Ramblin' On...

Saturday Hike with Hans and Felix from Hwy 19e to Carvers Gap = Roan Mountain area, 13 miles of sweet trail, mostly across balds. Thanks Hans for showing me this one.

This post is dedicated to June Reynolds, a high school friend who I just found out passed away earlier this month. June was one of the nicest people I have ever known and had a contagious smile and a fun loving, positive attitude, a truly kind soul. I cant believe she is gone.

Clare Ann and I ran into June while shopping in Newport 7+ years ago and I e-mailed her a few years ago to pay my condolences after I heard Elaine had passed away, they had been such close friends and were without a doubt the dynamic duo our senior year of high school. They will both be missed by anyone who knew them.

Amos' Epics

A couple of bike rides last week

Afterwork Kitsuma ride with Johnny Calhoun.

Friday I checked out a trail that Chris Presnell told me about. The trail was short but a lot of fun. I ended up riding it in both directions. I'll be back for more and hope to cut some trail to the top of the Rocky Top.

Amos' Epics

Close out September at the Green and Open October at the Green

The weekend started with a Friday afterwork Green run. The first two shots are of Johnny Calhoun from Friday evening. Saturday morning we met up with Layla, Billy Murphy and Chris Roberts for an awesome first run. Layla, Johnny and I did an equally awesome second run. The air was cool but the water still felt warm. It was a wonderful early fall day. If you looked up you would see leaves falling through the air, if you looked down you would see leaves falling thru the water.

Friday evening Mike Toth, Mike Nail and group were also getting in an afterwork run. Toth caught up to us at Sunshine and told us Nail had broken his kayak in half getting a big air seal launch below Gorilla and was hiking out. He was going to retrieve his kayak later. Tough break.
Saturday:

Johnny Calhoun

Crankee

Murphy

Layla

Billy in the Groove Tube

On our second run we caught up to a group where a few of the guys were running Gorilla. One had a high brace at the Notch that resulted in a dislocated shoulder. It was a sad reminder of a bad day for me. His buddies managed to get his shoulder back in place so hopefully his hike out was not too painful.
For me it was a reminder that the Green is a lot more than just another paddle down a beautiful gorge. A mistake or poor judgement can have some very serious repercussions in the Narrows.

Amos' Epics

Monday Vacation and onto Wilson Creek for a solo and jog. Loving this early fall weather!

I made it to the creek by 9:45 and the water line was right on 0". It was a good level and I wished I had taken my play boat but I didn't even think about it when getting my stuff together. Since I only planned to do one solo run and jog the shuttle, I took it slow, surfed a little and did some exploring. I found a very cool little cave. The pictures do not do it justice, there was some room in there, no I did not climb inside but it could easily be done.

The cave

A beautiful rainy autumn day.

Later I took Noel to her Kayak mentor session at the Linville access at Lake James.

Amos' Epics

9/25 High Water Sunday. First a hike in solo run on Upper Creek then Wilson Creek at a healthy 10"

I woke up early and checked some rain gages. I was happily surprised at how much it had rained in all the right places. I got packed up and was at the Wilson Creek gage by 8:40. The Watagua was over 5,000 cfs. Wilson Creek was over 2'. I headed to Upper Creek.

At Upper Creek I used the bridge as a gage as shown in the picture below; there was water.

Roadside attraction has really changed.

The trail gets tight in a few spots. This is one run you have to pay to play. Since I was solo and had plenty of time, I carried as far up as I could before the trail moves steeply away from the creek. I had only run it from this high up the creek 2 or 3 times before. This is a sweet section that moves away from the creek but you can actually see some of the rapids through the woods from the trail. It adds about 3 or 4 very nice drops from where I used to put in and at least a half mile more of river. One day I would like to start from Greentown, hiking around the big gorge.