There is a fallen tree blocking up the left side of stekoa creek rapid about half way down. Its
pretty easy to see, but thought I'd give a heads up Edit
2009-10-17 09:57:47 (69 days ago)
was told today of a log "deep" in sock'm dog hole... apparently an effort was made to remove the
log but inadvertently added a hook and a decent chunk of line to the mess. I am hearing this third
party but thought a warning should be posted if one hadn't been. So take a second if you can...
scope it out or walk it. HAPPY FALL PADDLING Yes there is a log and grappling hook and a bunch of
rope in sock'm dog. (yea, thanks for that NOC!) Edit
I went down this run as well as section III on labor day weekend at 1.20 on usgs (online) gauge. We
ran everything fine until we got to crack in the rock. The right and left cracks were too low to
run, so we planned to go down the middle until when I paddled over there there was a large log
blocking the way. We had to portage to the left on a rock and get back in but it was difficult
because there was no banks so I threw my boat in and then I jumped in the river and climbed back in
my inflatable kayak. I would try to get out on the river right though before I resulted to getting
out on the left. Lots of scrappy shoals at this level. Edit
At .98 rock jumble is a pain in the butt. Literally. It hurt. THe normal line is low to go. I drank
from the river. Good times all in all. At 1.05 it is much easier cause you dont fall sideways on a
rock and fall off of it. Rolling in rock Jumble stole my paddle. Found it when it wiggled loose a
minute later. Rolling in rock jumble HAHA right if you like the taste of granite.
2009-04-15 07:47:35 (254 days ago)
Is there anyone who does shuttles in this area? Me and my buddy are coming around may 14th but we
know nothing about the area. Yeah, we plan to "man up" and really get after it with each other. We
were gonna spend a couple days in charlottee and then go rn secs 3 and 4 of this river. Edit
crack has changed in the last 30-45 days. right crack is now clear. just after new years, the wood
from right crack appeared in far right crack and was kinda ugly; since then, however, the big log
has washed out of far right crack and deposited itself in some rocks above jawbone--actually not a
bad place for it. there are still some smaller logs in far right. i'll post some pics later in the
week.
Check out http://www.chattoogariver.org/index.php?req=dam&quart=Su2002 for the history of the
Tallulah and Chattooga before the erection of the Tugalo Dam. It's got some niche ole photos of
rapids which used to exist, some 80+ years ago. (Sniff...)
Thanks to "Gomer" at BT for pointing out that great article!
The USGS has apparently changed some stuff with their formatting. AW's web developer is working on
fixing this glitch. Meanwhile, this handy table can help you make sense of the reading from above:
flow (cfs) stage (ft) 240 1.2 300 1.3 350 1.4 420 1.5 490 1.6 570 1.7 650 1.8 740 1.9 840 2.0 940
2.1 1040 2.2 1160 2.3 1280 2.4 1400 2.5 1550 2.6
The Chattooga actually became part of the National Wild and Scenic River system on May 10, 1974.
July 1, 1976 was the first day that it was illegal to boat aboe the highway 28 bridge.
Yes a new bridge is being built. However the existing paddler's gauge will be preserved, at least
that is the plan at this point.
Right Crack looks like the tunnel of love at Ravens Rock underwater New
Forum: BoaterTalk
Re: right crack at chattooga by tarheel123 Nov 10 2003, 23:29 GMT New
Date: Nov 10 2003, 23:45 GMT
From: GA_CREEKER
I went scuba diving at Crack a number of years ago and went all around right/middle and left crack.
The two rocks almost touch at the top of right crack. A large log (there used to be two) goes from
the bottom of the river and is wedged in the top crease. The smaller logs/branches have collected
horizontally like a beaver dam to seal most of the opening. No significant water went around the
river right of the log but a lot of water goes around the left and under the big rock in the center
of the rapid. This rock is undercut/overhanging just below the water surface and you can go back
5-7 ft from the downstream face. A good number of boats have gone through the passage but a body
may have a higher likelyhood of snagging on one of the many branches forming the dam. I suspect
that if the log ever rots/washes out the entire river would go through this slot and you would
paddle under the rocks you go over now like a bridge.
Aside, you can walk into left crack and go under the rock between left and center crack and sit and
watch the bubbles of center crack go by on one side (a 3x5 ft window) and the bubbles of left crack
go by on the other side.
If a boater is ever stuck in left crack you need to push their shoulders/arms back into the drop
until the water catches their torso. They will then wash under the pinning rock and free from the
rapid. I've worked a recovery here and you cannot pull someone against the force of the water.
There is lots of room under the pin rock (5-6 ft), which is why kayaks pin there so bad. Also a
canoe or raft can be broached across the top of the drop significantly reducing the amount of water
going through the drop.
Section 4 playspots, from JBon boatertalk:
Not good play on section IV......good play on section III??????? Allow me to list out SOME of the
playspots on section IV (level dependent):
1: Surfing Rapid
2: Hole above 7 ft.
3: Hole RIGHT above seven foot(not for the timid..better at
lower levels)
4: Pourover below little 7ft....can wheel on both sides
5: Surfing wave at bottom of Stekoa rapid
5: Long Creek hole
6: Turtlehead rock
7: Splatwheel rock at turtlehead (sliding splatwheel)
8: Wheelin' rock below Raven's chute
9: Splatwheel right below this one
10: Another sweet splatwheel spot..hard to describe where
11: Little Woodall....again not for the timid
12: Hole in slot above Crack..need a 100% roll for this one
one of my favorites lately
13: Quelude
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Lots of fun eddy lines and smaller waves and holes. Only take
a creekboat if you're not going to play, or if you feel you need the extra confidence it'll give
you. If you're a solid boater and plan on playing, you can have LOTS of fun on Section IV. There
aren't ANY really fun playspots on Section III until the water gets above 2.5 ish. I do, however,
agree a creekboat will feel better at the lake.
