My brother and I didn't know what to expect from this river, except a few reviews from Google and one youtube video, but we knew where we were going. With the current down stream away from the Smoky mtns we went. 
Loaded up my little Mohawk 13 solo, and the Mad River Journey 156. I wasn't about to take either one of the strip canoes because I had a feeling it was going to be a rocky butt bumping with a few side drags.
First portage after a couple hours of smooth drifting. A few people have gone over this dam, in past years, and a few didn't make it. Hard to see it, when upstream, if not paying attention. Fishing wasn't as good as we hoped, they must've been warned I was coming
. 
The water was very clear and cool. It was a little low due to lack of rain. 6" inches lower, and we wouldn't have made it.
Lots of these grassy islands where we could get out and stretch our legs.
My fearless brother shot thru this rocky drop, it wasn't smooth or graceful but he made it upright.
His approach, in pink arrows, when he figured out what was to come, he turned to paddle back up stream. He did real a good job for a few seconds then drifted backwards till stern hit the rock, blue arrow. Then he got broad side of that bolder, right star board side luckily, and exited straight thru the bolder stren minefield. He shot through there like a real pro! I, on the other hand, walked my canoe around the drop on the other side. Yep like the real coward I am. I was lucky to have been on the other bank.
He was real proud of himself.
9 hours later we were both ready to get out of the canoes and camp for the night. Felt pretty good after several ibuprofen.
I stopped taking pictures because my phone was getting low, and I had no way to recharge. Brats were devoured before turning in for the night. Glad I had a roll of rolaids in the tent with me. I would guess that all the snoring during the night kept the critters away.
Next morning it was a little more butt bumping rock fields and the deep quiet pools. The only time I took a swim was when I stumbled at the take out.
It was a good time with my brother.
Roy
Loaded up my little Mohawk 13 solo, and the Mad River Journey 156. I wasn't about to take either one of the strip canoes because I had a feeling it was going to be a rocky butt bumping with a few side drags.
First portage after a couple hours of smooth drifting. A few people have gone over this dam, in past years, and a few didn't make it. Hard to see it, when upstream, if not paying attention. Fishing wasn't as good as we hoped, they must've been warned I was coming
. The water was very clear and cool. It was a little low due to lack of rain. 6" inches lower, and we wouldn't have made it.
Lots of these grassy islands where we could get out and stretch our legs.
My fearless brother shot thru this rocky drop, it wasn't smooth or graceful but he made it upright.
His approach, in pink arrows, when he figured out what was to come, he turned to paddle back up stream. He did real a good job for a few seconds then drifted backwards till stern hit the rock, blue arrow. Then he got broad side of that bolder, right star board side luckily, and exited straight thru the bolder stren minefield. He shot through there like a real pro! I, on the other hand, walked my canoe around the drop on the other side. Yep like the real coward I am. I was lucky to have been on the other bank.
He was real proud of himself.
9 hours later we were both ready to get out of the canoes and camp for the night. Felt pretty good after several ibuprofen.
I stopped taking pictures because my phone was getting low, and I had no way to recharge. Brats were devoured before turning in for the night. Glad I had a roll of rolaids in the tent with me. I would guess that all the snoring during the night kept the critters away.
Next morning it was a little more butt bumping rock fields and the deep quiet pools. The only time I took a swim was when I stumbled at the take out.
It was a good time with my brother.
Roy
