Etowah River
I met Doug at Wendy's on GA 20. From there I placed my truck at the highway 52 bridge. The put in was at the highway 53 bridge.The river had more water running than when I had gone to scout pot in and take out points. It was a beautiful day. It was sunny but unseasonably cool. A perfect day for canoeing.
We got the boat in the water at around 1:30 PM. The river was beautiful. The surrounding mountains were full of mountain laorell,spruce and various hard woods. We encountered several class II shoals.Some we ran without a hitch. There was nothing like hitting a chute perfectly and squirting between two rock ledges bouncing over a wave and angleing for the next chute.
Some of the shoals we encountered (and there were many of them) were not so easy to run. The pattern became all too familiar. We would find a hole and run straight into the next ridge. From there get out, either angle the boat for the next opening (if there is one) or pull the boat through the navigable water. Some shoals we worked like this and looked back to find that we just went the wrong way. Sometimes, there just was no right way.
Somewhere above the highway 9 bridge we caught a rock broadside and hit the water fr the first time. I checked first to make sure Doug was above water (he was) then turned my attention to running this rapid on my ass. Feet up, float on your back, and feet first. All good rules while in a current. I thought I was clear of the rapids and decided to turn over and swim and promptly caught one rock in the ribs and another on my shin. Lesson learned.
Just before highway 9, the wildlife changed to rednecks playing paint ball, partiers in riverside summer homes, and teenagers floating in inner tubes. The scenery was still beautiful and these intrusions were generally widely separated by nature.
At around 3:30 we finally crossed the highway 9 bridge. More local RN's recreating in the flat water beneath the bridge. We ran the shoals under the bridge perfectly and continued on.
After more of the same we came on a nice stretch of flat water. Nice and easy paddling for a few minutes and then the unmistakable roar of big white water announces your arrival to chuck shoals. This is definitely the biggest rapid on this section of the river. About 8 foot drop over a 40 yard stretch. We scouted from the right side and ran left to right. We didn't do too bad and made it through without swimming.
More of those shoals mixed up with the shallow riffles impead progress.
The next major obstacle was Etowah falls. Very beautiful. Not runnable. Portage was not too hard on the right side.
More shoals and another spill. This time we lost all knee pads and ankle supports. Managed again to retain all paddles (although Doug's bent shaft was cracked). It was still a blessing to get back what we did.
It was 6:30 before we reached castleberry bridge. We still have altogether too far to go. Although more - dispersed, there are still quite a number of shoals to navigate. We paddled hard, knowing that we still have a long, long way to go. Racing the sun with every stroke, hoping beyond hope to see the 136 bridge around the next bend, being disappointed many times. The sound of the next shoals became disheartening. We cam to our first major deadfall in this part of the river. The tree was tremendous and reached across the entire river. The left side curved up and gave a 2 foot clearance. We positioned the boat just right, lay back in the canoe, and just slide under.
Several shoals came up which we ran perfectly. Desparation and knowledge of the necessity of speed had made us better rivermen here. Another deadfall. A big tree all the way across the river this time. No passage. Doug got out and pushed the canoe over with me in it.
8:15 and we hear cars. 8:30, there is the 136 bridge. We are hungry (remaining food ruined in spill), thirsty (no more water), exhausted, and running out of daylight. We paddled, prayed, portaged a blockage created by man.
We contemplated going by land to the nearest road, and walking. We knew that our loved ones were worrying. The cicadas started singing. When we knew the day was over was when the frogs were chirping.
We ran shoals blind. Guided by the hands of god. My arms just moving and no longer able to muster even any small amount of strength. We simply went on.
I got my flashlight out of my pack. It helped tremendously.
The sound of cars! Glory be to god there are headlights visible through the woods. There is our bridge.
Getting the canoe out, pulling up the hill, loading on the truck, all are kind of a blur (although the thorn gashes in my hands and arms remind me that it did happen). We made a beeline to the nearest payphone (all the way to Dawsonville) called home, and consumed mass quantities of water.
This trip is ended. We made it back thanks to the grace of god.
New Rules
1. Know total mileage of trip before starting.
2. Take more than enough water.
3. Take cell phone
4. Dry clothes to be left in pickup vehicle.
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