Three Runs on the Watagua makes for a big day. Thats a lot of boofs!

I met up with Johnny Calhoun and Dennis at 10:00. Over the entire day I think there were more people around the put in and take out than I have ever seen at the Watagua but the river was not crowded at all besides a big group scouting at Hydro the second and third runs. I thought the level felt like 350 with the extra water pumping in. The gage was reading about 4" at 1pm. It was not dropping fast.

Amos' Epics

Two after work runs on Wilson Creek with Gaston

I think this was the best Friday the 13th I've ever had. Good news at work combined with two runs on Wilson Creek at a little above 0, it doesn't get much better.

Forgot the camera but I wouldn't have had much time to take pictures and managed to make two runs. It was dark when we took off of the river, again.

After Work Wilson Creek with Johnny Calhoun. We managed to get in two runs at an exceptional level.

We met at 4:15 at the gage and proceeded to knock out the first run quickly catching only the obligatory eddies. The level was about 4". We pretty much bombed the second run. We took out on the first run at the regular takeout but on the 2nd run we paddled all the way down to Screaming Right Turn and got a few awesome surfs in the dark. The wave was off the hook.
We never saw anyone else on the creek but did see RB at the takeout after our first run.

Wednesday after work Upper Creek Soulo

I ran into Dennis Huntly and Alex on my way down the Forest Rd to Upper Creek. The report was that it was low but runnable. I hiked up to where the double track turns to single track and I had just enough day light to paddle back to the van. It was good to be back out there.

Sitting Bear and Devils Hole, Linville Gorge

more pics soon.

Amos' Epics

Scouting out the Mountains to Sea Trail and Overmountain Victory Trail on the west side of the Kistler Memorial Hwy

Views from the Kistler Memorial HighwayThe trail drops off of KMH with one switchback at the top then stays very straight for a good ways. It is probably the straightest trail around. Felix enjoyed it:The creek at the bottom. There is a very nice camp site just past this point.

This section of the MTS trail was nice and clear but there was a small creek running through the middle of the trail in a few sections.

The single track T's into the road designated 106 on my map. The sign above is straight across the road (106) from where the MTS takes a left and follows 106. Click on the sign to enlarge, it is an interesting story and map.

The MTS takes a left up 106 - see the white dot in the pic below - the Over Mountain Victory Trail continues straight. At first I followed the road...I followed 106 for over a mile to the pic below and decided to turn around. It just kept climbing at this point and it was getting late. The bear hunters were burnning up this road and the Kistler Memorial Hwy.

The view below was from a wildlife viewing area right off of the road:Back at the cross roads I took a left and headed down the OVTrail for about a mile. The OVT was exceptional; nice and clear with an incredibly hard base. I was rewarded with another nice field similar to one of the wildlife viewing areas and some nice twilight views.

Back to the creek crossing. I hiked out in the dark. A very good scouting hike. Now I've got some ideas of how to link some trails...

Amos' Epics

Moe rocks the house in Boone Thursday night then three shuttle rides that add up to about 20 miles on vacation day Friday.

The Moe show was at Legends on the campus in Boone. We had a positive show report from Brotha Man Bob High who had seen them in Raleighwood the previous night. They did not disappoint in Boone either. The crowd was not very big but the people that showed were totally getting into the music. I think I even saw the cop dancing. It was my first Moe show but I hope it wont be my last.
Friday morning Obie helped me take some parts off my NRS and out of my used parts bin to get the SupaLite back on the trail. We were riding Yellow Buck before noon. Thanks for the tics, pics, and good times OB!
Obie droppin' Yellow Buck for the first time:

We rode Yellow Buck first then onto Visitors Center and lastly we worked our way up 181 to Ginger Cake Acres and rode Raspberry out to 181 then down the hwy to Hedley's. We did a 5.1 mile ride, a 5.6 mile ride and a 9.2 mile ride for a total of 19.9 miles. Lots of down hill and good times.Our ride stats were pretty good. There was a fair share of hike a bike due mostly to Yellow Buck Total elevation gain was 3,703' while the total elevation loss was 7,338'! Total ride time was 3 hours 30 minutes. Shuttles were not bad at all. Amos' Epics

Two runs on the Watagua at a great level. A fall day in the high country. It was 42 degrees when I got to the river and 42 degrees when I left.

I headed up to the Watagua early and dropped the boat at the put in hoping to find someone at the takeout to hook up with for a couple of runs. Luckily I met up with Adam and his crew from Charlotte and they got me back to the put in and were ok with me joining their group. A very nice group of guys. They had a few more guys waiting at the put in for a total group of 7. I paddled down with them to Hydro. Alex and crew started passing the Charlotte crew at Hydro. Adams group was pretty big so I jumped in with Alex. We picked up Will and Michael for the second run. I think Alex was the only one of us that ended up with three runs at the end of the day. What a great level!

Alex:

Dave Simpson

Jason:

Tony:

Will at Hydro on the second run:

Chris with a little trouble: Back on track:

Amos' Epics

Wednesday: Two Runs on the Watagua then a jog up to the top of Hawksbill for some steller views

I called Mike Huggins and he was up for a couple of Watagua runs before he had to get to work so we met up there at 10:45. Some views from the Brown Mountain Overlook on my way up 181.

^ The gage when we got to the put in. It dropped about 3 inches between our first and second runs. The first run felt like about 400 cfs.

No pics on the first run. Mike and I just bombed it. We hooked up with Keith Sprinkle for shuttle on the second run. The shot above is Bill Clipper going "around the world" at Edge of the World.

^Jonathan

^ Bill

^ Andy ^ Dave

^ Andy. Sorry I took the shot a little late.

^ Jonathan
^ Sprinkles

^ Bill

I had considered getting a run in at Wilson Creek but I had to go right by Ginger Cake Acres on the way home so...

From Gingercake Acres on my way out:

Amos' Epics

Watagua Sunday with Gaston Gagne

It was a cool morning, about 44 degrees when I got to the takeout. It warmed up nicely and there wasnt much wind while we were on the river. The views on the way up, during the run and on the drive back down were incredible.

Gaston Gagne at Edge of the World:A few shots were taken on the drive home:

Wilson Creek at an exceptional level after getting skunked at both the Gragg Prong and at the North Fork of Harper Creek. Thats Creekin'.

I got up very early and noticed the levels were coming up and there had been a good bit of rain between midnight and dawn. I started making calls early, my first at around 7:30...
Steven was the first to call back and the only one willing to head over and start on the search for some water. Gaston had other obligations and I couldnt reach Johnny Calhoun. Mike and others outta town for the Russell Fork Rendezvous.
I figured if Wilson Creek was much over a foot, my usual fall back of hiking up and running Upper Creek then heading back to Wilson Creek for an afternoon run after it had dropped would be the best plan. Based on the rain gages I thought the Gragg Prong may have run around dawn but not much after. Grandfather Meadows had gotten pounded but it had stopped before we got to Wilson Creek.We checked on the Gragg Prong and North Harper but both were too low. Steven, Crankee, and Johnny Calhoun opted for something up towards the Watagua and ended up getting three runs on the Red Roof Section. I stayed and ran Wilson Creek.

I met three guys from Virgina who needed a guide and I needed a group. Two of them had run it for the first time last weekend at around -6". We took our time, I showed them the lines, we took pics and video and overall had a good laid back juicy flow Wilson Creek run. I think a good time was had by all.

Ten Foot Falls, entrance:

The meat:Boat Buster:

Thunder Hole:JP in Triple Drop:

A little hole surfing, JP worked it out well:Some spectators at Triple Drop. I think that may have been Eddie:

Amos' Epics