Bird Creek

I was just browsing and looking for a possible river that I may want to run next summer if i travel. I saw this description about a rapid that is like soc-em-dog on the chattooga. I live in Georgia, and i've never heard of it being called a class VI rapid. All the rapid is is a simple boof. I would consider it a class IV. This is just interesting to me, because i thought the international scale was congruent. Granted i did paddle with some 'class V' midwest paddlers on an easy class IV and they continuously got beat down.

Bird Creek is alos good for packrafts at low water. Just skip the mushrom and the last big waterfall, scout as you go. Inner sanctum is super fun.

Check out video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5LuvLA4W08 at 2:31

Did you just say that sock em dog is a class six? What rating scale are you using bro?

We paddled Bird Creek June 21, 06. The Fast and Cold Guide Book does not give much information on this creek. We debated the Class V+ rating, but we also walked what we considered Class VI rapids. We didn't suffer too much carnage, so it felt more Class IV. It gets fairly continuous, so the Class V is not off the mark. The main thing to keep in mind about this river is if you can't see it, you NEED to scout it. We portaged a simple rapid due to strainers. I scraped into an eddy river- right, just before what we catagorized as a Class VI drop (do-able, but narley) reminiscent of Sock-em-dog on the Chattooga, also considered a Class VI. We ended up walking this one. I think it would be wise to hike in to see the 15+ foot waterfall before running this creek. KNOW THE EDDY! It's river- left after the Class V/VI continuous run through narrow, steep-walled banks. There is NO SECOND CHANCE once you enter the tight canyon. There is a Class IV (technically, but Class VI consequences)grinder in the middle of this canyon. Then there is the 15 foot(maybe bigger) waterfall that just so happens to have a log going across the drop. The best pieces of advice I can give towards this creek is, if the creek takes a sharp right hand turn, EDDY OUT! The first eddy will be on the right and the second (must not miss this one) is on the left. Scout often for strainers.