Rafting, ice cream, and guns

     Our final day of Zip and Splash put us on the French Broad River near Asheville, NC for our last day of rafting. Carbon dating has indicated that the French Broad is one of the oldest rivers in the world. Much like the Pigeon, the section we were rafting has Class III and IV rapids. We arrived at the NOC outpost for the French Broad just after 10:00 this morning and went through the obligatory signing of the waivers and standard safety briefing. We can now quote parts of the safety video and began to chant various passages in unison. After a snarky look from the lead guide, we were fitted with helmets and life jackets before loading aboard the bus for the river.

Trey, Joe, Nick, and Hunter are ready to raft.

     The four boys plotted among themselves when the raft assignments were being decided. They decided that Mr. Williams should ride with another group and only the scoutmaster would accompany them. This was obviously for nefarious purposes. No sooner were we on the water than the boys began to splash with their paddles in an attempt to get us as wet as possible.



One of the other rafts shoots the rapid known as the Maze.

We passed Turtle Rock heading into another rapid.

     When we got to a point in the river where we could swim, the scoutmaster wasted no time in pitching Hunter and Nick into the water before going in behind them. This happened with such haste that we lost one of the paddles, which Joe swam after and retrieved. After we returned to the boat, our efforts to splash one another caused us to hang up on a rock, which required some maneuvering in the raft to free ourselves. We put the guide to so much trouble that we wound up tipping her extra for the frustration.

Using the bottom of a raft as a dining table, we had a nice lunch. 

 

     As lunch time approached, the raft guides brought us up to a sandy area and fed us lunch. They pulled all sorts of sandwich fixings, crackers, salsa, pickles, cookies, and trail mix for us to eat. After we had eaten every scrap, it was back to the river for the last set of rapids.

 

The only house left in the town of Stackhouse.

 

     The take out point was at the former site of a town. In 1960, a flood inundated the town of Stackhouse and swept away most of the structures. A lone house still stands above the river. A sign on the porch, salvaged from the former train station, still reads Stackhouse. Following the ride back to the NOC outpost, we changed clothes and headed out in search of ice cream. A local citizen of the town of Marshall had told our camp staff leader that there was an ice cream bar at the local country store right in front of the gun store. We found that he meant this literally since the ice cream was served from a freezer in front of a wall of guns.

 

 

Mr. Williams awaits his order at the ice cream and gun store.

 

     As befits any good country store, there was a checker board set up ready to be used. This was deja vu for us since the ice cream store from the previous day has also contained a checker board. Joe challenged some of the other scouts in our crew to a game of checkers. Using the same analytical style that he uses for playing chess, Joe easily took out his opponents on both days. 

 

 

Game number one was played at Jack the Dipper.

Game two at the ice cream/gun store.

 

     Following our satisfying snack of gun store ice cream, we piled back in the van to head on to camp. We made one other stop along the west fork of the Little Pigeon to admire the view and dip our feet in the water. Some of the scouts wound up dipping more than their feet and had a wet ride the rest of the way to camp.

     As we get our campsite, and the van, cleaned up, we look forward to a good night's sleep before we return to Auburn on the morrow. It has been a good week of camp and a great adventure trip for both the boys and the leaders. More photos from the day are found at this link.

Floating like a pigeon

     The Zip and Splash crew traveled up I-40 to Tennessee this morning. We headed to the Pigeon River along the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, arriving at the NOC outpost for the Pigeon just after 10:00 am and were on the river by 11:00. Happily, we were rejoined by Jordan, the scout who was injured on Tuesday. His ankle had healed enough to allow him to accompany us for the rafting.

Joe, Hunter, and Trey prepare to load up on the bus to the put in point.

     The Pigeon River is much warmer than the Nantahala and the air was warmer today too. We had sun all day, which has not been the case for the last few days. Due to this, most of the crew chose to wear swimsuits rather than bundling up in splash jackets. We put into the river at the Duke Energy power station in North Carolina but were quickly back in Tennessee for the rest of the trip. The Upper Pigeon has Class III and IV rapids with names such as Powerhouse, Lost Guide, Snap Dragon, Veg-o-matic, and Accelerator. This is in contrast to the Nantahala which has one Class III rapid.

