Week of Rivers

Week of Rivers is the Carolina Canoe Club’s flagship annual whitewater paddling event. Each year around the 4th of July, much of the CCC’s membership converges on the Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground in Bryson City, NC for 9 days of paddling fun, evening activities, and camping. Bryson City is nestled in the western corner of North Carolina, right in the heart of whitewater heaven, the Nantahala River Gorge. Though not a comprehensive list, nearby rivers include the Nantahala, Tellico, Tuckasegee, and Ocoee. Rivers a longer distance away include the Chattooga and the Little (TN). Week of Rivers occurs on the week that includes July 4th. When July 4th falls on a Saturday, Week of Rivers will start on the preceding Saturday (June 27th). When July 4th falls on a Sunday, Week of Rivers will start on Saturday, July 3rd.

Daily paddling trips to the regional rivers are organized at the morning meeting, which will be held each morning at 8:30 under the Smoky Mountain Meadows Pavilion. Trips are offered for all skill levels: Expert, Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginner / Novice. It's not necessary to sign up for the daily paddling trips, just show up! There will be a big board with river levels listed at the meeting: River Board River board rivers sorted by difficulty (courtesy of Larry Ausley, please read the fine print in the spreadsheet) Folks interested in coordinating trips for that day will assess current river levels and volunteer to coordinate a trip. If you are an experienced paddler, raise your hand to coordinate a river trip and your name will be entered in a raffle to win fabulous prizes donated by WOR supporters. Sometimes trips depart before the morning meeting. If you are interested in coordinating or participating in an Early Departure trip, check out the ED Board every day. Signs with the river names / sections will be posted around the perimeter of the meeting tent. These signs will be color-coded by difficulty: Beginner / Novice = Green Intermediate = Yellow Advanced / Expert = Red

When a trip that interests you is announced, just congregate around the colored river sign corresponding to that trip. Trip coordinators will restate the skill level for the trip and will ask you your skill level. To ensure you have a fun and safe day, assess your own abilities honestly and objectively and provide the trip coordinator with the following information: Your skill level The rivers you've paddled comfortably Your pool roll stats (i.e., I successfully roll up in the pool x out of y times) Indicate whether you do or do not have a combat roll (“having a combat roll” means you can reliably roll up when flipped unexpectedly in moving water) Advise of any health conditions you may have that could be of significance on the river and impact how the group could assist in an emergency (e.g. diabetes, allergies).