New Hope Creek (Haw River trib.)

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I've run New Hope a few times at the 'I'm desperate' level. With about 1.25' - 2' of rain in 24 hrs you can catch a bubble if you time it right. Doing the whole thing from Turkey Hill Farm is pretty scrapy and loses the fun factor by the time you get to the big stuff.

I've also walked in from the Concrete Bridge Rd. off of Whitfield. It's about a 1/2 mile hike in but at least it's downhill...you get the big stuff and beautiful scenery of Duke Forest. Parking there also makes shuttle walkable. I've decided that if there water covering the trail underneath the Erwin Rd. bridge then it's runnable. A few inches below the trail = barely runnable. Another visual are the sketchy metal fence posts, if they're covered then water's good. If 10-12' are exposed = lower runnable / desperate. Would hate to swim and get impaled by one of these.

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It rained just over 6' in the last 2 days. I'd say the creek came up at least 4-6 feet if not more. As a WNC boater, I was dubious about said Class III, but it was definitely there (reminds me of last part of the Narrows on Big Laurel). Fun scenic run. There's a little play along the way and the 'rapids' get bigger throughout the run until they are actual rapids. Reminiscent of the Nanny in some points but more creeky, continuous and full of trees. Some wood to portage but easily scout-able and most of it you can go underneath/ over. Cane Creek gauge flashed to about 6 feet today and it dropped while I was on it but New Hope is still gushing even after the official gauge was at 71 cfs.