Walden’s Ridge is located just north of Chattanooga Tennessee, and is really
the same chunk of plateau as Sand
Mountain in
northern Alabama. It slopes east to west rather than west, is not as wide,
and has longer harder runs than most on southern Sand Mountain creeks.
Readers should keep in mind that Mark is a highly skilled paddler and many
of these runs are considered Class V.
Soak Creek in the Summer
Over the years I have been asked about the runs of Walden’s
Ridge, I had the pleasure of growing up part of my life in Chattanooga
Tennessee, and for a brief time even living on Walden’s Ridge
right in the heart of the Morgan, Roaring, Brush and McGill Creek put-in
area. Also I haven’t included any directions; we now live in the day of
Wal-Mart topo maps and turn by turn GPS directions. The nicest thing I think
of the ridge runs is the easy shuttles. Hwy 27 is usually your take out, or
gets you very close, and you have to go up to the mountain to make the run,
so that makes it even easier. Hence, now know you how we came up with name "Falling Off Walden's
Ridge" for our
first video.
Here is brief description as you would drive
north going up Hwy 27 leaving Chattanooga,
Tennessee heading toward, Rockwood
Tennessee. Also, here is a little campfire trivia for you. When
traveling between Rockwood and Chattanooga which is approximately 70 miles.
Walden’s Ridge averages a creek every 2.5 miles. It can make a Chattanooga
boater somewhat lazy in not wanting to travel far from home. The Ridge has a
way of doing that to a boater.
I have not rated the rapids, I’ve always had a hard
time with that, as Bailey
Johnson of Clinch
River Paddle Company taught me “Run class V lines in class III and run
class III lines in class V”. And it seems classifications are always up
for debate, and what might be my fun run, might be your Waterloo or
vice-versa. I haven’t listed any gauges or water levels either it seems
that they are always changing in some point, but they make a great
reference. I just don’t want to be cussed out at the take out the next time
I see you, or get flamed on Boatertalk.com,
you telling me how you made a trip for nothing or something like that. Or
how 1/10 of one inch is the norm for a hand painted gauge painted on the
side of a tree out in the middle of nowhere. Usually ½” to 1”of consistent
rain that falls into a weekly pattern is your best bet. But then again what
watersheds aren’t like that. Pay camping can be had a Blue Water Campground (not
up to par) in Dayton,
Tennessee, where they have a telephone and hot showers, but I
cannot recommend it but I felt like I had to mention it. You can camp free
at a rustic campground at the headwater/put-in of Newby
Branch, camp before June, and you will have it all to
yourself. It is maintained (sort-of) by Bowater Paper Company. There is also
more pay camping above Spring
City, you can see the signs while driving North up Hwy 27, but I
have never checked them out.
I hope you will enjoy the descriptions of the
wonderful creeks The
Ridge has to offer. Some
of these need to be enjoyed now due to urban sprawl and clear cutting from
the chip mills, that is creeping up on the headwaters of these fine runs. I
must also note after having e-mail conversations with Ted Hayes, he has
informed me that the creeks don’t run a much as they use to, due to clear
cutting and other unknown factors. So get out there and enjoy them now
before it is too late.
Hope you enjoy these...............
deep creek photo by brian "cock-o" collins......first descent
Falling
Water
Falling
Water, Tennessee
By the
way what a cool name for a town, imagine that on your mailing address.
Falling Water is a big drop run, with three big
notable rapids, the upper section was first run by Tim Williams and then it
was first run all the way to the valley by Marc
Lyle and his gang, but
many just run the big three and then carry back up to the car, the put-in is
really neat and it is in a land trust, very pretty area. Wayne Gentry’s
video “Vertical Addiction” has great footage of this scenic run. This one
runs a lot after summer down pours for some reason which is a nice break
from the crowds on the Ocoee, but you need to be close. Wayne Gentry’s videos are
out of print, and getting harder to find, but well worth the trouble.
