Fight the Back to School Blues

As if summer wasn't short enough already, record rainfall across the Southeast stole away some of the best outdoor days of the year. The good news? Rafting only gets better with rain, and there are plenty of warm, summery days still ahead.

So, to help families across the Southeast get their summer adventure fix, NOC is offering all enewsletter subscribers 20% savings on any August raft trip! To take advantage of this great deal, simply book a trip between August 15th and August 19th and receive this special  discount. The offer applies to any weekday (Monday through Thursday) raft trip in August. Call 800.232.7238 or book online.  Use offer code B2SRF for discount.

For more information about NOC Whitewater Rafting Trips, click here or call NOC Reservations at 800.232.7238

Caught on Camera: Whitewater Rafting Photos

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As most NOC guests know, we take multiple photos of every rafting trip. That means we take hundreds of thousands of rafting photos each year. And while the vast majority of these are "honest," candid photos, some of our guests and guides make elaborate plans to stage their big moment in the rapids. 

Below are some of the best staged photos we seen this season. Enjoy! Let us know if you've got a good idea for a shot, or start making plans for your group's upcoming whitewater photo-op.

"Touch the Sky"

"The Classic Titanic"

"Rock the Boat, Rock the Boat Baby"

"Asleep at Nanty Falls"

Keep an eye out for a photo contest coming up soon on NOC's Facebook page. We'll give away some cool prizes to the winners, like free rafting and zip lining packages.

Spend Your Fourth of July Weekend with NOC

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From adventurous raft and zip packages to entertaining bands and brews, NOC is the place to have fun this Independence Day! We are gearing up for a great week of festivities and adventures with these highlights:

Raft and Zip Packages
Enjoy a full day of fun with the family and save some money by booking our new-for-2013 raft and zip packages:

• River to Ridge - Save $13 per person
  Nantahala Fully Guided Rafting + Mountaintop Zip Line Tour
• Float'N'Tarry - Save $13 per person
  Nantahala Fully Guided Rafting + Zip Line Adventure Park
• All Day Air - Save $25 per person

  Mountaintop Zip Line Tour + Zip Line Adventure Park

See all of NOC's Raft and Zip Packages.

NOC Outfitter's Store Independence Day Sale
Shop till you drop at NOC's Outfitter's Store! Save up to 40% on select brands from July 1st to July 7th.  Featured brands include leading manufacturers like The North Face, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Keen, Chaco and others.

Also included in the sale, are some amazing deals for whitewater enthusiasts. The sale includes the following discounts:

• $200 in store credit with the purchase of a fully-priced boat
• 30% off on 2012 Jackson Rockstars
• 15% off on Esquif L'edge canoes
• Up to 20% off other select boat models

Kayaking Lessons and Mountain Bike Rentals
Looking for to expand your outdoor skill set? NOC's Paddling School is staffed with the top whitewater paddling instructors in the nation. If you've ever wanted to paddle a whitewater kayak there's no better place to start than NOC. Try an Intro to Kayaking lesson this summer.

NOC also rents high-end mountain bikes so you can enjoy one of the mountains best thrills. Tsali, Flint Ridge and Jackrabbit trail systems provide exceptional riding for riders of all skill levels. Stop by the NOC Bike Shop, and NOC guides will fit you with the right bike for your day on the trail.

Dining and Dancing for All
Big Wesser BBQ + Brew is hosting three great bands for Fourth of July Weekend! Be sure to hang around in the evening to dance the night away and unwind with some delicious food.


    •    July 4th - 8 to 11pm - Rick Rushing and the Blues Strangers
    •    July 5th - 7 to 10pm - Jean Ellison and the Treatment
    •    July 6th - 7 to 10 pm - The Broadcast

For more information about NOC festivals and events, click here.

So that's the plan for the 4th at NOC. We hope to see you on the river, but no matter what you do, we hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Heavy Spring Rain Brings High Water Adventures

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If April showers bring May flowers, what do May showers bring? High water raft trips!

The Southeast has been doused with rain this Spring creating optimal water levels for big whitewater rafting trips.  Most dam-fed rivers are releasing extra water to keep lakes at target levels, and all of our free-flowing rivers are running at or near five-year highs.

