SE Whitewater Beta Stash

Tim R: I've decided that section needs more like 1200 to 1500 as a minimum but even then the gauge is 24 miles downstream ever since the USGS discontinued the West Fork Gauge, When you factor in tribs like Bear Creek and Johnnies Creek and the East Fork being the major feeder the put in flow can be anywhere from about 10 percent to 30 percent of the flow of USGS gauge of Little River at Blue Pond.  Dylan C: I prefer 1800 to 2000 as a minimum. Tim R: I agree, my 1200 number is what I call desperate minimum, you can get down it but it's better if it's higher. 1200 is only good if your "desperate" to get out on it. I've ran it at 1000 and it's too bony with so many "trip" rocks. I really wish there was an online gauge for the west fork still.

From Lesley S. Here's a fun class IV wilderness run that's not in the first edition of Kirk's book.   Big Lost Creek near Reliance, TN.  Starts and ends with class II.  Has a one mile section of class IV creeking along the Benton MacKaye trail, which makes it easy to scout and run laps.   There's no gauge.  USGS Mill Creek at Crandall was 350cfs falling to 250cfs when we ran it yesterday.  That was a fun level.  We saw an otter in the water and walking along the trail.  Stray paddles floated conveniently into a small undercut on the right at the end of the class IV section.  The put in is the bridge where Lost Creek Road crosses Big Lost Creek.  The takeout is the regular Hiwassee takeout near Hiwassee Outfitters.  Thank you to Joseph Alexander Gudger and Jacob Parks for letting me tag along.