WCP Online Newsletter

Big Laurel in the snow, Sunday April 24
by Harrison Metzger

Contributed 04/25/2005  Responses:  0

This was not a listed trip, but was made up of WCP boaters: myself, Brent Summerfield, Lee Belknap and Kathy Cody.
Flow was +2" or so above zero.

It was snowing hard as we drove into Madison County, and the wind was blowing the snow sideways. The weathered barns along the roadside had 2-3 inches on their roofs. I wanted to bail. But when I got to the put-in it seemed clear the others were not going to back down. I told them I would run their shuttle. But when we got down to Hot Springs, the wind seemed to have died down, so I changed into my gear and joined the group.
This was a decent low flow. I like paddling with a small group like this because you can move fast. We didn't stop to scout anything or play much because of the cold. Down around Stairsteps the sun started to break through and melted the snow on the trees. Despite a temp in the low 40s, I started to get hot and had to remove my fleece beanie. Spun my Superfly in a few waves and holes. Glad I came!
The rest of the trip was uneventful. Of course when we hit the French Broad, it was cold and windy and overcast. Frank's was a nice level, about 4,500 cfs. Almost got blown back upstream as we hit the dead water below the rapid under the railroad trestle. Loaded the boats, piled into Lee's roomy warm van and hit the road, getting home by 4:30. All in all an excellent day despite the cold.

Paddling...Ya'll should try it sometime!