The crew waits on the ramp to launch the raft. 

Heading into Accelerator, a Class IV rapid. 

     We also had the opportunity to swim alongside the boat as we floated through the calmer parts of the river. All of the boys bailed out of the boat to swim, leaving the scoutmaster and Mr. Williams alone with the guide. Sooner than we expected, our five mile journey was at an end and we floated up to the back of the NOC outpost to pull the rafts from the water. After we cleaned up and changed into dry clothing, we were enjoying our sandwich lunches in the warm summer sun.

Nick and Trey swim along beside the raft. 

     After we finished our lunch we loaded back into the van and returned to Waynesville to a local ice cream shop called Jack the Dipper. They had some fantastic ice cream served in freshly made waffle cones and bowls. We indulged ourselves with more ice cream than we should have but it was surely worth it.

Trey is ready to dive into a "small" cone of strawberry.

The weight of the ice cream put poor Trey to sleep on the van ride. 

     Following our ice cream stop, we next traveled into the Pisgah National Forest to the Cradle of Forestry in America museum. We walked along the Biltmore Campus Trail which wound through the campus of America's first forestry school. Founded by the German forester Carl Schenck in 1898, the school trained many foresters in science-based forest management. The school was sponsored by George Vanderbilt, who needed foresters to manage the lands around his Biltmore estate.

The Black Forest Lodge was one of the residences on the forestry campus. 

     After we closed down the Forestry exhibit, it was back into the van for a trip across the Blue Ridge Parkway on our way back to camp. We passed many spectacular vistas along the way but it was difficult to get the boys to look away from their phones (or book in Joe's case). We made a stop and herded everyone out of the van at one point. This was to enjoy the view as well as to air out the van. We arrived back in camp late but were just in time to catch dinner in the dinning hall. Not everyone ate their full share, however, as the ice cream still weighted heavy on our torsos.

The Devil's Courthouse is one of the great views from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

     Tomorrow, we will be heading to the French Broad River near Asheville. More photos from today are found here.

Start with a splash

     The Zip and Splash contingent of Troop 50 is enjoying another aspect of the Camp Daniel Boone program. Nick, Joe, Trey, and Hunter are part of this adventure program along with Mr. Williams and the scoutmaster. The schedule for the week includes three days of rafting on the Nantahala, French Broad, and Pigeon Rivers along with two days of zip lining at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We are staying at the Harrison Adventure Base, which is about a mile outside the front gate of Camp Daniel Boone. The Harrison Base has tents and a bathhouse for our use and, as an added bonus, a washer and dryer. We eat our meals in the Dining Hall at Daniel Boone for breakfast and dinner and our lunch is eaten at the site of the programs for each day.

Awaiting the start of the swim test in the 50 degree waters of Lake Allen. 

     Mr. Stanford has already mentioned the lack of efficiency with the check-in procedure, which also hampered our program as well. The most common answer given by staff members when questions were posed was, "I don't know." However, we eventually made it through the day and were able to pass a comfortable night despite a black bear wandering through the campsite in the night.

     This morning we were on the road to the Nantahala River by 7:30 and were ready to raft by 10:00. Following the obligatory safety briefing and life jacket/helmet fitting, we boarded the bus for the put in point. The name Nantahala comes from the Cherokee language and is translated to mean "land of the noon day sun." Because the river runs through a steep valley, the sun does not really warm the river. Additionally, the water is released from the base of a dam, which means the water is even colder. Our swim test in Lake Allen seemed warm in comparison. The warmer air above the river left a cloud of vapor hanging in the air as we began our trip down the river.

     The float trip was mostly uneventful despite the relative youth of our raft guide, Andrew. He graduated from high school only three weeks ago and we were the first group he had guided on the river without the help of an instructor. He was very knowledgable however, and gave us a great ride through the rapids. We asked him what would happen if someone had an "out of boat experience" and he told us that no one had ever fallen out of a raft with him. As if to test his abilities, Nick went over the side as we headed through the class III rapid at Nantahala Falls. Andrew responded well to the challenge of rescuing Nick but he seemed to forget he was also steering the raft and we made several 360s and bumped across several rocks before Nick was unceremoniously hauled back into the boat dripping wet.

