A Zip Through The Smokies

I’m standing in the treetops enveloped by the lush vegetation of the Smoky Mountains. The Cardinal’s bird song is urging me on, saying “Come join us, you won’t be sorry.” I inhale a long, deep breath and smell the moist aroma of the forest and then...take a step off the platform. I feel the cool breeze against my face and remember to exhale with a high pitch squeal of delight; flavored with excitement mixed with little fear.

I just took my first zip on the new Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours, located 12 miles outside of Bryson City. I checked in at Wildwater Ltd. Rafting then went across the street to the Falling Waters Adventure Resort. The Resort sits on 22 acres and began with lodging of eight Yurts and a Group Lodge. The Lodging used about 5 acres. The rest of the steep and rolling acreage was not utilized, until this spring. Construction began first with an arborist recording the trees health and location then, the course was laid out. All told there are 11 sections; some zip lines side-by-side, 5 sky bridges and 3 transfer bridges.

The half-mile, Canopy Tour course runs from ridge to ridge. The ecosystem is comprised of hardwoods, native rhododendron, azaleas, mountain laurels as well as filled with songbirds. As we waited for the other flyers to complete their zips, the Canopy Ranger explains the history of the area and the uniqueness of the environment.

I’m equipped with a full body harness of webbing that wraps around my upper body and legs. A carabiner and safety line comes from the center up to a trolly. I’m wearing a helmet and gloves for my hands. The course takes about three hours so I'm thankful that the gear is a comfortable fit.

July 10 is the launch date for the new Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours. This is to be a four-season activity which is a nice addition for the Nantahala area. Individual rates are $69 per person and group rates are also offered . Each session has two Canopy Rangers assigned to each group of 12. 1-877-398-6222 www.nantahalagorgecanopytours.com.

Last Chance-Cheoah Release for the Summer

Next weekend (June 20th and 21st) is the last release on the Cheoah River for this spring/summer (there is one more scheduled release-Nov 7th). One of the questions we often get about the Cheoah is why the release schedule doesn't include more dates during the summer. If whitewater recreation was the only factor to consideration when releasing water into this river, it certainly makes sense that the majority of releases dates would be in the summer. However other factors had to be considered.

The Cheoah River is one of many waterways created and controlled by the Tapoco Hydroelectric Project which is owned and operated by Alcoa Power Generating Inc, a subsidiary of Alcoa Aluminium. Every 40 - 50 years all hydroelectric generation plants must be relicensed and during the relicensing process there is an opportunity for interested parties to raise concerns about the management of the river. The dams in the Tapoco Hydroelectric Project came up for relicensing in 2005 but the process began back in 1998.

American Whitewater, in conjunction with whitewater outfitters, local paddling clubs and environmental resource management agencies negotiated for environmental and recreational releases in the Cheoah River under the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) laws. These laws which stipulate that recreational opportunities must be considered for the public and meet certain environmental criteria. The group succeeded in securing an minimum environmental flow for the Cheoah River with periodic high water releases, which are the dates when we are able to offer rafting trips.

Previously the river bed had been dry for 77 years. These flow levels are intended to restore the natural habitat of the river bed in addition to providing recreational opportunities. The recreational release schedule was designed to mimic the high water events that would occur naturally on the river due to spring rains, which is why the majority of releases occur in the spring and early summer. The hope is that by releasing a continuous minimal flow with periodic high water releases at time of natural flood events, native species will once again be able to inhabit the river and thrive. High water flows act in much the same way that periodic fires do in forests. The water clears sediment and vegetation, redistributes nutrients and increases the health of the the habitat.

The link below is an interesting podcast that American Whitewater broadcasted about the difficult process that occurred while securing recreational releases on the Cheoah. There's also some great footage of the river itself.

LVMTV :: Monday Morning Madhouse 3/16; American Whitewater's successes with Cheoah Releases from Lunch Video Magazine on Vimeo.

The Real Fun Begins!

This post was from a group considering a trip on the Chattooga. If you are looking for a fun group for your teen to join, check out these guys, Teva Treks. They are a Jewish outdoor adventure summer camp for teenagers. Beginning in summer 2010, Teva Treks will offer teens the chance to explore beautiful places, challenge themselves and build a community to last a lifetime.

"While we were out on the river, we really felt separated from the rest of the world - it was great! We rafted with Wildwater Ltd Rafting, a well-established company that has been guiding on the Chattooga since 1971. All of the guides were professional, friendly, and clearly loved their jobs. We're now debating whether to do an overnight 2-day rafting trip, or to spend one day rafting and one day kayaking." 

Bananahalas

We've had a nice break from the rain. Though we certainly appreciate all that Mother Nature has given us, this past sunny warm weekend is appreciated. As the summer season starts to sneak up on us, a lot of people are planning their getaways and a pivotal part of great memories is sitting around a campfire.

Become the star of the weekend with this twist on the traditional s'mores campfire treat. I call it "Bananahalas," after the fruit that is the base of the treat and the first place I tried it, here on the Nantahala.

Buy a bunch of bananas, not too green and not too squishy ripe. Peel one section of the banana skin back, but not all the way off. Scoop out, with a small teaspoon, the ripe banana fruit. Keep it and set aside. Scoop out enough to create a "bowl" or "trough" so you can put in chocolate chips and mini-marshmallows. Mash the banana fruit that you extracted earlier and then replace it on top of the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Place the banana peel back over the fruit and wrap entirely in aluminum foil.

Place the bananas in the campfire coals so the treat is heated through out.

After the bananahalas are hot, pull out and eat with a spoon. Careful-they might be hot. but oooh, it's worth it,  it tastes like a banana split. Enjoy and . . . don't forget the ghost stories.

More fun from Guide school

Here's a video from one of our guides. Hope you enjoy. It's pretty good!