River DescriptionA run for the jaded creeker and beginning creeker to make a run together. If you are hair boater you won't be slumming here, and if you are trying to paddle harder runs before you tackle say Little Possum, Roaring is for you. Probably one the best runs in the area, this stream has one Class 5 rapid called "Fuzzy Bunny." Lots of good boaters are happy to walk this one. The creek can be seen on the video "Falling Off Walden's Ridge". It was first run by Micheal Cawood (OC-1), Jeff Richards, (OC-1), Steve Smith, and Mark Cumnock.
Water levels on this one drop quickly. I have put on with the water too high, and watched it drop while paddling to the takeout. Roaring Creek makes the local news a lot for flooding the local trailers and may be in danger from the state for "stream improvement." Another problem for Roaring is that the clear cutting and Mountain Stone Mining have hurt the headwaters. (Water levels weren't always so quick to drop.)
The first rapid is is a fast slide along a cliff which gives you the flavor of what's coming. The first major rapid is Crunch-n-Munch. Munch is the first solid Class IV and can be walked on river right. After Munch, the pool/drop nature of the run kicks in. Here the jaded creeker can teach boat scouting to his up-and-coming buddy.
Scene from Falling Off Walden's Ridge
Paddler Mark Cumnock
Once the gorge becomes more defined, your concentration level needs to pick up. The rapids are now solid Class IV. When a slide comes up, eddy out and scout on the river left. The major rapid here is Polecat (named after a local swimming hole), a drop that lands on a rock shelf. You need to know where this is because Fuzzy Bunny is coming up. You will notice the river bearing off to the right and the valley will start to appear. Take your time and scout on river left. Many mere-mortal boaters will get their rear end handed to them here.
Dropping into PoleCat with OpenBoater Jim Little ...From Falling Off Walden's Ridge
Roaring can be run at extremely high levels, and if the others around are too high, this is the place to be. The nature of the run completely changes and reminds me of a West Virginia run.
The put-in is on Shaver Road. The Shaver family owns the property there. Be extremely courteous here. "Yes Sir", and "No Sir" will be your passport. If you lucked out, the gate for the Mountain Stone company will be open, and they will let you park there.
Lower Section of Roaring Creek Scene from Falling off Walden's Ridge
The take out: if the bar is open park there. The owners are cool (they will often want to hear about the run) and it is a good place to get warm. If you make friends you may get a phone number to see if Roaring is running for your next time.
Little SIDE NOTE: I have never run Roaring Creek too high, when other runs in the area start to wash out, Roaring fills up and gets pushy, but it's manageable. For boaters who run it high, the river is not the same at regular levels and should be revisited. It is one of the few that really changes from a high to regular level in one creek bed
