By Jim Darnell
Daily Record Columnist
July 17, 2008 12:00 pm
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My wife Beth and I were right in the heart of some of the best and most diverse whitewater rafting rivers in America. Our host, Nantahala Outdoor Center, offers exciting whitewater trips on nine different rivers in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. All these scenic rivers are within a short drive to Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Our whitewater rafting adventures began in the cold waters of the Nantahala River about 25 years ago. Driving down the Nantahala valley on our way to a camping vacation in the Smokys, we saw scores of rafts and kayaks navigating the gentle rapids of the river. The next morning, we were at the Natahala Outdoor Center headquarters renting a raft large enough to carry our family of five. That first float down Natahala hooked us on whitewater sports. It was the perfect stream for beginners — not too wild but with enough challenging rapids to put real excitement into the trip.
Since that first experience in the Nantahala, we have returned the Smoky Mountains many times to float the Nantahala and numerous other rivers. After the Nantahala, we tackled the classic rapids of the middle Ocoee. The Ocoee is non-stop action.
It is the nation’s most popular stretch of whitewater and the site of kayaking events in the 1996 Olympics. Millions of people around the world who watched those Olympics in person or on TV became familiar with the foaming waves of the Ocoee.
Another summer NOC arranged us a trip on the Chattooga River. The Chattooga has been designated by congress as a National Wild and Scenic River. This beautiful southeastern whitewater river was made famous by the movie Deliverance.
Last year, our son Terry and grandson Ty joined us for a trip down the French Broad, near Asheville, NC. Terry, Ty and I floated in “duckies.” Beth stayed with a raft. Duckies are inflatable kayaks. They greatly add to the challenge of the whitewater.
Last week, Beth and I arrived at the NOC headquarters on the Nolichucky River near Erwin, Tenn. Though there are numerous whitewater outfitters on these mountain rivers, we always go with NOC. They are the largest whitewater rafting company in the world and very professional.
First order of the day is the viewing of the safety film. It’s always a little unnerving as they remind you that whitewater rafting involves risk. It can result in permanent injury or death. But risk is a part of life. Any time you climb into your automobile and travel IH-35, you put your life at risk.
With our life preservers and helmets fitted we boarded the bus for quite a 45-minute trip through the Pisgah National Forest, across the Tennessee-North Carolina state line and downhill to Poplar, NC on the “Noli.”
The raft that Beth and I would use was guided by Steven Sherrill. Steven worked as a river guide for NOC during his college summers at the University of Georgia. After graduation, he continued to guide on the whitewater, but now as his full-time job. Pressure from family finally caused him to enter the corporate world in Atlanta to use his finance degree.
“But I wasn’t happy in the corporate world,” Sherrill said. “I found myself returning to the mountain rivers every weekend to guide and be with my river friends.”
After a year, he left the corporate world, returned to the rivers and became the NOC director of the Nolichucky outpost.
It didn’t take long after we started down the Noli to see that Steven was a true river pro. We zipped through the foaming rapids with ease as he called out commands of “all forward,” “all back,” “right side forward, left back,” etc.
“The Nolichucky is kind of a cross between the remote scenery and technical maneuvering of the Chattooga and the big waves of the Ocoee,” Sherrill said.
That was not a Chamber of Commerce exaggeration. The Noli was an awesome river — remote, wild and scenic. It plunges down the second highest gorge east of the Mississippi and crosses the Appalachian Trail near Erwin, Tenn.
The first half of our eight-mile trip was fast. Steven skillfully piloted us through rapids with names like “Last Chance,” “On the Rocks,” “Jaws” and “Anaconda.” Most of the Noli is Class III and Class IV whitewater. Whitewater is rated Class I to VI. Class I is a ripple. Class VI is extremely wild and dangerous. So the Noli is loaded with good challenges.
The present drought is resulting in a low-water season for whitewater enthusiasts. Our river was running about 600 CFS. “We run this river all the way up to almost 10,000 CFS,” Sherrill said. “But 1,500 to 3,000 CFS is perfect.”
But the low water had some advantages. It was fun maneuvering through shallow shoals without getting stuck. Steven knows the deeper channels like the back of his hand. Our smaller, lighter three or four-man rafts helped greatly. Also, on the low water, the drops were exciting. Several rapids involved falling off three and four-foot ledges into boiling pools.
After a great shore lunch, we finished our trip as the river grew wider and slower. We arrived at the NOC center about 4 p.m., tired but safe.
Next year, we hope to tackle NOC’s newest river adventure. It’s a nine mile stretch on the Cheoah River billed as “by far our steepest, hardest, most intense trip with constant rapids.” Many of the rapids are Class IV -V.
For a whitewater vacation check out these many rivers at NOC.com or call 1-888-662-2199.
Jim Darnell is an ordained minister and the host/producer of the syndicated outdoors show “God’s Great Outdoors.” His column appears every Thursday in the Daily Record.
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