Rocky (Cape Fear trib.)

We ran this at 730 on the Siler City gage and 660 on the Tick Creek gage. Meadow Creek was pumping pretty high as well and looked to have a decent drop at the confluence that we didn't run. The water was nearing the banks, but was not flooded, despite some low level islands being submerged throughout. Waves were in the 2-3 ft range throughout and 4-5 ft in the Wood's Mill area and at the end. There were some good surf waves throughout, but we had trouble catching them in our inflatables. None of the holes were sticky in terms of keeping you in them dangerously, but a few were big enough you'd need to punch to make it through (think WWC drops as a comparison). At this level the flat sections were not much of an issue since the current moved fast through them. Very good level if you have a roll and good crew to paddle with. There were no portages required although there were some floating logs and trees that seemed to be cracking along the banks on the way through. With very little play, the whole trip took about an hour and a half.

04/14/2019: Ran at level somewhere between 2000-4000. GREAT waves, no nasty holes, too many strainers to count (only 1 tree in main channel). Run took about 90 mins with minimal play.

Jonathan surfing the first good wave - notice the 'limbo log' in the background
One of many small ledges
Another nice Class II rapid. Great play hole at the bottom of the pourover but couldn't play in it due to the tree - maybe next time.....
Yet another Class II rapid......
And yet another Class II rapid
Just above where the Class III section starts. It begins with a 4'5' old stone milldam. At higher water as in the picture, it is less of a drop. Following this is 100 yards or so of Class II rapids as the river bends out of sight to the right. This is followed by a 3-4' ledge with a large hole at high water. Following this is a similar ledge with a similar hole. After the hole is a wave train. At the level in the picture, there were several 4-5 foot waves in the run-out. Nice eddy at the bottom of it all to collect the pieces and/or hop back up to run the wave train again and/or surf the waves.
Jonathan plays just below the milldam while Buddy starts down the Class II lead-in to the fun stuff
Hard to see but Jonathan is eddied out between the two ledges while Buddy punches the hole on the bottom ledge.
Buddy riding up the crest of the second wave at the bottom of the second ledge while Jonathan waits in the eddy above
Jonathan riding up the crest of the second wave below the bottom ledge
The paddlers' gage downstream river right of NC 902 bridge at the takeout. Dropped from 1.5' to 1' while we paddled.

variable waves, haystacks, curlers

top of rapid

first rapid,big waves

Great level, beefy, pushy, huge crashing waves, wires across river anounce beginning of rapid, some wood at bottom right channel

strainer/wood right channel

meat of the rapid

in the meat, 6-8' waves

first rapid, midway down

Put in

first major rapid/wave train