Final Update 05-26 !! MWA Memorial Day Trip

OK, so here's the plan.

Itinerary. Thursday (5/27/10) drive to Frozen Head State Park and camp overnight. I know it's a little out of the way but it has several group campsites that can accommodate everybody and it's beautiful camping next to the creek. Friday morning get up and drive to whatever is running!. This most likely will be the French Broad. If you're not with the group Thursday evening and wish to meet up with us on Friday please let me know so I can contact you. Friday evening we will head over to the NOC area, some of us are camping at Lost Mine others are staying at NOC in the bunkhouse. If you can't boat Friday we'll look out for you Friday evening at the campground. Saturday, the newer boaters get to show off their skills on the Nantahala, 9am meetup outside the NOC. Sunday the plan is to head over to the Chattooga so we'll try to leave early, our main target will be Section III but if some people need to be on Section II then we'll do that instead. If there's time and enough people there could be a Section IV run also.Then Monday we'll pack up and leave for the Ocoee on our way back to STL.

Lodging/camping. You have all made your own arrangements, some will camp, some will stay at NOC. Sorry I couldn't arrange this as a group, I stepped in too late and had already made arrangements, but I think it will work out. Depending on how busy base camp is we could try to crash the canteen and cook there altogether on Saturday night. Sunday will be a long day, it's about 1.5hrs drive each way to and from the Chatooga, so people might not want to cook Sunday night and just grab something at Relia's. Breakfasts at River's End are usually a pretty good start to the day and a convenient place to meet up afterward. The only exception may be Sunday if we want to get an early start.

Driving. I haven't coordinated anything in this regard. If you need a ride holler and I'm sure it will be possible to fit in with somebody. Here is a map of the significant points.

Contact information Contact me, Jonathan Markham at or 314-409-3812.

Just because...

Frozen Head Camping 36.135506,-84.492873

French Broad 35.89318736617455,-82.82191514968872

NOC 35.33094,-83.591584

Chattooga 34.815586,-83.306336

Ocoee 35.0851,-84.491057

Jonathan,
Sounds like a good plan. Thanks for your work on this. Let me know if I can do anything to help you.

Is anyone planning Jonathan's full itenerary still looking for a rider or ride? I am trying to figure out if I am going to Nashville for a day or two before or after this trip. I will know by Tuesday.

I don't have much of a clue, here's what think. Let me know if you should or shouldn't be on this list

Jonathan Markham FSSM Lost Mine
Juliet Burns FSSM Lost Mine
Mia FSSM Lost Mine

Maro Bottani SSM NOC
Sheryl Niec SSM NOC

Curtis Elwood SSM NOC
Rebecca SSM NOC

Laura Egerdal FSSM? Lost Mine
Ron?

Will Scherf
Andrew Scherf

Bob Henderson FSS?M? NOC
John Henderson FSS?M? NOC

Casey Brennan SSM Lost Mine

Jeff Blanton FSSM Lost Mine
Brian Sauer FSSM Lost Mine
Richard Childs FSSM Lost Mine

Frank Hammill

Garrett FSSM NOC
Kevin
Dave Ewen
Paula

Steve Stillwell FSSM Lost Mine

Mike Mandl FSSM Lost Mine
Derek Mandl FSSM Lost Mine

John Niebling FSSM Lost Mine
Gary
Mike Viggers
Matt Gossmann

Chuck Wagner

Josh Miller

Raymond

Scott Baker Lost Mine Dates TBD
Natalie Courson Lost Mine Dates TBD

I might be around to boat if I have the day off or only a half day, wont know for sure until the day before though One of the bad things about raft guiding..

I'll be there. I'm planning to drive up Thursday, spend the night in Chattanooga with a long time friend, then meet you all on Friday for Tellico or wherever. Staying Fri, Sat, Sun at NOC with Maro and the rest of you NOC folks.

Sheryl (not Shirley, she's much nicer than I am) Niec

I will be attending the trip again this year for thursday night through monday. Josh Miller. (314)221-8034 Looking forward to the tellico ledges and my first ocoee run

Jon and I are planning to boat Fri - Sun, not sure about Monday yet and probably won't be until we get there. We're staying at NOC Fri - Sun.
Bob Henderson
cell (314) Three- 98- eight-2 zero -8

Derek and Mike Mandl boating FSSM. We are camping at Frozen Head State Park and then Lost Mines. I took time off so I am getting on the road Thursday morning so should be arriving in camp in plenty of time. The Tellico is such a great run - so I hope the level bumps a bit.

