Big Panther Creek

Ran BPC last week when the Chattooga the day after Chattooga crested at a little over 9 feet the night before. It was about 2 inches under the PVC pipe when we put on. It was super-fun. Here are some details. First, the shuttle is truly around-the-world. You'll spend at least 45 minutes one way. This run is truly best if you have a bunny to help. Thanks to some Athens boaters, there is now a beeline through the trees from the parking area all the way down to where the river clears out at the footbridge. It's not very wide, but it will do with some prudent ducking of rhodo. Also, the big drop under the cliff wall will hopefully be cleaned out soon -- making it the best rapid on the river -- 10 foot total double boof thing into a long around the corner slide under a cliff wall into a big hole and two good ledges immediately below. I cant wait to run this thing. Almost did even with the wood, but a mistake at the bottom would have been costly. The river opens up at the campground on the left and the footbridge. After that, you reach the first rapid, a long slide with an obvious horizon line. It's good to go, just dont go too far left and end up in the trees or too far right and end up in the undercut. Left center all the way down will be fine. After that, you'll get some creeky rapids down to the falls. You will see a narrowing of the river through a 15-foot slot with a major horizon line below. That's the falls. Start the portage before the entrance slide to be safe. Carry right. After the falls, you'll see some more great little creeky rapids until you reach the boof. 5-6 foot steep but not vertical slide into a small moving pool and right down the pipe over a perfectly clean 10-footer. Super fun. After that you'll see another horizon line. This is Automatic for the People. You should probably scout left to check out the tree situation, though the scout trail (or lack thereof) sucks. Go left of center with a little right angle down over the double boof and boogie right at the bottom to avoid the tree in the washout. Until it's gone, might consider placing a buddy down there on the tree just in case. The rapid is fine, looks a lot tougher than it actually is (and a lot easier than the portage trail). The next rapid immediately downstream is a fun slide with a tricky entrance and a major piton rock at the bottom right waiting for any stray boaters. Boof left with some good lefthand momentum to be sure to clear the ugly piton rock at the bottom right. If you hit it right, it