A soaking wet Nick emerges from the river at the end of the trip

     Following a dose of dry clothing and lunch beside the take out point, we loaded back into the camp vans and returned to the Harrison Base. Tomorrow we will be back at the Nantahala to test ourselves against the adventure course in the trees above the river. I hope to provide more photos from today and tomorrow once I am able to get a phone signal. The finicky WiFi at Daniel Boone makes it quite difficult to upload many photos and the camp is outside the range of cellular coverage. Hopefully, I can post those pictures while we are out tomorrow.

Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee

As the next line of the Alan Jackson song goes, "It gets hotter than a hoochie coochie," and that's true about anything you do in the month of August. So, Troop 50 heeded Jackson's advice and took the water — literally — by braving the whitewater of the Chattahoochee River on Saturday, Aug. 19. In what has become an annual excursion, Scouts and leaders donned helmets and equipped themselves with paddles for a few hours of whitewater adventure.

Scouts pay rapt attention to the pre-rafting safety presentation.

Filling two rafts and three "ducky" inflatable whitewater boats, the troop set out from the Phenix City-based Whitewater Express outfitter. The excursion down the Chattahoochee River, bordered by portions of Downtown Columbus, included several rapids and a lazy river-style stopping point.

Thankfully, all Scouts and leaders departing on the whitewater excursion were accounted for at the end of the trip! 

The whitewater outing officially marks the start of the troop's 2017-18 year. Look for more blog posts recounting the troop's activities to come!

For more photos from the trip, visit the troop's online photo album.

Whitewater fun

The weekend of Aug. 19-21, Troop 50 Scouts and leaders took to Columbus, Ga., for wet and wild whitewater jaunt down the Chattahoochee River. During the three-day, two-night campout, the troop called Uchee Creek Army Campground at Ft. Benning home.

After spending Friday evening setting up the campsite, preparing dinner, and adjusting to the hot and humid camping environment, the troop suited up for its whitewater adventure. Scouts and leaders split themselves between large-group rafts and two-person inflatable duckies for the roughly two-and-a-half-hour trip. The river offered scenic views of historic Columbus, and for a few, underwater experiences at the hand of a few rough rapids!

Everett demonstrates his
virtual piloting skills.

The troop picnicked on the grounds of Columbus State University’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center before touring the facility’s offerings. Scouts were able to view space-themed exhibits, try their hand at maneuvering spaceflight simulators, and watch astronomy shows in the center’s domed, omnisphere theatre. Many Scouts (and leaders) also favored the cool, air-conditioned environment the center offered the heat- and humidity-stricken troop!

The troop returned to its campsite later Saturday afternoon, where patrols were able to prepare dinner at a leisurely pace and enjoy time for fellowship while awaiting the cooler evening temperatures to arrive. On Sunday, after preparing breakfast and packing up troop gear, Chaplain’s Aide Aiden led the troop in a Sunday devotional service centered around the traps we fall in with petty fighting and quarreling, and their adverse effects on our relationships.

At the troop’s Monday Patrol Leaders Council, youth leaders praised the spirit of cooperation observed at the campout. Patrols were complimented on efficient set-up efforts, menu-planning and meal cleanup, and the overall fun everyone experienced. Youth leaders also noted the benefits of sharing the lessons learned when planning didn’t always prove successful, the need to better follow the quartermaster structure of using troop gear, and pre-campout food shopping.

The troop’s next outing will be Sept. 10-11, when it goes canoeing at a location to be determined. For more photos from this month’s campout, visit the troop’s online photo album.

The long and winding road...

      Yellow jacket stings, time constraints, a dog bite, an overheated clutch, and several long, winding, mountain roads lent a slightly surreal quality to this weekend's trip to North Carolina. However, the weather was perfect and the rafting was quite enjoyable, which gave us an overall positive experience for the trip. While there are lessons to be learning in planning for future trips, the youth leadership gave the trip a thumbs up for the hiking, whitewater experience, and the food.

