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."
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