Coastals

August 21 the full solar eclipse happens in NC's Smoky Mountains. Then planning to paddle class 2-3 like Tuckaseegee and French Broad the rest of the week. Camping at Smoky Mountain Meadows.

I am interested. Will firm up plans as the date approaches. Would like to get a trip or two on the Nanny that week.

Here is a run I have had my eye on, French Broad River Section 10. I have not run it nor do I know anyone who has. The putin is at Hot Springs, NC. The shuttle is easy to the well-developed Tennessee takeout but the run is long, 13 miles. Gradient is 11.5 fpm.

Bob Benner rates FB10 class 2-3. He calls French Broad 9 (which I have run many times) class 3-4-5. I would call FB9 class 2-3 with one 4.

Benner's description:
"Difficulties: At normal water levels there are several rapids where standing waves build up enough to give tandem paddlers problems. All can be 'sneaked' by scouting carefully and generally staying to the inside on the bends. Below the second railroad bridge there is a 4-ft. ledge that can be best run on the far left. Around the next bend there is a rapid, running some 75 yards, which one should approach cautiously on the right, and run on the right. At medium to high levels a giant eddy is formed between this rapid and the next ledge downstream, which is a natural dam. It should be scouted - left or right - and be given the same respect one should any dam. There are breaks that can be run, but hydraulics are formed at higher levels."

American Whitewater's page has notes saying rental canoes use this section; can't be too hard. The notes also point out a river right road going downstream from Hot Springs that can be used to cut out the first five miles of mostly flatwater. AW refers to a 18 mile run ending at Del Rio. The better takeout is upstream from Del Rio 5 miles. It is on US 25 river right just downstream from the bridge.

This run is well-located for those coming south on Interstate 81. Hot Springs is exactly 200 miles from Blacksburg, VA and the takeout is closer to I-81. Would be a nice run for summer when most river levels are dropping.

Anyone know more about FB10 or have interest in running it?

Anxious to see Section 9 again (have run one time) if water is not too high or too low.

I'm in for this trip and also throw in a vote to keep the Nantahala in play. I've done FB9 twice (@1100 & 2500) taking out a StackHouse. Agree with your difficulty ranking. Couple others in the area I've done once, last year, are Nolichucky (@900) and Chattooga III (@too low 1.4') and would enjoy trying them again if that's with the group consensus and within our collective wheelhouse. Haven't been on the Tuckaseegee , looking forward to it.

Google Celestron and get some eclipse viewing glasses. They are not expensive.

Just talked to Smoky Mountain Meadows campground 828-488-3672

The tent sites for August 20 and 21 are about full so call right away. Please get in touch with me for staying at the shady electric sites 47 or 48.

Official and private sentiment in the Smokies is very excited but somewhat apprehensive about traffic since there is no precedent. Eclipse day is on your own but consensus is to pick your spot and get settled in early. Eclipse will last some three hours with totality being a couple of minutes.

When I made reservations at SMM I was told they had campers coming from Europe and from Australia. Following eclipses and astronomy is a major activity for quite a few folks. We may see some elaborate telescope and camera setups. On the other hand the Smokies have as good a chance for cloud cover as anyplace on the eclipse path except the Pacific northwest. Hey if it's cloudy then it will get really dark.

Paddled down that way in late June.. and stayed at SMM.. he told me he's totally booked for that week except for the "field" ...

never done the FB below Hot Springs but interested..

Better grab that field spot Larry. I have commitments from two each on the two sites 47 and 48 for the 20th and 21st. I will let those folks decide if they have room for more. I will not be at SMM; we will be at Scenic View Motel about 3 miles away.

Looks like the river trips for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will be Tuckaseegee Gorge, Nantahala, and French Broad 9, not necessarily in that order. As for French Broad 10, I would substitute that if everyone were up to try it, but I am happy to stick with the tried and true. Tuck and Nanty are dam release but French Broad is not. I have run it from 700 cfs to 4500 cfs. The 700 level was last September and it was actually fun, great views of the geology and it is not necessary to scrape as you seek the channel. The normally muddy water was more clear which was nice. Currently the level is 900-1000.

Almost certainly SMM will empty on Tuesday after the eclipse. That opens the possibility of driving south on I-85 to view the eclipse in South Carolina on Monday, then heading northwest to the Smokies to paddle.

I was already planning on going down for the eclipse but would love to add boating into the mix. I am just coming off an ankle injury, which makes walking on uneven ground a bit challenging, so I'm really only interested in the easier Class II-III stuff, like the Nantahala, Tuck, or FB Section 9. I would also like to boat Sunday, if anyone else will be down there, as I can only stay through Tuesday.

David, would you be able to get me in contact with the people who already have those campsites to see if they can take one more person? I'm also going to give SMM a call right now to see if I can grab a spot, just in case.

Just talked to Marvin at Smoky Mountan Meadows (SMM) and they are fully committed. The two sites I reserved are taken and those staying there are full up as far as I know. Marvin says the latest is Bryson City Chamber of Commerce is predicting 250,000 visitors for the eclipse. That is a good reason to be stocked with food, water, and gas before you enter the path of totality. Expect things to empty out Tuesday and your lodging options will increase from Tuesday night on.

These quotes are from the July 6, 2017 "Smoky Mountain Times," the Bryson City newspaper.

"...we have no idea how to predict ... the crowd," said David Breedlove, Swain County Emergency Management director. ... The next total solar eclipse won't happen in the United States until April 8, 2024 and will begin in Mexico and follow a ... path to Maine. The eclipse in its entirety will last about three hours starting at 1:06 pm and ending at 4 pm. The total eclipse will peak at 2:35:17 pm and last one minute and 57 seconds. ... encourages local residents to avoid the areas of traffic on that day (Monday August 21) ... protective glasses should be worn ..."

Dave

I know the OCT Board says Aug 20 - 25. Are we paddling Sunday the 20th and Friday the 25th or are those travel days to and from Virginia?

Bill

Sunday will be a travel day for me. I will not paddle until Tuesday. However I am open to extending the paddling to Friday or even Saturday. We will see what's going on.

Bill, if you want to paddle the Nantahala Sunday before checking in at Medows I can be there early enough if you are.