Paddlers converge on WNC for Week of Rivers
Paddlers take on the Nolichucky River.
John McDonald photo
It’s the week paddlers from across the state and even the nation look forward to all year; it’s also the week Swain County resident Tom Womble has been working toward for a half-year as the “boots on the ground,” planner.
The “Week of Rivers,” hosted by the Carolina Canoe Club, founded in 1969, welcomes kayakers, rafters, canoers and anyone else who loves paddling to Western North Carolina. The event, which Womble said has something to offer for paddlers of all levels, from beginner to expert and even those who just want to find some stuff to do while their loved ones hit the rapids and rivers.
Womble, who moved to Swain County with his wife in 2017, said that the energy for the first few days is electric as paddlers first hit the water.
“It’s like a family reunion of sorts,” Womble said. “There are people you see only during this period each year, because we have folks coming in from all over the country.”
Womble said that while this area is beautiful, what makes it stand out against some other areas like the Pacific Northwest is the consistency of water levels due to the number of dams on the rivers.
“On any given day, you pretty much know what you’re gonna get down here in the southeast,” he said.
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This year, the event will run from June 28 to July 6, and out-of-town guests have been invited to stay at Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground in Swain County. Return visitors are likely to notice that many of the rivers have noticeably changed, Womble said. Some are partially closed, including the Nolichucky River, which according to the Carolina Canoe Club website is a “major construction area” and it is not recommended to try to paddle.
Folks celebrate as they put into the Tuckasegee River. Tom Womble photo
Still, Womble is quick to point out that there are plenty of other areas to paddle. At camp, there is a large board that features different rivers and runs, how far they are from camp, difficulty level and river status. Of course, even with all the dams in the area, much of this is still dependent on how much precipitation falls from day to day.
Along with paddling, folks who turn out for the Week of Rivers will have opportunities to enjoy additional activities such as live music, clinics to hone skills, meetings, social events and guest speakers, including a person who paddled all the way from the Little Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico. This is a good thing for weary paddlers. Womble said that usually as the nine-day event goes on, many find that all the energy they arrived with is expended early, leaving a lot of folks sore, tired and ready to relax.
“It’s just a lot of fun to do these activities with the people, and we want to make it worth their while. We have folks that come in from Texas, so we make sure everyone’s entertained,” Womble said. “We have our activities scheduled, plenty of activities, and you’ve got 10 or 15 trips going to different places and people can start organizing their own trips based on water levels.”
There is also the option for people to visit nearby towns that each have something different to offer, including unique shopping and dining options. The return of the Week of Rivers is a boon for the local outdoors recreation economy, which took a hit with Helene and created a ripple effect that hurt many businesses frequented by folks who come from out of town looking to hit the trails and rivers.
A board is set up at camp to keep track of events and river levels. From carolinacanoeclub.org
Of course, there’s always something extra special planned for the Week of Rivers — the “flagship event” known as “Pirates of the Tuckasegee.”
“It’s basically a huge water gun fight all the way down the Tuckasegee Gorge with kids, and they can dress up as pirates,” Womble said. “It’s a great event for families.”
There is no registration required for the Week of Rivers; however, to participate, individuals must be paid members of the Carolina Canoe Club. For more information, visit carolinacanoeclub.org/content/week-rivers.
