You too could Whitewater Raft your way down the Chattooga River!



Posted: Friday, January 08, 2010

by Curtis Skaggs
CURTUCY ENTERPTISES, NC.

Whitewater rafting can be an exhilarating experience, and more and more people are turning to it as a means to get their adrenaline rush. In today's economic climate, it can be hard to even think about investing in the equipment you might need, but believe it or not, the internet has provided us with an outlet to get all the supplies we need at a surprisingly low cost.

Whitewater rafting has become one of the most popular water sports, and it's really set to take over this year, so it's important you get involved with the trend while you can! There's a wide range of different inflatable water rafting boats available to you, including inflatable kayaks, inflatable boats, paddle skis and pontoons, so with such a wide variety on the market, you're sure to find something that will suit your needs perfectly.

Now once you've got your gear, where to go? Well there's a range of different rivers you can test out your rafting skills on, you could even check out some famous whitewater rafting film locations. The 1972 American Thriller Deliverance' was filmed mainly around and on the Chattooga river; a river located in the NE corner of Georgia. Scenes of this film were also shot at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery, however, this landmark now lies almost 300 feet beneath the surface of the Lake Jocassee, South Carolina.

Because of the protected forestry on each side, this river remains virtually unchanged from the filming days. The recreational portion of the river has 4 main sections. Section III, which contains class II to IV rapids is a preferred section for rafters and kayakers. Section IV is for the more experienced whitewater adventurer. This section is one of the most challenging rivers to raft or kayak. It Contains class III and IV+ rapids as well as the infamous "Five Falls" (a mile stretch containing 5 class IV+ rapids). Several of the popular rapids are featured in the film Deliverance.

The best time to take on this river is in the late spring when the heat isn't so bad and the flowers are in bloom. There are several web sights dedicated to the Chattooga river. Some of them offering whitewater rafting trips. So if you are thinking that this may be the kind of rush you're looking for then check it out.

Whatever you decide to do please be safe. As with all things whitewater rafting can be dangerous. Check out the rules and the guidelines before you do anything like this. If you have never kayaked or rafted down this river you may want to stay in the calmer sections or hire a guide, at least the first time. Also, remember to help preserve our natural wonders so that our children and their children might enjoy them too.

This Article has been viewed 195 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.