      The trip began with an early Saturday morning departure from Auburn, which was delayed slightly due to an adult leader inexplicably suffering a dog bite. Fortunately, the wound wasn't too bad and we were soon on the road heading for Highlands, North Carolina. After a lunch stop at the overlook for Tallulah Gorge in north Georgia, we began to climb into the mountains across the state line in North Carolina. The climb proved arduous for Mr. Wikle's truck, which was towing the troop trailer. His clutch began to overheat and limited his ability to downshift on the steep grade. After stopping for a cool-down break, the truck and trailer were finally able to successfully reach our destination. Our campsite was the vacation home of a troop parent and we were able to camp next to a pond on the property.

The intrepid hikers pose at the Jones' Gap trailhead for the Bartram Trail.

       Leaving the truck and trailer at our campsite, we loaded into the other vehicles and traversed across Highlands in search of the Bartram Trail. The Jones' Gap trailhead turned out to be several miles past an ominous road sign reading "pavement ends." The climb to the trailhead was a chore, especially for vehicles accustomed to the "Plains" of Auburn. The hike up to Jones' Bald was pleasant and included a nice view from the top. We continued on the trail towards Whiterock Mountain but ran across a nest of yellow jackets that stung several of the boys. Although we circumvented the nest in order to continue the hike, we soon ran into another nest, which resulted in other Scouts getting stung. At that point we decided it was best to turn back. Our late start also contributed to the decision and we returned to the trailhead having covered 2.6 miles of the trail.

Louie, Josh, and Michael take in the view from Jones' Bald.

      After setting up our campsite and cooking areas, the patrols began preparations for dinner. With encouragement to branch out on their menus, the Carnivorous Pandas prepared a dish of chicken alfredo while the Outdoorsmen opted for spaghetti with meatballs. The scoutmaster prepared his infamous Lithuanian goulash for the adult leaders, a dish so notorious it pushed his wife into labor with their first child. Dinner was topped off with a dessert of peach cobbler and a campfire program, minus the campfire. Josh hosted the program as part of the requirements for his communications merit badge, which included (humorous?) skits by both patrols. Unfortunately, the scoutmaster inadvertently ended the program before Josh was done by sending everyone scurrying to clean up the campsite before bedtime. Since we were in bear country, all of the food and personal gear needed to be locked in the trailer overnight. The Scouts were soon sacked out in our new tents that were purchased with a grant we received this summer from the Auburn Rotary Club.

      The morning wake-up came early (before the sun even thought about making an appearance!) and everyone was busily making breakfast and preparing for our rafting adventure. The adults pointed to several mysterious scratches on the side of the trailer as proof of the need to lock up the gear overnight. The scratches have been on the trailer since we inherited it almost three years ago. However, that didn't stop the spread of a sensational rumor that the trailer had been attacked by a bear in the night.

      Even though we had awakened in the pre-dawn hours, it was still a chore to get everyone ready and on the road to the Nantahala Outdoor Center in order to meet our scheduled rafting time of 10:00 AM. The long, winding mountain roads between Highlands and the Nantahala tested not only the drivers' attention but also the fortitude of the Scouts. We made it to the NOC with minutes to spare and were soon gearing up for the river.

Creighton gears up with his splash jacket, life vest, and brain bucket
in preparation to attack the river.

      After suiting up against the cold water of the Nantahala and viewing the mandatory safety video, we loaded up on the bus to travel to the put-in point. Several of the older scouts, who had previously earned Kayaking or Whitewater merit badges, were able to use individual, inflatable kayaks (duckies) for their trip down the river. They accompanied the rest of the troop who were in inflatable rafts with NOC guides.

The duckies prepare to follow the rafts down the river. 

The Senior Patrol Leader "chills" along a quiet section of the river.

      The Scouts navigated down the 9.4 miles of river with ease. Many took the opportunity to "ride the bull" on the front of the raft as it went through the various rapids. This can cause some exciting moments and is also fully exposed to the cold water of the Nantahala. Since the river water along this stretch is released from Duke Energy's hydroelectric dam, the water comes from the bottom of the lake and averages only 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The end point for the trip is the Class III rapid at Nantahala Falls. All of the rafts and duckies made it safely through the falls with the exception of the senior patrol leader. He flipped his ducky and had to be hauled in on a safety line. We might need to consider revoking his merit badges.