I have one seat available if anyone has the same plans. Drop me an email if interested:

Jonathan, thanks for the effort in planning on short notice.
-Mike

I will be at Frozen Head Thursday evening and staying thru Monday. Camping at Lost Mine Fri, Sat, Sun.

Below are some Maps that I made a while ago. These are the most common rivers paddled on the SE trip. Does not guarantee that we wont paddle a river not shown below. Would be a good idea for participants to exchange cell numbers in case they get separated.

Clear Creek

NOC to Chattooga, Sec III put-in

NOC to Ocoee

Tellico

Nantahala & NOC compound

Thanks for the info on the maps/directions ... I'll be sure to print them out. Jonathan ... I added Scott and I to your list. Our dates are TBD. We are looking forward to getting out of town and seeing everyone!!

- Natalie

I will be arriving and staying at Lost Mines Campground Fri, Sat, Sun nights. I won't be in unitl Friday evening late.

I am stoked about meeting new people and paddling water other than the Saint (although I love her)!

Can't wait to meet ya'll!
-Casey

P.S. If anyone wants to follow me/ride with me back up to WV to the New River (BIG water) on Monday morning, I know of a GREAT place to stay for $8.00/night! I am staying in WV through June 5th before coming back to Cape Girardeau.

Kevin and I will be staying at the group site at FHSP Thursday, and then on to NOC bunk houses Friday-Sunday. We'll be with the group on the Ocoee on Monday on the way home.

I believe Dave J and Paula will be traveling with us.

My cell: (three-one-four) 3 four 8 six nine zero nine

Garrett

Frozen Head S/P is dry (nobooze).Please be cool;red cups rule!(Arky Longpool solution)SYATP, Jeff

The Tellico isn't looking good for Friday, it's getting real low on the gauge so without rain, which isn't forecast, I think it'll be a nono, esp as the easier sections for the less-experienced boaters will not have enough water to boat. One option is to drive through to NOC and boat the Nantahala, then drive over to the French Broad Sat. or the other way around if people prefer. We have several newer boaters in the group so I'm not sure we want to drop them in 1600cfs from the get go. It does look like we'll have a strong group with plenty of support which is good, but still, I know some of them will like to start of easy. We can drive up to the Cumberland if people want to do that, please let me know what you think,

Cheers,
Jonathan

I remember the Cumberland was fun when the group did it in '07, but with a looooong flat waterstretch at the end. In '07 we camped there Thursday night before the Friday run, and that worked well.

French Broad is a good beginner river too, and we know the Nanty will be running...

I am going to Pray and Believe that it will rain and we will have just enough water for everyone at the Tellico!!!

So it is the Frozen Head State Environmental Education Area and not the park south of there?

Jonathan's Map

My marker is correct. We stayed there last year. Here are the directions from the Tennessee Parks website
"From Harriman take Hwy. 27 North to Wartburg. Turn right (East) on Hwy. 62. Travel 2 miles and turn left on Flat Fork Road. Travel 4 miles to the park entrance."
Park Map

I'm praying for rain with Steve. I've heard so much about the Tellico, I'm really looking forward to running it.

Jonathan and everyone who posted - thanks for the directions and maps. Looking forward to seeing (and meeting) everyone and a great trip.
Bob Henderson

I don't know all our choices for rivers, but if it looks like the Tellico won't work, I'm fine going on to the NOC Thursday and paddling the Nantahala/French Broad on Friday. Jeff led us on the French Broad last year and it was great.

Garrett

Jonathon -- if we are doing the french broad on FRI, what time are we meeting at the put in? (EST or CST)

And, could you add the french broad put-in to your map? Thanks!

I would like to paddle on Friday & maybe Sat. I need to be in Nashville Thurs, so no camping for me on Thursday at the frozen head.
If I don't see a Friday selection here, I'll try calling someone Friday morning.
MY cellular phone # is 314.574.8799.
Thank you, Dan