North
Chickamauga Creek:
Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
The North Chickamauga internet gauge is hard for me
to dial in for the tributaries of the North Chick. The gauge is
downstream on the new Hwy 27 where the Corps of Engineers moved a lot of
material for flood control ,and now the locals are removing rock for
landscaping material, and to make matters worse there is an upside down car
heading it’s way towards the gauge as you read this. But the gauge is very
helpful and stops you from burning a lot of wasted fuel. The Chick needs to
be on the high marginal side for Cooper and Cain creek. An old school way of
knowing if Cooper or Cain were running was to look at the mountain, when
driving over the Chick on old Hwy 27. When you look at the high voltage
transmission power lines on the cliff at the top of the mountain, there is a
seasonal waterfall running usually only running when Cain or Cooper are
running. If don’t see the waterfall…..well you can do the math.
To me the Chick is a cross between running the
Chattooga five falls section on Section
IV, and Jerod’s knee on the Tellico;
but much, much longer, and more rapids to boot. I never bonded with the
Chick, but I was always accused of running ditches. It is a very beautiful
run, and it’s very hard to believe how close it is to Chattanooga and yet
you still come away with a sense of a wilderness experience.
white-out rapid , jim little paddler, little possum creek, photo by Mike
Clark
circa 1993
Cain Creek- North Chick Tributary
Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
Cain Creek runs into the Chick upstream of Cooper
Creek. It can be seen on Milt Atkins “Tales of thePaddlesnake” video
series. The biggest rapid here is named Vortex which to my knowledge was
first explored by me and Jonathon “Lothar” Clarady at very low water during
the summer of 1995. I was at the edge with Jonathon holding the end of my
boat, while I looked wondering if it would go or not. I said “NO” he thought
I said “GO” and let go. Before I knew it I had the look of shock on my face
looking back at a drop I couldn’t believe I just ran, and wanted nothing to
do with. Cain was first opened up by Andy Turner, Doug Wellman, Terry Smith,
and local pioneer Ron Stewart. This is a neat run that helps get you to the
Chick. The trick for me when it comes to running Vortex is to boof the dry
rock in the middle, then slide right, right into the meat of the drop. The
washout reminds me of Gorilla’s washout on the Narrows of the Green,
in North Carolina, and this one will reward you for a good line unlike
Gorilla, I think Gorilla should have been named “Random Number Generator”,
yet I digress. The sweetest line I have ever seen run at Vortex, was the
late Jon
Lord , he nailed that
line, and made me feel old in an instant. Jon will be missed; he was a good
boater, good man.
vortex rapid cain creek ......first descent
Cooper Creek- North Chick Tributary
Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
Cooper is a one of a kind run that is in Jim
Little’s and I video “Steep
Creekin’” and the video shows the run except for the last big
drop where our cameras went dead. This drop can best be described as a cliff
with water running over it, with a rock in the way. It can go, but an easy
portage can be had on river left.(You can walk it and I won’t tell) The
nicest drop on the run is the waterfall “Bedtime for Lothar” Bedtime is one
of the most photogenic, cleanest, drops you will ever run. If you mess your
line up, it’s an easy carry to try again. (And I am lazy, if I say it’s an
easy walk….its an easy walk…..I wouldn’t even walk across the street for
free food) A camera is a must for this run. The drop was our cover shot for
our video. This run is worth it just for this drop alone. Wonder where
“Bedtime” got its name? Jon’s nickname is Lothar, he was caught on film
running the drop with his eyes closed…..Jon I expect payback for this one.
cooper creek photo by brian "cock-o" collins paddler jim little
Little
Soddy Creek
Soddy-Daisy,
Tennessee
This was first tackled by me and Michael Cawood in
the April flood of 1993 when the Chick was
too high. This one suffers from what I call Appalachian runoff; I’m not
talking rain here either. There are enough tires and old washing machines
thrown off the side of the road to where you think the locals are trying to
fill the tiny micro gorge in one piece at a time. Be advised to wear hiking
boots when entering the gorge there is plenty of broken beer bottles to go
around for everyone, and a First Aid kit with extra strength band-aids might
make you someone’s new friend.
