UPDATE: Checked power company phone announcement today. They have one gate to run 100% today, Saturday and Sunday. This will be great water level and great weather. The paddle is on. We will meet at 11 am at NC welcome center on I-26. Remember its about 1 1/2 hours from Columbia to welcome center but allow for any delays. We will only wait 15 minutes after 11 before we head to put-in. Dennis Catoe 803-730-1856

Near Saluda, North Carolina less than 2 hr drive from Columbia. Great beginner - safe whitewater trip.

Description: Very beautiful narrow river with mountain backdrop. Great beginner whitewater trip however you should be able to turn boat to negotiate through best channels. Class I and II. Suitable for whitewater kayaks, rec boats, sit-on-tops, canoes, and short touring boats. No fiberglass due to rocks. Approx. 6 miles running parallel to road. Estimate 2 hour paddle. Very safe paddle, but helmets are required. Water is generally shallow and if you spill, its easy to recover. No dangerous rapids.

Hazards: rocks, drunks on inner tubes, and fly fishermen in water. This river is dam controlled and recent rain will likely result in good 100% release. Check for e-mails or call me Friday before trip or Saturday morning.

If cancellation, I will send e-mail to all so its important to e-mail me to sign up for trip. But my plan is to go and take a chance on water level. We may not know release level until we get there.

Meet: Meet Saturday 11 am at NC Welcome Center: Take I-26 to North Carolina state line (about 1½+ hours from Columbia, add 15 min if you drive slow), take next exit into NC welcome center. We will convoy to put-in. If convoy missed, then after welcome center, go 2 exits to Saluda Exit about 78 mile marker, at end of ramp, turn right, go a few yards and turn left onto Green Cove Road, follow down zig-zag turns to bottom, and put-in is at Fishtop Access. Put-in and take-out are dirt parking lots only few yards from river.

Conditions day of paddle: Low to mid 90s, no rain, and 100% release hopefully.

Please check for updates on website later in week or e-mails notices.