Volume 48, Issue 8 The Paddler Tattler INSIDE THIS ISSUE (Click items to jump)

Calendar

August Events

Training Trips

Snorkling Happy Hour

Triathlons

Freedom Float

GS Raft Race

Trip Reports

Overnighters Billy Crush wave wheels off Baby Falls in his Loki on a Flatwater Paddlers rare summer creek day. (Photo: Brandon Koch) AUGUSTMONTH 2015 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

July 26 27 28 29 30 31 Aug 1 Big Brother Big Sister Roll Practice @ Lesser Wesser Messer Raft Trip Harrison Bay (Nantahala Falls)

Flatwater W. Chick

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Roll Practice @ Pigeon River Harrison Bay

Boundary Waters

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Sports Barn Triathlon Roll Practice @ SWR Course, Pigeon Harrison Bay River, Freedom Float

Boundary Waters Overnighter (Minnesota & Canada)

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 SWR Course Board Meeting Roll Practice @ Ocoee Sampler Upper Green River Harrison Bay Boundary Waters Overnighter Flatwater BBQ & Sunset Paddle to Bat Cave

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Snorkling Happy Hour Roll Practice @ Harrison Bay

30 31

After a rare summer deluge, TVA flooded the Ocoee for two days on July 2nd and 3rd. Here’s the put-in at 9300 cfs. (Photo: Meryl Stark) The Paddler Tattler August 2015 2 July 30th, Aug 6th, 13th, 20th, Aug 9th—Sportsbarn Sprint August 19th—August Board and 27th—Summer Roll Triathlon Support Meeting Practice 6:30am. (C). Beach. 6pm. (C). Rock/Creek Riverside. Come see 5:30pm. (C, WW). Harrison Bay State Park. Lifeguard the wannabes for their quarter- what the board does and enjoy food & drink Dust off your skills before Paddle School mile swim while they try to drown each afterwards. or just come for a good time. Rolling until other. Details on page 7. Contact Taylor There are vacancies for the 2015-2016 dark (ish), then food and drinks afterwards. Watson with your t-shirt size. Board, and if you’re thinking about running, Contact Steve Crowell. check out our meeting!

August 15th—Freedom Float August 23rd—Conasauga Detailed information on 12pm. (C). The Chattanooga Watercraft Snorkling Happy Hour Overnighter Trips can be Community is having a Freedom Float 10am. (C). Conasauga River. Ali Reddington found on Page 13. to honor the heroes who were killed has organized a day for the club with and injured in the terrorist attack on the Cheriokee National Forest Snorkling Detailed information on Chattanooga. Put in at the Riverpark and Program to see our rivers from a new angle. Flatwater Trips can be found float down to Riverfront Nights. Shuttles will Cost is $25. RSVP and pay by August 7th. on Page 16. be organized. Details on page 8. Details on page 6. Trip Leader contact information for Whitewater Training Trips can be found on the schedule on Page 5. AUGUST EVENTS AUGUST Please RSVP to the trip leader by the Wednesday prior so that support boaters can be arranged.

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 3 Meryl Stark, Newsletter Editor