We put in where the two forks at the headwaters
meet and become one. This one is short and sweet. The top cuts through
layers of bedrock, and then it changes characteristics, gets a little faster
and then becomes harder due to the gorge becoming more defined, but all the
rapids will go .The main problem we had, with it being such a tiny stream,
are the trees, which can choke the run if you are not careful. You can run
this one when the Chick or others are too high.
Is it worth it? Well instead of driving all over
the place when other runs are too high and not getting to boat anywhere,
this could be a place to go. It’s not natures fault on this run, this one is
a prime example of how shallow man can be with his refuse.
cooper creek
photo by brian "cock-o" collins (reverse image)
Soddy Creek
Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
Soddy Creek can be run when the Chick is
high or for that matter; lot’s of different levels, this one is a funky when
it comes to water levels, BUT BEWARE it is probably one of the most
dangerous runs on the ridge, everything it seems is undercut, even the fun
rapids have penalty points, the mentality on the this run” Is not if, but
when.”
Soddy can also be run VERY LOW; but the undercuts
are more exposed, but when others aren’t running this one will be. If it
looks boney at the take out, you can still run it. A strong group with
rescue skills is needed for this run, you need more that a throw bag to be
safe and without the right gear and people, this run can turn epic. I always
liked a strong group that you could count on. To my knowledge this run was
first opened up by Doug Wellman, Terry Smith, and Ron
Stewart.
deep creek photo
by brian "cock-o" collins......first descent
Deep Creek:
Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
Deep Creek that
runs into Soddy Creek is a
great run; lot’s of fun steep creekin with some minor penalty points. Jim
Little, Andy
Bridge, Bailey Johnson, Mike “Louie” Lewis, Brian
Collins and I first
ran this and it is a great run, it is also in the video “Steep
Creekin’”. The video does not show the rapids in order. We
had 2 cameras, and it was getting late in the editing room, but it shows you
a lot of that run. Soddy Creek needs to be very high for this fun run, when
you hit Soddy you will feel like you need training wheels, after the low
flow of Deep. 2” inch of winter rain helps this run.
Big Possum Creek:
Bakewell,
Tennessee
Big Possum Creek, It is the easiest run up there,
it has a straight shot off the plateau, but yet lacks in gradient, a great
run someone who wants no hair at all on their run. 1” of winter rain for
this run. Flash floods have always been a problem for both of the Little
Possum Creek and Big Possum, and Big usually has a problem with trees. This
one was first run by me and Justin Howard in the summer of 1994, we were
somewhat disappointed, but this run can go up a notch, when Little Possum is
too high and when you are already in the area; this creek this could be the
run for you.
little possum creek
photo by Mike Clark ...........First Descent
rapid Imodium
Little Possum Creek:
Bakewell,
Tennessee
One of my favorite runs. Jim
Little, Steve Frazier, Wade Verbal, Todd Gould, Mike Clark, Bill
Thornton and I got the first run on this one also. It took two attempts, and
to make a long story short, we first got caught in a flash flood.(You should
listen to you inner voice, if its rained three days straight, and still
raining , what makes you think its dropping?) The headwaters are really
hurting from clear cutting, and the chip mill in Spring City is making it
worse. 2” late spring or winter rain is good, but you have to be close, and
in the area, for this one drops fast. It has probably the biggest, cleanest,
highest quality and number of drops on the ridge. A Camera is a must. This
run as killed and I recommend a strong group for this run due to the bad
karma .But the DROPS ARE GREAT …Imodium Falls is a great drop. Elvis’s Truck
Stop I heard has messed some more people up, as it did on our first trip,
and it is the first major rapid on the top section, the undercut can be
deceiving it comes up quicker than you think …the Double Drop it is a “Suck
it up and run it drop” type of rapid …Holy Cross is a bony run to remember
(The trees that made the Cross are gone now) and White Out is a great
drop…….Jim Little ran that one first, after being flushed into it .With too
many boats in an eddy.(We didn’t think it would go, we couldn’t see what was
in it) …then here came Jim….as usual what did we know…
I must note Todd Smith passed away on the lower
section, may he and his family rest in Peace.
Rock
Creek:
Sale
Creek, Tennessee
What a perfect name for a run, to my knowledge Roger
Scott (of Ocoee fame)
and his gang first opened up this run, I think this one is underrated.
