The Southeast Double Header Report by Adriene Levknecht
Watch Here
Last week in the southeast it felt like the drought finally ceased and we actually got to paddle something that was not dam released, or we just got to go paddling in general. Friday I woke up by my phone ringing and Robin saying we are going kayaking somewhere meet me at the Ingles parking lot now. John Grace, Toby McDermott, Drew Duval, Pat Keller, Nick Urquhart, Robin, and myself met up and headed to the Toxaway, but the Toxaway was still frozen. Then it was off to the Raven’s Fork, but it was 22 inches. After talking to Shane Benedict we found out the road to the West Prong had just opened in the morning, so we were headed for West Prong in the Smoky Mountains. Robin Betz and I got fired up for a good day on a river that we had never been on. We made it to the Smokies, met up with Joe Barkley and we continued our trip up and over the mountain. The crew was pumped, though it was defiantly dry suit weather and still flurrying. The West Prong was high, that’s all I have to say, so we walked across the other bridge to find out that the Road Prong was at a prime level. Everyone was pumped now; Robin and I knew it was the day to hang with the big boys. We hiked up about an hour, to where it looked like there was too much wood to keep going. My feet were numb from hiking in the snow and water on the trail.
The run was awesome, like skiing on moguls all the way down. Boofing wherever we could, keeping the speed through trees and the rhodos on the side of the river. There wasn’t much stopping involved just keep rolling on down stream.
Day two after the rain. We got on the Ravens Fork with John Grace and Polk Deters. It was Robins first time and it was my second. The level was about 7-8 inches. We all had a great time; the Ravens Fork is just a classic southeast run-big drops and beautiful scenery on a sunny (slightly chilly) winter day. We both had some interesting lines down Mike Tyson’s but all was well. We had some good laughs and as always a good time and we all made it to the bottom harm-free.
Day three after the rain. Robin and I got up once again to go kayaking together on the Green River. The best way to end a three day weekend is boofing the &^%* out of Gorilla and seeing your sister waiting in the eddy right below. We were fired up, not just about the last three days, but the fact that the two of us got to do it together made it that much cooler. Girls Rule!
Adriene Levknecht
