Several years ago, perhaps 2002-2004, a kayaking buddy talked me into making this run with him. I said, "hell yeah!"

The weekend is essentially a huge party beginning a couple of nights before the actual run with everyone camping out. There is also a huge swap meet (market) to hook up with some of the best kayaking gear for cheap. Usually, all the major kayak brand manufacturers are there and giving deep discounts of brand new gear, some not even available to the public. I picked up an additional Dagger RPM for 50 bucks (retail well over $400, used is typically $250) for my wife do some whitewatering. She's done perhaps class III at the max and loved it. Our boats at the time were a Liquid Logic make. My whitewater boat is the Dagger RPM Max, for the bigger sized kayaker.

My buddy who asked me to do the run with him is the same person that taught me most I know about whitewater. He was far better, fearless, and many would call him a 'creeker' - someone who would do a run on any fast water and even waterfalls. We loaded up the gear and went to Hendersonville to partake (gently) in the camping out festivities.

I have done several runs on various parts of New River and other fast water, Class III-Class V when spring thaw. But I had never done the Green River.

To give you an idea of what this run entailed, imagine a section of river that drops a total of 250 feet in only 6/10ths of a mile. This is steep, big water. Oh, plus there is an 18 foot waterfall and some of the narrows are only 6 feet wide with nothing but massive granite boulders and rock face to run into.

I recall the roar of the water of the gorge being almost deafening, having to shout to each other.

Well, to make a long story short, I started the run but did not finish. Actually, I got perhaps a few hundred feet from the start when I bounced around a bit, turned upside down, nearly smashed my face on a boulder under the water breaking my eyeglasses in two. Literally, broke right in the middle on the bridge of my nose with the left and right lenses hanging over my ears with the glasses strap in place. I had to give in and get out of the water (thankfully have several rescue people along the course). Hind sight is 20/20. Perhaps I should have gone on without my glasses not really seeing what I was going into in order to keep the fear and adrenaline in check.

This weekend is the Green River Gorge run again.

Here's a look at what I missed...thankfully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg5sFR9cYE0