White's Creek Trip Report 1/23/10 There we were, poised on the cusp of cuteness, thirteen or fourteen
paddlers, seven rookies, ready to git and go on the Lower White's Creek.
Unfortunately the water level (one foot and six inches, found at the spray
painted marks at the Possom Trot Road bridge launch site) was perfect.
Unfortunately the winter weather was 55 degrees. Unfortunately the clean
waters and surrounding scenery was most excellent. It could only go downhill
from here. So we did.
This gem starts small, shows lots of small surfing waves, provides easy
ledges, adds curve and drop pools; the whole thing is a warm up run for real
creeking.
This is Introductory Creeking 101. All rewards, all the time, at 1'6".
With more water, in the 3' range, the ante goes up and this run can take
names.
Our group of twelve or thirteen switched probes and sweep, shifted lines
and punched holes with aplomb. There were rolls and swims and strolls, all
in good taste.
Tree Rapid ate no one, the S Curve undercut didn't. Surf City was Wonder
Button stuff. The only entertainment on the lower paddle-out was the
creek-wide tree at Helicopters Rising which nearly did an aria on one of our
drifting dozen.
White's Creek gives good water, presents solvable rapids, provides simply
great scenery to accent the glory of our temporary existence. It's good to
be here, now. Bless us, everyone, all fifteen.
At the bottom take-out, waiting for shuttle, we traded Sunday Concepts. A
run on the Upper Tellico, leaving the Interstate 75, Exit 11, Bilo parking
lot at 9:am, seemed like a good idea. |
