MWA 2012 SE Beginner/ Intermediate Trip

Hey Everyone,
Alright I hope everyone is ready for a great trip. It looks like we have 35 people staying in the bunk house, plus confirmed extras totaling 55 people and a few people I expect to ninja in sometime during the trip.

To make things easier for meetup and give us a good starting point I am going to keep us on the Nantahala on Friday, but I'll change the meeting time to 9:30 in the morning at NOC so those who are driving in have a little extra time.
Tentative plans for the rest are:
Saturday: Pigeon maybe upper and/or lower.
Sunday: French Broad/ Nolichucky
Monday: Ocoee/FB/Clear-Creek

Bunk assignments:

Maro Bottani--Bartram 5
Jonathan M--Bartam 5
Dave Musser -- Bartram 4
Kassie Chaffee-- Bartram 4
Steve Adams-- Kephart 4
Jessie Cambell--Kephart 4
Josh Miller --Kephart 5
Amanda F-M -- Kephart 5
Steve F -- Sully?
Rachel F -- Sully?
Sally Haywood -- Kephart 1
Kathy Pszonka -- Kephart 1
Paula Geno -- Kephart 1
Sarah Watson -- Kephart 1
Paige Robinson -- Kephart 1
Desiree Robinson -- Kephart 1
Bill Eades -- Bartram 2
Nate Eades -- Bartram 2
Gordon Miller -- Bartram 2
Chuck Wagner -- Bartram 2
Bob Henderson -- Bartram 3
John Henderson -- Bartram 3
Garrett Bentley -- Bartram 3
Kodak -- Bartram 3
Jason Robinson -- Nanyhi 1
Dave J -- Nanyhi 1
Scott Becker -- Nanyhi 1
Chris Kelly -- Nanyhi 1
Freddie Carter -- Nanyhi 2
Mike Williamson -- Nanyhi 2
Drew -- Nanyhi 2
Sheldon -- Nanyhi 3
Drake Boyke -- Nanyhi 3
Aaron Head -- Nanyhi 3
Joe Boyke -- Nanyhi 3

I will be arriving Thursday night. You can get a hold of me at 573-two six eight-5362 if you have questions or need directions.
SYOTR

-Garrett Bentley

Garrett,
Thanks for organizing!
Just sent you an email, Jonathan & I are in.

Maro

Garrett, thanks so much for organizing this. I went last year and want to go again. I'd like to stay at base camp all the nights. It would be great if I could ride there and back with someone. I'll be at the MWA spring clinic.
Sally Haywood, 314-374-9206

Haven't gone for years and hoping to join in the bunk house as well.
Looking for a ride or someone to share gas
Kathy 314 4023038

This will be our first SE trip with MWA. Really looking forward to this trip.

Pam and I would like to stay in the bunkhouse all 3 nights.

See ya,

Rob

I'm not sure yet, but I'm hoping to make it this year. Do you have an idea of which rivers you'll be running. I assume you'll do the Nantahala and the Ocoee. What others? The Chattooga?

Thanks.

We are in...

We are looking for a place to stay right now, any suggestions are welcome.

Count Josh and I in!!!!

Currently all of the two person rooms are filled, but we still have several bunks available in the 4-6 person. But if you are looking specifically for a two person room, camping or a little more than the bunk houses; there are several options around. Lost mines would be the closest campground, but I know several MWA-ers commonly stay at Turkey creek. The NOC does have cabins available but they are rather pricey. The NOC does have a link to Lodging Nearby.

As to what rivers we may run, as everything in the region varies in runnability day to day, so much of the decision making cannot be made until last minute. However the rivers we run may include: Middle Tellico, French Broad, Little Tennessee, Nantahala, Chatooga III, Clear Creek, and the Pigeon. The Ocoee is on the list for the more advanced boaters as usual. I will do my best to keep the advanced boaters entertained while keeping the beginner boaters in their comfort range. I will keep everyone updated as things get closer.
SYOTR
-Garrett

Nice cabin 70 bucks a night a few miles away so we are in for sure. There is one left as of this writing if anyone is scrambling.