All of this rain gives high adventure fans the chance to experience the Southeast's most popular whitewater rivers at their very best. The Nantahala, Chattooga, French Broad, Nolichucky, Pigeon and Ocoee rivers are all at exciting high-water flows.

Kayakers run Nantahala Falls at high water in January 2013.

With rainfall expected this weekend and in the days to come, most of the high water will hold in the Southeast.  Outdoor enthusiasts who aren't exactly thrilled about the prospect of another rainy weekend should consider going on a paddling trip where the extra rain won't make any difference (except for adding additional excitement).

NOC recommends high water trips for those with previous whitewater experience or for paddlers looking for a new challenge in the the company of a trained guide.

Also, don't forget about the 2013 Cheoah River whitewater releases.  This exciting river is one of the most thrilling and difficult commercially-rafted rivers in the world.

NOC to Offer New Whitewater Rafting Trips on the Chattahoochee River

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Big news! Last week NOC announced plans to open its eighth whitewater rafting outpost in Columbus, Georgia. The outpost will offer trips on a 2.5 mile section of the Chattahoochee River touted as "the longest urban whitewater course in the world." The trips will be the southernmost whitewater rafting trips available in the Eastern United States and will likely have an extended season thanks to the warm climate. Here's the whole scoop:

An NOC raft explodes out of the hole at the bottom of Cut Bait rapid on the Chattahoochee during a high-water  scouting run in Fall 2012. Photo by Mike Haskey for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Coweta Falls: Before the construction of the Eagle and Phenix and City Mills dams in 1866 and 1907 this section of whitewater was known as "Coweta Falls." Like Great Falls on the Potomac, the rapids in Columbus are caused by a fall line, a geological boundary where a harder upland rockshelf transitions to a softer coastal plain. When a river drops over a fall line the elevation change often creates an opportunity for whitewater rapids, like in Columbus. The removal of both dams will be complete in early 2013, restoring the river to its natural state and revealing rapids long hidden below the city's reservoirs. Because only one dam has been removed so far, NOC has yet to actually see the entire run.

Rapids: Get ready for everything; NOC expects to offer trips for all skill levels on Class II to V rapids. Why such a wide range? Because the rafting experience varies with the magnitude of flow running through the rapids. At lower levels the river isn't as pushy or powerful, though it still flows quickly and makes for fun, splashy rafting. The water levels in the Coweta Falls section depend on upstream hydropower facilities; if those are running all-out, the big flows on the Chattahoochee will produce major Class V rapids rivaling the Gauley, New and Colorado rivers. We expect the flows to follow a standard daily schedule offering family/beginner trips in the morning and big-water/high-adventure trips in the late afternoon. 

A Fall 2012 NOC scouting trip paddles through Cut Bait at a moderate water level on the Chattahoochee River  between Columbus, Ga. and Phenix City, Al.

Columbus: NOC will be the exclusive outfitter of Columbus, Ga., and we will be one of only two permitted outfitters running the Coweta Falls section of the river. Beyond rafting, NOC's planned Columbus Adventure Center will provide gear and apparel from leading manufacturers, advice for do-it-yourself outdoor activities, and reservations for additional outdoor adventures.

Learning a New River: Throughout the company's 40-year history NOC has led early commercial rafting operations on nearly every major whitewater run in the Southeast. Most recently NOC started commercial rafting operations on the Cheoah River near Robbinsville, N.C.—the nation's most challenging commercially guided whitewater rafting trip. The Chattahoochee's large flow variations and its unique urban environment provide NOC's guides an exciting opportunity. Full scouting runs will begin as soon as the dam removal is complete, and then NOC will begin training staff for a summer 2013 opening.

How to Reserve a Trip: Reservations to raft the Chattahoochee will be available by phone and at noc.com. Trips are not on sale yet though. NOC must first complete a thorough evaluation of the river at all release levels before we are able to provide essential trip planning information including age restrictions, exact rapid difficulties, fitness levels and trip length. Updates on the Chattahoochee will be available via NOC's monthly enewsletter and this blog.

