Whitewater rafting

**liza larence** · June 3rd, 2006, 10:17 AM

Anybody out there love river roller-coasters like I do?

**skipg96** · June 3rd, 2006, 10:54 AM

I do, I have been down the Ocoee a few times... I was GREAT !

As for real roller coasters, I love them too... your profile says you are from Atlanta, have you tried the new coaster at SIx Flags Over GA... GOLIATH, I heard its real good !

**liza larence** · June 3rd, 2006, 08:54 PM

You know what's funny? I am a complete chicken-sh** when it comes to real roller coasters... might be a fear of heights thing.

(I got pushed off a 45 ft cliff dive at age 15 and have been petrified of heights or jumping ever since.) I used to be a fearless rascal. There is NO WAY IN HELL I would jump out of a plane!! Water doesnt bother me...weird.

**liza larence** · June 3rd, 2006, 08:55 PM

Critters dont bother me either. I like snakes, too...

**g_samsa** · June 3rd, 2006, 09:07 PM

I went down the middle fork of the salmon river in Idaho a few years back. It was probably the greatest vacation I've ever had. We went for a week and just floated down the river with mostly class 3's and 4's but with maybe three or four class 5's along the way. Each day we saw a different part of the river and took hikes to see native American cave paintings (I especially liked that). Anyhow, it was a guided tour so I didn't have to know very much about anything. The guides were very good and I had a great time.

Commercial over.

**cracken** · June 3rd, 2006, 10:04 PM

Here are some pix from Liza's rafting adventures....

She's center top row

She's the one in the water

She's all the way to the left

**liza larence** · June 3rd, 2006, 10:05 PM

Very cool...I have heard about the Salmon, but have the most experience with the Ocoee like Skip above, and my personal favorite, the Gauley river in West Virginia. They open the dam for 6 weeks each summer, and people come from all over the world to experience "The Beast of the East". The Upper Gauley has 5 Class 5 rapids, many 4's and 3's in a 6 hour ride. We camp overnight alongside the river and do the lower Gauley the next day....less danger, and only 2-3 Class 5 rapids...but much better to deal with when you have a hangover!!! (Surviving the Upper requires prodigious amounts of beer to celebrate!)

**skipg96** · June 4th, 2006, 02:27 AM

WATCH OUT FOR THAT ROCK !!! OUCH. I have been down the Ocoee a few times but where is that other river you were talking about that they only open for a few months a year. I would like to try it. I think I will be heading to the lake tomorrow on my SeaDoo... you ever try one of those Liza?

**liza larence** · June 4th, 2006, 10:32 AM

To check into Gauley trips, go to www.NARR.com... (North American River Runners) They have a great staff of guides, good food, and lodging for 362.00/person for two day trip.
The Gauley and New rivers are in West Virginia, Hico to be exact. It is about an 8 hour drive from Atlanta. We leave Friday am, raft Sat and Sun camping overnight on the river, then drive home Monday.
Sorry, I havent ever tried a jet-ski, sea-doo or wave runner...never had the urge (!) I have heard they are alot of fun though

**liza larence** · June 4th, 2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cracken

Here are some pix from Liza's rafting adventures....

Above is a class 5 : "Pillow Rock" ...in 2002. I am screaming like a girl

Miraculously, no-one fell out that time!!

Just fell out of flipped raft (see below) at the Pillow 2005...I am going over "Volkswagon" rock in this photo! (yes, it hurt my hiney, but nothing other than bruises and a snoot full of river water

)

This right here is a horrible feeling, I knew from river guide accounts that we were going to be pulled down to the bottom, and tumbled along for 25-30 ft before being spit up again in front of the Volkswagon above. My boyfriend Will's paddling jacket was tied around his waist before the spill, and it ended up around his ankles preventing him from kicking...he was under ALOT longer than me. He is already under in this shot. He inhaled a quart or two, but also didnt get hurt. At this rapid (Pillow rock) you always pop up sooner or later!

**flints41** · June 7th, 2006, 03:45 PM

Very cool pictures. It's been a long time since I went to the Somerville Dam. Sweets Falls was one of my favorites and Lost Paddle is tough to match. Since moving here to North Texas, I don't get to see great white water like that. This is about as close as it gets these days and it just isn't the same!

**liza larence** · June 13th, 2006, 08:37 PM

The first year I rafted there, I "rode the box" at Sweets, cause we postage-stamped at "postage due"....that SUCKED!!
I enjoyed a turbo-nasal enema... that was delightful.......

NOT!

**flints41** · June 16th, 2006, 06:04 PM

My sister lives in Ohio and her company pays for an annual trip for team building. I just wish that I could talk my corporate group into it.

I've never gotten stuck anywhere but I did fall for the guides offer to row the boat for a little while one year. I thought he'd never come back.

**liza larence** · July 18th, 2006, 09:13 PM

For those who are interested, we are scheduling our yearly 2 day overnight trip on the Gauley river September 23-24th weekend. Contact NARR (North American River Runners) at www.NARR.com.

**flints41** · July 19th, 2006, 08:05 PM

I get to go to project management training in the whitewater mecca of Cleveland.
.
(They didn't go for my idea for having it at a lodge near Summerville Dam.)

I am jealous

**liza larence** · July 22nd, 2006, 12:10 PM

Awwwww....

You could have had a team building experience like that old Alan Alda movie...(just kidding, perhaps THATS why they didnt go for it!)

**tellico** · November 16th, 2006, 11:11 PM

The river is what keeps me going! I started out rafting, then discovered whitewater kayaking about 4 years ago. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the river, a fun challenge, balance, and beautiful nature. When I had time to kayak full time (3-5 days a week), I had 6pack abs and my mid/lower back was just two tubes on either side of my spine, all unintentionally. Best core workout I've ever done! Any other kayakers out there?

Other eastern raft-able rivers to explore would include the New, the Nolichucky, and Pigeon (similar to Ocoee, but kinder to the flesh! and less crowded).

Whether it's in a raft, a canoe, a kayak, or an innertube, you can't beat a day on the river!!!

**liza larence** · November 19th, 2006, 05:10 PM

Kayakers are insane... or very, very brave!!
(And rafters dont have to wear those little nose clips to prevent the inevitable "turbo-nasal-enema"

)

**g_samsa** · November 20th, 2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liza larence

Kayakers are insane... or very, very brave!!
(And rafters dont have to wear those little nose clips to prevent the inevitable "turbo-nasal-enema"

)

Kayakers are insane. I saw that IMAX thing about the dude that Kayaked down (or is it up?) the Nile river. He was chased by aligators, hippos, and even bandits wanting to kill him. That's not to mention that the Nile is one huge river.

**flints41** · September 7th, 2007, 04:42 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui7YQ...elated&search=
a river link that I ran across today
Its opening weekend of the season and I'm aching for a trip.