Amos' Epics

2/9/12 Thursday Vacation day to dial in the ReMix79 and check out a little bit of the Profile Trail

2012-02-11T11:10:00.001-05:00

Remix79 next to the Hefe Chica

When I left Glen Alpine the USGS gage was reading 166 cfs. Dave and I met up at 10:30 for a low water run. I think it was the lowest I have run it but still a lot of fun. Not the best flow for a boat like the ReMix 79 but a good level to decide if the ReMix is going to serve me well creeking and it really seems like it is. It was very predictable and paddled easily, no surprises. I cant wait to get it on a some flow!

Dave at the creek above Edge of the World

We hiked up above the waterfall within view of the river and found these falls

Back on the Watagua

Dave droppin' it at low water

I stopped at the Profile Trailhead off of 105 and hiked in for about 1.5 miles just past the Profile campsite and then hiked back out. I cant wait to go back with more daylight.

Foscoe View

Profile campsite

Amos' Epics

Feb. 4 Green River Narrows paddle and a hike at Graveyard Fields then some shots of Garden of the Gods

2012-02-05T10:26:00.002-05:00

My first time to the Green in a while. The last time I was there I had a swim but managed to redeem myself this time, no issues. It was a good day of paddling the Upper and the Narrows. Then JC and I drove up the parkway to Graveyard Fields then drove past the Garden of the Gods and back through Canton.

The clouds were low around the mountain on my way down into the Green Cove.

Chris with an awesome line at Gorilla

Steven Launchin' it

Johnny Calhoun with the Seal Launch

Crankee Boofin' it

Steven with a sweet boof

Chris has a good line at Sunshine too

Garden of the Gods:

My new, used ReMix and Silver Creek paddle. I cant wait to paddle it on Wilson / Watagua.

Amos' Epics

Jan. 29: Linville Falls with Noel and Starla

2012-02-05T09:54:00.004-05:00

It was good to be out with the girls. We had a good time.

Hard to believe Pat Keller ran this, amazing!

Pride and Joy

I couldn't decide between these 2 pictures when editing down, I like them both so much I had to leave both

Amos' Epics

Jan. 28 Watagua River Gorge

2012-02-05T07:24:00.001-05:00

Amos' Epics

Jan. 24 Pinch In Trail - Linville Gorge

2012-02-05T07:11:00.000-05:00

Amos' Epics

Watagua River on Monday, a well spent vacation day

2012-01-23T16:03:00.002-05:00

Dave

Edger

Chris

Tyler

Tommy

Another blue bird day at the Watagua and foggy, wet and overcast on the drive back down Hwy 181.

Amos' Epics

Sunday at the Doe

2012-01-22T16:16:00.001-05:00

Gabe in the Red C1, Mike Huggins and I met at the take out at 10:00. We were on the river in no time. It was foggy with very low visibility all the way up to Newland then it cleared up and was sunny, blue skies while paddling the Doe. When I got back to Hwy 181 it was foggy and low visibility most of the way back down the mountain, strange weather day.

The Doe River Mountain Goat

Amos' Epics

Saturday morning at the Watagua

2012-01-21T15:53:00.002-05:00

Lucky for me Dave and Chris were down with a 9:30 meeting time. It felt like 300 at the put in, 3fity at the take out. It had rained most of my drive up the mountain and stopped right about the time I arrived at the Watagua. The feeder creeks were all pumping in some good flow. Good times!

Amos' Epics

A good week of paddling: Afterwork Wilson Creek Runs: 2 on Thursday 1/12, 1 InAZone run Friday the 13th, 2 InAZone runs Saturday the 14th then 2 Runs on the Watagua MLK Day, Monday 1/16

2012-01-19T20:58:00.001-05:00

I finally installed a ratcheting backband in my InAZone and got to paddle it 3 runs on Wilson Creek. It is great to be back in that boat and in a playboat that doesnt make my feet ache. I cant wait to get it to the Nolichucky and Gauley.

I didn't get any pictures at Wilson Creek but it was great to be paddling it again especially the after work runs. The levels were +3" Thursday, a little below 0 Friday and about -3" on Saturday. The Watagua felt about 250 cfs the first run and a little lower the second. The snow on the ground at the Watagua made a great day of paddling even more special.

I got the next 3 shots on my way to the river MLK Day.

Amos' Epics

The Day after Christmas hike with Felix. One end of Rock Jock to the other and back.

2012-01-19T20:29:00.003-05:00

Someone renamed this end of the trail.

