Big Creek in North Carolina



BIG Creek, North Crack-i-lack!

It's July 17th, 2011, and there is no water. At least not in Virginia Beach, VA.

Hunter Davis invited me back down to Asheville, NC for the weekend and of course I obliged. I thought we were just going to scrape down the Green Narrows again but mother nature had a surprise in for me.

Me @ Midnite Hole. Photo by Hunter Davis

Big Creek was in and I was going to be able to put my drytop on for the first time since March. We headed out a bit late in the morning, on account of our new ritual of drinking until the wee hours of the morning every Friday night when I roll into town. Hunter's description of Big Creek was: "You'll like it." So I had no idea what was in store.

The run starts with Midnite Hole, which is a river wide slot more than a hole. But I can see the beat-down factor involved. Hunter set up to take some photos and I ran it first. Hunter came through second and then I got a second lap in while we were there. Good times.

The goods were in store. Of all the rivers I was able to paddle over my summer in the South East, Big Creek was the most like a West Coast run. It almost felt like the NF Suak, in WA, except you could feel your hands.

Me dropping into the second ledge in Action Alley.

Photo by Hunter Davis.

Action Alley was by far the best rapid on the run. Unfortunately we opted to walk the lead in to the first ledge due to a wood hazard. It goes, but not with only two people. 

Another memorable drop on the river is Baby Gorilla. Very similar to Gorilla on the Green Narrows except its about a third the size and there is no Notch above to worry about. But there is a VERY undercut rock on river left that's hard to ignore as you're boofing into the pile.

Me dropping into the first ledge in Action Alley.

Photo by Hunter Davis.

Hunter Davis in Action Alley.

You know when you're there...

The local general store.

I wanted the "much more".

White Lightning; you were a good truck, even if you were 'Merican.

I like flowers sometimes

All in all, a great little creek. Short and fun, with a good hike to the put in. Word to the wise would be to get an earlier start and get two or three laps in on this bad boy.

Cheers.