INTERESTING TIMES

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EAST TENNESSEE WHITE WATER CLUB
Compiled by Paul Dutky in 1988
( This is not so brief, really, but a very interesting tale of the early days of whitewater river running based in the town of my birth. The tale is deeply interwoven with my family and personal experience, including a mention Potter's falls. )

The 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is the best way that a river can be protected in the US. A river designated "wild and scenic" cannot have roads built within 1/2 mile of the water. There can be no dams upstream. There can be no logging, mining, or construction of anything but trails along its banks. Non-commercial fishing and boating are permitted.
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I slept well for the early part of the night, then my mind got stuck thinking about going on a Grand Canyon trip. In my dream I am invited on an 18 day GC adventure by a dear old friend (Renee). I want to go. The hitch is that I have less than one day to get ready. I have lists and I own all the appropriate gear, so it should be no big deal, but for some reason I stress about it. A lot. I pack and repack but I am still not sure I have what I need. I can't find my master list on my computer. I finally go to the library trying to print my list so that I can then check things off. I wake up, feeling stressed about a trip I am not even going on.
( my thoughts about why I had this dream, and the GC master list )

The Idaho USFS has decided that they're not on call to go blast every nature-inserted obstacle from the rivers in their domain. In my view, this is great news. There are two major strainers in the Salmon River of Idaho, and they are going to stay there until nature (and river runners count as part of nature) takes them out. These obstacles will severely limit commercial use, as those operators would find the trouble of portaging their deluxe rigs to be more work than profit. And not many private boaters are likely to brave the hardship either. The reduction in river use will be a welcome break for the wildlife in that river corridor, which has to be stressed by the steady traffic of rafters during the spring and summer.
( The 5/15/07 Riverwire: NO BLASTING OF LOGJAM AND STRAINER THIS YEAR )

There's a strategy for getting down the river during
the spring windy season. The winds can howl in the spring, making it hard
to get downstream. They die down at night, start
gently in the morning, and increase through the day.
The trick for having the most time to relax on your
trip, is to get on the river early in the morning. If
you're good, you might be at your next camp by lunch.
( Read more )