5/19/2010: Chattooga R., Section III 1/2: Thrift's to Woodall

With: David Bernard, Dan Bertko, Kim Buttleman, Marilyn Jones, Regina O`Donnell, Chris Oberlin, Jenny Thomas, Mikel Wellman
 
I've always considered section III.5 ("three-and-a-half") to be the worst of both worlds. I still think the first half, Thrift's Ferry to the US-76 bridge, is the worst part of Section III (particularly for people who don't run Bull Sluice), but the second half, from the bridge to Woodall Shoals, is really beautiful, with a lot of good Class III to III+ whitewater. Only four of our group ran Bull Sluice, and one or two carried the first drop at Woodall, but everything else below the bridge was a lot of fun.

The Woodall Shoals takeout has the advantage of being the shortest climb out of the gorge except for the 76 bridge. This was Regina's last day with us, so we sent her on her way from the parking lot at the top of the gorge. The rest of us had dinner at Humble Pie, the pizza shop attached to the Chatooga Whitewater Shop, and then spent some time browsing in the boating shop.
1. Jenny and Regina in Moccasin State Park
2. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
3. Jenny on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
4. Mikel on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
5. Chris on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
6. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
7. Mikel on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
8. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
9. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
10. Mikel on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
11. Jenny on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
12. David on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
13. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
14. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
15. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
16. Jenny on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
17. Regina on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
18. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
19. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
20. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
21. Lunch stop on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
22. Chris on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
23. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
24. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
25. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
26. David on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
27. Jenny on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
28. Marilyn on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
29. Mikel on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
30. Regina on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
31. Chris on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
32. Regina on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
33. Mikel on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
34. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
35. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
36. Chatooga, Section III 1/2
37. Jenny on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
38. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
39. David on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
40. Mikel on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
41. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
42. Chris on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
43. Regina on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
44. Chris on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
45. Kim on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
46. David on the Chatooga, Section III 1/2
47. Woodall Shoals; Chatooga, Section III 1/2
48. Woodall Shoals; Chatooga, Section III 1/2
49. Woodall Shoals; Chatooga, Section III 1/2