White Water Rafting

I've been, I loved it. You should give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

The Ocoee isn't that far of a drive and is a great river to raft. Their guides are excellent and it's very affordable.

http://www.ocoeerafting.com/

Bluesman , knowing you I don't think you would enjoy it. There are awfully alot of people in this area that would LOVE IT !!!!!!!

I think it would be highly populated in this area if white water rafting could be in this area.

I've been rafting several times and I think it's a great activity for a wide range of ages. You can go down Ocoee which has rapids up to a class 4 with a guide or either go down the Nantahala in NC which has rapids up to a class 3 with no guide. My husband and I just went down the Ocoee in August using Sunburst Adventures and it was great. We left Killen at 8:30, got up there plenty early, rafted at 1:00 and were back home by 9:00 that night. It wasn't a bad trip at all. You should go!

Hey, I don't really care a lot about white water rafting. Out here the water is cold enough to freeze your... well, it's pretty cold. But I do want to comment on NashBama's video. Probably uses a lot of bandwidth, but it is really smokin'.

quote:

Originally posted by pintsize:
I've been rafting several times and I think it's a great activity for a wide range of ages. You can go down Ocoee which has rapids up to a class 4 with a guide or either go down the Nantahala in NC which has rapids up to a class 3 with no guide. My husband and I just went down the Ocoee in August using Sunburst Adventures and it was great. We left Killen at 8:30, got up there plenty early, rafted at 1:00 and were back home by 9:00 that night. It wasn't a bad trip at all. You should go!

Ditto. Blues, go for it.

I also recommend the Chattooga. Remember Deliverance? “Yew shore got a purty mouth.” That's where it was filmed. Got pretty scenery too... a National Wild & Scenic River.

Check out http://www.wildwaterrafting.com

But I can’t tell you much about the rafting experience except watching those folks have a whale of a good time.

I was & am a solo fast boat driver... a 20+ year old scarred and battered Perception Mirage whitewater kayak.

Now-a-days, my boat is low tech and low speed. A raft might outrun me or over me.

Get wet and have fun.

Let me add that the closest place I know of to enjoy the whitewater experience is the Sipsey River in the Bankhead forest. There's a couple of rapids that might go Class 3 on a very good day. I've run it a couple of times when there was a good flow in the spring, but due to a lack of rain for the past two years, it's no place for a raft.

They do it right up there.They have a dam of sorts and release water on a schedule. You can choose the class of rafting you can handle.
It's not a "wild river" but more of the level you choose to enjoy. Easy or tough you can't get better than that.
A very good way for a beginner to advance their skills until they are ready for truly wild class water.

The Nantahala and Ocoee bring up memories that stem all of the way back to childhood. My family and friends went rafting at least once a year from the time I was very young and I loved it! We haven't had a chance thus far but it is one of the things I want to share with my husband who has never been. I think everyone should try it.

Environmentally and economically this is a perfect idea. The local citizens will love and it will bring in tourists by the droves. It fits TVA guidelines to boot. Perfect.

It is a great idea that can and will become reality with or without Bass Pro Bobby. Good stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by bluesman *:
budsfarm, I ain't going to do no white water rafting, it is an ideal that is floating around that might go in Veterans Park. I am darn old to be white water rafting, maybe a lazy water ride would be much better. I think it is a good ideal though, so far.

Oh Blues, don’t be such a wuss.

They got rafting for all levels. Shoot, I bet they can even put flotation under your bus

Hold on Percy...It's gonna be a wild ride!

If you're not into white water, you should try canoeing. It's slower, more opportunity to focus on the scenery, and is still fun.

I don't know of any places off hand in the Shoals, but I'm sure there is a canoe rental place somewhere. I've been down the Buffalo river and it was great. That might be more what you're looking for.

If you do a search for alabama canoeing, you should find something. Here's a site I found that should help you out.

http://www.canoe-gifts.com/cusaal.htm

quote:

Originally posted by NashBama:
If you're not into white water, you should try canoeing. It's slower, more opportunity to focus on the scenery, and is still fun.

I don't know of any places off hand in the Shoals, but I'm sure there is a canoe rental place somewhere. I've been down the Buffalo river and it was great. That might be more what you're looking for.

If you do a search for alabama canoeing, you should find something. Here's a site I found that should help you out.

http://www.canoe-gifts.com/cusaal.htm

Ditto, NB. I'm a slow boat driver too. 35 year old Grumman 15 footer.

Town Creek runs right in front of my cabin and I canoe it frequently... when the water's up about 5 feet. Right now, you could rollerblade the creek bed.

Shoals creek canoe run. I don't know the number, but they are in Iron city. They have about three different trips to choose from.

I just watched Steve Carrier on thecatfishwrapper.com 's "Speakeasy" promoting a whitewater rafting theme park for Veteran's Park.

Not as fun as the real thing, but he says they are popular around the country.

What say you?

DF

Lets do it. I could get more use from it than a silly tackle store.

I forgot to mention canoes are referred to as “divorce boats.”

I can tell you why, but it seems like NB has overcome this, so don’t look to me for advice.

I went down the Ocoee river this summer in Ocoee, TN, and it was AMAZING! I can't wait to go back, and suggest everyone do it who is able:-)

I've been down the Ocoee a few times. Great fun... wouldn't recommend it for those that are not strong swimmers. The upper Ocoee is pretty intense.(It was used in the last Olympics for kayaking(sp?)) Natahala is much more relaxed for beginners. But the water is always cold at the Natahala (sp?)

I'm from Florence and live just outside Chattanooga, TN now near the Ocoee. These guys are right: it's fun. You have to have a guide with you and there are some pretty wild rapids. I've also been down the Nantahala (not sure of spelling) in North Carolina. I actually prefer it. It's not as wild as the Ocoee, but still loads of fun, and you can do it without a guide. I recommend it to anyone, and like I said, it's not that bad. Even a first-timer can go down it without having to worry about flipping. Everyone should go rafting at least once...but you'll probably want to go again!

http://usnwc.org/

I posted this link on another thread also.

alabamawhitewater.com is a good site for info on paddling in alabama.