I'm curious about the upper section to the FS bridge.

Is this section solid continuous class IV at the projected levels for saturday? i'm guessing between 1100-1200cfs?
I know its fast, big offset holes similar to Ocoee but bigger, not many eddys, trees, solid boof skills required for some of the ledges and a bomber roll. Check.

I've read the descriptions, seen the pics, but would like some first hand info from you veterans.

I would say mostly class III+ with the exception of Takeout, which I would consider sold IV+. Cheoah to the FS bridge kinda reminds me of the olympic section on the upper ocoee without any eddy's.

Thanks Will

Along this same topic, does anyone have any good suggestions for runs to get under the belt before hitting the Cheoah?

Adam

Brandon,
By FS bridge I assume you are referring the Bridge you can drive across where the gauge is (not far above Bear Creek Falls) - as it's called on the AW page. There is also a swinging Bridge upriver where the action starts to pick up.

To me, the Cheoah is unlike anything else in this region anyway. It's got everything. Above the Bridge There are multiple Class IV rapids with some continous III-IV water here and there ... below the Bridge it gets very interesting with Class IV's / IV+ so close together I think parts take on an overall class V persona ... my opinion anyway.

To do the Cheoah, I recommend that your roll be absolutely bombproof. The many trees that line the run make for hazardous swimming in some places. It's an excellent place to lose a paddle so if you do swim, don't let go of it cause I've only been on 6-8 Cheoah runs and have witnessed 2 lost paddles in my groups so far! I've had 3 swimmers in my groups, and 2 lost paddles so the odds aren't good for finding it if you let go! A breakdown in the group is highly recommended.

The Upper Cheoah is much like the Upper Ocoee in its upper reaches .. winding through the trees / shrubs trying to follow the line through class II / III stuff. As you approach the Pipeline / God's Dam area things start to pick up in ernest. The action is continuous in this section - good read and run skills and a solid brace is recommended. Below this section you will see holes, pourovers, ledges / ledge holes ... pretty much everything. III to IV- mostly. Occasional mazes of tree channels. Beware of pourovers and ledge holes ... they can be much bigger and more potent than on the Ocoee.

Below the FS bridge, things really get interesting. The river narrows a bit and the waves / holes / squirrely water picks up quite a bit. The entrance to BCF can be as hard as BCF ... pick your line at BCF ... I like the big drop but finding the sweet landing can be tricky. Scout at least once with the water off if you can. The Creek line may be a bit harder (most say not significantly) and I've seen carnage in it as well. Do not run BCF until you are fully aware of the pothole in the rapid below:

[www.americanwhitewater.org]

Most folks on the Cheoah are totally ignorant of this significant potential hazard. I wouldn't boat in a playboat over this thing or swim anywhere near it. There's an easy slide well to the right of this pothole and you can also cut around the boulder that leads into the IV rapid below best run center then left as I recall (been doing Watauga channel last couple of runs). The far left at the boulder is the Watauga channel and it's harder ... IV+ Some class III-IV action for a ways til you get close to Tapaco and it picks up again to Class IVish.

Yard Sale is an interesting rapid. For the first drop below the bridge, which is the biggest, far right is usual line but far left I think is a bit easier ... drop down a couple of ledges and punch a couple of small holes. There are several ledges below, one of which I sat and watched about 25% flip in it when they hit the curling wave.

I haven't boated with you in a while Brandon, but I'd say if you are comfortable on the Upper Ocoee, and have a rock solid roll, then you should take a look at the Cheoah above the FS Bridge. You can see a lot of the major rapids from the road. Take a close look above and below Gods Dam (just below the swinging Bridge) ... there's really nothing harder than that above the FS Bridge.

Wes

Thanks Wes. I'm only considering the stretch above the FS bridge, not the class IV+ stuff. Sounds perfect, might get on it this weekend if I'm up for traveling.