Sun, May 13 2007 - Chestatee River Canoeing (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Steven K Participants: Lee Harris, Nick Gwinn, Tom Collins, Jason Hicks, Dante Martinez, Jeanie, Marcia Parks, Rob Williams, Bob Bunner, Ann, Caroline Shelly, Mark S. Parks, Caitlin Stark, Benjamin Serio, Pam, Shari Stuart, Mert Altindag, Amanda, Steven K, Joseph Elder, Eric Morrisey, Allison Brown, Elaine Tully

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Write Up:
It was nearly perfect spring weather with temperatures in the low eighties and few clouds in the sky. Most people carpooled and arrived at Appalachian Outfitters around 11:30 AM. We then went spent the next 45 minutes or so doing the things you need to do have twenty people go down a river: processing waivers, finding partners for those in canoes, getting paddles and life jackets, putting on sunscreen, selecting canoes and kayaks, listening to a safety talk and brief instructions on how to handle a canoe or kayak.

By 12:30 everybody had their craft in the water and we were ready to go down the Chestatee River. It had rained a little the day before so the current was a little stronger than usual and the water had a muddy tint. With a warm day and a "fun-loving" group, many people enjoyed sneaking behind another canoe or kayak and splashing them. The first part of the trip was fairly gentle, but we were delayed a few minutes as participants in one canoe had the chance do to some unexpected swimming.

We arrived at the midway spot a little before 1:30, put our canoes and kayaks on a gravel beach and then spent a little over thirty minutes having a snack and playing in the water. At around two we wrapped up the break and went back on the river. In my opinion this was the most scenic section of the river with many small rocky cliffs on the side and turtles on rocks and logs sunning themselves.

The river was also at its most gentle, but not for long. Towards the end we navigated three class one rapids. It can vary which craft are most likely to tip over; on past trips more kayaks have temporarily capsized. This year about half the participants in canoes had the chance to do a little unexpected swimming. Thanks to trip captain Nick Gwinn and others, the swimmers, along with their canoes and paddles were soon safely onshore to get ready for the next rapid.

At a little after 3 PM we were at the take out point and the outfitter picked us up, loaded the craft on a van and drove us back to where we started. As usual Appalachian Outfitters did a great job in taking care of the Atlanta Outdoor Club. After words some of us went to a Chinese restaurant in Dawsonville for an all you can eat buffet.

A special thanks to Ann Shelly for being the sweep (who stays in the back and makes sure nobody gets left behind) and Nick Gwinn for his work as trip captain.

Steven Koonce

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