From one end of Rock Jock to the other and back. I got most of the pics on the way back. This was the first time I had managed to hike it all the way out and back. The only time I had finished the length of the trail had been my first time on Rock Jock when it was the end of my loop starting at Pinch In.

He climbs around on the logs like a cat.

The trail through this section is unique.

Amos' Epics

12/23 & Christmas Eve at the Watagua. One run on Friday with Dave, Johnny Calhoun and Christine. Two runs on Christmas Eve with Johnny Calhoun, Ricky Blizzard, low water Mike and Mike Huggins. Thanks to Ricky for loaning me a spray skirt!

2011-12-25T16:58:00.001-05:00

The level felt like 420cfs on Friday and 300 on Christmas Eve. There was plenty of extra water coming in Beech Creek and every little feeder creek we passed.

Christmas Eve:

Amos' Epics

12-17, Saturday Hike with Felix up the Blue Blaze Trail to MTS to summit Shortoff

2011-12-25T16:27:00.000-05:00

I finally found a cliffside campsite that Brad showed me several years ago. The cliff overhangs in the pics above and below show how big this ledge is. It is an incredible place but not easy to get to.

I really enjoy the Blue Blaze trail.

Linville River and Lake James.

Amos' Epics

December 13 Tuesday afterwork Mountain Bike Ride with Hans

2011-12-25T15:34:00.000-05:00

Hans first mountain bike ride, he borrowed Gerhard's back up bicycle. I showed him one of the trails off the Fish Hatchery loop. It was a short but a good ride.

Amos' Epics

Wilson Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afterwork / Watagua Saturday before the Warren Haynes 23rd annual Christmas Jam, It was a great week of padddling and one incredible show!

2011-12-12T00:52:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was about 10" with Layla.

Thursday with Gaston at about 4.5".

Friday was about 0 - I didnt take any pics but paddled with Gaston and Layla. Saturday nite I stayed in Asheville and rode up to the Watagua with Johnny Calhoun. We got in one run at about 380cfs and at about 38 degrees. One stop at the falls for a few pics then back to A'ville for the Christmas Jam. Good times!

Amos' Epics

December 1st and 2nd at the Watagua. Two well spent vacation days and fours sweet runs on one of my favorite rivers.

2011-12-03T08:40:00.004-05:00

Two days at the Watagua. Two runs Thursday at about 390cfs then two runs on Friday at about 290cfs.

I got to paddle with Dave, Steven, Josh, Will, and friends. Good lines were had by all.

Amos' Epics

End November at Wilson Creek for an after work Wednesday Run. Had a great Thanksgiving Down East with my folks and friends.

2011-12-01T08:28:00.001-05:00

I had a great Thanksgiving in Havelock with Mom, Dad, David, Craig, and the family. I had early dinner and brews at David's house then a later dinner at my parents. We even squeezed in a trip to El's Drive In for Shrimp Burgers and a walk on the beach at Atlantic Beach, The Circle. Good Stuff!

We had a good bit of rain early in the week. I didnt make it out to Wilson Creek until Wednesday but it was still a nice 3" when I met up with Gaston and Layla. I was glad I brought the Full Tilt. Always need some playboat practice and keeps some creek time off the Nomad hull.

Gaston at Boat Buster

Layla

Layla getting the Grind at Thunderhole

There was plenty of carnage

My line at Triple Drop. A few correction strokes were in order but the Full Tilt ended up where I wanted it

Two runs on the Narrows of the Green River in a Liquid Logic Stomper

2011-11-19T20:40:00.001-05:00

Brooks running Gorilla

Steven dropping off the seal launch in a Stomper

Chris Roberts running Gorilla

Adrianne

Obie let me borrow a Stomper (above and below). What a great creek boat, very predictable and fun. Lots of volume in the bow and incredible amount of bow rocker, it surfaces fast. I t accelerates fast too. I look forward to a few more runs to decide if my next boat will be a Stomper. So far it is looking really good for the Stomper. It is one sweet creek boat.

Amos' Epics

Sunday, 11-13-11 Tour DuPont with Amy, Obie, and Michael. 17.5 miles of fun smooth riding!

2011-11-14T22:26:00.001-05:00

What a great day for a mountain bike ride. It started off a little cool but warmed up and was a perfect temperature. Obie, Amy, and Michael showed me some trail I had not been on and we did some of the old standards that made me remember why I had always enjoyed MTBing at DuPont. It had been too long...

