week of 4/10/02
 
 
 


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Thrill-seeking kayakers get their kicks during annual Whitewater Festival
By Don Hendershot
From mild to wild, paddlers can find whatever kind of water they’re looking for in the mountains of Western North Carolina, North Georgia and East Tennessee.

Gonzo kayakers from across the Southeast flock to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls, Ga., five weekends a year to test their mettle. This year’s annual Tallulah falls Whitewater Festival was held on April 6, and water was released again April 7. The gorge will be open again next weekend, April, 13-14. Boaters will be left with memories of past runs and dreams of future challenges until the first three weekends of November, when Georgia Power will once again send torrents of water through the 600-foot gorge.

Tallulah River was dammed by Georgia Power for hydroelectric production in 1912, and the freewheeling, free-falling river became a trickle and the riverbed a playground for hikers. However, as a result of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s mid-1990s relicensing agreement, Georgia Power agreed to spill water into the gorge five weekends a year. The flows started in 1999.

Tallulah Gorge is not for the timid or the inexperienced. It’s two-and-a-half miles of Class IV and V rapids. Paddlers interested in running the river must carry their boats about two-tenths of a mile along a path to get to a set of more than 600 steps leading down into the gorge to the launch site. Despite the difficulty of getting there, dozens of paddlers made the trek last weekend.

Tallulah Gorge is such a new run that most of the rapids have yet to be officially named. The two monster falls that boaters face in the gorge are Oceana and Bridal Veil. Oceana is between 100- and 200-feet long with a drop of about 50 feet. About three-quarters of the way down the falls, lies “The Thing.” The Thing is a huge boulder that throws water back up the fall creating a rooster tail about 15 to 20 feet high and 15 to 18 feet wide.

While Oceana and The Thing may appear more intimidating, Bridal Veil is probably more dangerous. When there is no release, Bridal Veil is a kiddie playland called sliding rock. But with water in the gorge, this 100-foot long slide dumps the boater into a large “keeper” hydraulic at the base.

The river between Oceana and Bridal Veil and beyond Bridal Veil to Lake Tugaloo is chock full of some of the most challenging Class IV rapids in the Southeast. When the river finally rolls into the lake, paddlers are left with a mile of flat water to traverse to get to the takeout and wait for a Georgia Power company shuttle to come and take them back to the top.

“For a lot of these guys, it’s the paddle across the lake that’s the worst part. They just dread the flat water,” said Tallulah Gorges Superintendent Bill Tanner.

Tanner said some entrepreneurial locals wait in their power boats where the paddlers spill into the lake. The locals have tow ropes and coolers of beer. Tows are free, but the beers are $2 each.


Chattooga

The Chattooga River also winds up in Lake Tugaloo. This scenic, free-flowing river offers a variety of whitewater experiences. Section II from N.C. 28 to Earl’s Ford is basically Class II with one Class III rapids, Bull Shoals. Section III begins at Earl’s Ford and runs 10 miles to U.S. 76. There are six rapids on this section ending with Bull Sluice which is class IV or V depending on water level. Section IV is eight miles, from U.S. 76 to Lake Tugaloo. This section includes the difficult and potentially treacherous Woodall Shoals and finishes with “Five Falls;” First Falls, Corkscrew; Crack in the Rock; Jawbone and Sock-Em-Dog.


Nantahala

The Nantahala River in Swain and Macon counties has been called every man’s river. It is an eight-mile run of basically Class II rapids (19 of them) with Class III Nantahala Falls waiting at the end. There is a slalom course on the river at the Nantahala Outdoor Center as well as “the wave” for playboaters.


Tuckasegee

For beginners, tubers and those looking for a leisurely river trip there is the Tuckasegee River in Jackson and Swain counties. There are five sections, almost 40 miles of navigable waterway from the tiny community of Tuckaseigee to Bryson City. The Tuck is great for family outings. Calmer water allows for a minimum weight requirement of 40 pounds.


French Broad

The French Broad River through Buncombe and Madison counties offers opportunities from flat water to waves for surfers to the class IV Frank Bell’s rapids. The most popular run on the French Broad is section nine from Barnard to Hot Springs.


Nolichucky

One of the most scenic paddles in the region would be the Nolichucky. Born out of the confluence of the Toe and Cane rivers, the first few miles of the Noli are full of big water and challenging rapids. The run from Poplar to Erwin, Tenn., is eight-and-a-half miles of Class III and IV rapids, provided the river is up. The Noli is not dam controlled and is dependent on rainfall.


Pigeon

The one area river that has yet to open for the season is the Pigeon. The Pigeon is another example of recent FERC relicensing. The releases from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day are part of the new license requirement. This river, with its Class III and IV rapids, is quickly gaining popularity. More than 70,000 paddlers a season go down it.