Apalachee,
|
|
Pot Leaf Shoals (Apalachee park and play spot)
| Usual Difficulty |
II-III (may vary with level) |
| Length |
0.1 Miles |
Backblast in Pot Leaf Shoals Playhole
Backblast in Pot Leaf Shoals PlayholePhoto of Will Van De Berg by Lelania Van De Berg @ 250 cfs
Gauge Information
River Description
The gauge you are looking for is the Apalachee near Bostwick gauge and you want
between 200-400 cfs for it to be optimal play. You can definitely play it at both lower
(absolute minimum is around 100 cfs) and higher levels, I have played there at around
3000 cfs and beyond, but it gets way more intense and is a huge, kind of flood stage
feeling to it. The line to the right of the island opens up then and it has a GNARLEY hole
on river right that will keep you in it for a long while (I found this out myself one day) as
well as some entrapment potential on the river left of it-- stay center for best results. At
high flows, the wave mid rapid goes from being a small wave to a nice hole to, at really
high flows, a great 6-7' surf wave. At higher flows, the blasting hole gets pretty unfun as
the current shoves you into the rock on river left, making it more difficult to play in and
at
really high flows, this feature completely disappears.
At between 200-400 cfs, the park and play spot is a blast, with surfing waves, a great
blasting hole, a deep eddyline for flatwater moves, several splat spots, and other features
that make it worth while to hit when you live in Athens. Not a destination boating
location, but a great training spot for Athens area boaters.
Directions to the Appalachee:
Go out of Athens on Hwy 441/129/24 south towards Bishop, Farmington and Madison,
GA. Go through Bishop and then Farmington and once you finally see the Oconee
Heritage Park on your right hand side (a big shelter type structure sitting a ways off of the
road), you will know that you are getting close. Pass OH Park and then go about another
mile or so til you see a fruit stand on the left hand side of the road. Once you pass it,
there will be a dirt road headed left off of 441, take it. Go on this road for about 500
yards
til you see a road headed off right come up (with a tire-stop sign holding thing in the
intersection). Take the road going right (the good road, not the 4 wd road on the far right)
and follow it for about one mile till you pass all of the houses and trailers and are now in
the middle of the woods. You will by this time be going up a hill surrounded by woods on
both sides. When you get to the top of this hill and just before you begin to be headed
down the other side of it, you will see another dirt road headed up and right, take it.
Follow this road around as it bears right and downhill. Go downhill for a decent ways till
you see the road split left or right, follow the left line and then you will end up in a
cleared
area at the top of an old railroad bridge. Park on the side of the road and head downhill
following the trail/rutted out road on the left side of the trestles. Put in there and paddle
down about 200' and then head left around a small island following the main flow of the
water. The rapids will then come up and just enjoy. There are play spots all down the
drops that can be re-run, etc.
Also, anyone in the Athens area that wants to be put on the UGA WHITEWATER CLUB
LISTSERV so that they can network with other UGA/Athens boaters, drop me an email
and I will add you to the list. Email me at willvdb@uga.edu
StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2004-01-15 14:57:50
Editors
User Comments
down a big hill at Price Mill, but wasnt bad. Water flowed well first 2-3 miles but then slowed
down considerably. Flowing about 61 cfs I believe. Had to pick up and drag about 5 times. Took out
at 441. Washouts on access were kinda rough, but a 2wd truck made it down. Would not want to
attempt this aftter a rain though. We did not paddle down any farther than 441, but in my canoe
guide it talks about a take out 1 mile past 441. Local sources tell me that there is a road that
leads to the river there (Old Madison Hwy??), but a timber company has gated the road about 1/4
mile from river. To my knowledge the road is still public and it will be a long drag, but free to
use. I dont know how they got approval to gate a public road? Edit
fun, but unfortunately litterers did not appreciate it for its peacefulness, and used it as a free
for all to dump their beer cans. Additionally, mud boggers not only trashed the entry road, they
took their trucks down to the river and wrecked the river banks. Since the entry road wasn't
maintained with gravel, it was nearly impossible for a two wheel drive vehicle to get out after
substancial rain. I know, I spent a day there trying to get out. I hate that the river access was
shut down, but I won't miss the non-carers that went there. My question is, what's the best up
river access and down river takeout. Edit
gated and locked. Might be accessable from bridge on 441 but otherwise no other roads open to
public. Edit
"I found on your web site a cool play spot on the Appalachee River that is close enough to get in
my boat and get wet without driving far. Well, I went there today and a person has bought all the
land from the bridge on 441/129 all the way down and has posted several gates with the Classic "NO
Trespassing" signs. I talked with locals and he does not live there, but to be safe in the
backwoods of Georgia I would rather not take my chance with the law. I thought I would try further
upstream, but there would be no way to hike my boat out without stepping on this guys property due
to the fact that he bought both sides of the river."
If you have more information, please notify AW at kevin@amwhitewater.org.