Everyone thinks of all the others. This one is a classic, true it doesn’t
have the gradient of the others, but some of the best don’t have a lot of
gradient , but is has fun rapids and it has the flavor of the Chick without
the wind , long rapids , or the big water, but yet can have the feel of big
water. Near the end is when the rapids get hard so there is plenty of warm
up. A good inch of winter rain is good for this one, and most can be run
without scouting, but of course I don’t recommend that. If you have a class
III boater group and some strong leaders, this is a great run. I put in on
Hall Creek. This one use to take less rain, and would always run when the
Chick was running but once again clear cutting and the Southern Pine Beetle
are killing this one. (Another reason for bio-diversity on the Ridge)
Duskin Creek at Low Water...spring
drought no less
McGill Creek:
Graysville, Tennessee
A great creek run needs a ½ of rain (winter, late
spring) it is kind of like Johnnies
Creek in Alabama on
how it reacts to rain. Mike
“Louie” Lewis, Jeff Richards, Steve Smith and I got the first
one on this one, and is on the video “Steep
Creekin’” both of
these runs can be set up on the same shuttle (Roaring and McGill) so if one
is running and the other isn’t you will not waste a lot of time . The sad
part of McGill is the water quality of the run; it is a sterile, no fish.
But do not let the stop you, the run is great nice big drops, the only one
to really worry about is the first one in the gorge stay far, far right, the
left has a pinning tree, and if you cut it out, another one appears like
kudzu, (so we quit worrying about it) .After that they are all straight
forward, Booger Rapid is easier now due to shorter boats. Cumnock Falls ,
named after when the guys were placing bets who was going to tell my
significant other (of the time) if I got hurt, its a Sunshine move rapid
without the penalty points. Lewis Falls named in the Memory of Mike Lewis’s
Dad (he passed away right before we made the run), The next major rapid is
harder on the shorter boats, kind of a slot move into funny water, usually
in a group of 5 to 6, someone flips and gets some quality time (you know,
the last guys run gets worse, as each gets a little worse from following the
other guy). The run out in the valley is even fun, it is a like “It’s a
small World “ride at Disney you get to float through trees, with
current…..very neat experience not many runs have. This is a great run that
needs to be run more. Put-out and take- in’s are on county roads. This one
can be run really high also or very boney. When Roaring has just quit
running you can still get down McGill. If a mishap happens in the Gorge you
can hike out on an old coal mining road on river left, back to the main road
where you just completed your shuttle.
deep creek photo by brian "cock-o" collins rapid Crux......first descent
circa 1993 circa 1993 circa 1993
Roaring
Creek:
Graysville, Tennessee
Probably one the best runs up there. Roaring needs
a good 1.5” inch of quality rain (winter) 2”-2.5” (summer). This one drops
quickly. A good creek run on the Ridge that might not kill you. A run for
the jaded creeker and beginning creeker to make a run together .Another way
I would tell if it was running was if Graysville Tennessee made the news for
getting flooded out, the next day was always a good run .Hate it for the
town, but love it for the boatin’. We got a lot of summer runs that way.
Besides that, it’s how Graysville does its spring cleaning. The Big one on
this one is the trees; clear cutting and Mountain Stone Mining have hurt the
headwaters. The first major rapid is Crunch-n-Munch, the biggest rapid is
Fuzzy Bunny near the end of the run, and we run the left side of the island,
which is named Bitch. As of the fall, 2003 the rapid named Pole Cat (named
after a local swimming hole) has trees in it, that will be there awhile, it
will take a big chain saw party, and I mean BIG. The take-out is at bar who
love paddlers, they want to hear all about how you “almost killed yer self
runnin that stuff”, and then they will tell you how they tube the run, lot’s
of comedy to be had here and a good place to get warm. It was first run by
Jeff Richards, Mike Cawood, and myself and can be seen in the video “"Falling Off Walden's
Ridge"”. This is a
great run, although the put-in is on public land. Park at the gate, ask the
Shaver family if it is alright to park there. But always ask first
.Sometimes the Mountain Stone Company will let you go through their gate and
park there. It has been a off again on again relationship with them. Some
unknown people (names withheld to protect the guilty) have ratted them out
to the State of Tennessee on their practices, and then they file bankruptcy,
then a couple of years go by, and they open up again. Roaring Creek can be
run at very high levels, almost at flood, but you need a strong party when
at high water, when others are high in the area, run this one. It should be
noted that this one rises and drops fast, I have put on with too much water,
and it almost be boney by the end of the day. The shuttle is long compared
to the other ridge runs, but multiple trips can still be had on this
classic.