I hope that everyone has been having a fantastic summer r so far, full of new and memorable experiences. I love e reading through the happenings of the club each month n as I compile the newsletter, especially when people r recount the fun and learning that club events have Co provided. s Ashley talks about volunteering in her column this month, t’ Ashley Teel, TVCC n and she is right on the money! Without the commitment of a de Vice President Presi dedicated core of TVCC volunteers, our events would not be of the quality that I’ve come to expect over the last few years that I’ve been involved with the club. Thank you to everyone, especially our board members, and Well folks, I can’t believe we are already coming into August to everyone else, please consider giving back to the club by serving on the board or and the last month of service for the 2014/2015 TVCC Board. This past year has been organizing an event. full of records and first, that when I stepped into office I couldn’t imagine. We started off in October with our first women only event, Whiskey, Women and Whitewater and This doesn’t come without my own shameless plug... our largest Ocoee Race on record! This winter we brought TVCC a winter roll practice I am looking for an assistant to help with putting the newsletter together each month. at a location and cost that meet the needs of TVCC. We then went into new winter Aside of everyone’s submissions, this publication really is a one-(wo)man show. Many creeking trips, Movie Night at Dumpy’s and Pint Night with Rock Creek benefiting R/C! of our members look forward to getting the newsletter each month, and it also serves If that was not enough, TVCC has given their full support to Save the Ocoee and we as a tool to help promote and showcase our club to others. Think how much better it had our largest Paddle School on record. The 2014/2015 year has been a great one could be with another person involved! and would not be possible with a Board of dedicated and passionate members, who are willing to give their time and resources. I want to thank each and every one of All you need to be is enthusiastic and creative; I can teach you what you need to know them that has given something of their self to make it all possible for our continuing about the software, or you can work on things that aren’t software-heavy. It doesn’t growing club. matter. If you want to be a part of this publication, contact me at [email protected]. Every TVCC member I talk to is excited about our 2015/2016 year. The organization is 100% volunteer though, from the Board to Support All the best! Boaters, everyone is giving their time to this great club. Without volunteers we would not have Happy Hours, Training Trips, ote and Rescue Rodeo. So if you have gained something from an ’s N event this year and are looking to give back, now is the time or to think about stepping up and serving on the 2015/2016 it Board. If you are interested or want to learn more, please d reach out to any current board member and they can help E answer your questions.

Thank you for helping us have such an amazing year!

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 4 2015 Whitewater Training Trips Tennesse Valley Canoe Club Whitewater Training Trip Schedule - Summer 2015 Week Day of Week Date River Trip Lead Phone Number Saturday 6-Jun Hiwassee Brandon Beaty 423.322.7328 1 Sunday 7-Jun Hiwassee Steve Crowell 423.994.4732 2 Saturday 13-Jun Tuckasegee Debby McRae 205.533.0182 Saturday 20-Jun Outdoor Chattanooga Demo Day Stacy Stone 423.443.2175 3 Sunday 21-Jun Hiwassee Spence Lycan 423.991.4451 Saturday 27-Jun Nantahala Lisa Lemza 423.243.3530 4 Sunday 28-Jun Waterfront Tri* Taylor Watson 423.304.5102 5 Saturday 4-Jul NO TRAINING TRIPS 6 Saturday 11-Jul Nantahala David McConnell 865.207.9607 7 Saturday 18-Jul Nantahala Scott Harrison 423.240.4288 Saturday 25-Jul Rescue Rodeo Mike Shillinger 423.618.8587 8 Sunday 26-Jul Big Bro/ Big Sis Raft Race* Jim Ledbetter 423.322.3691 9 Saturday 1-Aug Lesser Wesser Messer** Andrew Waters 865.403.0062 Saturday 8-Aug Pigeon David McConnell 865.207.9607 10 Sunday 9-Aug Sports Barn Tri* Taylor Watson 423.304.5102 Saturday 15-Aug Pigeon Brian Swafford 423.902.6699 11 Sunday 16-Aug Upper Green Brandon Koch 313.505.0718 12 Saturday 22-Aug Ocoee Sampler Rudy Beaty 423.715.1520 13 Saturday 29-Aug NO TRAINING TRIPS 14 Saturday 5-Sep NO TRAINING TRIPS Saturday 12-Sep Girl Scout Raft Race* Taylor Watson 423.304.5102 15 Sunday 13-Sep Ocoee First Timers Carin Burford 205.837.3440

Training Trips are continuing education for paddle school students. They differ from regular club trips in that, though no formal instruction takes place, the trips will have sufficient support boaters to assist in skills development. Feel free to ask questions or for help with something as that is why we are there. We encourage you to join in on regular club trips as well, and in some of the listed community service activities and the Rescue Rodeo (whitewater). The white water trips will primarily increase in intensity as the summer progresses, culminating in an Ocoee first-timers trip.

Students wishing to participate in a training trip MUST contact the trip coordinator by the Wednesday prior to trip. *Denotes Community Service Activity or other activity - all newbies welcome! **The Lesser Wesser is a special training trip which focuses on running Nantahala Falls. In order to participate in this trip, you must have attended at least two of the Nantahala training trips.

