The Nolichucky can be run much higher than 3,000 cfs and I don't know why it gets pulled from the
runnable rivers at this level. 3,000 cfs + is when this run starts to get wild and fun. Edit

5/15/05

yesterday I ran the Nolichucky for the first time since the last round of floods. (1300cfs)

one area of note is the first ledge in Quartermile, the one above Hungry Jack. This has changed
radically from the way it used to be. There is now a LARGE boulder in the middle of the channel
(about where the old railroad barrel used to be), but it is not the main hazard. There is now a
very sticky hole associated with this ledge. The old move of catching the eddy below the Big Rock
on the left of the ledge now has consequences. whereas before, if you blew the ferry you could just
go on down and run Hungry Jack, now you are likely to wash into this hole. I saw it briefly stop a
raft yesterday, and pull boats back into it that got too close. Further, there is now a VERY BAD
pinning rock on the left end of Hungry Jack with current running onto it. several people I saw had
close encounters with this rock.

Scouting is easy, and hightly recommended. Portaging that first drop is also very easy, and IMO
should be considered unless you are very confident you can make the required moves. you can also
sneak Hungry Jack thru a small slot on the left if you carry the first drop...

have fun, be safe!

david

A few changes after the recent floods: A group of us ran the Nolichucky Gorge Saturday (myself,
Jason Weems, Caleb Paquette, Ashley Strickland, Bill Schooley, Hank Mullins and Spanker). The level
at Embreeville was 2150 at 6am Saturday. There are some changes in the Gorge to be aware of due to
the recent floods. I have a feeling the gauge is out of calibration. It felt pushy to me for 2150.
I thought things looked to be 2.8 to 3.0 feet which would correlate to 2500 to 2800. The only thing
that bugs me a bit about this is that the difference between the gauge in Greenville and
Embreeville seems correct. I doubt both of them are out of calibration the same way. It may be that
the rate of decline is so slow that the level at the gauge is closer to the level in the gorge than
what normally occurrs with a faster decline. Others in our group felt the same as I about the
level. So take the gauge change for what it is worth. There is a large rock splitting the channel
above Hungry Jack in Quarter Mile. You have to go right or left. The rock is easily visible from
the eddy at ducky beach. There are some other rocks in the eddy formed by the new rock. They were
just below the surface. Be careful if you decide to eddy hop. In my humble opinion, the new rock
makes this part of Quarter Mile more difficult to run. The rock is going to give rafts a hard time
next spring. I have never guided rafts but it looks to me that there is enough room for them to go
right of the rock. There is another rock on the river left side of Hungry Jack. The most impressive
change is at the perfect wave. Some of the large flat rocks have been moved about 20 feet
downstream making a bowl eddy at the wave. It appeared to me the wave is a little more
perpendicular to the current. It also appears that the eddy line is not as good as it used to
be.

From Laura:


Here goes:

The first rapid is Last Chance, it will follow shortly after you cross under the RR bridge. Just
about any line can be run through here with enough H20. You will see rocks in the river on your
left side, most people start about 15' or so to the right of these rocks, pinning possibility if
you go left of these rocks unless it is high water. Once you are headed down stay leftish &
look for the eddy that is behind these rocks or you can blow past the eddy and stay left. If ya
catch the eddy the wave hole below you is fun. (Look @ the picture on AW site)

You will have a pool then On the Rocks is next. In the center of the river there is a setup eddy
behind a large rock start from here with an angle to river left, really depends on the level on how
the hole will be. If you don't angle your boat going into the drop you can get pushed up on the
rock in the bottom of this drop, hence the name. If you get pushed to the right of "the rock"
straighten your boat and look for a clean line, people pin here and some rocks are undercut.
Ideally go left of all the large rocks that will divide the river below the drop. Instead of the
drop you can also: boof on river left with enough H20, you would need to get out look @ the rapid
to get that line you can pin if you go too far left. Also there are creekin' lines to be had on
river right, it is better to follow someone who knows them or get out & look. (Look @ the
picture on AW site)

Next is Jaws, which is a awesome playspot. Starts to get munchy around 2000 cfs, especially on
river right. 1500-1800 is my favorite play level. If the weather is nice you will have locals here.
People play here then hike the tracks back out. (Look @ the picture on AW site)

You will have some class II-III type stuff then you will come up on Quarter Mile, probably the
toughest on the river, definitely the longest. You can boat scout your way through entrance to
Quarter Mile. At the start of Quarter Mile rapid you will find a large eddy on river left, plenty
of room. From here you can see down the first drop, there will be a curler wave, past that you will
see small eddies that can be caught. Hit the curler wave angled towards river right. On your left
there are some nasty pinning spots and sieves. You can easily get out of your boat in that eddy and
check out the hazards in the first drop. Catch one of the small eddies I mentioned earlier. From
here you will see a large rock on river right, peel out and head for the left side of that rock,
you want to stay pretty close to that rock 5-8' there will be a large hole on your left. Catch the
eddy behind that large rock you just passed. From here you will see a large rock kinda in the
center, on the immediate right side of that rock is Hungry Jack hole. You will want to be right of
that large rock avoiding the hole and then ferrying back left behind the large rock. DO NOT go left
of that large rock, there is a spot called No way Jose that is bad. There is a move called Tilt a
Whirl on the left of the rock, but you need to follow someone for that. From here it is boogey H20,
look for the horizon line - that will be Murphy's Ledge, almost a river wide hole. You can take a
far right or far left line, you can boat scout either side. Far left is the normal route, people
have said there is RR debris on the right. There is a fine line in the middle of the ledge, again
you should follow someone for this line.

This will get you through the toughest part of the river. Next significant rapid is Roostertail.
Start river right and angle to river left for the first drop, avoiding hole on the right. After
that you will cut behind a large rock on river left.

Rock Garden is deceiving and not easy to scout, the line is impossible to describe. The river will
bend to the right and filter down through a rock garden, keep your boat straight here, you will
broach if you get sideways, I have. You want to stay straight and bounce off the rocks.

Railroad wall rapid is indicated by a large concrete railroad wall. This is a large hole. When you
see the horizon line get to the left eddy above it. There will be a rock in the center of the river
sticking up out of the H20. Cut against the left side of this rock, you will be skirting the hole
so keep it close to the rock.

I have only described the real significant rapids, there is plenty of stuff in between the rapids I
have mentioned. Do Do Hole, Maggies, Twin Eddies (great play hole in the bottom), etc. and other
class II-III type stuff. Keep in mind you can scout almost anything on river left and carry
everything on the RR tracks. As I mentioned before, the Nolichucky is the coldest H20 I have been
in this winter, there are RR tracks but the river is remote, no hiking out to a road. Also after
last weeks flood keep your eyes open for new wood, I am sure it will be there, we came across some
last Sunday in Bama. 2000 cfs will be juicy for a first time run with no guide. Just because I have
given long descriptions does not mean that this is some kind of monster river (atleast not around
2000cfs) I am overly detailed, I guess.

I love this area Erwin is great, I have a lot of good friends in this town and the locals are
always nice. Erwin Burrito is worth checking out as well, awesome spicy chicken quesadilla and
spicy chicken sandwich.

Hope this helps, have a great time.