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Brush Creek "The Real Brush Creek"
Roaring Creek Trib
Walden's Ridge Tennessee
Photo by: Andy Dobson Rapid Vertigo
Class V.3
Avg Gradient 600 fpm
Max Gradient 840 fpm
Water Quality (1 bad 3 good)
Scenery (1 bad 3 good) 
Maps:
Watershed Map (to find
location and size of creek)
Click Here Special thanks to Steve Zerfos for
making the map. Topo Map:
Click Here A special thanks to Randy Hale of NorthRiverGeographic
for the map Driving
Directions: from Google
Click Here
River Level Beta:
Brush Creek needs 1"of rain for a boney run during Nov-Mar, though a lot of early summer runs have happened here also. For better water run a 1.75-2" rain would be the norm.
If you aren't use to falling off a mountain (which this is) it is best to start with low water, and come back each time, with more water. Also note that Brush has fairly good watershed, and gives Roaring Creek most of it's water, and can be run when Roaring Creek has just dropped out.
Gage(s):
Stick gage on Roaring Creek takeout Bridge:
You can use the Roaring Creek gage, around /near 2 ish is good. I purposely used the word "ish" because Roaring is a creek that is dynamically changing at the take-out, and the gauge is a guidepost to help. Use it for a benchmark for you next run. Not your first.
The Roaring Creek Gage: Thank to Tony Robinson for making and installing this gage. It is located at the takeout , on Brayton Mountain Road. 2 ft is big level. 1.5 is nice beefy level. 1.ft is is med low. .75 ft is low. Also check our flowpage. 
Internet gauge:
Use our flowpage!
Photo by Andy Dobson Rapid : Bottom section of Vertigo
Local Issues:
The biggest problem here is the put-in is at a Seven-day Adventist Compound; (Laurel Brook ) security there is very tight. The times I was there I was confronted by guys with ear piece radios, dark suits, and even sunglasses. My family use to deliver flowers there for local florist and was treated the same every time she delivered. You need to perform a hot Kayak Assault. The put-in is on a county road, and is not trespassing, but why make life harder than it really is. Have a shuttle bunny, dress out at the take out and jump in. DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THE COMPOUND like a Florida tourist, you will ruin this great run for everyone else if you do.
History:
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
Second and Third descents were by Mark Cumnock 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.
The only rapid named so far is Vertigo, the rest are waiting for carnage or adventure to name.
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. 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.
Second and Third descents were by Mark Cumnock 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.
The only rapid named so far is Vertigo, the rest are waiting for carnage or adventure to name.
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"!!!
Put-in:
The Brush Creek take-out is located off of Ogden Road, and is located on Page 25 on the Tennessee Atlas and Gazetteer.
Take-out:
You use the same take-out that Roaring Creek uses, and a side note here you are extremely close to McGill Creek which makes a good plan "B" The Brush Creek take-out is located on Brayton Mountain Road, and is located on Page 25 on the Tennessee Atlas and Gazetteer.
Hazards:
Trees are a problem here due to the gradient nature of the run, also seives and undercuts abound here, but they are common sense type hazards, I think Soddy has a worse undercut factor, but I don't think it's as bad. Most moves are seive oriented in the middle section of the run.
River Description:
The majority of the steep section drops at close to 600fpm, and in the major parts it drops 840 fpm. The run has a similar character to North Pole/Morgan. Think of it as
Morgan
Creek's ugly cousin. It has some great rapids, and is one of my favorites. This a true alpine-type/creeker run. Be in the mindset to portage and get physical with the run. Rodeo booties won't work here, have a good rope, biners, , break-down paddle and good portage shoes. If hiking with your boat is not your cup of tea you will be miserable here. You need your boat outfitted for quick scouting also. Brush can be broken down to 3 sections.
Top Section:
The biggest cleanest drop is the first one, named Vertigo. Which appears about a 1/4 ? into the run. It's pretty much flat until then. It is a long slide with a 10-15 ft drop at the bottom of the slide. The rest are dry slide boof rapids, then the boulder chokes start, put your game face on.
Middle Section:
Once into the boulder chokes it is game on, the eddys are one boat eddys no exceptions. When scouting it is one person at a time out of the boat, then grab your partners boat. Your paddling partner will be looking you dead in the eye to make sure you got him. Many rapids are seives into wood choked undercuts. The run is similar to North Pole/Morgan, but by comparison Pole is open and clean.
With not enough water, and it's scrape city, with more water the eddys are MUST MAKE in the middle top of the run. The "When in doubt scout" motto is the poster child of creekin' here. A put on after 12:00 o' clock is not prudent either you want time to scout and pick your lines. More have walked out then have finished, the bottom line if you put on at 12:00, you're late and need to think about jetting down Roaring Creek. We would put on at 10:00 at it was a long day, and the run is less than a 1.5 miles long, but the 10:00 assault always got us back to the car, with daylight to spare.
The Middle Section....."The Slide" Photo by Andy Dobson
Bottom Section:
After the boulder chokes, it turns into dry/boof slot moves again, with plenty of gradient left. All of the run is full contact. Elbow pads will be your friend, and take the paddle, that is not your pretty one. My second run I used moto-cross shoulder pads and gear to knock out the rest of the majority trashier rapids.
Once you approach Roaring Creek you get one of the last cleanest rapids. This is a good place to rest and check your beat up gear, and let your body catch up with your adrenal glands.
I'm not wanting to paint a negative picture here, everyone has there taste of creekin. I just don't want you to be disappointed, but I love The "Real" Brush creek.
The Bottom Section of Brush Photo By Andy Dobson
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