Pigeon - 1. Walter's Power Plant at Waterville to Bridge at Hartford


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1. Walter's Power Plant at Waterville to Bridge at Hartford (The Dirty Bird!)

Class II-III
4.2 Miles

The Dragon Baby


The Dragon Baby
Photo of Brian Nicholson by Chris Young taken Summer 2000

Gauge Information

Name Range Updated Level
PIGEON R BL POWER PLANT NR WATERVILLE, NC 1200 - 2500 cfs 01h03m 215 cfs (rc= -0.8 )


River Description

This is a great break from the summer heat for many regional boaters. The put in is located at the Walter's Hydro-Plant, the Big Creek confluence in Waterville. Look for the many many boaters. Also, before you put on please sign in at the hut with the Cocke County Constable. This is not necessary, but it helps with their study about outdoor tourism to the area.

The rapids from the put-in to the bridge are the mildest of the trip. Many beginners take out here. The most popular play spot on this section is Razor-Rock, mile .5 on river left. Here, many people learn to do their first cartwheels.

Below the bridge, the rapids increase with difficulty, but never reaching above class III+. The first play spot is Snapdragon, a twenty foot wide hole at low levels, becoming a wave at higher flows. Playground is a few rapids below. Today, both Snapdragon and Playground are park-and-play by many.

Below there, Lost Guide has the largest obsticle on the river. In the middle of the river is a large sticky hydraulic that should probably be avoided by most beginners/intermediates. Most run it on river right to avoid the hole. Rollercoaster is the next rapid. The first wave can be enjoyed by longer boats.

There are several more rapids after this, and then you reach Hartford.




Comment: Stolen from BT from Crunchy:

First rapid:
Powerhouse.
Can be run left, middle or right.
Middle is the hardest. Bigger waves, holes, etc.
Easier is to run the left line.
Go just to the right of the big rock (on river left) at the top of the rapid.
Behind the rock the flow is slower (not really an eddy) and you can work through this flow to one of three eddies on river left.
There is a dead tree laying on the bank.
The tree is a good indicator of the three eddies.
Catching one of these eddies breaks up the lenght of the rapid.
Peel out and work to the middle to avoid rocks on river left.
Look for three dry rocks about 10 yards off the left bank.
Eddy behind these rocks or just below.
Congrats! That\'s Powerhouse.

Next is BFR:
You can run either right or left of Big Freeking Rock. I recommend stopping below it in the eddy.
The next rapid:
The water channels to the right side of the river below BFR.
The easiest line through this on the left side of the channel.
There is a hole on the right. (not a keeper) I love to punch this one.
After the hole there are offset waves and holes.
Easiest is on the left side. (to miss the hole)

Next is Razor Rock.
It is on river left. Great play spot.
Easiest is to stay in the middle of the current about 20 yards off the left bank. Trying to get into the eddy below Razor is harder the higher you hit the eddy.
Below Razor Rock there is a 10-yard wide hole just off the left bank.
This starts the next rapid.
Easiest is to pick your way down the right side.
The left side (after the hole) is the hardest.
There is another slide (playspot) on river left.
After that the river is fairly flat until the bridge.
After the bridge the river channels to the right again.
Easiest is to stay toward the left/center of the rapid.
The right has another nice hole.
After this is another little rapid with boogie water.

Next is Snap Dragon.
The river will make a big bend to the right.
The water will channel to the left.
The left side is where the big waves and holes are.
The center/right is easiest.
It will flow into another rapid that is easier the farther right you go.
Below this is a great area to play.
Super easy to miss stuff you don\'t want to hit.
This will continue until you see:

Lost Guide.
There is a triangular-shaped rock in the middle of the river.
That is your marker for the top of Lost Guide.
The sneak:
Have your boat about half-way between the rock and the right bank. (about 20-yards from the right bank.
Note: the rafts and normal line is about 10-yards off the right bank.
As soon as you see the river turning left, look for the big hole just to the left of the big rock on river left. (there may be people sitting on it)
Find the hole and look left for the green line that flows past the left side of the hole.
Follow that line up stream and see that the water comes from the left side of another (boat-sized) dry rock.
Turn left about 5 yards from this rock. The rock will pass down your right side.
This will put you on the green flow and you\'ll clear the big hole with eaze.

Next is Roostertail.
Easy line is down the right.
River flattens for a while until Double Reactionary.
Sneak is to eddy on the right above the rapid.
Look for just enough water flowing over the rocks on the right to bump your boat down.
Turn right to avoid Tombstone Rock and the wild water.
Stay far right (real bumpy, swallow) until you pass Super Glue hole.

The next rapid is Accelerator.
Go far left. (this is not the raft or regular hard boat line)
The line is one boat-width off the left bank.
This will give you a straight line down Accelerator and keeps you far away from Presidential Hole.
Stay left all the way down.
Those are the sneaks through the Pigeon.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2006-08-02 21:31:30


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