May 12, 2006
| Reporter | Jonathon Huhn |
We got there the day before and the river was low. The next day,after getting geared up for hiking for the day, on our on way to go hiking, saw the river was perfect. We putin at Herbert Holt park on the end of the strip. No Way Jose's was about a 3/4 of a mile upriver. The night before, there was heavy rainfall due to tornado weather, the West Prong was perfect. When we were at the park getting geared up, out of nowhere came some dark storm clouds. It rained hard for ten minutes and then went away.The class two and three action was setup for Mike, Chris, myself,and not last but not least,Mike's six year old son Collin. There flatwater for about 1/2 of a mile before the class two plus started off. The first set of rapids we hit were great. The river after that was pretty much like the following: strech of swift moving flatwater to anywhere between 15-45 yards of constant class 2/3 rapids. There is a very nice five foot slide about halfway to three fourths down this run right before the second to last bridge. It is after the bridge on the RIVER LEFT next to the highway. Chris was the leader on this trip. He went first, Mike and Collin second, and I went third for safety reason's. After Chris saw the slide he was yelling,Mike go right and then yelling Jon hit that hole. We took out in Pigeon Forge behind a hotel. I can't think of the name of it. However , there is a sewage treatment plant that dumps treated sewage into the West Prong . Going into Pigeon Forge, the water was all flat and the headwinds coming of the river were hard and cold. If you take the time to scout the entire run from the highway, you will see all sorts of options as far putins and takeouts.I would urge boaters to check it out.It was a great run, except for the trash on the river from the strip in Gatlinburg and the treatment plant. It's about six plus miles or so.