User Comments
pretty easy to see, but thought I'd give a heads up Edit
log but inadvertently added a hook and a decent chunk of line to the mess. I am hearing this third
party but thought a warning should be posted if one hadn't been. So take a second if you can...
scope it out or walk it. HAPPY FALL PADDLING Yes there is a log and grappling hook and a bunch of
rope in sock'm dog. (yea, thanks for that NOC!) Edit
ran everything fine until we got to crack in the rock. The right and left cracks were too low to
run, so we planned to go down the middle until when I paddled over there there was a large log
blocking the way. We had to portage to the left on a rock and get back in but it was difficult
because there was no banks so I threw my boat in and then I jumped in the river and climbed back in
my inflatable kayak. I would try to get out on the river right though before I resulted to getting
out on the left. Lots of scrappy shoals at this level. Edit
from the river. Good times all in all. At 1.05 it is much easier cause you dont fall sideways on a
rock and fall off of it. Rolling in rock Jumble stole my paddle. Found it when it wiggled loose a
minute later. Rolling in rock jumble HAHA right if you like the taste of granite.
know nothing about the area. Yeah, we plan to "man up" and really get after it with each other. We
were gonna spend a couple days in charlottee and then go rn secs 3 and 4 of this river. Edit
no telling once again what may be in there. Edit
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/forest/recreation/chattooga.shtml Edit
from right crack appeared in far right crack and was kinda ugly; since then, however, the big log
has washed out of far right crack and deposited itself in some rocks above jawbone--actually not a
bad place for it. there are still some smaller logs in far right. i'll post some pics later in the
week.
Tallulah and Chattooga before the erection of the Tugalo Dam. It's got some niche ole photos of
rapids which used to exist, some 80+ years ago. (Sniff...)
Thanks to "Gomer" at BT for pointing out that great article!
fixing this glitch. Meanwhile, this handy table can help you make sense of the reading from above:
flow (cfs) stage (ft) 240 1.2 300 1.3 350 1.4 420 1.5 490 1.6 570 1.7 650 1.8 740 1.9 840 2.0 940
2.1 1040 2.2 1160 2.3 1280 2.4 1400 2.5 1550 2.6
July 1, 1976 was the first day that it was illegal to boat aboe the highway 28 bridge.
Yes a new bridge is being built. However the existing paddler's gauge will be preserved, at least
that is the plan at this point.
Forum: BoaterTalk
Re: right crack at chattooga by tarheel123 Nov 10 2003, 23:29 GMT New
Date: Nov 10 2003, 23:45 GMT
From: GA_CREEKER
I went scuba diving at Crack a number of years ago and went all around right/middle and left crack.
The two rocks almost touch at the top of right crack. A large log (there used to be two) goes from
the bottom of the river and is wedged in the top crease. The smaller logs/branches have collected
horizontally like a beaver dam to seal most of the opening. No significant water went around the
river right of the log but a lot of water goes around the left and under the big rock in the center
of the rapid. This rock is undercut/overhanging just below the water surface and you can go back
5-7 ft from the downstream face. A good number of boats have gone through the passage but a body
may have a higher likelyhood of snagging on one of the many branches forming the dam. I suspect
that if the log ever rots/washes out the entire river would go through this slot and you would
paddle under the rocks you go over now like a bridge.
Aside, you can walk into left crack and go under the rock between left and center crack and sit and
watch the bubbles of center crack go by on one side (a 3x5 ft window) and the bubbles of left crack
go by on the other side.
If a boater is ever stuck in left crack you need to push their shoulders/arms back into the drop
until the water catches their torso. They will then wash under the pinning rock and free from the
rapid. I've worked a recovery here and you cannot pull someone against the force of the water.
There is lots of room under the pin rock (5-6 ft), which is why kayaks pin there so bad. Also a
canoe or raft can be broached across the top of the drop significantly reducing the amount of water
going through the drop.
Not good play on section IV......good play on section III??????? Allow me to list out SOME of the
playspots on section IV (level dependent):
1: Surfing Rapid
2: Hole above 7 ft.
3: Hole RIGHT above seven foot(not for the timid..better at
lower levels)
4: Pourover below little 7ft....can wheel on both sides
5: Surfing wave at bottom of Stekoa rapid
5: Long Creek hole
6: Turtlehead rock
7: Splatwheel rock at turtlehead (sliding splatwheel)
8: Wheelin' rock below Raven's chute
9: Splatwheel right below this one
10: Another sweet splatwheel spot..hard to describe where
11: Little Woodall....again not for the timid
12: Hole in slot above Crack..need a 100% roll for this one
one of my favorites lately
13: Quelude
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Lots of fun eddy lines and smaller waves and holes. Only take
a creekboat if you're not going to play, or if you feel you need the extra confidence it'll give
you. If you're a solid boater and plan on playing, you can have LOTS of fun on Section IV. There
aren't ANY really fun playspots on Section III until the water gets above 2.5 ish. I do, however,
agree a creekboat will feel better at the lake.
1.55 bridge = 1.7 USGS.
1.45 bridge = 1.6 USGS as of April 2002.