"The REAL " Brush
Creek
Graysville, Tennessee
Brush Creek that runs into Roaring Creek, needs a
1.5” of rain (winter) a lot of early summer runs have happened here also. It
has some great rapids, and it one of my favorites, the biggest problem here
is first, the put-in it at a Seven-day Adventist Compound, security there is
very tight C.I.A TYPE, I’m talking dark sunglasses, microphones in their
ears, and 3-piece dark suits, and this was before 9-11. You need to perform
a Kayak Assault , the put-in is on a county road , and is not trespassing ,
but why make life harder than it is . Get a Shuttle Bunny (or to be P.C.
Shuttle Buddy) dress out at the take out and haul butt. A true alpine-type/
Creeker run. Be in the mindset to portage, carry and get physical with the
run. One of my favorite runs by far. Down and Dirty Creekin. It was first
run my Jim Little, Mike Lewis, Steve Smith and myself. And can be seen on
the video “Falling
off Walden’s Ridge” .The biggest cleanest drop is the
first one named Vertigo, and if you stand there long enough, wondering if
you are going to run it, you’ll know how it go it’s name. It is a long, tall
slide with a 15-10 ft drop at the bottom of the slide. The rest are dry
slide boof rapids. With the middle section broken up by a very steep slide,
then more of the same until you get to Roaring Creek .If you like Morgan
Creek you might like this one too, be forewarned to take your beater gear,
and not your new shiny Nantahala gear. I have been told it compares to the
Raven Fork, and in my opinion it is one of the hardest in the country right
now when caught with good water. It ain't the bear...I like the nickname Morgan's
ugly cousin when describing
this run.
History of the "real "brush creek: aka Morgan's
ugly cousin
First
run by Jim Little (oc-1),
Mike " Louie" Lewis (oc-1), Mark Cumnock (k-1) Steve Smith (k-1) at very low
water, in the early 90's which was documented on Falling
Off Walden's Ridge Even
during that run a lot rope work was used and stretched our gear to the
limit, not much of hard stuff got the video, we were too busy , trying to
get to the car and beat daylight, ad not get stuffed under a undercut or one
of many trees.
I remember meeting in the parking lot in Dayton, and
Clay Wright pulls up, and we show him the map, he just shook his head at
me....and said "I'm heading to Morgan!"
Second and Third descents were by myself and Steve Smith, with a higher
water level each time.
With more rapids being
knocked out with lot's of broken gear each time. (To
the point of gear bankruptcy), and using the tired and true method of
rock-paper-scissors. In the end we were using motocross gear borrowed from
my ex brother-in-law at the time
My best
memory of the run is Mike "Louie" Lewis talking to security. He said
,"Yes Sir we will leave, your right", then chunked his boat, and in
two giant steps was out of sight in his boat. Well that was our clue....I
was so unprepared for Louie's hot put-in,
less than a 1/4 in the run Steve Smith asks "Are you wearing your lifejacket
under your drytop?....my
response...."DOH"!!!
As of summer 2004 its only
been attempted 3 or 4 times. With lots of hike-outs and disgruntled
paddlers, I even got a e-mail one day from the late Daniel D' of LVM fame
complaining of the hardship, and low water of their trip... he wasn't a
happy camper !