Buttt, looks like Team "Throw Sh*t" Kapitan, Mike W., has called for all Team TS Veterans to show up... so, looks like at least Mikey an me are in. Ocoee will be in our plan. Hopefully we'll get a break and there will be a release for the Class IV section of the Cascades on the Upper Nantahala (whass the scoop on releases up there Ray-Ray ??) Section 3 of the Chatooga would also be beautiful that time of year. (Section 4 if Lil Holdmeier shows up to guide !) What about you Holdmeier's ?? Donaldo and crew, Sir Charles, Slim, Perfesser, Chuck and Di ? Any of ya'll headed that way ? Could be my last trip out there with a group before the exodus. Freddie

Thanx Raymond ! Start believing in your fellow man . The average citizen does truly retain the ability to read the post directly above.... and retain it....

but will resist

The Cascades and the Upper Nantahala will not see releases this summer. From what I've heard, there are logistical issues with parking and what not that the FS still has to figure out. Everyone keeps saying 2013 will be the year...but they've been saying "Oh, its next year" since 2006.

With the ICF Worlds here next year, it very well could be a possibility because there are rumors of a giant slalom course on the class IV/V Cascades

Time will tell...

-Raymond

Just made reservations for the trip. Owner said they had about 20 or so sites left (a little over half full as he put it) for that weekend. About 6 weeks to go, and it will go by fast.

See ya,

Rob

Just a reminder to everyone interested in coming on the trip and planning on staying at base camp, I need to get your money by May 19th at the latest. If I don't have a check by that time I will be releasing any remaining rooms to NOC after that date. Your best bet is to find me, or Dave Musser, this weekend at the clinic. Otherwise just mail them to the address listed above. So send in your checks to make sure your space is reserved.

SYOTR
-Garrett B

I hope to attend. Usually ride with the Doaks.

Derek and I will be there for FSSM. I made reservations for camping at Lost Mine Campground. There were no spots reserved for MWA? Anyone else going to be camping at Lost Mine Campground?

Garrett, I assume you will be watching the gauges and picking a river for Friday. Are there any preferences yet?

I am staying at Lost Mines. See you there. I might be late on Friday and miss the official trip although will run the Nanty none the less.

Will

Will, I'll be thinking of you while I'm on the beach in Mississippi, that's for sure. Have fun, man! Are you going to sneak over to the Dirty Bird and diminish the asterisk from the Tennessee Trifecta*? I think some of the older newbies and Middle Ocoee veterans would like that run. Sometimes "natural flow" isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Do most people in the bunk house do a pot luck one night, go out to eat? Just want to be prepared

I am in with two others, Drake Boyke and Aaron Head, for FSSM. We are planning on staying in the bunk houses. I can put a check in the mail for all three of us tonight, or ... is there a PayPal or ZashPay account I can transfer the funds too? Just hoping/checking.

We'll have our signed ACA waivers in hand on Friday if that's OK.

Thanks!

Anyone up for a Chattooga trip on that Friday. I might be able to get that day off if people are interested.

See Up Top

Check your PM
Bob

Mikey and I are heading out Thursday night, and are shooting for the Tellico for Friday - before lunch- put on. This will of course, be water dependent. It is running today, and we'll take it one day at a time till then. Eli called last night, and we are going to try and hook up with him one day during the SE trip. Perhaps the Chatooga. Section IV still runs at a lower level than Section III, and we'll act accordingly. Section III is really a beautiful and relaxing run. Section IV still beautiful, not so relaxing !! Monday will be Ocoee. Looking forward to good water... Freddie

I'm hoping to get some folks together for a trip on that Friday. Everything in the Five Falls is easily walked if one chooses to have a more relaxing day, I always walk Crack unless it's over 2 feet. Section III is great and all, but at low water (under 1.8 on the bridge gauge) it's kinda shallow. IV channels up very very well.

I also just love long boating IV

-Raymond