Class: 4.4 (4.7 high water)
Level Needed: 5.0 ft on the Piney Take-out Bridge Gauge on Shut-in-Gap Road . Then get ready for a high water day on the Piney right in the meat of the action.
Put-in: Alternative # 1
From the Piney River takeout drive up Shut-in-Gap road, (and over the Piney), once on top of the mountain, you will go past the Stinging Fork hiking trail head, which will be on the right. After a little bit, you will come to the same road/turn that takes you to Duskin Creek and the Newby Branch Campground. The name of the turn/road is WaldenMountain Road, and it is on the left.
Here is a picture of the sign when you will turn off Shut-in-Gap and head left:
From here you keep driving, and drive over the Duskin Creek put-in, and then you drive back up the mountain. Once on top of the mountain get ready to drive for awhile. From here you start walking, and it’s best to have a shuttle bunny, and let them drop you off so you can go in stealth mode. If this run becomes more popular we can try to get better access, like we use to for Little Possum, when it use to be gated.
Put-in: Alternative # 2 (And the way I would go)
Is to go the route of heading like you were going to put on Moccasin Creek, which is an alternative, put-in for the Piney, and to be honest this the way I would go. By doing this, this could be your last sanity check that you have enough water for Bumbee Creek, because if you have a shuttle driver, and a hike, then you are committed to the run. You will drive straight over Moccasin on your way to the Bumbee put-in gate. The Pine Creek Road will feel a little sketchy, due to it feeling like a driveway, but this is way I would go.
For the Moccasin Creek directions that will get you going to find Bumbee: CLICK HERE
Side Note:
When walking up the logging road ,and then down it will take you to the creek .Hiking will total right around 1 + mile long, you need to trudge along quickly and try to go unseen as best you can. At the confluence this will be your put-in. Take a pre-programmed GPS to give you the confidence you need to get crackin’ and not dally along, and head to the confluence.
History:
It was first discovered by a paddlers’ eye by Daniel Talley, and he was kind enough to send these pictures and provide the intel needed to make the run possible. Daniel is now in school in New York, and was kind enough to share many miles away from home.
The Branch:
Once at the confluence that comes together that makes Bumbee , it becomes paddleable and then it’s game on with a few breaks until you hit the Piney.
Here are the pictures from Daniel and sure was nice of him to share these pictures.
Just past the put-in...confluence
Right around the corner...
One of the nice ones, the picture is taken from the top
Same rapid from the top
Same rapid taken from the bottom
Nice wall!
Typical Character of Bumbee....
Long Stretch
Another Long Stretch
Another Nice One...
The washout to the piney
At the Piney Confluence, with Daniel and his little one...btw Daniel we are ready for you to come home!