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 5 Snorkeling in the Conasauga Happy Hour: August 23rd

TVCC is organizing a guided snorkeling trip to the Conasauga additional programs at the Conasauga River or other River on August 23rd through the locations may be organized in the future. Snorkeling Program. Streams in the Cherokee National Forest have an extraordinarily diverse assemblage of fish. In the Some basic information on the program is as follows: clear waters of the snorkeling sites, it is typical to see 15 to 20 • Programs are for groups of 12 to 24 snorkelers species of fish on any given day. Over 45 species of fish have been documented at or near individual sites. Freshwater • Cost is $25 for snorkelers drum as large as 6 pounds swim in schools in the deep pools; sporting fish, such as bass and brim, are seen in their • Minimum age is 12 years old natural habitats. Colorful darters and shiners may be seen • Wetsuits, masks, and snorkels are provided spawning and feeding. Several thousand fish will be present on any given day. The experience is like swimming in an • Programs run from 10am to 2pm aquarium full of fish. Turtles, tadpoles, and salamanders are all usually present. Environmental education is provided both • A guide and lifeguard lead groups streamside and in the water. Fish identification and habitat • Participants will need to provide their own recognition are emphasized. transportation to the site; bring your own swimming suits, towels, wading shoes (flip-flops need an ankle To sign up for the program, please contact strap), lunch and drinking water Ali Reddington at allison.reddington@ gmail.com or 865-621-2994. The first • Picnic tables and restrooms are available 24 participants to sign up will be • Tents will be set up for changing rooms accommodated. Payment will be due by August 7th. For more information go to: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/ FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3837336.pdf The Cherokee National Forest Snorkeling Program also offers guided trips on the Hiwassee River, Tellico River, and Citico Creek. Depending on the level of interest in this program,

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 6 Swim. Bike. Run. Boat? Sportsbarn Sprint is August 9th!

TVCC Supports the Chattanooga Triathlon Scene

What a gorgeous morning we had for the big River Triathalon with 1000+ swimmers ready to win the race.

Thanks to GPS again for the use of their boat house and dock as that really cuts off a bunch of paddling. There by Taylor Watson were very few hanger-ons and we have been highly It’s time again to lifeguard the wannabes as they praised for the work you did. Thanks to all of my support try to drown each other for a quarter mile at the boaters who braved the early morning hour for service Chickamauga Dam Beach, Sunday August 9 to your community. at 6:30 am. Just drive down the sidewalk to the Thank yous to: Ben Johnson and daughter Amy, Nancy beach and park under the tree to the far right. and Jim Knowles, Lori Ivy, Don Fletcher,Rebekah and We will assemble there and put in. Hannah Manley, Peter Serodino, Chris Potter, Wes I need YOU to help this to be another safe race. Hunter, Doug Peace, Mike Shillinger, Scott Harrison, Please email me or call, taylorwatson@comcast. John Hubbard, Marissa Corbitt, Carolyn Rand, Mark net or 706-820-9577. I will need your t-shirt size. Jordan, Buck Meyer, Ellen Meyer, Terry Hoye, Meredith Peace, Katy Harrison, Nathan Harrison, Josh Harrison, TVCC has such a wonderful community spirit and Joy Krause, and Hook Hill. Bless you all for doing such a we are greatly appreciated at these events. great job. Love, Love, Moma T Moma T The Paddler Tattler August 2015 7 Freedom Float: August 15th

Join Outdoor Chattanooga and the boating community for the Freedom Float in honor of and to raise money for the heroes who were injured or killed in the July 16th attacks on Chattanooga. Everyone is invited!

The paddle portion will have a check-in at the TN Riverpark boat ramp from 12 to 2pm where Girl Scout Raft Race participants will register, get a wristband, and drop off boats. Paddlers will move vehicles to Ross’s Landing and catch shuttles back to the Volunteer September 12th launch site.