One Last Note: All of us at NOC would like to say how excited we are to be in Columbus. NOC operates in many communities that embrace outdoor recreation, and we don't know anyone more fired up for whitewater paddling. The restored Chattahoochee will be a great recreational opportunity in a great city! 

4 Reasons to Book Early

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As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm! Unfortunately NOC does not have a worm for you, but we do have 4 benefits to booking early:

Early Bird Rafting Special
If you book your rafting trip before November 21st with offer code THX12, you will save 15% on your reservation. There is no catch to this deal, all trips are still staffed with our professional guides on our beautiful southeast rivers. For more details about how to secure your reservation and save some money, click here.

Most Popular Dates
Holiday weekends are a great time to get out on the water with friends and families making them our most popular weekends. By booking now you can secure your favorite dates before it is too late and they are booked up!

Kick Start Your Summer
Why wait to book your trip to wash away your end of summer blues, when you can book in the beginning of summer and kick start the season!  The end of summer tends to be much more busy, so beat the crowds and consider booking in the earlier months to get in the summer swing of things.

A Full Season of Activities
By planning a trip in the early summer, this gives you an opportunity to fill your summer with a variety of trips on different rivers. Or you can get hooked early in the season to grow and explore endless outdoor opportunities with NOC.

Fall Season: Best Time to Zip

Fall is perhaps the most beautiful time of the year in the Nantahala Gorge.  And with the leaves changing and cool breezes blowing, it is the perfect time to get outside for an adventure. So, if you haven't been on NOC's "ZLAP" before, it's time to try the new Zip Line Adventure Park at NOC!

NOC is offering a Fall "Add-On" special for the Zip Line.  If you make a reservation with NOC for an activity besides the Zip Line Adventure Park, you can add on a ZLAP reservation and save $15 per person!  All you have to do is call 800.232.7238 and mention the Fall Zip Line Adventure Park add-on special while making your reservation over the phone.

What other activities can you do with NOC in the Fall?
Whitewater rafting

• Go rafting down the Nantahala River; it's a family friendly, class II/III river.  It makes for a perfect afternoon trip after zipping in the morning!  Even if it's brisk outside NOC has splash jackets and pants included with the trip to keep you warm on the water. If you book a rafting trip and the Zip Line Adventure Park, you can save $15 and have a full day of fun!

Mountain Biking

• NOC also offers mountain bike rentals.  You can hop onto two wheels and hit the trail.  Go speeding down some of the best single track trails in the area.  With Flint Ridge trail on the Nantahala Campus, it is very accessible and convenient   You will also catch some great views once on top of the ridge top.  Tsali National Recreation Area is less than 10 miles from NOC.  We provide a bike rack that fits on most cars to make transporting the bikes really easy. Tsali has over 50 miles of trails to ride, each with varying views, terrain and technical features.

Don't stay inside this Fall, the weather is beautiful and calling your name to play!

Five Reasons to Raft this Spring

Every paddler understands the huge difference between paddling a whitewater river in July and in January. And most folks intuitively get how fall color adds to the atmosphere of an October outing. However, there’s not much recognition for the unique benefits of the spring. Here’s a primer on why the spring is possibly the best time to hit the water, and why spring 2012 could be the best spring yet.

1 . It doesn’t even feel like spring. Let’s face it, this is strange weather. We’ve got temperatures in the 70s for the entire 10-day forecast. You could bemoan it as an ominous sign about a hot summer, or you could interpret it as the beginning of drastic climate change—or you could just get out and enjoy the rare March treat!

High spring flow on the Wild and Scenic Chattooga

2. Spring water. Our free flowing rivers—the Chattooga, French Broad and Nolichucky—rely on rainfall for their flows. Unlike our dam-controlled rivers that have steady, reliable levels, these rivers go through drastic changes in character and experience as water levels fluctuate. (Kind of like how the ocean surf gets pushier as a storm approaches.) Just because you rafted one of these rivers when things were “normal” or moderate doesn’t mean you’ve experienced these rivers at higher spring flows. A high-water trip on one of these rivers is one of the best adrenaline rushes you can get out of the Southeastern outdoors. Keep your eyes peeled for rain and try to book on the back end of a soggy day or two. If you miss perfect timing it’s not a big deal; all the rivers have strong spring base flows anyway.

