There's some pretty good white water rafting about 30 miles from Fontana Dam on the Nantahala River. I'm planning on going and if there's interest, I'd be happy to get with the organizers and make this an official event. Whatcha think?


Approximate route: http://www.google.com/local?f=q&hl=e...25975,0.456619

 

Why not just make it an event anyway? I think it's a very good idea... whether only 5 people sign up or 50 people do, it doesn't have to be a certain "number" of people just to be "official" and included on the calendar. To quote snooter:muidaq, contact Sally (ssallykat) to coordinate the day, time & meeting place, then start a thread with the details (or modify this one) and you're all set.

The more events the merrier... doesn't matter if there are some conflicts, we can't have 500+ people all going to the same events now, can we?

 

I drove down this river on my way back home from the Dragon last year. WOW the rafting looked great! This would be a fabulous event for those interested. There were tons of outfitters.

 

Just make sure you bring a wet suit! 7mil! This river is COLD! The water is taken from the bottom of the 900' lake above. Even in the high heat of the summer the water is barely warm enough to go without a wet suit. The skill level is not difficult. If you've white water before then you'll be fine on this one. If you've never done it then you'll still be fine if you're with those who have done white water. I won't be joining you as it's too cold at this time of the year for me. But y'all have fun!

 

I have kayaked this river many times and have floated in a raft and a "ducky" inflatable kayak. If you go in a raft no wetsuit is necessary but the "ducky's" are a different story......... when that water rushes up your leg you will sceam for a wet suit (from experience).... there are many outfitters and large groups are easily accomodated. This is a fun river..... also bring your fly rods as it is also a nice trout stream (you need a NC liscence) Mt biking is the best in the east.....on and on..... this is one of my favorite areas as I used to camp there many weekends for several years

 

Sure I would definitely be up for some rafting! The water will be cold but you can rent wetsuits. Put me down as a definite and I might even "drag" my hubby along.

Thanks, Morgan

 

Sounds good Morgan. One other interested MINIac is enough for me. I'll get with the organizers and get it on the board.

Mike

 

FYI, there will be a dam release into the Cheoah river that weekend
and there will be lots of professionals rafting and kayaking right at
the Dragon. Some of the folks from Nantahala may be selling raft
trips there. If I hear more about this I will post it here. I got this
info from the owners of Tapoco last weekend when we were up there.

 

Rafting the Dragon, now that sounds cool! Morgan

 

The Ocoee river in TN is aloso not that far and it has awesome whitewater. Quite a bit more exciting than the Nantahala.

Lots of Outfitters on the Ocoee.

Cheers,

Herbert

 

My wife and I would be in, but where did we put those wet suits?

 

I've done the middle Ocoee once and it's a great run! Depending on the water levels in the dam above there are two different skill level runs. The higher skill level run, that I haven't done yet, is suppose to be all IV's and one V rapids. The middle run has one IV and lower.

Is that your understanding too Moskito?

 

That'll be cool, give a good thing to do while not motoring, just hope we don't get many slow moving paddler vehicles on the dragon! If I where still in kayaking form I'd make a run down the Cheoah, just have to figure out where to put the 'yak and gear since I got rid of my ultimate kayaking support vehicle... '87 Volvo 240, I could carry 5 people, 5+ boats and all the gear that went with us.

 

There is also kayaking down the Tuck in Dillsboro. Its class 1 and 2's with a low 3 for fun. It's very easy.

As an added bonus you can see the wrecked train from the movie "The Fugative" as you go down the river.

 

That is actually not quite correct. There are actually two sections, and the upper Ocoee is similar in difficulty to the lower Ocoee run with Class 4 rapids being the max rapids. Most outfitters though will only run the lower section and that alone will take 4 hours by the time you are done with signing in, getting on the bus, running the river and coming back on the bus. The Ocoee might be a bit coolish too but a wetsuit is not needed there.

Cheers,
Herbert

 

My bad. Thanks for the clean up on isle 4.

 

If the water is "up", about 60 to 70 miles East in Asheville is the French Broad, beautiful trip. Nantahala is nice in the rubber duckies because you just drive up and you are on your way, duckies are at least steerable, much more than the rafts. Heard great things about the Ocoee, my friend's daughter, Elizabeth, is a professional guide up there for many years. Near Asheville is also the Green and Toe Rivers, but you'd better have your own boat. Don't forget the Chatooga, Deliverance and all that, not very far from Smokies. Nantahala is your easiest, but get there early. Nice campground at the put-in spot, but sells out early on the weekends. Don't forget the fries and salsa at the Nantahala Restaurant, Delicious. ENJOY.

 

My husband and I went kayaking today, got love 80 degrees in March! It was awesome out on the lake today. :-) Morgan

 

My first post! I rafted the ocoee a few years ago and had a blast. Count me in. There are also good springs for tubing in the area if the weather/water is warm enough.

 

Killboy.com photos of the week include some cool kayaking from near the Tapoco Lodge. Scroll to the end of his page to see them.

 

Here's the official sign-up thread. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...314#post914314