Put-In

r i v e r r i g h t

upstream downstream

r i v e r l e f t

At the top of the dam there's a large gravel area for unloading. On busy days this is filled with rafts, and it's a bad idea to get in the way. If you're the sort of person who does better with a little bit of roll practice and some flatwater, the pond above the dam is perfect for warmup.

Beside the dam ("Snow White") on river right, the put-in ramp extends down to the water, forming a fairly large eddy. At times in mid-summer the line of commercial rafts will extend up the ramp into the gravel lot where trips unload, but it actually moves fairly quickly.

Looking downstream, you'll notice a pointed rock with a quartz seam in int, partially submerged. This is Whiteface. To its left is a larger rock with a triangular seam on it. This is the lower of the two gate rocks.

Further down is a river wide ledge, creating a hydraulic called "Grumpy's". At a large boulder (called the "House Rock") the right side of the ledge bends downstream, and on the left side there's a chute.

The usual raft run is to pull out of the eddy with an upstream ferry angle, clear the gate rocks, turn downstream after the hidden pillow below, and punch the ledge just to the right of the pourover that terminates it on the left hand side. Running far left is a smooth and easy option, just makes a little more work getting back right (but well worth it for the rookies).

Following the ledge, avoid the submerged rocks in the center at the bottom of the eddy behind the hole (it's nice if you can use the eddy to pull you river right, but don't try it 'til you're comfortable with what the hole looks like) and work right.

To the left further down is "The Raft Trap", which looks like a viable channel but will result in some bad sticks. Safety is usually set on the left side just below the ledge and on the right side on that large rock outcropping (the older "Lower Put-In").

In a raft, the difficult move here is clearing the eddy line at the put-in effectively. The tendency is for the current to whip the bow downstream and send you careening into Whiteface straight downstream of the put-in ramp. Although in a hard-boat it is possible to do a boof move off of the right side of Whiteface, most rafts will get pinned there. So, if you do lose your ferry angle with the boat, either back ferry across (if you miss the gate rocks, no problem (Before the floods of '91 this used to be the accepted route) but beware of the submerged rocks to the left of Whiteface, usually called the "Guide Getters". Many a rookie has swum the length of this because of a misplaced draw coming through that gap.

In a hard-boat, I suggest crossing the current and eddy hopping down the river left.

Play moves: There's surfing holes all over here, and I especially recommend doing the elevator move from the put-in eddy up to the eddy behind the dam. Beware, however, of getting too close to the hole at the bottom of the dam.

Yes, the dam has been run multiple times in many different types of boats. It's actually a fairly boring ride as it's extremely shallow, hard on the bottom of rafts, and a slide. The fines if the rangers catch you aren't worth it. If you feel the need, there are other, better falls elsewhere.

Cheat routes: If you're okay with eddy lines, get far left. Far right will work in a raft and a kayak, although in a raft you have to get way far right of "Whiteface" lest a horrible pin happen, and then go to the right of the House Rock. Also, there's no points off for walking down the road to the old put-in on the rock outcropping on the right. I can't recommend this latter method highly enough for high water, having watched (and participated in) some heinous and violent surfs in Grumpy's.

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This is a part of the Virtual Ocoee pages of Dan's Whitewater collection in the home pages of Dan Lyke , reachable at danlyke@flutterby.com