Thread: Rollin' On the Reedy - An Urban Kayaking TR

It's not often in America where you will find a river running right through the middle of a city.......and it's even more rare to find a Class V+ falls followed by a Class IV+ boof on that river....well, Greenville, SC has it...

Most all of Greenville County's runoff, north of the city flows into the Reedy River, which can turn a rather pristine river into a rager. And it turns stinky silty brown...Well....it happened...the rain started on Friday and was still going strong yesterday.....and an opportunity came about that is very rare....an opportunity to paddle what is normally a very shallow, rocky river...

I was spitting big game about wanting to run the lower falls (little brother). So I called a paddling bud of mine yesterday morning and gave him the scoop...I told him "game on" and explained the situation to the veteran whitewater paddler. I told him that the water was moving EXTREMELY fast and that I had some serious concerns....

Whats in that hole that is maytagging down there?

Is there enough room in the lower slot to have complete control?

Would a paddler like me with little experience have the moves to find the line on the first drop and then execute the perfect boof on the second?

Is it even LEGAL to be here?

He made the expert decision for me and told me it might not be such a hot idea......So I took the smarter, but no less fun route and decided to play in the river below the falls...What was great was that everyone in the park was crowding around and asking if i was gonna run the falls....I hated to dissapoint, but I had to do the safe, smart thing....I did manage to impress some local yocals in the wave train though...

The gauge showed a significant jump...a spike....perfet for running the Reedy...which really needs a flood to have any fun.
And that's basically what you do...Paddle a flooded river....watch out for those trees.....SIEVEEEEEEEEESSLLUUUURP...

So anyway, to get to the juicy part...I had the old lady meet me down there to watch over her man and take some pics...She did a good job, all so I can share the experience......

Good day....cant wait till the reedy floods again.....in another 3 years....

Little Brother Today


Here I come...with an audience none the less...


Entering the wave train...some good height too...CHOOOO CHOOO!!!


A little surf action




Steady eddy freddy


I explain to a couple of local kids how bomber paddling is


My bomber wife even got some video of one run...click below

http://media.putfile.com/Reedy-Paddling

Originally Posted by AtomicTwinStix

Little Brother Today

So, I'm assuming this is the IV...what's the V+ like?

Are tou serious with those pics? Class II.....cool!

Originally Posted by 420Powderpimp

Are tou serious with those pics? Class II.....cool!

Man, take it easy on my boy there, I think the ratings are a bit overzealous myself.

But from American Whitewater,

http://americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/3823#rapid4

they would be just as he says.

He just started boating this spring and he's stoked on it, give him a little leeway.

Originally Posted by Storm11

So, I'm assuming this is the IV...what's the V+ like?

Oh ho ho ho, watch this dude get PWNED on Reedy Falls.

http://americanwhitewater.org/photos/?photoid=11754

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Oh ho ho ho, watch this dude get PWNED on Reedy Falls.

http://americanwhitewater.org/photos/?photoid=11754

Reason #2314 not to run the falls....

Giardia and fecal coliform are the previous 2313 reasons?

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Giardia and fecal coliform are the previous 2313 reasons?

heh, pretty much...

my wife said i smelled like rotting onions when i got out of the boat...

Scary-o



burly-o



Looks like 5+ to me!

Definitely a five during heavy rains. It gets pretty damn nasty.