Mr. Williams, Joey, Hunter, and Everett do not seem apprehensive about
facing the upcoming Nantahala Falls.

      Once the river was run, it was into dry clothing and back into the vehicles for a return trip across the same winding mountain roads to Highlands. A late lunch and clean-up/take-down of our camping area delayed us late into the afternoon, pushing our return time to Auburn late into the evening. The trip home was anticlimactic in comparison, marked only by the smell of hot brakes as we came out of the North Carolina mountains.

      At the PLC meeting on Monday night, the youth leaders praised the hiking, rafting, and how well the food turned out. They also lauded the new tents as easier to set up and take down. There was an additional discussion about how to deal with some of the downsides to the trip. There are lessons that we can share with the troop and others that will inform our planning for future trips. Useful learning experiences are part of the growth process as our Scouts mature.

      More photos from the trip are available in the online photo gallery.

It's hump day (Camp Woodruff Day Four Summary)

After a good night's rest, Wednesday started off just like the rest. Scouts and leaders woke early at 6:30 a.m., brushed teeth, and heading as a troop to the parade grounds for the flag raising. We enjoyed blueberry muffins, cereal, etc. for breakfast this morning before heading out to our usual routine of merit badge classes.  Assistant Scoutmaster Wes Williams packed up so he could return to Auburn around lunch time.

Beautiful morning at the waterfront

After our morning merit badge sessions, we all hopped on a bus headed for North Carolina to brave the cold water and rapids of the Nantahala River ("...of doom" — ask your Scouts about "of doom" when they get back). Many of the boys were surprised and excited to be heading to North Carolina, even though it's only about five miles away from Camp Woodruff. The Nantahala, however, is probably just under an hour drive via bus. We had a sack lunch on the bus consisting of ham and cheese sandwiches, chips, and a granola bar. Before we boarded the bus, the Scouts were reading the waivers that they and their parents signed about the trip. They noticed the word "death" on there, which created a great deal of conversation about how dangerous the river must be since that was mentioned.

Whitewater Express provided the
equipment and transportation for our rafting trip.

Once we arrived at the "put-in" area, we were outfitted for PFDs (personal flotation devices), helmets, and paddles. We were instructed on some river safety measures, which the Scouts paid attention to because of the word "death" on the waiver. We broke up into three groups to go down the river. Each group went down in a raft with a guide. Several Scouts got to "ride the bull" at the front of the raft and a few fell into the 46-degree water. Everyone enjoyed the trip and came back safely. The only negative comment about the river was how cold the water was (in the 40s).

Robert, Joe, and John (l-r) on our way back from the river

Unfortunately, we missed out on being on bus 50, which would've been a nice coincidence. However, maybe we found a troop bus for us!

Future troop bus?

Once arriving at camp, we rushed into the dining hall for dinner and were treated to grilled chicken, rice, and peas. Vanilla pudding was our treat for dessert. After dinner, the first-year Scouts returned to the campsite to change into their hiking boots and some dry clothes for their five-mile hike. Mr. Stanford went with the group and we joined being with other Mountain Man Scouts on the trail. The remaining Scouts stayed in the dining hall to return service to camp by doing some extra cleaning up after dinner. The last mile or so of the hike, a storm came in. It only rained on us for about two to three minutes at the very end, but we saw an impressive display of lighting and thunder.

Storm coming as we finished up our 5-mile hike

It rained for several hours in the late evening hours and as we went to sleep. The Scouts made the best of it by starting a few card games under the tarps at the campsite. Then, they brushed their teeth and headed on to bed, since the next morning would be an early rise once again.  It was a good hump day at camp.

For more Day Four pictures, please see our online photo album.

A little rain never hurt anyone (Camp Woodruff Day Three Summary)

Tuesday morning, we woke to similar weather. Cool and pleasant for some, but a bit chilly for others. After the afternoon heat from the Monday, nobody was complaining. We headed down for the flag-raising ceremony and the troop seemed to be rocking along like we've been doing it for years. Later, we discovered that several of the first-year Scouts had left important items back at camp (swim suits, towels, water bottles, etc). The walk back to camp is what some consider to be a day hike, so we'll see if this lesson is learned on Wednesday.