Classic rapids on the Nolichucky

3. Flower power. So flowers aren’t as powerful as a boat-rocking wave, but they can have just as much impact on a trip. Imagine paddling down a beautiful river gorge as dogwoods, redbuds, pear trees and beds of wildflowers line the bank. It’s actually pretty amazing. Add some warm sunshine on your still-a-bit-white-from-winter skin and some camaraderie from your group and raft guides, and you’ve got a perfect spring day.

Blue wildflowers along the French Broad

4. It’s all for you. Sometimes rivers get busy in the summer. That makes sense. Everyone loves cooling off in July and August. But if you go in the spring, you’re going to get wide-open vistas, and you’re likely going to be one of the only groups you see on the river. It’s a bit more intimate, and it’s easier to get the enviable “Too bad for everyone stuck in the office today” feeling when you’ve got the river to yourself. You’ll feel pretty lucky to have it all to yourself.

Big, splashy waves of the Middle Ocoee

5. Save some money. It’s a strange world where we can offer premium trips at lower cost, but due to the demand curve that’s just how the rafting business works. Who wins in this situation? Rafters. So take advantage of this quirk and book a spring rafting trip. You’ll be able to see the available savings here, and you’ll help “green up the mountains” by keeping some of that cash in your own back pocket.

To plan a spring rafting trip on a whitewater river go to:

• Chattooga River
• French Broad River
• Nolichucky River
• Nantahala River
• Ocoee River
• Pigeon River
• Cheoah River

Spring Whitewater Rafting: Five Reasons to Paddle Before Summer

"Spring rafting!" Words that should energize whitewater lovers everywhere. Think farmer john-style wetsuits, pushy, strong whitewater, flowering trees, fresh air and—more than anything—getting outside and back in nature. Yet, there's a relatively low amount of interest in spring rafting.

Sure, summer is when people have time off, it’s warmer outside, the kids are out of school and there's more free time. Unfortunately though, rivers are usually at their most adventurous early in the season, and all of us at NOC would love to see more river lovers on the water in March, April and May. So, to inspire more spring adventures, here are five reasons why this is a great time to hit the water:

Seven Foot Falls, Chattooga IV

1) “When the Rain Comes…” Historically spring rains provide the best water levels of the year. We’ve had a pretty wet month so far here in Wesser, but we’re still just over half of our average six inches of rain. As I write this the French Broad, Chattooga and Nolichucky are running at beefy flows, and we’re getting a another good set of showers. Bottom line: This weekend, and other weekends throughout the spring, you can bet it will be splashy and exciting out there on the water.

It’s true that rivers tend to channelize water, and that summer flows are more than powerful enough to make plenty of splashes and waves, but big spring runs are the sometimes the best; they're often the stories we recall years later both as guides and paddlers.

2) Supply and Demand: You know the idea: we have less demand for spring rafting trips, which translates into savings for rafters. Interestingly, some of the best prices we offer all year are for trips when the excitement level is topping out.

Examples of savings? Well, you can save over over 10% at the Chattooga, Nolichucky and French Broad, and almost 10% on the Nantahala. The big discounts? The Ocoee and Pigeon are over 25% off full price in the spring.

3) No Need to Share: Another reason to enjoy spring rafting: you're probably going to have the river more to yourself in the spring. It's likely your rafting trip will be a bit smaller and more private, and it's almost certain there will be less river traffic outside of your trip. This means you're more likely to stumble upon wildlife or have more time to enjoy waterfalls or other riverside points of interest. See the photos below for some stops on the Chattooga and Nolichuky.

Long Creek Falls, Chattooga River

Secret Location, Nolichucky River

4) Availability: In the spring NOC rafts all seven of our rivers. Not only that, but we really offer 11 rafting trips (add Chattooga Section III, Lower Pigeon, Lower Nolichucky, and Full-Day French Broad to their better-known counterparts). This is when you have the most options to get on any NOC whitewater river. If it's late-August, we're often only running five rivers, and then only one trip on some of these. So, if there's a trip you've always aspired to do; this is the best time to book it.