I dabbed a few times and came off the bike at least once but finally cleaned it

Obie stying the berm.

Amos' Epics

11-11-11: Morning at Liqiud Logic for some Community Service from Obie - Thanks a million for patching up my creek boat. My next creek boat will likely be a Hefe Grande! Then onto Kitsuma to check out the latest Trail changes: (my rant) No more steep section, how can that be a good thing?

2011-11-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

On 11-11-11, I woke up on the couch about the time the Late Late Show was finishing up and watched some rock & blues concert videos as well as drank some cold India Pale Ale beverages before waking up the family to torture them with more music at an insanely early hour. I have come to the conclusion that the Rolling Stones were at their best when they had Mick Taylor on lead guitar and that "LADIES & GENTLEMEN the Rolling Stones" from 1972, supporting the album Exile on Main Street (I think the best album they ever released) is one of the best live concert movies ever made - after that era they moved a little away from the blues and into following the fashion of the day: Disco. Just my opinion, like more below, there are plenty who would disagree.

I digress, but I wanted to share.

Anyway, after I got my shit together, I headed up the mountain, stopped at Ridgecrest, laid across the bench seat of my truck to chill and get my head together, debated riding Kitsuma (it was really cold), texted Obie and got the OK to head onto Liquid Logic for a lesson and demonstration in kayak crack repair. I cracked my creek boat at the Green and was in need of some charity work as I am in no way ready to buy a new boat right now. Obie obliged and thank goodness Woody didnt throw me out on my ear for bringing a non-Liquid Logic boat into the shop. They truly do a community service looking out for peeps like myself and for this I will make every attempt to support the company by making my next new boat purchase a Liquid Logic, hopefully after the Tax money comes back and hopefully I'll be able to find a good deal on a Hefe Grande or better yet a big Stomper. I do not think I personally could have gotten this treatment from any other boat manufacturing reps, at least none that I know. I even came away with a new paddling magazine: BOMB FLOW, which is very cool. Obie's handy work:

After I left LL I headed back past A'Ville and onto I-40 but couldnt help but stop back at Ridgecrest. I was feeling much better than when I stopped there earlier that morning. I had heard from G-Moh and Johnny Calhoun about the very recent changes at Kitsuma and wanted to see if it was as drastic as they mentioned. Last year the trail builder had made the uphill switch backs much easier which I understand is very "nice" to a lot of people but to me it took away the challenge of making the tricky switch backs. I had probably only made all of them a few times cleanly during a ride but that was the challenge. Since the changes it is easy to make them all, and I have every ride and I have been meeting JC and others for after work rides frequently this past spring and summer. If it is kept in this condition, I am sure there will not be anyone pushing up during the ORAM in years to come as I had witnessed the 2 times I participated in that event. Hopefully erosion will eventually make it challenging again, we'll see. The literal downside/downhill was really abused last year when they put in some deep water bars that really slow down the momentum. It used to be really fast but with the dips there now as Gerhard says "it is really dangerous to bomb down it", maybe not his exact words but the jist of it. One of my friends, Chris met the trail builder and asked why he had put the big dips in and his reply was "to slow you guys down", he was successful. You cannot carry nearly as much speed through anymore.
As if the trail builder had not done enough last year, they now had done away with the steepest section of downhill from the Kitsuma peak and routed the bike section around the side of the mountain to hook up where the steep section had ended. I remember studying that section back when I was riding the NRS with cantilever brakes. After repeatedly sliding off my bike, dragging my foot down beside me and finally being able to see and ride a line cleanly on the old NRS I felt I had conquered a goal. Another challenge that will only be memories now. To steal JCs comment, they "dummied the trail down", made it more accesible for the masses. Not good in my opinion but it is what it is, there are plenty who like it better post changes, as usual I am in the minority. The only improvement I personally see out of all of the work is they cut back some of the branches that were in yer face on the downhill - the only benefit to all the changes that I see. End of rant. At least the views are still good:

Amos' Epics

Happy Birthday to my youngest daughter Starla, cant believe she is already 14! Time flies, enjoy every moment, it will be gone in a blink of the eyes. On Sunday, Nov. 6 I went down in Linville Gorge.

2011-11-08T05:09:00.000-05:00

Love this trail -so does Felix, he was flying up and down it

This is one crazy looking shroom. The pic below shows w/Felix for scale

Felix loves to climb on the logs.

