Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Level Six News: Fall Paddling in the South East United States.
It has been an amazing time down here in the South East of the United States. I have had the opportunity to paddle the CHEOAH River which had 7 kilometers of non-stop class 4-4+ whitewater with no flat water at all. A sweet run to say the least! Here is a photos taken by Milton Mann from that day, notice the many paddlers enjoying the release of water they have only a few times a year! 
At certain points in the river the crowds became more difficult to avoid than the rocks in the rapids. The terrain here is very interesting, and when it rains it really affects the rivers and streams. I can only explain the Great Smokey Mountains as a boulder chunk drainage, we were on the Upper Caney Fork two weekends ago and there were literally creeks and streams flowing directly out of caves and coming through boulder piles from the shore
I competed in my first ever Green Race this year and had a blast meeting old friends and making new ones on the river. My time was a little slow at 6:16 but enjoyed it with little to no practice. I paddled the Green for my first time in eight years a few weeks ago with Clay Wright and didn't have to scout once, going off of Clay's directions through the first half. And then when we reached the Narrows I remembered the lines and took off down river. I love this run and next year Teva is planning a Mountain Games event #2 too be held somewhere in the Southeast with the Extreme Whitewater Race on the Green River. Should be very exciting! Here are a few shots from the Race shot by Ben Edson and Ben Wiggins from Downstreamphoto.com
Well that's the latest for now, I have some big plans for 2007 and will keep you posted as they happen.
Brad Sutton
It has been an amazing time down here in the South East of the United States. I have had the opportunity to paddle the CHEOAH River which had 7 kilometers of non-stop class 4-4+ whitewater with no flat water at all. A sweet run to say the least! Here is a photos taken by Milton Mann from that day, notice the many paddlers enjoying the release of water they have only a few times a year! 
At certain points in the river the crowds became more difficult to avoid than the rocks in the rapids. The terrain here is very interesting, and when it rains it really affects the rivers and streams. I can only explain the Great Smokey Mountains as a boulder chunk drainage, we were on the Upper Caney Fork two weekends ago and there were literally creeks and streams flowing directly out of caves and coming through boulder piles from the shore
I competed in my first ever Green Race this year and had a blast meeting old friends and making new ones on the river. My time was a little slow at 6:16 but enjoyed it with little to no practice. I paddled the Green for my first time in eight years a few weeks ago with Clay Wright and didn't have to scout once, going off of Clay's directions through the first half. And then when we reached the Narrows I remembered the lines and took off down river. I love this run and next year Teva is planning a Mountain Games event #2 too be held somewhere in the Southeast with the Extreme Whitewater Race on the Green River. Should be very exciting! Here are a few shots from the Race shot by Ben Edson and Ben Wiggins from Downstreamphoto.com
Well that's the latest for now, I have some big plans for 2007 and will keep you posted as they happen.
Brad Sutton