5) "Because it's there." Attribute this sentiment to legendary mountaineer George Mallory or river-running Lewis Medlock from the film Deliverance, either way, it's the same idea behind all adventures and adventurers: experience the outdoors because you can. These trips are different and exciting. If you've never run whitewater at high water then you've missed one of the most exciting things you can do outdoors in the Southeast.

The rivers/trips to catch this spring:

1) Chattooga Section III: The upper section on the Chattooga is usually runnable through the season, but with spring rain we may be able to start at one of the alternate put-ins upstream like Earl's Ford, Sandy Ford or Fall Creek. This means a bit bigger whitewater and more river to see.

Bull Sluice, Chattooga III/IV

2) Nolichucky: The Nolichucky has the shortest season of all NOC rivers and because of this it sometimes gets forgotten by late summer, but this is one our staff's favorite trips. In the spring the upper part of this run can get pretty big, and Quartermile rapid becomes one of the longest and most difficult rapids we run. Even if you miss a high-water event, there should be healthy flows through the spring and the scenery here is without match in the East.

Spring on the Nolichucky
(Most major rapids are upstream of this photo.)

3) French Broad Full Day: Imagine a big Ocoee with plenty of giant splashy waves, that's the FB at high water. You can also catch the rare "Seldom Seen" wave/hole that forms at Frank Bell's rapid. This enormous river feature will certainly drench everyone in a raft. Again, even if you miss a high water event, the FB at spring flows is typically faster and a bit more action-packed.

Paddling the Ledges on the French Broad.

4) Section IV Chattooga: Running Section IV at high water provides serious Class V action, and it may be the most white-knuckle recreation you can have with NOC. At some levels we still run through the five falls (scary, but reasonable), and at the highest levels we run monster versions of Bull Sluice, Seven Foot Falls and Raven's Chute.

Corkscrew, Chattooga IV

5) Cheoah: The main reason to raft the dam-fed Cheoah in the spring is because that's just Cheoah season—over half the river's few releases take place before June. Extra rain flowing in from the Cheoah's feeder creeks will certainly make an intense trip even more intense though.

Photo Wave, Cheoah River

By the way, our dam-controlled rivers like the Nantahala, Ocoee and Pigeon can have high flows too, though these tend to be mitigated by the dam. To book an exciting spring rafting trip call 888.905.7238 or visit noc.com.

Trip Down the French Broad

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Hey guys, this past weekend I took a trip over to NOC's French Broad Outpost so I could take some photos, check out the river, and report back about my overall experience. I'd just like to start off by saying, "Wow, that was a really fun adventure!"You can check out the video I made for a quick summary, or for more in-depth experience report, keep reading!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD7EfWbrPDY

I left Thursday morning with the intent of rafting the French Broad River that afternoon, seeing a concert in Asheville at Club 828 on Friday night, and then rafting the Nolichucky River on Saturday. I drove through Asheville, stopped at the KFC for lunch to try the new "double down" sandwich (which is basically two pieces of fried chicken with cheese, bacon, and sauce in between - really healthy! ;-) ), and continued on my way to the outpost.

Once I arrived, I checked in, signed my release form, talked with the guides for a while (who were really cool people), and started taking pictures in the time I had left before the pre-trip information and gearing-up session.

Sign Outside the Outpost

Beautiful Flowers Lining the Staircase

Inside the NOC Store

Another View of the Sign and Balcony

Around 2:30, once everyone had showed up for the excursion, we all left "the fort" - the meeting area where release forms are signed and car keys are left - and went over to the gear shed where Lilly, our trip guide, gave us a humorous, informative breakdown on raft safety before we got suited up in PFDs and helmets.

Meeting Area for Safety Breakdown

PFD Storage Room

Once everyone was suited up to go, we hopped on the bus for the French Broad and listened to Lilly crack more of her jokes about "moonshine plants" (corn), the origins of Nascar, and big city life in Hot Springs, NC (pop: 645).

