In ten years of working for NCOBS I have spent plenty of time driving over the Swannanoa river and running along it on the Warren Wilson College trails but I had never paddled it. So in March 2010, when the water was up we put on to explore the 'mighty' Swannanoa.
In April when we had some good rains, a few of us headed out to Smokey Mountain National Park to paddle the Oconaluftee. It was the first run for each of us and the adventure was a huge highlight. I didn't get any photos but it is a beautiful and pristine mountain creek. We put in at the bridge to Smokemont Campground and took out just before the ranger station - great run, we think it was about 950cfs on the gauge.
In early summer Glenn started paddling our friend Jeff's Esquif Spanish Fly and fell in love with short boats.
Glenn surfing at Sandy Bottom.
So we both decided to get short boats. I am paddling a kayak converted to C1, a Pyranha Zone 1 which we picked up in Cincinnati this summer. Glenn got Craig Smerda's Esquif Taureau that he picked up in Ohio somewhere when Craig was enroute to Open Canoe Nationals in Maryland this summer. We love the down-size so far, they are really fun. We both customized our outfitting so that they fit like gloves.
Other highlights - Paddling the Upper Green
Paddling with friends, new and old:
Lisa and Liz
Trish and Deb
Trish and Jeff (demoing a brand new L'Edge)
Evan Gimple!
Cam and J on birthday paddle
Matt, J and I
Sommerville
John and MR
Hi Keith and J
Checking out The Canoe Movie DVD with Wes Wes
Big Laurel, finally had enough rain!
Great day! (except for the decision to carry back up to Stackhouse - argh! a pain with open boats)
The winter of '10-'11 has seen no paddling from Glenn nor I but we did enjoy the snow!
