Post
by okieboater » Wed Aug 28, 2013 8:32 am
I have been blessed to attend a bunch of Carolina Canoe Club's Week of Rivers. Only problem I have is the CCC event is the same week or close to the Ozark Society's Colorado Week on the ARK. Both are high quality events just different states. Hard for me to decide which one to attend but either decision is a winner.
CCC is very similiar to our ACC as far as what they do. Namely lots of events and skill building for members.
My take is if you are a boater of any skill level who wants to have a great time in the Bryson City NC area, then this CCC event is the one for you. Does not matter if you are alone or with a group of buds. CCC has this thing down.
Camping is in a first class commercial camp ground. CCC sets up a big tarp meeting area. Each morning they have a big white board with current river levels / weather expected of the many great boating runs in the area and there is plenty. Each run will have a trip leader, time to meet for departure and short description of the run including class of the run. You need to be sure you have the skill set for each run and the level of that run's CFS. The Trip Leader will set up the shuttle, get the group on the river and provide leadership to get the group down the river but is not responsible for getting you down the river like ACC does for Cossatot First Timers. That is your responsibility, that is make sure you have the skill, gear, physical conditioning for that run that day. Bottom line there is no better way to get to know these runs and meet up with other fun boaters than this event.
Each person is responsible for their own food and camping stuff - CCC just gets the camp ground for a really cheap price.
Each person decides what they want to do each day. If you want to take a day off, sleep in, shower, wash your dirty clothing - the camp has facilities for that and you go for it. If you want to sight see, go to the many non boating things in the area or just go to NOC to eat, shop, maybe run the Nanty or watch the lemmings crash and burn at lesser wesser -- your choice.
The boating bud of mine who got me going to Week of Rivers sums up the weather like this. Most days will be hot and sunny. There will be at least one thunderstorm maybe two. Expect high winds, thunder, lightning and some tents will blow down. Creeks will be either low, perfect or high water but there is always great runs somewhere a short drive away. There will be trip leaders who know the directions and put in take outs for the runs. Whom ever in CCC does the computer work on the morning boating conditions will have all the stuff laid out for you to choose from. It is the best deal anywhere if you want to boat in the Smoky Mountains in July.
All in all a great way to experience the boating area I grew up in. Does not matter if it is your first trip or a repeat one of many, CCC will do all they can to make sure you have a good time!
Highly recommended.
Okieboater AKA Dave Reid
We are not sure when childhood ends and adulthood begins.
We are sure that when retirement begins, childhood restarts