Each morning camp gathers...

...to honor America by raising the flag.

At breakfast, we enjoyed scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits. There is also an option for cereal and fruit. Everyone got a good breakfast and headed out to their daily activities. The merit badge sessions for Tuesday were the same as Monday's. First-year Scouts attended the Mountain Man program along with Swimming and First Aid merit badge classes. Veteran Scouts worked on merit badges like Camping, Kayaking, Archery, Communications, Personal Fitness, and Fishing. Louie finished up his Horsemanship Merit Badge with an exciting off-site trip to ride horses. Andrew and John continued to spend most of the morning at the COPE course.

Michael hydrating himself during a break from Personal Fitness.

Everyone gathered back for lunch consisting of soft tacos, rice, and vanilla pudding. A few opted for PB&J, but most ate the tacos. After lunch, a few Scouts earned Art Merit Badge during a special session scheduled by Assistant Scoutmaster Wes Williams. Later in the afternoon, a few Scouts and leaders headed out to the Davis Inn, which is a former homestead a short hike from camp. At the Davis Inn, you can see how people lived in the mountains in the 1920s. There are several things to see at this former home, such as a blacksmith, a gardener, several chickens, and tomahawk throwing.

Mr. Williams helps lead Art Merit Badge.

Mr. Pendleton with Andrew and Will near the Davis Inn.

The troop gathered again for the closing flag ceremony before dinner after a busy day of classes and free time activities. We enjoyed some type of steak and gravy with carrots, mac and cheese, and rolls. Ice cream was a great treat for dessert. After dinner, we were scheduled to give mountain boarding a try, but a pretty loud and wet thunderstorm prevented this. A few boys were able to do some mountain biking instead.  Mountain boarding was described to us as something similar to a surfboard with large tires that you ride down the mountain. Hopefully, we can check this out later in the week.

Joe mopping the floor for some extra cleaning that was needed.

The storm stuck with us for quite a while, but has now passed and it is quiet for the evening. Some clothes and towels on the line are now wet, but otherwise spirits are high and things are for the most-part dry. During the rainstorm Joe, Ethan, and Jason helped out in the dining hall with some additional cleaning that was needed. They were rewarded with ice cream and cake. What a great example these Scouts are setting! The Scouts spent the evening socializing and playing various card games before getting their daily showers and heading to bed.

Tomorrow, several big items will occur. First, we will be saying goodbye to Assistant Scoutmaster Williams as he heads back to Auburn. We will all miss him, but especially many of the first-year Scouts with which he has spent so much time. About the time of his departure, the troop will leave camp for the first time to raft the Nantahala River. We'll take a bus up to North Carolina and enjoy lunch and rafting the entire afternoon. This should be a great experience for everyone!

To see pictures from Day Three, check out our online photo album.

'Five Rivers' group enjoying 'wildest rides' possible

Ethan and Davis set out with their guide
on their first rafting expedition Monday.

The troop's "Five Rivers in Five Days" Camp Daniel Boone contingent — Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Ethan, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Davis, and Assistant Scoutmaster Jason Smith — are enjoying some of the "wildest rides a commercial trip can offer" as a result of rainy evenings the past couple of nights in the eastern North Carolina area. From Wednesday through Friday morning, another two or three inches of rain are expected, which promise to make their most challenging leg of the trip — the Section IV leg of the Chattooga River and its Class IV-V rapids — a rafting trip to remember.

The trio eat at the camp's dining hall for breakfast and dinner, and spend the rest of the time traveling to and rafting on each of the five rivers that make up the week-long high-adventure trip. Wednesday's itinerary includes Class III and Class IV sections of the Upper Pigeon River, as well as an afternoon hike to an area that provides some cliff-jumping into the river.

Clockwise from top left: Ethan catching dinner from the bank;
Davis cleaning the day's catch; Davis and fellow camper Jordan fishing
from the boat; and fish...it's what's for dinner!

Davis, Ethan and ASM Smith with
other rafters from their campsite.

