Whitewater & Flatwater
Whitewater has been the lifeblood of Touch the Earth for many years. We continue celebrating the founders of TTE with a wide array of excellent watersport trips. Join 30+ year veterans of the program as they guide you down some of the cleanest and most scenic waters in the country. Choose your weapon: Kayak, Canoe, Raft! Most of our trips require good swimming ability with the exception of raft trips. Many trips require no experience. Some whitewater canoe/kayak trips require experience and permission to register.
At-a-glance
| February | ||
| Mondays | February 7; March 14 & 28, April 11 | Kayak Roll Clinics |
| Friday - Sunday | February 11 - 13 | Crystal River, Florida |
| March | ||
| Sunday | March 20 | Experienced Canoe & Kayak Trip: Potluck |
| Thursday | March 24 | Chattahoochee River Float |
| April | ||
| Friday - Sunday | April 8 - 10 | Raft Guide School |
| Saturday | April 16 | Ocoee Rafting |
| Sunday | April 17 | Experienced Canoe & Kayak Trip: Chattooga |
| Wednesday | April 20 | Chattahoochee River Float |
| Friday - Sunday | April 29 - May 1 | Chattooga River Whitewater Raft Expedition |
| May | ||
| Sunday | May 15 | Experienced Canoe & Kayak Trip: Nantahala |
| June | ||
| Thursday - Sunday | June 2 - 5 | Tandem Canoe 4-Day School |
| Sunday | June 12 | Ocoee Rafting |
Descriptions
Whitewater
Kayak Roll Clinic
Get ready for a great whitewater season! Beginners can come and see what it's like to paddle a kayak and meet the Whitewater Club. While this is not our full school, it will afford participants the chance to see if this is a sport to pursue. Experienced kayakers are allowed to come in and work on their roll and request instruction. Dress for the pool.
dates: Mondays, February 7; March 14 & 28; April 11
time: 7 - 9 p.m.
place: meet in the Aquatics Training Room
limit: 15
Custom Rafting/Camping
Bring your GSU group of students, faculty, or staff to us for a fun filled private guided trip to one of the above whitewater rivers! Custom dates, overnight camping, as well as teambuilding activities are all possible. We tailor to your groups needs. Trips based on availability of guides and transportation through TTE. Call Carson Tortorige for pricing and further details!
Experienced Canoe & Kayak Trips The first river trip will be our "potluck" run; depending on best water levels we will choose from the Cartecay, Upper Hooch or Tuckaseegee River as a warm-up to the season. On our Chatooga trip, we will paddle section III of this free-flowing natural "wild and scenic" river. The Nantahala River will be an enjoyable float just in time for the beginning of flowers blooming along this amazing gorge. You must obtain permission prior to sign-up.
date: Sunday, March 20, Potluck
Sunday, April 17, Chattooga
Sunday, May 15, Nantahala
cost: $10/$15/$20
includes transportation, canoeing equipment, river lunch, leadership and instruction
leader: Carson Tortorige, Jim Hudson, Whitewater Club
limit: 8
Chattooga River Whitewater Raft Expedition
Raft down parts of sections III and IV of the wild and scenic Chattooga River. The Chattooga is known for its incredible natural scenery and its thrilling natural flowing class II - IV+ whitewater. We will drop off the 6ft. high "second ledge" and run the famous "Bull Sluice rapid in addition to many other intense rapids. On Saturday, expedition participants will camp overnight on a pristine beach after a full day on the river and enjoy a premium meal cooked by your guide. On the second day we will travel through the significantly more challenging section III and IV. Rafting experience recommended, proficient swim ability required. Canoeists or kayakers can tag along. Come in and check our amazing pics from last year! Don't miss this amazing trip!
date: Friday 5 p.m. - Sunday, April 29 - May 1
cost: $50/$55/$65
includes transportation, rafting/camping equipment, 4 river meals, instruction and leadership
leader: Carson Tortorige
limit: 12 rafters
Tandem Canoe 4-Day School
The most fun and exciting weekend trip we offer! In four straight days of intensive instruction, the "never-ever" beginner will progress from class I to class III on the beautiful Chattooga River. This course is regarded as the most comprehensive, most constructive and most memorable whitewater canoe course around. Jim Hudson and assistants have contributed over thirty years of teaching whitewater canoeing for TTE to absolute beginners like you! Absolutely NO experience necessary-obtain these skills for cheap!
date: Thursday - Sunday, June 2 - 5
cost: $60/$75/$90
includes transportation, canoe equipment, river lunches, instruction and leadership
leader: Carson Tortorige
limit: 12 rafters
Ocoee Rafting
Catch a chance at early season high water on the Ocoee. This ever popular, never boring class IV river offers constant action with big, pounding waves. Open up the season with a middle trip and join us for an epic full-day combo (upper & middle) trip a bit later. The ability to swim is recommended. Register by Friday the week before each trip.
dates:
trip #1: Saturday, April 16
cost: $45/$50/$55
trip #2: Saturday, June 12
cost: $80/ $85/$95
includes transportation, guide, equipment and lunch
leader: Bruce Wood and Carson Tortorige
limit: 25
Raft Guide School
You can be a river guide! We raft three great rivers that all require varying levels of guide skill. These exciting rivers are a favorite destination on the TTE calendar and trained guides are always needed through the summer and fall. On this intense two-day course we will run the rivers, learning guiding skills necessary for the job, reviewing on-river procedures and policies and practicing rescue/safety skills. Graduates of the course will be placed on the appropriate river with further training if needed. Permission of the instructor is required.
dates: Friday 5 p.m. - Sunday, April 8 - 10
cost: FREE (in exchange for future volunteer service)
includes transportation, river lunches, overnight stay and instruction
leader: Bruce Wood and Carson Tortorige
limit: 8
Flatwater Boating
Crystal River, Florida
The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1983 specifically for the protection of the endangered West Indian Manatee. Early Spring is the best time to view the Manatees. We will kayak or canoe this area and camp along the estuaries while carefully dipping our paddles as the sea creature gently swim beneath us. Expect to camp primitively. Expect to be amazed.
date: Friday-Sunday, February 11 - 13
cost: $50/$55/$65
includes transportation, canoe/kayak, equipment, fees and leadership
leader: Carson Tortorige
limit: 8
Chattahoochee River Floats
These trips are designed to make for a relaxing end to a stressful day or week and will allow you to appreciate the scenic beauty of the areas in and around metro Atlanta. Trips will canoe down an easy flowing "metro hooch" section of the Chattahoochee River. No experience required. Basic instruction provided.
dates:
trip #1: Thursday, March 24
trip #2: Wednesday, April 20
cost: $10/$11/$13
includes transportation and leadership
limit: 8