First off, it was an awesome weekend to be down on the 'Castle. Four different runs at four different levels with four different crews. A thanks to everyone who helps feed my addiction and a special thanks to Bart for being insanely not afraid of anything.

On Friday Dot and I ran it at about 900 cfs. We put in above Beech Narrows and everything was cool and groovy until we got to Teeth. This is (IMO) the trickiest drop other than the Beech. To make it more fun, Mother Nature has decided to place a big, fat tree across the "Molars" at the bottom left part of the drop with a root-ball sticking out in the center. Its pretty nasty and a bad place to between 900-1200 cfs. Anyway, I ended up running it first and hitting the eddy at the right of the last part of the drop. Dot comes down, flips, gets briefly pinned up against the rock in-front of the Molars, then washed down the left chute. She tries to roll a couple times, sees the tree (we knew it was there) and then hung-out for a second and BAM! There was just enough room for her boat to fit through. She then rolls up like "Did you see that?!" and gave the tree the bird.

On Saturday we ran it with James Thaxton at about 1500 cfs, and then again with Duane Cottle and Mr. Foley at about 2500 cfs. It was a big ride both times. Duane, Foley and I all ran the Beech, but not one of us stayed dry and Foley had a little run-in with the big tree across the big undercut at the bottom (as of Sunday this tree had parked itself safely above S-Turn). Ironically, however, Foley somehow had the cleanest line. I came off the left side, too far left and hit the HUGE wave-hole at the bottom. Unable to climb it, it pushed me down into the curler coming off of it and then tossed me upside-down and into the big slab rock on the left. Duane, being that he's completely insane, decided it would be a good idea to take the center line. I couldn't see very well, but suffice it to say he got worked. I don't think I would run Beech at much above 2500.

Sunday was where it was at. Bart met Dot and I at the take-out at about 1:00. The water was WAAAY up and had just recently peaked. Our guess was that the level was about 5,000 cfs. We debated running it, but then decided we could always hike out if it was too sketchy...or whatever. Dot decided she would run shuttle for us, but hiked down to the put in to check out Beech Narrows. The water was covering all but a few feet of the tallest boulder (which is usually about 15-20 feet above the water). This rapid was NASTY. The lead-in was pretty mean, with a very sick looking terminal hole. There was a 25-ft wide massive pillow, with seams on both sides with the upstream seam feeding up against the only exposed boulder. We walked it.

When we got up to S-Turn we decided that, from what we could see, it wasn't too bad and fortunately, it wasn't. We got out above the first drop of the Narrows and took about 45 min to scout everything, except the bottom of Cry Baby. The Narrows is a totally different beast at 5 grand. Big, fast water with HUGE holes big enough to park a van. At the very least scout Teeth at this level. We scouted, and chose what we thought would be the best line. At this point, I'm thinking that walking is starting to sound pretty good. I don't think I ever really decided to run it as much as all-of-a-sudden I'm in my boat and its about to be game-on. About 2.35 seconds later it was over. And we were both still in our boats. Awesome.

Seriously, if you haven't been on the Rockcastle, check it out. Bring your hiking booties and a camera. It's close, it's beautiful and it's a blast.

Adam

awesome. now no one will run it. it's all ours!

Good stuff Adam. I am not sure when but I will get to it but I would like to put some of that 2500 footage of Beech on youtube or something. The video makes it look like I was in much more control than it felt in that big folding funky water. It rose amazingly fast on us and was swelling huge once we got to the Lower Narrows. That funky swirly boily water was awesome stuff! Felt like big water BSF to me in there. on top of that looking back upstream from the bottom and seeing the purple/orange clouds and rainbow was just icing.

I agree Brandon that place is awesome and I feel lucky to have found it again after many years of not even thinking of the place. We should do a trail crew day there and make the hike back up easier from bottom of Crybaby to the trail so we can hike back to the top of the lower narrows. ? ? ? I have used a couple of spots but its not easy to get back up to the trail in that area. I provide the party shack downstream afterwards...

Jason

I would be down for that.

I'm just looking forward to checking it out at ~1000cfs...baby steps...I think 400ish is the highest I've run it.

Rockcastle @ 1700 + is an absolute BLAST! Glad there are others out there enjoying this KY gem at different levels.

The Rockcastle at these levels will make sure you have your brace in check, or you may end up getting a private roll session via the deathcastle.

I'm down with the idea of bushwhacking the trail better to hike back up. I've never tried it, but have heard others talk of hiking back up to S-Turn via the river left bank from below crybaby. Some say it's far easier than hiking back the normal trail on river right. Either way, I would love to make the riverside trail more friendly for hiking back up. Laps on the rockcastle are the way to go, and would be even better without having to run shuttle for each lap.

Fall/Winter seems like it would be the best time for such an adventure. When does everyone wanna make this happen?

Will

Adam - How was the last rapid aka. "Guy's Surprise" at the different levels you ran this weekend?

Guy's Surprise got bigger and bigger through 2500 cfs, but it was still recognizable. At 5000 cfs it was a totally different. It had big wave trains and a couple big holes and was about the length of Cry Baby at most levels, maybe even a little longer. I've heard people say it's the hardest rapid at higher water, but I think Teeth is the most difficult drop in the Narrows at all the levels I've run the Rockcastle, especially at high water.

Adam

Good trip report Adam. You mentioned not running the beach narrows above 2500 cfs. It was easier at 3200 cfs.

Here is Beach Narrows at about 3200 CFS
[www.youtube.com]
Here is Guys Surprise on the same day right after I swam and became pretty Hypothermic (now I have a dry suit). As Larry Cable always says, ‘Dress out as if you were going to swim’.
[www.youtube.com]

I hope to see all of you all on a creek real soon. I have the itch BAD!!!

Ledgeman