They've expanded their social circle by befriending other Scouts in their campsite — all of whom are participating in the "Five Rivers" program. Together, they've banded together to supplement the camp's dining hall offerings by fishing in Camp Daniel Boone's lake and grilling the day's catch in their campsite. Assistant Scoutmaster Smith reports that the group of around 20 Scouts plan to coordinate their fishing and cooking efforts for tonight's dinner.

Get a recap of the entire trip by checking out all the posts from the troop's Five Rivers in Five Days trip!

We're rolling, rolling, rolling on five rivers!

Ethan and Davis at the gates of Camp Daniel Boone

On Sunday, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Ethan and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Davis – under the watch of Assistant Scoutmaster Jason Smith – set out for a five-hour trip to Camp Daniel Boone, located in Canton, North Carolina, for their summer camping experience. Both Scouts have twice attended Camp Daniel Boone as campers working to earn merit badges, but this summer they are returning to participate in the camp’s “Five Rivers in Five Days” high-adventure water trek program.

Camp Daniel Boone is nestled at the base of North Carolina’s Cold Mountain — one of the Great Balsam Mountains, which are a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains within the Appalachian Mountains. The camp is surrounded by a million acres of national forest and is located at 3,300 feet above sea level. Its proximity to some of the most well-known whitewater in the region offers Scouts and Scouters a unique week-long experience on some of the finest waters in the Southeastern U.S. Participants will spend the majority of each day on the water while staying on camp property each night at its Harrison Outpost — except Thursday, when they will camp at Oconee State Park in South Carolina.

The group’s schedule will include:

Sunday: arrival at Camp Daniel Boone and check-in 

Monday: raft the Class II section of the Nantahala River and Class III whitewater of Nantahala Falls within the scenic Nantahala National Forest of North Carolina and near the Great Smokey Mountains National Park

Tuesday: raft the Class II and Class III sections of French Broad River through the scenic Pisgah National Forrest in the mountains of North Carolina 

Wednesday: raft sections of the Upper Pigeon River’s Class III and Class IV whitewater along the eastern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Thursday: raft through the southern Appalachian Mountains while experiencing the Class III and Class IV rapids of the Ocoee River’s Middle Section, which will include rapids with names like Grumpy’s, Table Saw, Broken Nose, Double Trouble, Double Suck and Powerhouse 

Thursday Night: camp at South Carolina’s Oconee State Park 

Friday: raft Section IV of the Chattooga River made famous by the film “Deliverance” and to include Seven-Foot Falls and Five Falls, the latter a series of back-to-back Class IV-V rapids with names that include Jawbone and Sock’em Dog

We look forward to sharing some exciting images and video from the expedition in our online photo album, thanks to the GoPro video cameras both Ethan and Jason will be sporting during the trip.

Rollin' on the River

Shooting the rapids on the 'hooch 

   
        Troop 50 took a ride down the Chattahoochee River today during a rafting adventure on the new Columbus whitewater course. Fourteen scouts and leaders from the troop loaded up this morning for the short ride to Phenix City and the headquarters of the Chattahoochee Whitewater Express. After donning our life jackets and helmets, we endured the obligatory safety briefing and headed out aboard a school bus bound for the 'hooch. The troop was divided among three rafts as we began our float. Following the first set of rapids, we abandoned the rafts and were allowed to lazily float along in our life jackets down a narrow side channel of the river. Upon returning to the rafts, we ran several more rapids before coming to the seemingly treacherous Cutbait rapid. Today, it was running as a Class III rapid, although during a high water release from the dam, it can be a much more interesting Class IV. Either way, it made for a thrilling ride. As we came towards the end of our journey, most everyone abandoned the boats for another swim in the river.
        After the bus returned us to the rafting company headquarters, we were treated to complimentary cake and drinks. Today, the company was celebrating having served its 10,000 customer since the whitewater course opened at the beginning of the summer. After changing into dry clothes, we headed over to the park at Lakebottom for a picnic lunch. The scouts even expended some more energy with a game of football before the return to Auburn. Although not as scenic as the Nantahala or the Ocoee Rivers, the Chattahoochee has the advantage of proximity as opposed to a five hour drive to North Carolina. The consensus seemed to be that it was a fun adventure for a summer Saturday.

Ready for more whitewater