Allen Creek & Falling Water Teaser

Thanks to Adam Goshorn for putting this video together. We have been getting some really good video here lately, and Adam is doing an incredible job editing it. Here is a taste of what he has been working on. I am sure more will follow. Be sure to check out http://www.granolapaddler.blogspot.com/

MW

Allen Creek Photos:

Here are some photos from Allen Creek. We didn't take many.

We missed Asleep at the Wheel because we ran it blind.

But here are a few.

The Long Hike In.

Dave on a typical upper rapid




Dave on a slide



Me in a Boulder Rapid

Dave Boofing

Me flipping

Dave in the Boulder Garden

Thanks to Adam for the pictures. Check out his Blog:

http://granolapaddler.blogspot.com/

for video from Allen Creek in the future.

The Write up for Allen Creek is the next post down. Me and Technology...... Not getting along.

mw

Falling Water:

Nate Running The 1st Drop This mission started this past fall when myself and Ben Davis hiked this gorge. What we saw was incredible. The Falling Water Gorge was one of the most amazing places I had been, and I couldn't wait for the day I would get to travel through it by kayak. This creek was the goal of my 2009 paddling season. I had heard that the rapids were good but a lot of work. More rains were on the way after we ran Allen Creek. We made plans that night to meet and make an attempt at Falling Water. When I woke up to a steady rain, I was sure it was running. After our crew all arrived, we headed for the put in. On the drive up we saw several small side streams swollen over their banks, and we began to wonder if Falling Water would be too high. Upon arrival, we found a perfect first time level. So we geared up and put on. It is rare to find such a magical place so close to a large city. The gorge is very tight and intimate. It gives off an eerie feeling that you are in another world. The top section is filled with typical bedrock slides and boofs with one boulder rapid being thrown into the mix. We found all but one rapid clear of wood. As we continued down, I probed ahead hoping to recognize the beginning of Dragon's Lair. The Dragon's Liar is a huge rapid consisting of 3 difficult drops, with a small eddy above the first drop to get out and scout or portage from. Luckily for our crew I recognized where the Dragon's Lair began. When we hopped out to scout, everyone was amazed at what they saw-a beautiful walled in gorge filled with incredible drops. The first drop was a real tight 12ft shoulder boof into tight slot with a small pool immediately flowing into the next drop. The next drop was a 10 footer with a nice hole and undercuts on both side. After the second drop you get a tricky little rapid where you must eddy out above the last drop. The last drop was definitely the hardest of all three drops. It was a 15-18 foot drop onto rock which immediately transitions to a fast slide. The slide banks hard right and leads into a shallow 15 footer. We all fired up the first two drops. I ran the 3rd drop and after a successful line Chris gave 'er too! After running the third drop the creek picked up gradient. You have 1 rapid followed by an unrunnable 60ft drop. From here down the creek was full on. Many of the rapids were unrunnable and choked with wood. Our group was running short on time so we decided to hike out along the trail back to the car. Even with the hike to the car, Falling Water is well worth the work. This summer we plan to go in there and clean out the wood from the lower half. Can't wait to go back to this incredible gorge! Falling Water is truely a magical place.

Chris and Waren in a typical upper rapid




Me on a slide

Me boofing one of the upper rapids

Charging 1st Drop of Dragon's Lair

Flying

Below the second drop

Landing the second Drop

This next sequence is me running the 3rd Drop in Dragon's Lair

We shot lots of video on this run and I am sure you will be able to find it here or Adam will share it on his blog when it's ready:

http://granolapaddler.blogspot.com/

Spring Mission Update: Allen Creek

This spring has been incredible here in the southeast. It seems that the drought has turned and the rains are keeping the creeks and rivers of the Chattanooga area overflowing. The past couple of weeks have been some of the best kayaking of my life. Spring rains have allowed me to conquer several missions that I have been eyeing for a while. I have visited many new gorges and revisited many familiar gorges that I have grown to love. Some of the new places I have visited include: Allen Creek, Falling Water, North Pole/ Morgan Creek, Jones Creek, and the infamous Middle Creek. While also visiting my familiar friends: The Bear, Cain, N. Chick, Suck Creek, and LRC. I have also determined that there is no better place in the world for kayaking than Chattanooga. The next few posts will be stories from our recent adventures. Enjoy!



Allen Creek Mission:

This mission started when Adam Goshorn ran Daughtry Creek, a tributary of Allen Creek. He reported back that Daughtry Creek was pretty much worthless, but there were goods to be harvested on Allen Creek. We had heard stories of groups going into this gorge and having big days. From our knowledge it had been sometime since a group of boaters had visited this gorge, so our beta was limited. With a small rain on the way we had plans of paddling LRC, but these small rains soon turned into large downpours. With a 6 am wake up call, we began making plans. With word that the Bear was flooded, I knew it was time. I called Adam and Dave, told them the plan, and we all met up to set shuttle. At the take out we were harassed by an angry land owner telling us we couldn't park by the bridge. He also told us the creek was unnavigable in our canoes and he was forbidding us from running it. We just moved the truck to the other side of the bridge and ignored his warning. We knew very little about the put in other than you start in the headwaters and follow a tiny stream until it becomes runnable. We found the headwaters of Allen and began hiking along the stream. The first several minutes passed quickly with the excitement of a new run. Apparently, we put in WAY above the runnable section of Allen. After 3 hours of creek wading, brier crawling, rhodo bashing , and miserable hiking our patience wore thin. Soon the creek became runnable and we were off. The several hours of hiking had lulled me into lowering my guard and I quickly pulled ahead of the group. I paddled down and soon found a fun set of slides and boofs. Horizon lines loomed, but I was getting into a groove. So I recklessly charged ahead ignoring the eddies. The slides grew steeper and longer as my grin grew wider . Then with a quick turn of the river a LARGE horizon line appeared, and I suddenly realized where I was. This was one of the largest and hardest rapids in the Chattanooga area and for sure the largest rapid on Allen Creek, Asleep at the Wheel. I remembered the description of this rapid and charged ahead, cleaning the drop. Like they say, "You only get one chance to run a rapid blind!" After getting to the bottom of the rapid I quickly jumped out of my boat to set safety for Dave and Adam in case they blundered into Asleep at the Wheel, like I did. Soon Dave came boofing over the lip. He eddied out and we couldn't help but laugh, both fully realizing how the rapid got it's name. Adam had realized where he was in the entrance and eddied out and got a quick scout. The Upper section of this river was incredible bedrock rapids filled with boofs and slides. After paddling about half the creek Daughtry dumped in. Here the nature of the creek changes and becomes full on boulder gnar. This was the section Adam had ran on his previous mission. These boulder rapids were steep, blind, fun, and surprisingly clean of wood. Upon arrival at the car, we had all but forgotten about the hike and couldn't wait to run this creek again. With more rain on the way, my mind immediately went to the next mission.

Allen Creek has the feeling of The Bear. It is easier than the Bear, but still Class V. The creek layout is the same, large bedrock rapids up top and steep boulder gardens down low. With better access to cut out the hike, which we think we have found, this creek has the potential to become a "New Classic."