Most of you are vets but there are a few first timers out there. Who knows, the next Guy might be reading this right now?
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* What is Webster Springs?
The Webster Springs Whitewater Festival is an event hosted by the town of Webster Springs and a local 4H camp, Camp Caesar. It is the weekend of 4/14/12 this year (again in conflict with the Tallulah – Cheoah release weekend
). Saturday, there is a race on a section of the Elk and a party later at Camp Caesar. Since 2005, this has turned in to a popular event for the Club. It has been where some have gotten their first taste of intermediate creeking.
I believe this year, there will be a bro down and cookout in the parking lot of the Mineral Springs Hotel Saturday night. Bring something tasty to eat.
* Where can I stay?
There are pretty much three options:
1. The paddling bourgeoisie insist on the Mineral Springs Hotel. That will fill up so get a reservation now.
2. Camping at Camp Caesar or by the Williams or Cranberry.
3. Cabins are available at Camp Caesar.
*What’s the deal with the cabin at Camp Caesar?
Unlike years past, I did not get a cabin at Camp Caesar this year. Dwindling support has forced me to stay at the hotel so you're on your own. Sorry.
* Where are we going to paddle?
Hopefully, we'll be able to fire up laps on the class IV creeks in the area (Upper Meadow, Cranberry, Williams, Back Fork of the Elk, Laurel Fork of the Cherry, North Fork of the Cherry, etc.).
If those look too big girl, I’m sure someone will be doing a II-III section of something somewhere. It would be nice if someone stepped up and offered to coordinate a II-III trip on the Board in a separate thread (hint
). On Saturday, I will be leaving the hotel by 10:30 am. If you would like to join me, please show up well before then so we can leave by 10:30. This is shaping up to be a big trip and your help to keep it from turning in to a giant pooh parade is appreciated. (If we have a group of 18 and each person has to be waited on 10 minutes separately over the course of the day, that's 3 hours wasted.
:evil:)Also, once on the river, we need to continue to do a good job of splitting up in to small groups, keeping the groups separated, and sticking with those groups. This really minimizes boo-boos and gets them dealt with quickly and safely should they occur.
* How good has this trip been in the past, really?
This is how it has gone down in past years:
2011 Trip Report
2010 Trip Report
2009 Trip Report
* Do I need a creekboat?
This is my all time favorite Webster Springs question. There is a learning curve to figuring out how to paddle a creekboat well. If the stuff mentioned above sounds challenging to you and you’ve never been in a creekboat, you’d be better off in your old faithful. On the other hand, these rivers are where creekboats shine so it would be a good place to learn how to use it (actually, one of my creeking clinics would be a better place to learn how to use it but those dates haven't been set for 2012 yet
). It all depends on what you’re willing to put up with. Thanks and hope you decide to come.
[/s]I made a decision to cancel my hotel room.
Since so many people made plans to travel this weekend, I will still try to have an OCT. Options right now look like the New or the Cheat / LY.
Maybe Shaggy will grill some pork! 
I'd almost pay money to see that