Until Jan 2006 when a heavy hitting group consisting of:
Andy Dodson (k-1)
Ted Hayes (k-1)
Jason Murrell(k-1)
Water Level: From Ted Hayes
Bear was
11-12"
N Chick was
about 3.5'
Roaring 2'
Richland was
1'
Re-discovered the run
in Jan. 2006 with a perfect water level, until this time the conditions had
been wrong, and they were dedicated enough to go in and cut the trees out
during the dry season. The rapid pictures are posted from their run and a
special thanks is given to Andy Dodson for the use of the pictures and
taking the camera.
brush creek photo by andy dobson (the middle section)
Morgan Creek: (aka
North Pole) –
Dayton,
Tennessee
This bad boy rocks, another run similar to Brush
Creek that runs into Roaring Creek, this one was first run and opened up by Clay
Wright, Andy Turner, Ron Stewart, Doug
Wellman, and Terry Smith. Later a first open boat run was by Mike
“Louie” Lewis. This is gradient creekin’ at its best, you become physical
with the run, with lots of scouting- portaging, most have been run. You will
like this run if you don’t mind rocks without water, or buying new
equipment. Lot’s of boof-slides to make moves. This is run is in my top 5 of
favorite runs. The put-in is hurting from local land owners buying land and
it is making access very difficult. I recommend a Kayak Assault for this one
also, have a shuttle bunny, (yeah, yeah, yeah I know Shuttle Buddy) and
dress at the take-out, you can put on a county road, just why ask for a
hassle the run will be hard enough. This run can been seen in Wayne Gentry’s
video “Vertical Addiction”, and was the cornerstone piece for his footage.
The video has good shots of the run. It can also been seen on our video “Falling
off Walden’s Ridge”….Tracy
Clapp shot a lot
Wayne’s footage for that one and Tracy did an excellent job. He is a
hell-of-a-boater and an even better camera man. Between the two videos you
can get a good flavor of the steepness of this wonderful run. Gotta note on
here I know of, and have heard, of many people getting hurt on this run. I
left my shoulder there at the stair step rapid, and Yes Howard and Clay I
saw the footage were you edited out my roll, ha ha ha, Terry Smith left his
back there at Chili Pepper. Ben
Hayes has footage in
his videoLocal
Hero with of some cat
getting knocked out on his website steepcreeks.
At Chili Pepper I've stressed crack two boats, and it is a good place to
have a field test and put an end to the which paddle, and what boat can take
the most abuse debate, so with that in mind,........ It’s your call.
d; deep
creek photo by brian "cock-o" collins......first descent
paddler
Mike "Louie" Lewis
Henderson Creek:
Dayton, Tennessee
Man were do you start with this one. This one of the
longest, greatest and challenging runs on The Ridge. The put-in run is two
miles of Boogie Water or a Boney run from hell depending on water levels,
and it will make BIG difference on a good day compared to “Where is the
Car?” Day; if you pick the wrong level. For a first time run you want it
boney, almost to were it hurts if you don't have a probe/lead boater. When
you hit the gorge you want low water the first time due to all the rapids
that keep coming at you .Also plan for a late spring run, to help with
daylight, until you get comfortable with lines, and then later come back
with more water to speed things up. This one was first run by Doug Wellman,
Francis Mallory, Ron Steward, Terry Smith, Andy Turner, Alex
Harvey and I. Every
time I have run this one no matter what kind of shape I am in, sleeping that
night is no problem, and I always wanted an easy run the next day. Wayne
Gentry has good footage for this run on “Vertical Addiction”. But
as Henderson would have it, there is still a lot not a lot of film due to
the number of rapids and the length of the run. And then you have to content
with the rest of the run on Richland Creek. This one is a “one of a kind
run” that is true Walden’s Ridge Creekin’.
Richland
Creek: -
Dayton
Tennessee
This is the ultimate Park-n-Play for a creeker. This
run was first open boated by
Mike Cawood, and pioneered by Doug
Wellman and Ron
Stewart. It has a hiking trail, which use to be the water main pipeline for
the community of Dayton Tennessee. Hike two miles up .It is an easy walk
almost flat, the creek drops, but you don’t, well almost. Right at the end
it goes uphill, to the reservoir that held the water for the pipeline. (Just
make sure you don’t forget your sprayskirt……no comment) The reservoir is
about full now with rock from the creek. The first rapid is right after you
put-in, and if you have no Mo for this one get ready to get hammered. There
is some nicer creekin’, until about the middle of the run, then another drop
type rapid appears. The rapids can be seen on the “Falling off Walden’s
Ridge”video.
