Tye, South Fork

Thanks to Mike M., here is the footage of an early run on the South Fork Tye:

www.youtube.com/watch   ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9RrE29VqJ0 )

Greg Gil (in the blue Corsica) was also along for our first descent of the North Fork and he shot video of that. If anyone knows where he has gone please let me know and i'll try to get that footy as well. Thanks, Gordon Dalton

***The map being auto-generated by the AW Website is not accuate. It shows both sections of the South Fork. Note that the put-in is not accurate for this section of the SFT.***

The South Fork Tye is the sister run to its nextdoor neighbor, the famous North Fork Tye. They make a great combination of runs to hit in the same day. Or set an even loftier goal of getting a 'Full Nelson' - runs on four of this area's short class V runs. (Forks of the Piney, Statons Creek, South Rockfish, and several other fun class V runs are within a half-hour radius).

The South Fork Tye (SFT) is not quite as 'defined' as the North Fork, but its signature rapid - Fodderstep - is arguably biggest drop of these two streams. Although it doesn't have as many 'big' drops as the NFT, the South Fork is actually slightly steeper; probably because it is even more continuous. It never lets up. The stream could be described as continuous class IV+ to V- boulder gardens, with a constant threat of strainers or fallen logs.

If you are looking for easier parking/access, or just a shorter option, consider putting-in at the Crabtree Falls Parking Area. (37.85106, -79.07898) This is a National Park fee area but provides easy access to a little more than half of the run. There is also a working pay phone near the creek in the lower parking area here. This lower section includes Limblog, Jeff's Jolly, and Fleckenstein's, but does not include Fodderstep.