The event will officially start at 3pm with a short The Girl Scout Raft Race will be held Saturday, Sept.12 I hope to have 2 support boats per raft but will not know ceremony prior to the flotilla. at noon on the Lower Hiwassee from Railroad Trestle until the end of August as to how many rafts we will The event commences at Ross’s Landing in time to 411 Bridge. The girls make the rafts from tubes and have. Without TVCC the Girl Scouts would not be able to to join Riverfront Nights. bamboo and are timed to see who the winner is. Some have this fun event. Put it on your calendar. It is an easy rafts go all out with decorations and others try to build float for families, pets, and inlaws too. This will be a large event, so please RSVP. Start for speed and some build in hopes of surviving to the out with the Facebook event, but there is also a end. We will meet around noon and run the shuttle and Please email [email protected] or call 706-820- website and an Eventbrite link in progress. wait for the water to come up. 9577 and sign up for a great lazy float. Love, Moma T

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 8 Group shot in front of Double Suck at approximately 9300 cfs.

The July 4th Flooding

by Meryl Stark feet, and shooting straight up. The Ocoee was also HUGE. Between 8 and 9k. But, it was only 45 minutes away, and Enjoy these summaries of two of the trips I went on this 4th heck, staring at the Ocoee seemed fun. of July weekend. It rained and became a paddler’s paradise out there! I had heard legends of the Giant Ocoee. I’d seen Joe Gudger’s video of 10k Ocoee where almost everything was Ocoee @ 5000 cfs underwater and the ramp was flooded, but it was more than insane in person, starting from the chocolate milk flowing What a rare 4th of July weekend. into Parksville Lake. I met Don Fletcher, Justin White, Tom Sweets, and Josh (Tom’s We started looking at everything from the bottom up and Friend) at the Bi-Lo parking lot, just like a winter Tellico run. evaluating the runnability. Looking down below Tablesaw from the The gauge was at 2.5, until we checked it again. Then it 6 road. 9300 cfs. The Paddler Tattler August 2015 9 In William Neely’s book, Kayak, he has a section dedicated water. There was an almost riverwide hole, and Diamond Speaking of Goforth, Justin provided us with an intermission to what he calls, “The Joy of Flood (or Big Water Technique)”. Splitter Rock was completely underwater. The island was also to the Ocoee sightseeing. He decided that he wanted to In it, he explicitly advocates that, regardless of your ability, completely flooded. run Goforth, something he’s done a few times already. Tom you should NOT paddle flooded rivers (but if you, learn from considered it, but after watching Justin, Tom decided it really Flipper was a huge hole too. Maybe punchable? Double his mistakes, and you’d better have expert knowledge of wasn’t his cup of tea. 8k Ocoee was now somehow safer Suck was something else. Another channel had opened up the river). And I will echo this same sentiment. In no way than Goforth. Silly Tom. As soon as we got there it suddenly coming over the center of the rock. do I advocate running flood stage water. It is a decision looked smaller. The Upper gauge dropped from 6k to 2k. that you must make on your own after weighing the risks I was staring at gauges almost as much as the river. Ocoee And it was our time. I wasn’t originally going to go, but the and consequences along with your skills and attempt on the hour, and Tellico on the :15. We hung out at the put-in level dropped enough for me to be okay with it. We figured at understanding the run. Nothing can be completely for a bit, and watched the brave (or stupid) launch various if it was dropping, we might miss our chance for some understood at flood stage. vessels into the maw. We saw a raft flip just below Grumpy’s. excitement. And that it was. I was on alert the entire time, And Jeremy Adkins put on in a pink Rockstar. He swam out of and questioning my entire life plan the whole way down the Rapids were either completely washed out or GIANT holes. Grumpy’s. His boat swam to Goforth. river, much like when I was an Ocoee newbie. Our biggest question mark was Tablesaw. We pulled off the road and walked to the bend to stare at the power of the At flood stage, the Ocoee was a lot of things it’s not supposed to be, mainly continuous. The chocolate milk color was disorienting too. My run started with a combat roll on the eddy line of Whiteface (that was SCARY), followed by bumping down the right side of Grumpy’s. With that behind me, I got more comfortable in the boogie water that overtook every part of the river. Almost every named feature was washed out into a wave or wave hole; it was the little things that we had to look out for. Some places that used to be rocks were now nasty pourover holes. The whole thing was fast-water read and run. Approaching Broken Nose, I started moving left early, following the advice I got from Jamie Smith on his high-water run the day before. No one else was moving that way, and I suddenly felt very alone, fearing that the manky ledges could be grabby holes. I did know, with certainty, that I wanted nothing to do with the meat of Broken Nose. I just leaned forward, paddled hard, and picked a line that went quite well. Tom made it over there too. Turns out Broken Nose was waves, but I didn’t want to find out if that hadn’t been the case.