Lilly Crackin' Jokes

About 10 minutes later, we pulled up to the put in at the river, grabbed our paddles and boats from off the bus, and Lilly gave the "duckie" users a short tutorial about leg position, posture, paddling strokes, re-entry techniques, and other basics tips.

Duckie 101

The trip down the river started off a little slow, with everyone getting accustomed to their new floating vehicles, but quickly picked up speed after we went down the first few rapids. Unlike the Nantahala, the French BROAD is very wide for the vast majority of it's length, so there is plenty of room for large groups (like ours) to maneuver freely down the river.
Here are some trip highlights:

The Final Rapid

Relaxin'

Me Cliff Jumping

More Cliff Jumping

Group Hitting a Small Rapid

After an awesome trip, we beached our boats at the take-out, loaded up the bus, and headed back to the outpost to shower and check out the photos. We got back to the outpost around 6:30, and I was on the road again by 7.

I drove down to Greenville, SC to visit some friends that I went to Furman University with last year, and stayed the night there. The next day I drove up to Asheville for an Excision dubstep concert at Club 828 where I actually ran into some old friends and danced from 10-3!

The Evening Sky in Greenville, SC - Beautiful!!

Unfortunately, due to low water levels, my Nolichucky trip on Saturday was cancelled, but I'm not complaining, because I had an awesome time this weekend regardless. If you get a chance to go down the French Broad this summer, I'd highly recommend it!

Thanks for reading guys,
-John

National Geographic Adventure Chooses NOC for One of "25 Best New Trips"

National Geographic ADVENTURE’s November issue touts Nantahala Outdoor Center’s (NOC) 2010 Bolivia expedition as one of the “25 Best New Trips for 2010.” The August expedition—a joint effort with nonprofit Medicforce—aims to bring first aid training and medical attention to remote riverside communities only accessible by running seven days of class IV-V whitewater on the Tuichi River.

The list includes extraordinary adventures across the globe such as biking through Pacific jungles, trekking into the Arctic Circle and snorkeling with humpback whales in Tonga. According to the list’s introduction, “travelers want their dollars to do more—for others, for the planet, for themselves… [h]ere are 25 brand-new adventures, all of them just right for right now.” NGA labeled the expedition a “difference maker” trip, noting its objectives: delivering medical supplies, conducting basic physical exams and relaying information about common health threats.

Jono Bryant, director of Adventure Travel and Wilderness Medicine at NOC commented, “I’m elated that National Geographic ADVENTURE recognized this trip. It is sure to be challenging, but the rewards will be significant. This is a proper expedition that will have positive outcomes for people who live out of reach of traditional medical care. The trip is a totally new concept that has huge potential worldwide. I’m thankful that NOC continues to push the boundaries of whitewater by providing these new and exciting opportunities.”

About NOC’s Boaters without Border Expedition to Bolivia
The Bolivia expedition is the first trip for Boaters Without Borders (BWB)—a new series of unique, expedition-based trips conceived by NOC in association with medical relief charity MedicForce, combining NOC's whitewater expertise with volunteerism in remote riverside communities. Teams of kayakers, medical professionals and expert raft guides will travel to areas of remote jungle only accessible by rivers, training locals to treat basic medical conditions and recognize more serious ones. These individuals are then provided with a comprehensive first-aid kit and interpretative material.

The initial expedition to Bolivia explores the rarely visited whitewater of the Rio Tuichi, in northern Bolivia. This river flows through Madidi National Park, part of one of the largest tracts of protected land in the world. The 21-day adventure begins in La Paz and travels through the upper Amazon basin, with stops in remote villages to deliver medical relief in the form of supplies and sustainable education.

One Hour To GAF.....

GAF's about to start. Here are some photos of the gear spread...

Guide Training on the Cheoah River

Check out some pictures from this weekend's Cheoah River release! A group of NOC guides began their extensive training on this extreme river in far western North Carolina. The limited water releases on this river means training starts early, no matter the weather. Their instructors are veteran NOC guides who have been working this river since releases began back in 2005.


Getting ready to hit a big wave.


The guides get feedback from instructor Will Norris.


Running the big one, Bear Creek Falls.

The next Cheoah release weekend is April 4-5.