This is a perfect afternoon run, Dayton has a 4 lane road now to help you
get there quicker, and Richland holds it’s water better than of the other
ridge runs, even in the summer after a rain. Plus you get the college chicks
hiking there/ sunning themselves factor. Scared a lot of Bryan College
chicks sunning; boofing out of nowhere, they wonder how and where you came
from, as you give them a William (Not Bill) Nealy Cartoon smile while
heading to the next drop. (Man aren’t kayakers cool….but yet still no phone
numbers, it’s the boat isn’t it?...yet I digress….again)
Clear
Creek –
Pennine-Evensville Tennessee:
I never got to run this one, scouted it, but never
got to run it. We had entrance problems with the family who are fifth
generation land owner’s there. Even went to school and played grade school
basketball with the guy and he still wouldn’t give us a kitchen pass to go
play. It is a tiny creek run, even by my standards. I am hoping that local
expert Daniel
Talley and his gang
has gotten a run on this by now and can post on the AW website. Like most
runs on Walden’s Ridge it is privately enclosed, (I think no creek can be
owned) and I most note landowners wishes must be respected, if we are to
enjoy the future of the sport and not be banned from access like ATV’S and
4-wheelers to remote areas.
brush creek photo by andy dobson (the middle section)
Piney River -Moccasin
Creek:
Spring
City, Tennessee
This another long run on The Ridge. You can put on Piney
Creek or for a
change of pace put on Moccasin
Creek. Once considered a hair run that had bragging rights, it
has now turned into a fun run, but don’t let that stop you. It is a classic
run in a Wilderness Pocket that many don’t get to see or experience. The
rapids are almost continuous, and where there aren’t any, the current takes
care of the rest. This one was always a good one to run when it is so cold
and you don’t want to get hammered, get out of you boat much or hope to God
nature doesn’t call because it’s so cold. That relief zipper you didn’t want
to buy because it was so expensive, looks cheaper now, doesn’t it. The
takeout has a nice park that when the water is a little high; you can
Park-n-Play at. There are numerous hiking trails in the area too that can
add to the outdoor experience. Many base the Tellico River gauge for
this run, even though they are not in the same mountain range, and if you
like the Tellico you will like this one.
Duskin Creek:
Spring
City, Tennessee
To quote Tom Tohill who got the first run on this
one “It’s a delightful little run” This one is a good one to start
some out who is getting bored with the Nantahala,
or you promised to take someone somewhere, and now its time to pay up, it
even has a nice slide. It also has a hiking trail for a majority of the run
if it gets too bad. The takeout is the same for Piney Creek, so if you have
a change of heart the take-out can be used for three different runs.
Stinking
Fork:
Spring
City, Tennessee
This one is noted for the big drop that can break
backs. As noted from a group from Kentucky who first ran the drop in the
late eighties. Later Clay
Wright and his cousin
Howard perfected the line on the drop. Later Jeff Richards, Bailey Johnson
and myself; put-in the headwaters and ran to the take out (That is the same
take out for Piney
Creek-Spring City.) hoping to pioneer and open up the run.
Mainly a disappointment, all the gradient is chewed up at the falls. If you
want this drop you are better off hiking the trail to the falls, get out the
camera. And then hike back to the car. It is a long paddle for one drop.
Although as most Ridge runs, it is a pretty run. This is a nice place to go
get a hero picture for the wall. Also when you have finished running the
other runs from your day of paddling and want a little more paddling.
It can also be a place where you can impress your
significant other, and maybe help con them into carrying some of your gear.