I finally found my groove, and even a few eddies for the group to strategize in. That is, until we got to Hiwassee Justin, Tom, Don, and Josh navigate Double Shoals aka the time to dread Tablesaw. Don offered to take Suck on their second lap of 5k Ocoee. me down the entering-from-the-right line; I figured that

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 10 would be best, and it was. Just HUGE waves and even bigger The guys decided to go for a second lap, but one and done At the takeout, we got out of the car and took a look at the reactionaries. Then Don yelled at me to, “GET RIGHT!” before was good enough for me. I’ve never shuttle-bunnied the river. That was when we feared that we might have been in Diamond Splitter. So I did, with great urgency. It was just Ocoee, but it was pretty fun! I watched them at Grumpy’s, over our heads, under the bridge we saw not necessarily a more waves. Don had some action in Witches’ Hole, but got Double Suck, the “Doldrums”, and Accelerator on down. Don creek but a raging river of “chocolate milk,” but not the kind out. I was concerned about Hell Hole and Powerhouse, but had an amazing combat roll out of the hole at Grumpy’s, from Willy Wonka’s factory. It was muddy, and as we soon we ran into Eddie Simone. I had somehow paddled ahead and I might or might not have taught some innocent found out, rising. of our group, and ended up behind Eddie instead. He told children behind me out the ramp some new vocabulary as I There was also another surprise at the takeout. BK’s orange me Powerhouse would just be a gigantic wave, but I didn’t watched... jeep pulled up, and out piled Ashley, Tony, Billy Crush, Alison, believe it until I saw it. It was the biggest wave I’d ever seen. As fun as it was, flood stage is still something else, something BK, and two others. They had tried to run Tiny Piney, but it Water was coming in from at least 3 directions and mixing to be handled with extreme caution. I am thankful that I flashed on them at a rapid called Baby Gorilla, and they were into one big finale. Wow. Just wow. know the Ocoee well, and that we had scouted the whole forced to hike out. river at an even higher level. I’m also thankful to have had a Several from that group still wanted to paddle, and Stephanie few other runs under my belt. The Upper Ocoee, Cheoah, and and I were all up for a larger group on White’s. When our Upper Nanty were good steps. Our trip went well, but the internet connection, Johnny, finally arrived, we talked Ashley, consequences shouldn’t be underestimated. A swim would Tony, and BK into coming along, and we loaded up for for the have been a bad thing. The banks were laced with strainers— long and winding shuttle, very typical of Plateau runs. not exactly refuge material. Class V boaters lose boats on 10k Ocoee. Other boaters could lose things, or themselves, on 5k Both Stephanie and I were still pretty nervous about the Ocoee. run, even though Johnny kept telling us that it would be absolutely fine at this level. He and BK were in playboats, which was reassuring for the two of us in creekboats. White’s Creek, 2.5 feet After the put-in, we all knew it was game on. The gauge at Every once and a while, an opportunity presents itself that the top read 2.5, a bit more comforting that what we saw should not be brushed aside or abandoned before given a at the bottom. I could also hear the chorus of “Welcome to chance to blossom. Enter White’s Creek, on Sunday, July 5th. the Jungle” playing in my head. We were committed in the canyon, yet, unlike a winter run, there were trees everywhere, I had been so fixated on running Tellico, and after two failed and at this level, eddies were small. I took my place near the attempts on Friday and Saturday, it was gearing up to be a front of the pack, and just kept paddling! There were waves, bit disappointing on that front. This was one of those rare and a few holes. Our leader knew there were a few spots to situations where the running creeks are out of reach and look out for, and we communicated down the line with our the familiar ones are flooded out. I did see a Facebook post paddle signals. For the first time ever, I saw these things that about White’s Creek, and since it has always been on my we constantly talk about actually work! Big water read-and- list, I figured I had a rare chance to capitalize: White’s, in the run can be complicated with a group when the person at the summer, and at a generous level. With the power of the front can’t always see the person at the back. internet, I was able to find a leader. I’d never met the guy, but hey, all boaters are awesome, right? We set our meet time for All hesitation and nerves aside, Whites Creek and the canyon Tom Sweets on the put-in ramp. 5 o’clock, and Stephanie and I headed north. are absolutely gorgeous. It is no wonder everyone who’s run

