the GCA Fall Gala 2008. Included are pictures from Smokey Mountain meadows Campground and a couple of the Nantahala River trips. It was wild flower season in Western Carolina, so I brouight a few back in digital form....

Nantahala 09-20-08 & 09-21-08 -- GCA Fall Gala

Photos from the GCA Fall Gala 2008. Included are pictures from Smokey ...

Updated: Oct 06, 2008 12:33pm PST

Russell Fork 10-18 & 19-19-08 : Paddling and hiking at the Russell Fork River on the Virginia / Kentucky state line. Participants: Myself, Dawn Southern, Barry Smith, Edward Stockman, Jason Specht, Wade Lucas, Josh Clark.

Russell Fork 10-18 & 19-19-08

Paddling and hiking at the Russell Fork River on the Virginia / Kentuc ...

Updated: Nov 19, 2008 3:05pm PST

Cartecay River 05-23-09 :

Cartecay River 05-23-09

Updated: May 27, 2009 6:28pm PST

Hiwassee 06-21-09 : Paddling the Hiwassee. Me, Dawn paddling solo, Drew and Joanna paddling tandem.

Hiwassee 06-21-09

Paddling the Hiwassee. Me, Dawn paddling solo, Drew and Joanna paddli ...

Updated: Jun 23, 2009 6:09pm PST

Ocoee Trip 07-17-09 : Ocoee River -- July 17, 2009 All photos by Barry Smith except the pictures of Barry, which were taken by Bill McKinley with Barry's camera Participants were Mike McGinnis, Greg Grant, Edward Stockman, Bill McKinley, Barry Smith and myself in solo open canoes, Paula Haynes in inflatable kayak, and Mark Singleton in kayak. Weather for the trip was marvelous for mid-July -- partly cloudy and mild, no oppressive heat and humidity. The trip being on Friday, we didn't have to contend with the water level spiking up in the middle of the day with water from the Upper Ocoee release. The level was consistent and pleasant the whole day. It reminded me of the days before the Upper releases became a regular weekend thing. While there was carnage on the river that day, it wasn't from our group. We had very good runs of all the rapids, and some memorable entertainment events at some play spots. Bill tried to follow Barry's act in surfing a rather large hole, with predictable results -- he had to swim out -- his boat just wasn't as big in relation to the hole as Barry's Whitesell. The best entertainment of the day happened at Diamond Splitter. Barry did his usual ferry move from the top eddy on river right to the eddy on the left above the approach to Witch's Hole, then made the ferry back to the right to the micro-eddy behind Diamond Splitter Rock, an eddy smaller than his boat by a good shot. Then he tried an off side ferry back to the left above Witch's Hole and didn't quite clear the hole. Barry became firmly stuck in the hole on his off side, surfing on a cross brace for an extended period of time while staying very dry, but getting nowhere as far as extricating himself from the hole. His Plan B was to switch back to an upstream on side brace to try to bring the boat back around and back out of the hole. After several times alternating between this move and the Plan A cross brace, he finally succeeded in getting out of the hole with dry hair, but a not-so-dry boat. This was one of the longest surfs I've seen at Witch's Hole in either an open or a decked boat, and probably the longest that I remember seeing that didn't result in swimming or rolling out of it. This old man isn't getting older, he's getting better! (I can call him "old" with impunity since I'm a month older than Barry.) One item really worth mentioning, as Barry was executing his LONG unintentional surf, several rafts came down from Table Saw headed directly toward the chute into Witch's Hole where Barry was stuck. To the credit of the raft guides, every single one of them diverted their run to the right side of Diamond Splitter Rock, thereby avoiding a collision with a surfing canoe. These were mostly NOC rafts, but there may have been some from other companies as well. I wasn't watching them so closely as I was intent on watching Barry's ride. Kudos to the raft guides!! Barry was also the official trip photographer. Thanks for passing along the pictures for use with the trip report, Barry! I wish we had pictures of your epic surf at Witch's Hole. By the time we got to one of our favorite surf spots just above Torpedo, we were mostly a bunch of tired, whipped puppies, except for the youngsters in the group. We still managed quite a few rides on the wave there, thanks mainly to the rafting companies. They launched so many trips late in the day that day that we had several long waits for raft traffic to go by before jumping back on the wave, a welcome respite in our tired, played-out condition. It also seemed like a positive sign that at least a part of the economy may be getting back on track. It was a pretty crowded afternoon for a weekday. Thanks to all the participants for making this a very memorable and enjoyable trip. As is often said, "Many happy returns...."

Ocoee Trip 07-17-09

Ocoee River -- July 17, 2009 All photos by Barry Smith except the p ...

Updated: Jul 29, 2009 8:22am PST