French Broad, West Fork, North Carolina, US
|
|
SR 1309 Bridge to US 64 Bridge (West Fork)
| Usual Difficulty |
IV-V (for normal flows) |
| Length |
3.4 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
100 fpm |
Upstream view of the 1st slide
Upstream view of the 1st slidePhoto of Upstream view of the 1st slide by Tyler Stewart taken 12/05/02 @ -1
Gauge Information
River Description
The West Fork is something different for those jaded by the North Fork. It has a slightly
different character, and offers the chance to go big more than once. Three times in fact, in a
row.
This different and slightly bigger character comes with some consequences though, as this river
has taken a life, unlike it's brother. There is a dangerous pothole in the first slide, small but
significant seives in the boulder garden, and some bad lumber all through the run.
Takeout:
From Headwaters Outfitters at 64 and 215, go West on 64 and look for a small factory immediately
before the small bridge. Turn L into the "Shipping and Receiving" drive and park near
the picnic tables.
Putin:
Turn L (West) on 64, and climb the grade. Turn R immediately past the CITGO gas station. Follow
this road (SR 1309) until it crosses the river. Park on the left or right.
You can hike down the river left bank to the first drop to get a feel for the flow. It's about a
quarter of a mile.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2009-10-29 23:52:36
User Comments
the first slide. There is a pothole in there, and I have watched it piton and pitchpole a very good
boater who mis-timed his last stroke. At 3", it really doesn't want to let you get to the right
wall to skim around the ledge with that small tongue. Middle, it seems, is where the pothole is.
Most successful seemed to be entering middle at top and heading left, then throwing a righty boof
off the lip. That drop is so much fun when you hit it correctly, but please don't take it lightly
due to the pothole.
West Fork. We spent several hours on the logjam in one of the middle drops of Jim Sheppard Rapids,
the long Class IV boulder garden.<br>
<br>
I waded across and chainsawed the logs, which averaged 8-11 inches in diameter, into pieces about
7-8 feet long. Dan stayed on river right and hauled the logs into eddys over there using his throw
rope which I binered onto each log.<br>
<br>
We were quite careful as we cut through the strainer pile, which was completely blocking a 3-foot
drop about 6 feet wide halfway down the rapid. There were a half dozen logs stuffed in the only
navigable drop, as well as a railroad tie and the remnants of one of those river tubes (maybe it
was left over from that guy who was videotaped tubing Pothole Falls awhile back.)<br>
<br>
While on river left, I also cut smaller strainers upstream and downstream in the rapid. Then
holding the chainsaw over my head I waded back across and we sawed up the six or seven large logs
into sections no longer than 4 feet. We carried some above the high water mark, but they were
waterlogged and heavy as hell, so we ended up stacking the rest in a cleft in the rocks on river
right about 6 feet above water level. We also removed another 10-inch diameter, 8-foot log that was
stuck under a rock upstream of the former bad strainer.<br>
<br>
On our way out, I waded back across the river and cut an overhanging rhodo branch that has knocked
several paddlers over in one of the final drops. It is all clear now and good to go the next time
it rains.
it as is and I really want to see the carnage. Thanks
C-1. He was ejected out of his boat hard enough to rip out the thigh straps. After that, I ran
right.