Join us on the Watauga this weekend. We'll be running it Friday afternoon through the weekend.

five o two - seven five 8 - three zero three six

I know I've said this before, but really, you need to do it.

Do the Doe while you're doing the Watauga. It's on the way and you can do both in a day. The Doe is primed right now, running 215, with rain coming in. If it's over 300,it's good to go. If it's over 1000, better strap your helmet on tight so it doesn't get whipped off your head as you rush downstream.

Really, seriously, do it. I'll post directions here later. It's amazingly easy to whip off a Doe run on your way to the Watauga, and once you know it's there, you'll be checking the gauge regularly. It's short enough to do a quickie late in the day or early before heading home, times when the Watauga might be too long. Plus, it has a different watershed, so it's always good to have an alternate run available when you're heading down that way.

Hanley

Okay, this map is really big, so I just put a link to it here.

http://www.hanleyanddenile.net/DoeMap.JPG

Basically, here's what you do. You're travelling on 19E / 37 / 321 leaving Elizabethton and heading toward the Watauga. You reach the turnoff in Hampton, TN where 321 splits off and goes toward the Watauga. Instead of following 321, stay on 19E / 37.

In less than a mile, you will see Hampton High School on your left. Turn in here and park. The Doe flows right next to the high school and goes under 19E / 37. The bridge is the take out. There's a grassy area between the higway and the high school parking lot. If school's in session park on the grassy area, otherwise you can use the school parking lot.

To get to the put in, go back out on 19E / 37 and continue on the way you were going for about 5 miles. You'll eventually go up a long, steep grade, then pass through a gap and hit a long steep descent. When you are on the descent, look for a semi-hidden turn on your left that cuts back sharply from the road. It should be the first turn you see. Follow that road and you should cross the Doe mometarily. When you do, park on the far side of the bridge and put in.

The Doe is less than six miles, fairly steep (95 fmp average, 160 ft in steepest mile) and VERY entertaining. You can read and run or boat scout most of it if you're an experienced creeker, but you should take care and scout the couple of places that you can't see. Once you've done it, you'll be back for more.

Happy boating,

Hanley

Hanley,

We ended up getting on Watauga Friday & Saturday then ran Wilson Creek Saturday evening.

We ran Doe on Sunday at about 680cfs. It was my second run on the Doe. It was a lot of fun.

Chris

502 - seven five ate - three 6 two four.

Great! Sounds like a great weekend. 680 is a great level for the Doe.

What were the 'tauga and Wilson's running?

I expect a trip report at the meeting.

Hanley