Looking Cool on the Big Pigeon In The Smokies

Looking Cool on the Big Pigeon

by Jenny Ison

Publication Date: August 1997

For a couple of years, Chad and our daughter Heather had been trying to talk me into whitewater rafting. My reply had always been, "I'll drop you off at your put-in and pick you up at the take-out!" Or other such phrases as, "I have no desire to go whitewater rafting," and "No...Never!"

I had seen videos of Heather's trips on the Gauley and New Rivers in West Virginia and movies like River Wild with Meryl Streep. I'm not much of a water person, being a self-taught swimmer, and I don't much care for being in water where I can't see what's beneath me to nibble on my feet and toes. However, what's that old saying, "Never Say Never?"

Recently while vacationing in our favorite place "The Great Smokys," Chad and I were offered whitewater trips on the Big Pigeon River by two of the ten whitewater outfitters in the area, Pigeon River Outdoors and USA Rafting. After having met members from each of the ten companies located just off I-40 East in Hartford, TN, I can assure you that any one of their trips would have been equally enjoyable. However, our schedule more closely suited a trip offered by Pigeon River Outdoors (P.R.O.).

I've got to tell you, I was a basket case just thinking about what I was about to undertake. I had no problems skydiving from an airplane at 14,000 feet, but the thought of rafting through twelve Class III and two Class IV rapids made me a little...no, make that a lot queasy.

We checked in with P.R.O. staff about fifteen minutes before our scheduled trip was to depart and were assigned to raft #4. We then proceeded to pick out a paddle, helmet and life jacket. After securing our equipment, we gathered around a grounded raft and listened while one of the guides gave instructions on what to do in case you go overboard. Then we were assigned to our group and guide, Lincoln.

Our group turned out to be friends that worked at Ripley's in Gatlinburg, and this would be their seventh rafting trip. As I heard them yell to Lincoln, "We want a wild ride," my stomach sank to my toes. I must have turned pretty pale as Chad offered to get us in another group. "No, I can do this," I replied.

The ten minute bus ride to the put-in point just below the Carolina Power and Light Plant in Waterville, NC went quickly. One of the guides stood in the front of the bus and told jokes, but all I could think of was "a wild ride!" It was then I decided I was going to lock my feet in, and there was no way I was going out of the raft.

After receiving last minute instructions on commands we would need to know and seating arrangements (Chad and I were in second row seating position), we proceeded to the edge of the water. Prior to entering, Lincoln informed us that he didn't care how we went down the river as long as we looked cool. We all agreed that we would be the coolest raft on the river and with that we entered the water. Everyone was exclaiming how cold it was, but all I could think of was lock in...lock in!

Shortly after entering the water, we came to our first rapid a Class III+ called "Power House." Adhering to Lincoln's commands to paddle forward, we breezed right through it. Well, that wasn't bad...in fact, kind of fun. We all exclaimed how cool we were.

As we approached the left bank of the river, we realized we were going nowhere, as we were stuck on a rock. Chad yelled to Lincoln that we weren't looking too cool, as the entire group rocked back and forth trying to release the raft from the rock. Finally, Lincoln had to get out and give us a push. It was at this point I started to relax and enjoy the trip and group of people we were with. At least I thought I was relaxed until Lincoln said, "Who wants to do 360s?" I had no choice as we were already obeying his commands and spinning through "Roller Coaster." Actually, it was quite fun.

Then we came upon our first Class IV rapid "Lost Guide." This rapid vividly demonstrates the necessity for teamwork ability. As our craft slammed into the rapid sideways and plunged into the churning water, my side of the raft dipped and then immediately was thrown into the air from a great gush of water. Upon Lincoln's command, we realized the need for paddling our hearts out. Despite the intensity of this rapid, I was surprised how easily we maneuvered it without a gliche. Yeah, we were cool and all quickly gave a high five with our paddles.

I must admit it appeared that our raft was having the best time of all the rafts on the river. In the calm waters, we would paddle our raft beneath hanging branches in the water and lay innocently in wait for our fellow rafters. At the command of our fearless guide to "splash," we would drench our unsuspecting rafting teams. Yes, we were cool, until they all surrounded and splashed us with everything they had.

Our second Class IV rapid, "Double Reactionary," looked worse than it actually was as we approached. We had just come through a nice and easy Class II "Duck & Run," when Chad told me to look up ahead. I could not believe my eyes at first. I was seeing a drop in the river and couldn't see the bottom. You can imagine what was going through my mind...Niagra Falls...Deliverance...mangled bodies, eehh! I watched intently as the raft in front of us went over the edge and quickly breathed a sigh of relief when I immediately saw it on the other side. No it wasn't Niagra Falls!

The rest of the trip was great fun as we strategically won water battles, took an icy cold swim at "Bomb's Lake," and were subjected to a harmonica serenade performed by the guides. Our hour and a half trip soon came to an end and we hadn't lost anyone, especially me (unless you want to count the time when George was half in and half out of the raft going through "Rock-N-Roll," the last Class III+ of the trip).

I was back on the ground and had survived my first whitewater adventure. I hadn't been thrown out into a churning swell of water and drowned...I had conquered my fear and had a great time of it. My feet and shins were a little sore where I was lodged in tightly and I was drenched, but felt really confident that we were the coolest raft on the Big Pigeon that day.

For families who have children too small to go on whitewater trips, float trips are offered on the lower Pigeon where the water is calm and the scenery heart-stopping on a 3 1/2 mile stretch of the Big Pigeon River. (Children must be four years old for float trips and eight years old, or at least 70 lbs., for whitewater trips.)