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When I moved to North Carolina in 2008 I had already been paddling for about 8 years. I hadn't been on any river harder than the Ocoee and even then that was the only class 3 I had ever done. I looked into the Asheville area for the outdoors potential but hadn't even researched the abundance of whitewater to be found around here. I just knew it was a cool outdoors town.When I started my new job as a high school teacher I met another one of the new teachers at the school who is an avid kayaker. He offered to take me on the upper green saying it was pretty easy and a lot easier than the Ocoee. Excited about making a new friend so quickly I readily accepted the invitation.The Upper Green started out as a fun day in my Wavesport EZG 50 until I went off Bayless's Boof about as badly as one can. I really should have taken time to scout the rapid but I did my best angled right instead of left, got worked in the hole, and landed right on the piton rock and sprained both ankles. I finished the rest of the trip but I was in a lot of pain and I barely managed the hike out.After that trip, I became very nervous about whitewater. I sold my boat and considered my paddling career over. The fun to fear/pain ratio just didn't seem worth it. I had just met the girl who would later be my wife so I had bigger priorities anyway.My new paddling friend became my best friend and he never gave up trying to get me back into the sport I had once loved. He would tell me all the time of his paddling trips to various creeks and rivers in the area. I wasn't interested as the thought of paddling only made my ankles hurt. It took over a year to be able to run again. I reinjured them several times trying to run and hike.April of 2009 an old friend of mine from Tennessee came to visit. I was excited to show him all the places to go hiking along the parkway and since he was on spring break he was here all week. My friend here convinced me to tell him to bring his kayak. He then proceeded to convince us to attempt to paddle Wilson's creek that weekend. I was skeptical and the three of us hung out in my classroom while he showed us American Whitewater's website of all the rapids and convinced us that we would probably survive the trip.As that Saturday rolled around it was pouring rain and very cold. My friend from Tennessee and I were not excited. I barely slept that night as all I could think of was a horrible death from drowning the next day. Later I learned that my friend was thinking the same thing.It poured rain all the way over to Wilson's creek that day. I was dreading every moment because I knew that soon I would be in danger for my life.When we got there the plan was for my friend to run the creek first and I would use his gear for a second lap. I ran shuttle for them and watched from the road as they ran all the amazing drops and rapids of Wilson's creek. The level was about 3".Then it came to be my turn...My friend got off of the river wide eyed. He still describes that as a life changing event. His love for paddling had been kindled as a new paddler. As an old salty class 2/3 paddler I was terrified to throw my luck in with a class IV creek. Well, it was way too late to back down now. I put on my friends gear and we drove up to the put in. I made sure to let everyone know how terrified I was and everyone promised to look after me.The first few rapids went fine. No rolls just lots of fun. I walked 10 ft falls but I had planned to do that anyway. What followed were the first class IV rapids I have ever ran and more terror but elation and joy followed that first emotion. I was beginning to feel the joy once again. The last major rapid is called razorback. I had a scary swim just above it where I managed to grab a rock just before washing off the river left side onto rocks. A few more small class 3 and 4 rapids followed and then it was over. I was so happy to be done I just stayed in the car while they did another lap.It took a little prodding but eventually I discovered the love once more. I began to learn the local creeks and the more I paddled the more obsessed I became. I now live about 30 minutes from the green and plan to run it for the first time in a couple of weeks. I still paddle with the same respect and sometimes fear I started out with but the experience is always worth it. I still walk rapids I probably shouldn't and I still get nervous before hard trips but I am always grateful to get on the river.In conclusion, the quality of experience that kayaking provides is unparalleled and being on the water has enriched my life in a way that I cannot describe. My best friends are paddlers and I regularly watch the weather just so I can figure out when to paddle. I have met some really cool people on and off the river but I always enjoy pulling up to a put in and seeing new people.