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 11 this creek puts it near the top of their lists. We were even able to see it with vegetation, not barren like a winter run.

At the Tiny Piney Confluence, it was immediately obvious Mark Your Calendar: that the others had made the right choice. Muddy water was gushing into Whites, creating the situation we observed at the takeout, as well as a complete change of character for Elk River the run. It was bigger and faster than anything I’d ever seen, but it was an appropriate sequel to Ocoee 5k from a few days earlier. September 11th-13th In one spot, exited the main flow into a side channel, that unfortunately introduced us to a strainer we thought we It’s time to mark your calendar for the upcoming Elk River could make it under. That game of limbo ended with a roll for Overnighter. one, a swim for another, and a mouthful of dirt and leaves for everyone else. With everyone okay and eventually returned This year we are considering adding another paddle day to boats, we paddled the rest of the ocean of waves, avoided on Friday September 11. We would put on just below Tim’s some more trees, and got into the rhythm of the bottom Ford Dam, spend the night on the river, and arrive at Farris third of the run. Creek Bridge the next morning (Saturday) to join the rest of the troops who would be putting on then. The Friday We made it to the takeout, the car was still there (this had paddle will be about 8 river miles. been in question), sports beverages were enjoyed, debts were paid, and we watched a beautiful sunset while piled in a For those who can only come for Saturday night and minivan heading back up the mountain. I got back home just Sunday we will maintain our traditional schedule: meet after 11pm; a long weekend well-spent. at the put-in by the Farris Creek Bridge on Saturday September 12 around 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, spend the night on the river and take out on Sunday at the Elk Alison Lucy still has a River Canoe Rental place (the shuttle people) around 3 smile on her pm. If you like, you can join a group that will caravan to face hiking the putin. They will be starting from Shoney’s in Kimball out of a on Saturday morning at 9:30 ET. I’ll be sending you more flooded Tiny Piney. information as we get closer to the trip date.

But for now, please let me know whether you plan to join us and if so whether you have an interest in starting on Friday or putting in on Saturday.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

RSVP to Uwe ([email protected]).

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 12 Overnighters 2015 Calendar

March 28th-30th—Toccoa River Aug 9th—Sports Barn Triathlon Oct 10th—Ocoee Race Trip Contact Taylor Watson. [email protected]. Oct 25th—Boo Run (Ocoee) April 11th-12th—Upper Coosawattee Aug 11th-24th—Boundary Waters Nov 14th-15th—Etowah River River (WW) These dates include 2 (9 hr) driving days. 4 spots left. Use In case of low water, backup plan is the TN River outfitters’ canoes and share 3 people per canoe to make April 11th-12th—Lower Coosawattee Blueway. Contact Jamie Wendt. [email protected]. portages easier. Contact Ed Park. eparkseven@yahoo. (Flat) com; 423-400-9530 Dec 27th-Jan 1st—Weeklong Florida Trip April 25th-26th—Talking Rock Canoes, Sea Kayaks, and anything that floats. Travel time Aug 15th-16th—Lake Jocassee not included in dates. Camping at primitive group site May 10th-15th—Cahaba River in Due to a scheduling conflict, this trip will be postponed. at Sparkle Berry Campground, with privy only. For those Alabama New Date to Be Announced. who prefer different accomodations, Panama City Beach May 23rd-25th—Big South Fork 3 Day Sept 12th—Girl Scout Raft Race Condos or St. Andrews State Park with hookups are Trip (Memorial Day Weekend) Club meeting with elections to follow. nearby. Contact Pat Carver. [email protected].

