5/19/2011: Big Laurel Cr., US-70 - Hot Springs
| With: Mick Schlotfeldt, David Bernard, Lee Belknap, Dan Bertko, Ernie Katz, David Hafera, Jon Hitchings, Karen Egbert, David Vezzetti, Mikel Wellman, Marilyn Jones | ||
| This was a rare bit of good fortune! It had rained the night before and there was 2" of water flowing on the painted gauge and so, instead of paddling the French Broad, we caught this mountain gem. There were a fair number of carries around the Stairstep, Suddy Hole, and Narrows rapids (there might have been more if our canoes were as lightweight as the kayaks) and a couple of swims, but everyone had a great time. When we reached the French Broad we split up for the two big remaining rapids; some of us ran Kayaker's Ledge, and fewer of us ran Frank Bell's Rapid, while the rest of us ran to the left of the respective islands. Because we were camped near the riverbank at Hot Springs Campground we took out at camp, and I and one other got a ride back to our vehicles at the put-in. We ate a good, slightly upscale, dinner at the Iron Horse Cafe in Hot Springs. | ||
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| 1. Mikel Wellman on Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 2. Mikel Wellman below Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 3. David Vezzetti approaching Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 4. David Vezzetti on Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 5. David Vezzetti on Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 6. David Bernard approaching Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 7. David Bernard on Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 8. David Bernard below Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 9. Lee Belknap approaching Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 10. Lee Belknap on Stairstep rapid on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 11. The drop before Suddy Hole on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 12. Jon Hitchings on the drop before Suddy Hole on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 13. Jon Hitchings below the drop before Suddy Hole on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 14. Karen Egbert aapproaching the drop before Suddy Hole on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 15. Karen Egbert on the drop before Suddy Hole on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 16. Mikel Wellman above The Narrows on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 17. Marilyn Jones at The Narrows on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 18. Karen Egbert in The Narrows on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 19. David Vezzetti in The Narrows on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 20. David Bernard in The Narrows on on Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 21. A side stream into Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 22. Lee and David on the French Broad below the mouth of Big Laurel Creek | ||
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| 23. My van at the French Broad take-out | ||
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| 24. The Great Smokey Mountains from the Big Laurel shuttle road | ||
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| 25. The Great Smokey Mountains from the Big Laurel shuttle road | ||
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| 26. The Great Smokey Mountains from the Big Laurel shuttle road | ||
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| 27. The Great Smokey Mountains from the Big Laurel shuttle road | ||
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| 28. The bridge into Hot Springs, across the French Broad River | ||