These are from the top of Pinnacle Rock

Cooling the dogs in the river

Amos' Epics

Finally Back On the Bike for a Challenging Loop. From Curtis Creek to the Blue Ridge Parkway and back down the Mountain

2011-11-05T21:24:00.001-04:00

The ridge I climbed up, switchback after switchback

I had hoped to ride Heartbreak but didnt get started until 2:00 and it took almost 2 hours to climb up to the parkway. Instead of Heartbreak I decided to ride my first fall back but felt lucky I didnt get a flat. There were a lot of briers out there. I had been running my mouth to both Gerhard and Johnny Calhoun about preferring the more remote and technical trails and I sure go what I was asking for today, both on the climb as well as the descent. One helluva work out and a little bit of a gamble to do as a solo and carry only one extra tube. It all worked out well, somebody must be looking out for me.

Good to finally make it to the Parkway

The Fire Lookout Tower

The trail from the overlook

The leaves were gone up close to the parkway but still some colors down closer to Curtis Creek.

Newberry Creek right before it drops into Curtis Creek

Amos' Epics

Saturday at the Green with Chris, Brooks, and Johnny Calhoun

2011-10-30T10:00:00.002-04:00

I got to the bottom in time to get a picture of Chris running Gorilla but Brooks had already dropped it. Hats off to these guys for running it in long boats no less. They are getting ready for the race next weekend. Should be an interesting one, especially if the river doesnt come up a little bit. Gorilla looks really sketchy below 7".

I got Chris and Johnny Calhoun at the boof but missed Brooks running the Groove Tube. I was standing right there but didnt know he was going to run it. I'm disappointed because that always makes for a good shot. I found a crack on my stern before the run and was sittin in water most of the run. A lot of emptying and 2 sketchy lines at Frankenstein and Rapid Transit but a good time all the same. After a week long trip to Germany, it was good to be back at the Green with the boys! Johnny Calhoun and I enjoyed a couple of German beers at the takeout.

Amos' Epics

Saturday Morning at the Green River Narrows

2011-10-15T16:27:00.001-04:00

Johnny Calhoun and I met at Fish Top at 9:00. We only saw a couple of people on the river. The weather was great, much warmer than the Watagua yesterday. Good times.

Johnny Calhoun at Zwicks

Seal Launch

Johnny Calhoun dropping over the top

Fall in the gorge.

Amos' Epics

Friday at the Watagua: 2 runs with Dave, these boofs were for June, RIP.

2011-10-15T06:22:00.007-04:00

I brought my bike in case I needed to do a solo run and bike the shuttle but luckily Dave was available to paddle. We did the first run with Will and Bradley. The Second run we paddled with Margret and Ricky. It was an awesome day. The first run actually felt warmer than the 2nd. It was windy most of the day and the clouds were rolling through all day long but ocasionally the sun would sqeeze through and really brighten things up. Thanks to Dave for letting me carry his camera on the 2nd run, and e-mailing the pics to me, we managed to get some good shots. It was a beautiful fall day at the Watagua:

Dave at Hydro

Margaret

Ricky Blizzard

Dave

What I posted before Dave e-mailed the pics to me and I slept a few times:
Clare Ann and I went to see G Love and Special Sauce in Asheville with Johnny Calhoun and Jen Thursday nite then when I got home at about 1:30, I checked some levels, Watagua was 320ish and I already had a vacation day scheduled. Not much of anything else looked like it was going to run but the rain hit all the right areas and the Watagua had gotten a nice bump. After a few hours of sleep, I was up and packing the gear. Luckily Dave was available. We took his camera on the second run and he is planning to e-mail me some photos. The fall colors were really starting to cook up in the high country. The level felt like about 250 cfs.
Oh yeah and the G Love show was great.
Amos' Epics

Saturday Hike with Hans and Felix from Hwy 19e to Carvers Gap = Roan Mountain area, 13 miles of sweet trail, mostly across balds. Thanks Hans for showing me this one.

2011-10-13T16:25:00.001-04:00

This post is dedicated to June Reynolds, a high school friend who I just found out passed away earlier this month. June was one of the nicest people I have ever known and had a contagious smile and a fun loving, positive attitude, a truly kind soul. I cant believe she is gone.

Clare Ann and I ran into June while shopping in Newport 7+ years ago and I e-mailed her a few years ago to pay my condolences after I heard Elaine had passed away, they had been such close friends and were without a doubt the dynamic duo our senior year of high school. They will both be missed by anyone who knew them.

Amos' Epics