The Upper Pigeon River - Kayaking the Dirty Bird

We kicked off Week of Rivers with a run down the Dirty Bird! The Upper Pigeon - somehow in all these years of kayaking, I have never sent this run. P5 and link up with Jerry, and Grant as well as some other friends for a fun first day of a great week!
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[@markschuette3770]

nice seeing more people loving our beautiful natural rivers!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Mark!

[@AVAJourneys]

Yes, It does look like loads of fun! Thanks for putting it up, Pete! - AVA Ashley

[@RiverKingsKayak]

excellent!

[@katyparker5304]

I work on this river in the SMO boats (red boats rule) every summer. Where you were trying to surf, that far right line in lost guide your friend took is the funnest for kayaks.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Katy!!

[@cd250chris]

We rented this house out this week. Loved the river kings sticker in the log book. Awesome place

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Chris!!!! That is so cool! I love that cabin...will def be back!

[@bdingman83]

Great Video Pete and Gorgeous scenery on that river!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks a ton Brian!!

[@debbielacy4357]

So glad to have ran into your crew at WOR the OKC Frontier Chapter of the Arkansas Canoe Club

[@RiverKingsKayak]

For sure Debbie!!! I need to get out to your stomping grounds sometime!

[@debbielacy4357]

@@RiverKingsKayak that would be cool. We’re having a meeting with OKC Riversport to request an all chapter ACC event there for the first weekend before seasonal opening for 2023.

[@artfisher1235]

Sir you are very wise in cautioning against using the Dirty Bird as a certificate of readiness for Ocoee.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Art!

[@troybennington3479]

Lost guide and nice cliff walls is what I remember! Fun lap run. Very crowded😜

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Good stuff!

[@fullmetaljacket3018]

Love this vlog. Looking forward to paddling with you all.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks FMJ!

[@RobBrown2288]

That cabin is awesome! Great location

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Indeed!

[@SchaeferYaks]

Awesome video 🤙🏽I haven't made it out there yet, but it looks fun. I may have to check it out.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Im sure you would like it Ben!

[@g.garner]

Let’s go!

[@adventurekid9242]

Looks Super Duper fun. Pencil that one in for a date this summer

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Will do Guy!

[@mikeemmons4062]

Great video.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Mike!

[@BradDavis1974]

Liked this river so much that I paddled it twice during WOR. Wasn't super-challenging, but I was there with good friends, so that's all that matters. The rapid with the hard-to- catch surf wave is called Lost Guide. The one that P5 styled the boof on is Double Reactionary, and the one right after that with the right to left line is called Accelerator. Fun river to paddle for sure.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Brad! Who you are with is definitely the most important part!

[@AVAJourneys]

That just looks like straight out fun! AVA Brian

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Brian!!!

[@PALSRide]

That funny I was there last Saturday for the first time myself nice river

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on!

[@steveb8178]

ran this twice on saturday, was much fun. question - the bow and stern of your boat you have some protection on it - what is it and where would one procure it?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Hey Steve! That is just the color of the kayak. It is a one of a kind boat created for the Green Race Raffle. It is mostly yellow with some black highlights and the ends are both all black.

[@steveb8178]

@@RiverKingsKayak i hate you so much, so jealous (just kidding) thanks for letting me know....do you have any recommendations for protecting the bow and stern of the boat with kevlar tape (other than not hitting things lol) or should I just leave it and be proud of the battle marks :)

[@michaelpryor78]

I feel like the Pigeon flies under the radar a bit. It's not a sexy river. Water quality and scenery both leave a lot to be desired. However, I think it's a great class III resource that can be used for aspiring Southeastern paddlers who've graduated from the Nantahala but aren't quite ready for the push and continuousness of the Ocoee or necessity of making specific, tighter moves on the Nolichucky.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I can go with that.

[@mtgoutdoors8158]

Where are the put in and takeout??? Planning on doing this soon. And what class rapids???

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Look up pigeon gorge on American Whitewater website.

[@gregcrandall2502]

I enjoy your videos. Do you ever shop at River Sports? If so, hope to run into you someday.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Greg! I have never been there to my knowledge...I need to check it out!

[@wesleywhitener4552]

What is the best barometer for the knowing if someone is ready for the middle Ocoee then in your opinion?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I would say just looking at Grumpy's and having no second guesses. If you look at grumpy's and are unsure, then maybe go back and practice some more...

[@WVWes]

A Friday video!?!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

OH yeah!

[@noahgreen1366]

You mentioned that this run is sometimes used as barometer to gauge your readiness for the middle Ocoee. How do you think the two runs compare? Does the middle ocoee have any Class IV? Or just continuous Class III? The Dirty Bird is just Class III?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Hey Noah! I dont think the two runs are very comparable at all other than the perhaps the last two rapids on the Pigeon. The Ocoee is much bigger and much more water. The Middle Ocoee is just big class 3 to to bottom basically and the Pigeon has a couple class 3 spots. Running the Upper Pigeon and then running the Middle Ocoee is a pretty big step up and a little different overall. One thing that stands out is that the Upper Pigeon cannot prepare a paddler for the length and size of the rapids on the Ocoee...

[@noahgreen1366]

@@RiverKingsKayak Thanks Pete! quite helpful response.

[@WhitewaterOutdoors]

Pete what’s the name of the place you rented? Is it available for the public to rent or was it a friends place?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

The Nantahala River House...anyone can rent! Super cool location.

[@WhitewaterOutdoors]

@@RiverKingsKayak Thanks! It looks like a cool place I wanna check it out soon!

[@paulkuykendall2982]

You ain't gonna see no raftson the upper pigeon... In addition to that, it hardly never runs

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Well, this is what all the cool kids are calling the Upper Pigeon. Below this is the Lower Pigeon. I believe the section you are referring to is Called the Pigeon Dries.

[@jabenm]

Pete, next time you're back this way, let's go to the Pigeon. You guys missed 90% of the good waves, fun moves, and play spots, especially in the first mile. Not too hard to do as most are a little off the beaten path. Thanks for highlighting the home waters!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Mark!!

[@paulkuykendall2982]

That's not the upper pigeon that's the regular run

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Well, this is what all the cool kids are calling the Upper Pigeon. Below this is the Lower Pigeon. I believe the section you are referring to is Called the Pigeon Dries.

[@canajian]

👋😎👍