Stinging Fork

The falls was run as far back as the mid 1970s by Mark Hall, Patrick McNally, and Alan Singley. A photo of their run graced the wall of Bruce Hare's Chattooga Whitewater Shop for many years. From Robin Sayler: 'The 'classic' picture of Stinging Fork Falls was of Pat McNally, taken by Singley. Pat, Alan, and Mark Hall were there in the mid '70's in the middle of winter, at REALLY high water. They couldn't run anything else, so they hiked in to SF. They all ran it multiple times, and Alan even has a picture of Mark running it backwards, though unintentionally. There is a not-so-good picture of Alan running it around somewhere.'

Note: Robin fractured his back when he, Bobby Gaar, Danny Tipton and I were there in 1983.

Ken

From Clay Wright:

Stinging Fork

From Mark Cumnock

Stinging Fork

This one is noted for the big drop that can break backs, as noted by a group from Kentucky who first ran the drop in the late eighties. Later Clay Wright perfected the line on the drop. Later Jeff Richards, Bailey Johnson and myself put-in at the headwaters and ran to the take out (the same take out for Piney Creek) hoping to pioneer and open up the run. Mainly a disappointment, all the gradient is chewed up at the falls. If you want this drop you are better off hiking the trail to the falls, and get out the camera. Then hike back to the car. It is a long paddle for one Drop, there is a slide after the big one and after that it starts to slack up. It is a very pretty run even compared to all the others in the region.

See a larger version of this picture by clicking here.

Successful low water run in 1983. One person in our group did injure his back this day, however. Submitted by

Ken Strickland

First desacent of Stinging Fork Falls