Tuckasegee, West Fork

Ran this yesterday (just happened to catch it- don't know the flow, so I might be overestimating what the river will be like at release and my comments below might be overinflated) and have to make some comments:

this is a creek, so if you don't have skills to run stuff like the North Fork French Broad, Lower Big Creek, or similar stuff, you will find this a little big for your taste. The reason I say this is based upon the number of holes (some pretty sticky), the amount of trees, and the overall difficulty of a couple of rapids. One rapid in particular, located about 1/3 to 1/2 mile below the bridge at Cullowhee Forest development is a Class IV/IV+ (maybe a V at high water) due to the two holes in the rapid, and an undercut I noticed. It has 3 or 4 moves in it, and drops into a pretty nasty hole on the bottom left. Be careful and be good at boat scouting if you've never run this, you'll be in boogie water alot in some sections.

Overall, I think it is going to be a gem of a run (the water was crystal clear)- we just need to get some strainers moved out of there.

-Newton