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Rich Stevenson | profile | all galleries >> Bonas Defeat Gorge tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Bonas Defeat Gorge

Bonas Defeat Gorge is a beautiful but dangerous section of the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County. A trip through the gorge should only be attempted by experienced off trail travelers. This gallery is a combo of pictures from different trips.
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Maxine Matthews Clark 09-Mar-2013 10:57
I grew up on the Tuckaseegee River long before a dam was ever thought of. Indeed, it's one of the most beautiful places on earth. Rock Bridge and the Tuckaseegee River; including Bonas Defeat,were not new to me. I'm so glad some of the rest of the world have discovered the wonders of the Tuckaseegee. Does anyone know about the Railroad and sawmill which was located at Rock Bridge during the late 20's and 30's, I certainly do. There's an old sad looking house located just across the bridge at Rock Bridge just off the Canada Highway. If you turn right after crossing the bridge, you can't miss the old house on the left. Please enjoy my mountain home of my heart.
Wendy K. Dayne04-Feb-2013 14:13
The potholes forming small waterfalls look amazing!
Antonia Mcanaw26-Jan-2013 11:47
Very nice shots, Rich. I'll show this to my husband. I'm sure he'll love this. Great job!
Guest 26-Dec-2012 22:19
A group of adventurous friends visit BDG several times each year, coincidentally one trip was on the day DP opened Wolf Creek spillway. We began our Trek up the gorge around 10am but turned around and hiked out at the 1/3 way mark due to an unexpected incident and heavy current. We returned on September to complete the Trek. Do not attempt this hike without an experienced guide, rescue is nearly impossible!
Rob Craftsman01-Aug-2012 21:30
The Gorge is every bit as beautiful in person as on film. Me & a few adventurous friends of mine took a trip through here not all that long ago (5yrs maybe?). The gallery does a great job of capturing the essence of the place.
Rich Stevenson30-Jul-2012 19:43
Thanks for the info. I just posted the news on my page here - http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/bonas1.htm - I checked the Duke web site and didn't see any info there. Do you have a link or how did you find out??
Guest 30-Jul-2012 13:31
URGENT NEWS! You might want to post this on your front page.

"Please note that Duke power is currently spilling water into the bonas defeat gorge from Tanassee Creek Lake. This will pose hazard to anyone who enters the gorge for recreational purposes. This water spill is due to an equipment issue at Tanassee and will continue for an unknown amount of time.

In addition they will be installing a flow valve in Wolf Lake and will begin a drawdown on 8/1, this will mean that there will be water spilling into the gorge until 3/1/2012. The following information will be posted on Dukes website however as we know many of our students and community members don’t check the website before entering that gorge. If you are receiving this email it’s because either recreate in this area or know people who do that might benefit from this info. Thanks for your help in passing it along.

“Beginning August 1, 2012, Duke Energy will start lowering Wolf Creek and Tanasee Creek Lakes to allow for the installation of a minimum flow valve in Wolf Lake that will provide additional downstream flow for aquatic habitat. Wolf Creek Lake will be lowered 50 feet from full pond and Tanasee Creek will be lowered to 21 ft from full pond to 79 feet and then allowed to spill water through the gate into the bypass reach known as Bonas Defeat. The normal target elevation for both throughout the summer is 7 feet below full.

The access boat ramp on Wolf Creek Lake is expected to be unusable after August 7. The canoe / kayak access on Tanasee Creek Lake will be closed during the project’s duration for safety reasons.
air ambulance20-Jun-2012 19:36
how serene
Ben P 12-Jun-2012 16:32
Jim Conniff I am considering hiking Bonas Defeat later this summer. I was wondering what time of year you had hiked the gorge? I am trying to see if there is any rhyme or reason to the dam releases. Additionally, was there any kind of siren that sounded before the release?
IVR11-Jun-2012 18:34
no 10 is magical!
dan 07-Nov-2011 00:40
We did the gorge in the early 70s after my room mate went with the geology class from WCU only about 300-400 poeple that year went. Camp at the defeat on plastic sheets in sleeping bags temp was down to 8 degres that night one of the best trips. But after awhile they reduced the release from the dam above and things were over grown. From the pics they appear to be doing more releases. Not many places in the east can compare. Bonas was a dog that chased a deer off the face of cliff that is in the is in the Tuckasegee gorge above Lil Canada and Wolf Creek lake
Cannistra 26-Jun-2011 23:43
Having hiked the gorge 7 times ,and completing 3 times I can say without a doudt its beauty can distract you and one will forget just how dangerous it can be. I am proud of my two hiking buddys Keith & Colin who completed the hike.
Jim Conniff 16-Aug-2010 02:52
Great pictures - they really brought back some memories. I did Bonas Defeat twice in the early nineties and the second time through they opened the dam on us, splitting our group of four into two groups of two. We barely got out of there (I slipped and fell and ended up with a compressed vertebrae). Your warnings about it are right on the money, but it is absolutely beautiful.
Jay 11-Nov-2009 21:12
Thanks for posting the warning. I was considering a hike to Bonas Defeat. I'll now consider it to be a much more serious undertaking than I originally thought.
robert 04-Oct-2009 00:33
If you have opportunity to go into gorge after extreme cold you will expirence a true icy winter landscape with columns of ice appearing to flow over rock formations and forming stalactite and stalagmites. Awesome, but one must be very cautious for it is very dangerous.
Jacky Lee03-Aug-2009 15:50
very nice photos!
http://www.pbase.com/middlehill/hong_kong_photo
Guest 24-Dec-2007 03:38
Very Nice Gallery V
Dave Beedon 13-Jun-2005 00:41
Cool off-trail exploration. I hope there wasn't too much butt abrasion. I assume that you knew in advance that there would be no releases of water while you were there.
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