May 29th-31st—Paddle School Sept 12th-13th—Elk River Contact Uwe Zitzow. [email protected]. June 14th-21st—Buffalo River in Arkansas (Week Long) Sept 26th-28th—Toccoa River 3 Day Trip Contact Carolyn Rand. [email protected]. June 28th—Waterfront Triathlon Volunteering Sept 27th—Ironman Triathlon Volunteering

July 11th-12th—Little TN River Oct 3rd—TN River Rescue Contact Jim Ledbetter. [email protected]. July 25th-26th—Rescue Rodeo & Big Brother/Big Sister Rafting Oct 11th-17th—Current River (MO) Camping at Hiwassee Outfitters between Weeklong overnighter trip. When not on river, we will be these two events. Contact Jim Ledbetter. at base camp at Big Spring and travel to other lcoations [email protected]. from there. Contact Gary Petty. [email protected].

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 13 North Chick & Lock Through

by Eric Fleming, Flatwater Cruisemaster We locked through going upstream and then paddled across the lake to the take out. 27 paddlers met at the Greenway Farm ramp at 1 pm Sunday June 28th. Another great group and another fun day on the water. We ran shuttle over to the Dam Marina ramp and then put on to the N Chickamauga Creek.

After a 3 mile paddle down the creek we came to the Chickamauga Dam lock on the TN River which raises you up 48 feet to the lake level.

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 14 by Eric Fleming, Flatwater Cruisemaster Ocoee #1 11 of us met just below the Ocoee #1 Dam at 12.30 pm on July 11. We unloaded and ran shuttle down to the 2 Rivers Campground where the Ocoee runs to 2 Rivers into the Hiwassee River.

They started releasing from the dam at 1 pm so by the time we got back we were good to go. Campground It’s a very nice Class 1 paddle. There’s some civilization, but it’s mostly trees along both sides with quite a few tree blow downs in the water, but none blocking the whole river. Saturday, July 11th It’s a 12 mile trip and we were done in 3 hours thanks to the current.

A great group, and a fun way to spend a Saturday (or any day).

The Paddler Tattler August 2015 15 Flatwater Paddlers 2015 Calendar

Note our new name! We are July 11th. Ocoee #1 Dam to 2 Rivers Sept 5th. TVCC Meeting, Elections, and now the Flatwater Paddlers, in Campground. (C), (S). Eric. Camping. OAR. Don. order to be more inclusive of July 25th. TN Riverpark BBQ and Sunset Paddle. Sept 6th. Wolftever Creek. Eric. Canoes, Rec Boats, Sit-on-tops, (S). Eric. SUPs, and any other calm-water Sept 12th-13th. Elk River Overnighter. (C), (S). crafts. July 26th. Big Brother/Big Sister Raft Trip Uwe. Support. Hiwassee River. (C), (S). If you feel March 28th. Harrison Islands. Eric. Sept 19th. Harrison Bay North. Eric. comfortable guiding a raft or support boating on April 18th. Hales Bar (C), (S). Eric. the Class II Hiwassee, please help out. Jim. Oct 3rd. TN River Rescue. Jim.

April 25th. West Chickamauga to Reeds Aug 1st. West Chickamauga Creek. (C), (S). Mild 0ct 10th. 10 mile TN River Swim support boaters. Rd, GA. (C),(S). Eric. one-way, Class I, 2 hour paddle in the shade. (S). Karah. Reeds Bridge Rd. to Dietz Rd. Eric. May 2nd. Sale Creek. Eric. Oct 10th. TVCC Ocoee Whitewater Race. Aug 9th. Dam Triathlon Support Boaters. 6:30am. May 16th. Soddy Creek. Eric. Oct 17th-18th. TN River Gorge Overnighter. (S). Keep an eye on SportsBarn Tri participants. RSVP Ben. May 23rd. Conasauga River, GA. (C), (S). to Taylor Watson with your T-Shirt size. Eric. Oct 24th. Hiwassee. Hwy 11 to Hwy 58. (S). Eric. Aug 15th. Freedom Float. TN River. (C), (S). TN May 29th-31st. Paddle School. Riverpark, 12pm. This will be the biggest flotilla Nov 7th. South Chick, Sterchi Farm. Eric. ever in Chattanooga in support of Military and June 6th. Hiwassee: 411 to 2R CG. (C), (S). Nov 14th-15th. Etowah River Overnighter. (C), Police Officers who put their lives on the line for Eric. (S). Jamie. us everyday, and their families, and in defiance of June 14th-21st. Buffalo River, Arkansas. those who want to destroy us. #noogastrong. Eric. Dec 12th. Club Christmas Party.

