Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Waterfall TN Class V+

Firescape

Henderson Creek - Liberty Hill Rd to Laurel-Snow Parking lot (TN)

Gauge Conditions
Runnable: ? – ? CFS

Approximate - nearest available gauge. Use as general reference only.

Photo
Firescape
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

After spoonman is a nice boof on the left, then a manky ledge.  In the runout of this ledge the creek necks to the left wall and drops of the face of the earth.  DON'T miss the eddy on the left wall.  It is a 1.5 boat eddy.  In other words, space it out below spoonman.  The eddy is tiny and the climb out is on loose chunks of unstable rock and poison ivy.  After climbing up to the O-deck, you will behold the best rapid on Walden Ridge.  Yep.  4 drops, back to back, dropping around 30-35 feet all together.  First drop is simple, but a disgusting sieve awaits the complacent, inches from the optimum spot.  The hole at the bottom is just enough to create plenty of scrambling opportunities above the sketchy crux of the drop.  Here, a few diagonal ledges and boily currents loom above the second drop, which has 2 narrow lines.  Anywhere else is less than desirable.  You can run off the left wall just to the right of a large boulder down an 8 foot slide, or ferry right using the crosscurrents for escort.  Right is maybe a little harder, but the left line has been known to reject people, sending them into the horrible pin spot in the center.  Many close calls here.  The far right slot is a narrow drop into a hole that sends you fast into 3 and 4.  Third drop is a slide ledge angling back to the left.  Drive against the grain to the right with two options.  Drop down low into the wall at the bottom, or boof right, careful not to go too far right and land on/in front of a big slab, and not too far left and onto a painfull dome rock.  Below here is the final 8-10 foot plunge, which is best boofed on the right.  Freewheels, railgrabs, and celebratory meltdowns are welcome, though there is a big pool that backs the drop up pretty viciously. 

Location
Type
Waterfall
Difficulty
Class V+
Mile Marker
4.0 mi
Directions
View Full Run
Liberty Hill Rd to Laurel-Snow Parking lot
Henderson Creek
V 6.8 mi
Hazard — Exercise extreme caution in this area.
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater