The Return to Cain/North Chick! 3/27/2009

The first time I had ever paddled Cain/North Chick was about 5 years ago. It was probably the most challenging run I had ever paddled. Adam Goshorn, Todd Scott, and Mark Woods were along for what would be a very strenuous day for me. That trip included me running all the rapids including Vortex on Cain Creek but I ran the sneak at North Chick Falls. After putting on late in the day and blue angeling almost the entire run, we made it to the takeout as it was starting to get dark. Adam and I have talked ever since that day that someday we needed to get back in there to see what we blasted by. Well Friday, 3/27,09, was my day to make by second descent of Cain/North Chick. Adam had to work and was unable to come but there was plenty of folks along. Tony Robinson, Justin Cullars, Tera Wilson, Robert Keeble, and three paddlers from Indiana were along for the ride. Several others from Knoxville were also on the river in a seperate group. The level was perfect at just over 800cfs.

Brandon running North Chick Falls. Photo by Kemper Begley.

I had forgotten just how beautiful Cain Creek is. With it's sliding ledges through the woods and it's big drops, it just kept going and going. I ran Big Splat but decided to portage Vortex. We paddled on down to Drain Pipe and I saw some very interesting lines. My favorite was when Tera had a tango with the entrance drop, rolled up at the top of Drain Pipe and launched off the drop blind. Venturing on down North Chick, we dodged massive holes and saw some good carnage of other paddlers. We all fired up North Chick Falls but my line was probably the worst. I flipped in the landing and got pushed into an undercut ledge and was unable to roll up. Yes...I swam. We ran the main lines of all the rapids. I even ran the hero line at Cyclops. I am very happy that I got to run Cain/North Chick once again and can't wait to go back. It's a long challenging run but well worth the effort.

Here's a Facebook video that Tera took of me running Big Splat on Cain Creek.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1645624&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=1468250667&id=741873363#/video/video.php?v=1123604051387&subj=1468250667

Till next time, pray for rain!

Little Clear Creek and Crooked Fork 3/16/2009

After running Little Clear Creek at at juicy level on 3/15/09, myself, Steve Krajewski, Ken, Mary Ann and Doug headed to Little Clear Creek for a lower level run at 1.8ft. It was a much less pushy level but still a lot of fun!Brandon running the first drop of Triple Drop. Photo by Doug and Mary Ann.

Brandon running the third drop of Triple Drop. Photo by Doug and Mary Ann.

Brandon seal launching Novicane. Photo by Doug and Mary Ann.



Brandon running Oh Yeah! Photo by Doug and Mary Ann.




Brandon flying off Oh Yeah! Photo by Doug and Mary Ann.



Brandon landing after boofing Oh Yeah! Photo by Doug and Mary Ann.



Brandon running Boofalicous. Photo by Doug.


After a great run on Little Clear Creek, Steve, Ken, and I headed to Upper Crooked Fork. We put-on at LaMance Falls at 5.5ft and paddled down to Potter's Falls. It was a great level and we had great lines off Potter's Falls. That was all the day light we had and we headed home.

Till next time, pray for rain because it's really working!

Island Creek and High Water Little Clear Creek

Today was a good day for plateau creeking. With a lot of plateau creeks flooded, I headed to Island Creek to see if was running. To my surprise, it was running just below 0.5ft on the put-in bridge gauge.

What starts as a calm, mellow creek turns into a fun class 3 continuous whitewater run after the first mile or so. Photo by Steve Krajewski.

Island Creek was a zoo with so many boaters, many of which I knew. We briefly scouted Compound Fracture and all ran it with descent lines. This is Brandon entering Compound Facture. Photo by Steve Krajewski

Kemper completing Compound Fracture. Photo by Steve Krajewski

Jim entering Compound Fracture. Photo by Steve Krajewski

After running 2 laps on Island Creek, several of us headed to Little Clear Creek. We were told it was too high and pushy. We decided to put on anyway with thoughts that we could hike out on the adjacent trail if we got in over our heads. The level was 2.7ft on the put-in gauge. Triple Drop was very pushy and fast but runnable. There was so many rooster tails and water flying, I had a complete whiteout upon entering the second drop. The rest of the drops were good to go. I'd definately run Little Clear Creek again at this level but not sure if I'd run it much higher.

Till next time, pray for rain!

Johnnies Creek Fun

It had been Spring of 2006 since the last time I had paddled Northern Alabama's Johnnies Creek which is a tributary of Little River Canyon. The last time I was there was shortly after my shoulder dislocation. That was when I had my famous shoulder strap to keep me from redislocating my arm again. Up until Saturday, I had never paddled Johnnies above 0" on the put-in bridge gauge. But on Saturday, February 28, 2009, I paddled it at 3" above 0.

I was a little nervous at what I might find on this whitewater gem this day. I was expecting massive holes and out of control rapids. But upon further inspection, it was a very manageable level. Lines opened up more clearly as the boulders that I used to dodge were all covered and the famous slides of Johnnies went from being scrappy to being down right fun. There were a few holes to contend with but most were avoidable and some rapids even had alternate lines to avoid the toughest parts. The main event though had to be the Big Slide. At levels below 0", the Big Slide was a scrappy, bouncy slide to the bottom. But on this day, it was a smooth FAST blazing ride that I didn't think would end. Let me say that again, it was a FAST ride to what seemed to be a never ending slide. I portaged the class V Gorilla Constrictor but think I will run it another day with similar water levels.

After running Johnnies at 0" and below and now +3", I don't think I ever want to run it at 0" or below again. This run needs water to make it fun. I can't wait till the next time it rises to 3 or 4" again!

Sorry I didn't get any pictures. I was having too much fun on this non-stop whitewater creek. But you can look at some low water pics on American Whitewater at http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_2897_.

Till next time, pray for rain!