When you are finished you can go camp at the primitive Duskin Creek
put-in campground since it is so close, and tell your war stories from your
day of paddling.
deep creek photo by brian "cock-o" collins ......first descent
Soak Creek,
Spring
City Tennessee
This one is accessed when paddling Stinking
Fork. Not too much going on this run, pretty much your
typical Class III run- out and not even boogie water when Stinging Fork is
running at a good level. It can also be accessed from the other Piney
(Put-in; Piney Falls, Grandview TN) which is difficult because of the two
big water falls on the Piney Run. One more thing to remember; when in the Spring
City area. Whoever
named the runs around there ran out of names or their best dog was named was
Piney. There are four runs that I know of in the same general area that have
the name Piney for their description …..Go figure. So make sure to have your
map out when on the phone or e-mailing about the run you are planning for
your next trip. Hate to see you show up at one take out and your buddy at
another, trust me it’s happened. Once again I’ve withheld the names to
protect the guilty or in this case confused, but then again in most cases
aren’t they usually both? The take-out is the same for thePiney
Creek take
outs. (Put-in Evensville,TN.or Grandview,
TN.) See I told you could get confused…..
Little
Piney Creek:
(Piney
Falls: Grandview Tennessee)
This one runs is similar to lower Stinking
Fork also it is like Soak
Creek with class III run out. Two big drops chew up the gradient in the
beginning. This one was first run by me and Mike Cawood, mainly a
disappointment. I remember more of the repelling than the noting of the
rapids. We set up ropes the night before we made this epic run. There now is
a trail around the first major waterfall (insult to injury), maintained by
the State of Tennessee, and a nice place to go hike. There are too many
others to run on the ridge to mess with this one. For if this one is
running, so are the others and they all can drop fast if you are caught
napping, so go somewhere else to enjoy your limited time.
Whites Creek
Roddy,
Tennessee
This
one may not be a hair run or even for that part a fuzzy run. But it is what
the Nantahala should
have been (My thoughts, please don’t smoke me on Boatertalk) this one will
wear you out from all the play spots and eddy hopping. Easy shuttle and Easy
Run. This is a great one to go slum on and take your Nantahala boater on, as
long as they have a roll or they are a strong swimmer. A minimum group of
three should have no problems here. Play boaters will enjoy the run too.
This one is probably THE play run of the Walden’s Ridge runs. Ice Cream
headaches for everyone.
brush creek photo by andy dobson (the
bottom section of vertigo)
Falls Creek and Tiney
Piney Creek:
Roddy,
Tennessee.
I
never ran these creeks that run into White’s Creek but Mark D’Agostino
author ofwww.alabamawhitewater.com has
and described them as follows. “They are similar in nature to one another
and each flow into White’s Creek. They are both III+ to IV- with slides and
several fun rapids. Tiney Piney have one constricted IV+ that can be walked.
Both require a lot water to get them going.” I should add that when
paddling the White’s Creek area that it still has great water quality and
that every trip I’ve been there I have seen resident Bald Eagles nesting in
the spring, BTW they taste like chicken. Wonder how many tree huggers I got
with that one.......
< 
brush creek photo by andy dobson
rapid Vertigogo
Mammy’s Creek
Roddy,
Tennessee
This one is very similar to Duskin Creek, nothing
really hard just straight forward stuff. This one was first opened by the
Rose brothers when Dagger had there shop set up in the Harriman-Rockwood
Tennessee area. As usual, a very pretty run going off The Ridge.
I have to get on my soap box for a moment. Please
be very respectful of the land owners when in the area, most of the runs are
on private land, we are their guests there and when treated with respect
they can be very helpful. I t has taken a lot of leg work to gain trust in
the mountain communities, especially when they see, bright boats, out of
town tags (Tennessee tags just don’t count), out-of-state tags, speeding,
loud music especially on a Sunday morning, and us showing our privates when
changing clothes, drinking a cold beverage of choice out in the open, or
tearing up someone’s property when not knowing how to park. I can’t stress
that enough and I hate to preach, but I lived up there for ten plus years? ,
and to the locals I was still the new kid on the block, and an out-of -town-er.
It is a closed, tight, conservative community,
but when trust is gained it can be a wonderful experience, but one bad apple
can ruin it for everyone else. It’s not even the idea of paying to park or
any other type of possession value, but of humbly showing respect.
Well I hope you have enjoyed this brief write up on
the runs of The Ridge, and hope you get to get out there and enjoy these
fantastic creeks. Now go outside and play, and get your head wet.
Walden's
Ridge in the summermermermer
