Tellico

The put-in consists of bumpy class II water that brings you to a series of ledges after passing under the first bridge. With a low level, these ledges can mostly be boat scouted to find the best route. At higher flows it's best that you already know your line. The Top Ledge is a six-foot drop that shouldn't present any problems, although river right should be avoided because a pinning potential exists here.

Note: these drops become much more difficult and dangerous at high levels (~1000 cfs, IV+). Top Ledge develops into a terminal hydraulic, guarded by the downstream rocks on the right; it was the site of a high-water fatality on Jan. 1, 2011.

Next is Dirty S, named for the way you run this class-III drop.

Middle Ledge (III) is an eight-foot plunge with an automatic boof if run towards river right. At normal water levels, there is plenty of calm water between Dirty S and this drop, so it shouldn't surprise you.

After these ledges, you will encounter more class II water and a sharp bend to the left in the river brings you to a short class II+ rapid. Immediately after this rapid be on the lookout for a horizon line. This is Baby Falls (III+ to IV), a 15-foot drop into a pool. Eddy on river right and scout your line. If you run far right, you will practically land into an eddy. If you run the middle, you better have some speed, and the left side offers a sweet boof into the pool below. If you portage, do it on river left. (This is true for all the rapids on the Upper section.)

From the pool below Baby Falls you can see Diaper Wiper (class III, IV at higher levels), the next rapid. Run the Wiper far right for first-timers. When you are comfortable with this rapid, you can run it against the river-left bank (pic shows looking up from bottom of rapid). The left route will push you into a pillow of water at the bottom, where you'll make a 90-degree turn to the right and head back into the middle of the river. This rapid can be run several ways, but the far right line is easiest at first. Avoid the middle because of a large pinning rock midway through the rapid (shown at the far right of this picture).

Shortly after the Wiper you will see Bald River Falls come in on river left. Pay attention, because the action is about to pick up. About a half mile below Bald River Falls you will enter the first rapid of Jared's Knee (III-IV). There are three distinct rapids at normal flows with the actual Jared's Knee rapid making up the fourth. At higher flows, these three rapids become one big rapid, so make sure you know where you are. At the bottom of Jared's Knee there is an undercut rock on river left; use caution here (undercut is on Louie's left in the picture). There have been several good pics of Jared's Knee posted below, check them out to get a good picture of the entire rapid. After this rapid it is only a short way to the take-out bridge.