Trips and Runs

Monte Smith

When Monte Smith first started visiting the Obed/Emory system in the 1970's, he was astounded by the labyrinthian complexity of the watershed, with its myriad canyons and axle-busting dead-end access roads. He was also dismayed by the almost total lack of reliable information on the watershed. Available information was piecemeal, at best, and often woefully inaccurate. This led Monte to commence a systematic exploration of the system, culminating in 1980 with the publication of The Obed/Emory Watershed, the first comprehensive description of the Obed/Emory and its major tributaries.

This book became something of a cult classic, with its photographs of Robert Reeder on Clear Creek and Eugene (Bo) Rocker blasting down Island Creek. Paddlers gobbled up the first two printings, but then the publisher, Rocker Associates, closed its doors and the book went into limbo.

It was resurrected in 1990 by Menasha Ridge Press. With a jazzy new four-color cover, new typeset, and updated trip descriptions, it was re-titled, A Paddler's Guide to the Obed/Emory Watershed and became a mandatory guide for anybody looking to explore any of the Obed\Emory's 18 whitewater runs.

In the mid-Nineties, Monte published Southeastern Whitewater: 50 of the Best River Trips from Alabama to West Virginia. This work, with its broad coverage, meticulous research, and innovative TRIP Rating Scale, quickly became a standard reference for southeastern paddlers. The book includes several Obed trip descriptions. 

Shortly after publication of Southeastern Whitewater came River Stories: Tales from Bo Rockerville, which also includes Obed-related materials.

Monte's Obed/Emory work is currently out of print, but both River Stories ($14.95) and Southeastern Whitewater ($22.00) plus $1.58 (book rate) or $3.25 (priority) are currently available online at Amazon.com or by mail order from the publisher: Pahsimeroi Press, PO Box 190442, Boise, ID 83709. For free shipping, mention the TP2K website.

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