Little Pigeon, Middle Prong, Tennessee, US |
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| Usual Difficulty | V (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.4 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 414 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 461 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE PIGEON RIVER ABOVE SEVIERVILLE, TN | ||||
| usgs-03469175 | 2000 - 5000 cfs | V | 2y120d17h03m | 227 cfs (rc= -0.6 ) |
This run is of the same difficulty as the Trailhead Section of the West Prong. It has a little more breathing room as far as pace and continuity, but this is undermined by the larger drops spaced more frequently and evenly along the run than the WP. Unlike the West Prong's large drops being all put together in the distance of 1/4 mile, Ramsey's has them throughout the whole 1.4 miles. There are some incredible boofs. One near the beginning stands out as being the best in the smokies. The boogie is high quality class 5. This is considering the boogie on Upper Big Creek is quality class 4. Interlaced in the boogie are frequent large drops that should possibly be scouted. A guide might be neccessary the first few times, as this run is braided in spots with only one channel being safe. There is a spot called the Death Sieve about 2/3 of the way down that one must be aware of. It looks just like any of the other 100's of blind turns, but is something more. There is a super cool sneak on the left. Soon after is one of the big boys, a manky entrance into a full on shallow corridor of about 20 feet in drop. The river then gathers momentum and drops over a manky ledge that is sieved out on the left. Aim right. The last big one above the eight footer at the trailhead bridge is like a big version of monster on Upper Big Creek. Walk on the left. Enjoy.
Now there is a better way. There is a gauge called Little Pigeon above Sevierville which measures the flow of only the Middle Prong and the East Fork of the Little Pigeon. This more accurately conveys flows in the upper stretches of the Middle Prong, as the West Prong is not included in the values recorded at this gauge location. This gauge is four miles upstream of the West Prong confluence
Using local radar rainfall totals, investigate whether the rain was valley precipitation or whether it fell in the higher altitudes at the top of the headwaters. If it fell high then look for levels of 2000 cfs or more for good flows. If it is still rising it is anyone's bet, based on rainfall totals. If it is falling and is below 2000, then this run has already expired.
National Weather Service/NOAA Rain gauge for Sevier County
Newfound Gap is a good rain gauge for this run, though it is in one watershed west, that of the West Prong Little Pigeon. If there has been an inch and a half or more, this is likely to be running, with more rain required after extended dry periods.
This run is navigable on a more regular basis than people realize, and has a sizable drainage.
This run is high in the watershed, and runs off quick usually. Look for heavy rainfall at Newfound Gap, and the beginnings of a large spike on the referenced streamflow gauge.
At the US 321 bridge, there is a gauge on the midstream river left bridge abutment that is faintly spraypainted on the upstream face. Unfortunately as of 12/2006, the gauge is not readable and needs a repaint real soon.This is downstream of the confluence with Porter's Creek, which can bring in equal or higher volume than Middle Prong itself. The section described herein can be running as low as 2 feet on the gauge and not running with as much as 3 feet. It depends on the amount of water coming down Porter's Creek and whether the system is rising or falling. With uniform rainfall and arival just after the peak, look for levels of 2.5 as a minimum and 3.2 as a maximum. The trailhead down can be run lower and Porter's confluence to the 321 bridge at even lower levels.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE PIGEON RIVER ABOVE SEVIERVILLE, TN | ||||||||||||
| usgs-03469175 | 2000 - 5000 cfs | V | 2y120d17h03m | 227 cfs (rc= -0.6 ) | ||||||||
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | Super Boof | IV+ |   |
| 0.4 | The First big one | 5.1 |  |
| 0.7 | Island Rapid | 5.1 | |
| 0.9 | The flume | 5.0 | |
| 1.0 | Death Sieve | 5.3 |  |
| 1.1 | You gonna like it | 5.0 | |
| 1.3 | Toby's Tumble | 5.1 | |
| 1.4 | Big Monster | 5.2 | |
Flying off superboofRide out on the dragon's back and boof off. You will be smiling.
Island DropA huge smoothe boulder splits the flow, with a tight sieved out eight footer on the right, and a technical line with wood on the left. A portage can be accomplished after scouting by lowering down from the boulder into the eddy between the two different lines.
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1. Ramsey Prong confluence to Bridge at Trailhead , Little Pigeon, Middle Prong Tennessee, US (mobile)
User Comments
http://www.boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/1659925 June 25, 2009 - If you didn't catch it, an
overturned kayak was found just outside of the Smokies on the MP of the Little Pigeon. It spurred a
search and rescue scenario that was serious enough for it to be reported to local TV stations. Not
sure of the outcome and I hope everyone is OK. But this did raise a very significant question. Who
do we notify when we a boat gets pinned or gets out of our control in the Smokies and darkness or
other circumstances force us to abandon it for any period of time? My friend Russell asked this
question and this was his post on a local paddling list serve. I asked the GSMNP folks what would
be the best way to report a lost boat.Here is their reply: Hello, If there is a report of an
accident or missing person, the park responds and/or conducts a search, but just finding an empty
kayak in the water would not necessarily result in a full-fledged search and rescue effort as the
town of Pittman Center launched during the recent incident. If one of your club members loses a
boat, but is otherwise okay, please call the park's Dispatch Office at (865) 436-1230 to let them
know that an empty boat may be found and it is not an emergency situation. This is a non-emergency
line which is staffed from 6:00 a.m. - midnight, but if a serious accident or other emergency has
occurred in the park, sometimes all available dispatchers have to concentrate on radio
communications among responding units and don't answer the line. If there is an accident with a
serious injury or a member of your party is known to be missing, please call 911. Best regards,C.
BloomGreat Smoky Mountains National Park