Nantahala 2006

Release Level

This past weekend we had a big group down at the Smokies. All the Thomas clan plus myself and Jennifer. We had planned our Nanatahala run for Saturday, but due to rain and colder weather we pushed it back to Sunday. Instead on Saturday we checked out the Belle Chere in Asheville, which is always very cool. We stayed at the Pisgah Inn on Saturday night. That place is very nice and is not far from Asheville at all. Maybe 25 minutes.

On Sunday morning we all met at the river, at NOC. We went up the road a little bit to rent the duckies from Fast Rivers. That place is much cheaper than NOC and they were very nice. So John Thomas and I kayaked and everyone else were in the ducks. Jay and Sarah together, Bill and Tiffany together, Kenny and Jennifer solo.

We put in at the correct spot tis time and got to start things off with a bang on Patton's Run. A very easy class II+ rapid. But the Nanty is constant, always moving water and fun to paddle. Everyone did awesome, no swims from the duckies and John on only his 3rd time out in the kayak ran every rapid clean. And at the falls, well we all just made the falls look easy. Especially Jennifer, who was making moves all over the place on the river.

After this trip we now know that we need, we want, we will be getting a club duckie. Because everyone who paddled one loved it, and they want to do it again.

Pictures from the trip

Nantahala

Jay, Sarah, Jennifer and I spent the weekend at the Nantahala. We made a raft trip down the river on Saturday and a kayak trip stopping short at the Pizza Shack. Beastie went with us again on the raft trip. Jay and I were able to patch up the raft very good and get it back in action for this trip. The second day Jay and I ran the falls a couple of times in the morning and then we hit the road driving through the very scenic highway 28, followed by the very curvy dragon's tail section of 128. Don't know if it was faster or not going that way, the highway is probably the best route. Everyone seemed to have a great time on the river and everyone is interested in doing it again. We stayed at Freeman's motel. Secluded little place, very basic. They lost power Saturday night after a storm hit the area. We also drove along the blue ridge parkway at night and stopped at an incredible place along there. Good trip, for sure.

Nantahala - 4th of July

Ryan, John, Bubba & Megan, Stewart and I went to the Nantahala for rafting and kayaking. This was my first kayak trip off of the Elkhorn. I ran the Elkhorn from our campground to the falls 3 times in the kayak and once in the raft. We stopped for pizza in the raft and listened to a bluegrass band, ate pizza and drank keg beer. It was a fantastic trip.