June 20th. Wolftever to Demo Day at Aug 15th-16th. Lake Jocassee, SC. Overnighter. Dec 27th-Jan 1st. Annual Florida Trip. Harrison Bay. Eric. TO BE RESCHEDULED. All dates and places are subject to change. All paddles are June 27th. North Chick and Dam Aug 22nd. Cookout and sunset paddle to Bat in unless otherwise noted. Check your email the Lock Through. (C), (S). Eric. Cave. Meet at 6pm for a potluck BBQ and then 1.5 night before a trip for any changes. All paddles are rain or hr paddle to see the bat cave at sunset. Eric. June 28th. Waterfront Triathlon shine. Support. Taylor. Sept 5th. Girl Scout Raft Race Support Boaters. C = Indicates Current, but no more than Class I Rapids. S = Indicates a one-way trip requiring a Shuttle. Lower Hiwassee. (C), (S). Taylor. The Paddler Tattler August 2015 16 TVCC Yahoo Group The Paddler Tattler is the monthly publication of the Tennessee All club members are invited to join the club’s Our Mission Valley Canoe Club. online paddling forum. The Yahoo Group is a great place to find out about paddling trips in The Tennessee Valley Canoe Club brings together those interested in canoeing, The Paddler Tattler invites submissions of addition to those posted in the newsletter, post kayaking, and related activities; increases the knowledge, safety, and appreciation articles, trip reports, videos, and any other pictures and trip reports of your latest adventures, of paddle sports for those who are interested; and supports conservation and news or information of interest to the paddling or just find someone to go paddle with. preservation of recreational waterways. community. The only requirement for the forum is active Submit an electronic copy no later than the Membership is open to persons of all ages. Both families and singles are welcome. membership in the club. To join, go to http:// 20th of each month to the newsletter editor by groups.yahoo.com/group/tvcc/ and click on emailing [email protected]. Submissions The club’s activities include: “Join This Group”. Please be patient and allow a may be edited. • Whitewater & flat water kayak and canoe training few days for the page administrator to respond • Whitewater & flat water river trips for all skill levels and accept your membership. Send an email Past issues of the Paddler Tattler can be accessed to the group moderator at tvcc-subscribe@ online at: • Water safety & rescue training yahoogroups.com with your name. See you on http://tinyurl.com/tvccpastnewsletters. • Extended canoe & camping trips the river! • Annual & monthly meetings Flatwater Email List • Community service The TVCC Flatwater Paddlers use an email contact list to send out information about upcoming Tennessee Valley Canoe Club events. To be added to this list, please send P.O. Box 11582 an email the TVCC Flatwater Cruisemaster at Chattanooga, TN 37401 2014-2015 Officers [email protected]. www.tvccpaddler.com President Secretary Safety Chair Cruisemaster III, Overnight Don Fletcher John Hubbard Mike Shillinger Paddling Group [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Carolyn Rand Ben Johnson Vice President Newsletter Editor Public Relations Chair [email protected] Ashley Teel Meryl Stark Stacy Stone [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Cruisemaster IV, Non- Paddling Assistant Vice President Webmaster Cruisemaster I, Class II/III Jen Maxwell & Rebecca Hendrix LaDawn Wolfe Teri Zur Spence “Dogpaddle” Lycan [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Cruisemaster V, Flatwater Treasurer River Conservation Chair Cruisemaster II, Class III/IV Eric Fleming Debby McRae Jim Ledbetter Brandon Koch [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] The Paddler Tattler August 2015 17