High Water Raven Fork Trip Report

It all started on tuesday night at 2 in the morning with Marks facebook status updating to "really wants to run ravens tomorrow."  The river was primed already with rain forcasted for the morning, so I gave him a call and we made plans to leave Boone after my 10 o'clock class.

We kept speculating levels on the way down, the rain was off an on so we really had no idea what it would be like. We both agreed about 12 inches on the stick would be our max for this day, if it was higher we would try for west prong or big creek.

Meeting Paul, Jay, and Justin Kleburg at the gauge, it read about 11 so we decided to put on. Paul was nervous about the level so he opted to go get drunk with Emmanuel while we paddled.   It was Kleburgs first time on Raven Fork.

We hiked in in the rain, catching glimpes of the river through the trees we could tell it was high. At Anaconda, I knew it was way higher than 11 inches. We all fired it up and had good lines but I subbed out for a long time in the first and second drops.  We all portaged headless, as the hole was disgusting looking.

Everyone had good lines everywhere down to Mike Tysons. Mikes was probably the fastest I have ever been in my kayak and was completely mind blowing.  Caveman was sweet as well, water was going all the way off the end of the slab rock!

It was a great day out there. We met up with Joe Barkley and Dustin at Manny's, it turns out Dustin swam and lost some gear at headless. Joe estimated the level to have spiked into the high teens, and he would know. They were only shortly behind us. After chilling with Emmanuel for an hour or so and listening to some hilarious stories, we headed out and checked the bridge gauge on the way back and it was at 17 inches.

I wouldnt have thought about hiking up at this level if I knew thats what it was, but honestly after paddling it, I would go back at that level.  It is definitely a step up from the normal Raven Fork run, mostly because of holes and some more push.  But it was not un-managable, and was still drop pool. the rapids only got better and more fun, which is hard to believe because its so awesome already.  It was a great level and a sweet day out in the Cherokee reservation and I cant wait to go back.

Sorry I have no picturess, I wish my camera was not broken so badly, especially for this day!

-Clay