Betsy Westerfield grinning through a typical class I+ shoal on the Upper Hiwassee River.


Left to right: Steve Smyth, Carrie Smyth, Jack "The Dog" Newton, Lois Newton.
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Steve and Carrie Smyth admiring the upstream view of the high mountains of Western North Carolina on the Hiwassee River.
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John Maher running a small shoal in a SCUD on the Upper Hiwassee. Beginners are hilarious.


Lois and Jack run a K-9 tandem in a typical class I+ shoal on the upper Hiwassee. If you look very closely you can see than it is actually a "tri-part" crew. Small dog Peanut is peaking from the stern.


Prettymuch everyone agrees that they have never seen so many Mountain Laurel blooms as this year. Perhaps it has something to do with the severe drought that is underway.


A small mountain of Mountain Laurel blooms on the upper Hiwassee River.


Thank you God for the Southern Appalachian Mountains.


A typical view of the Upper Hiwassee. In the canoe: Steve Smyth.


Heavy vegetation along the upper Hiwassee. In the canoe: Steve and Carrie Smyth.


A tandem run through a small drop on the Upper Hiwassee.


Eddied out behind the rock in the foreground.


Unprocessed image of the put-in at a bridge in Hayesville, North Carolina.


Unprocessed image of Betsy Westerfield and John Maher at the put-in.


Unprocessed image of Lois Newton at the put-in.


Unprocessed image of a typical view downstream below the put-in bridge.


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Unprocessed view upstream on the Upper Hiwassee River.


Unprocessed image of a typical shoal on the Upper Hiwassee.


Unprocessed image of the open boats.


Unprocessed image of Steve and Carrie Smyth.


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Unprocessed image of Lois Newton trying to avoid getting stuck. The truth is the level was a little too low.


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Unprocessed image of Steve Smyth trying hard to find the deep water through a rocky stretch.


Unprocessed image. I think there is a trout fisherman in here somewhere.


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Unprocessed image. Good times, good friends.


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Unprocessed image. The day couldn't have been better.


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