Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / June 23, 1983, edition 1 / Page 9
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FEATURES Challenging w mv Someof best white water canoeing in the South By LES A. HAMASHIMA Tar Heel Staff Writer The bright red canoe careens wildly toward the four-foot standing wall of brown water. We are at the mercy of the river as we fight to keep the canoe pointed down river. Suddenly, the bow pops up at a 45-degree angle as it buries itself, then blasts over the monstrous wave. The front half of the boat smacks the water's rushing surface, spraying a cascade of water high over us. This is the Haw River at high water and for us it's canoeing at its best. The Haw River begins as a tiny tributary in Guilford County and flows southwest un til meets the calm waters of Jordan Lake and the New Hope Rivet in Chatham Coun ty. In between, the river delivers some of the most exciting Whitewater to be found in North Carolina. "At its higher water levels the Haw River is just as difficult to navigate as anything on the East Coast," said Joe Coates of the Trailshop in Chapel Hill. The Haw's proximity, variety and challenge are reasons why the river is so popular among local paddlers. A Chapel Hill canoeist can be charging down the Haw within an hour after stepping out of his house. The river also challenges river runners of different skill levels because it is divided by a dam into the slower Upper Haw and the more demanding Lower Haw. . The Upper Haw is easier to navigate because it is wider and its vertical drop is on ly about 50 feet while the Lower Haw has a drop of 117 feet. Generally, the Upper Haw's difficulties are limited to a few eddies and a current of about 3 mph. This 6.5-mile stretch provides the Whitewater novice with . about three hours of practice and beautiful scenery. But the person in search of the wild thrill of Whitewater begins his ride at the U.S. 15-501 bridge, the beginning of the Lower Haw. The current of the lower section is much swifter. Four sparsely thicketed islands in the waterway test the river-reading ability of the paddler, while the numerous tight bends challenge the boat's maneuverability and the canoeist's skill. At the average water levels a novice can attempt the Lower Haw, but should expect to take a few spills along the way. ; Any substantial rainfall makes a quick and dramatic difference in the swiftness of the current and the water level of the river. A phone service is provided in Raleigh and Durham to let paddlers know the level of the river before they set out to Chatham Coun ty. (In Durham call 683-8306 and in Raleigh call 787-4856.) Coatess advises beginners not to paddle the Upper Haw if it is above 2 feet and not to try the Lower if it is above 1 foot. As much as the Upper Haw is a fun learning ex perience, the Lower Haw at flood stage is a test of one's skills, where failure can mean the loss of one's boat and, occasionally, the loss of one's life. Overrating skill levels and exercising poor judgment are two of the primary reasons for accidents on the Haw River,. Coatess said. There are several guides available to help the paddler find his way safely down the Haw. In his blest edition of Carolina Whitewater A Canoeist's Guide to the Western CaroUnas, Bob Benner examines the Haw as well as every other navigable river in the region. His evaluations include difficulty, water quality, time required to complete the run, and scenery. Bill Neely draws a humorous and fact filled map of the Haw that almost leads the canoeist by hand, using easy-to-see routes, visual landmarks and difficulty levels. You do not have to own a canoe to tackle the Haw River. Outdoor equipment retailers such as the Trailshop in Chapel Hill, River Runners Emporium in Durham and Carolina Outdoor Sports in Raleigh rent canoes and can also provide detailed local knowledge on the Haw. The average price for a weekday rental is about $12 per day and about $24 per day on the weekend. The prices usually include, a car-top carrier, paddles, lifejackets and flotation bags for the canoes. The southeast flow of the Haw is inter rupted by the controversial Jordan Lake Project. The 14,000-acre lake, .which backs up waters along the Lower Haw as well as the New Hope River, has never won much environmental praise. Current reports of the lake show polluted waters and destructive algae growth, as well as other problems such as overcrowded facilities, congested boat ramps and automobile traffic problems. Almost all of the crowd-related problems are restricted to the summer weekends, says Tim Mallard, a park employee for the state. He suggested that people try to enjoy the lake on weekdays rather than weekends. Mallard, who works at the Crosswinds facili ty, says that they launch more than 150 boats on a Saturday or Sunday, compared to about 20 boats on a weekday. " There are presently four developed recrea tional areas: Crosswinds Marina, Farrington Jordan Lake and the Haw River Carrboro sT j ' : OBAN COTV rxj Crossvrtnda Haw River j I . J m- -. most welting . a f . . j Jk fttwlr urxmnq to ba V. I . found tn North Carolina.- K. S . XK " Farrington Point If pnd launch nmpt" I i: ) l1 wmvvmnta taund) nmpt' V TvHMUaffHtty Point, Ebenezer access area and Crosswinds access area. Crosswinds and Crosswinds Marina charge launch fees of about $3 for use of their paved ramps and offer on-site supervision. Ebenezer and Farrington Point have free paved launch ramps but are not supervised. Swimming and alcoholic beverages are not allowed at the two super vised areas. Mallard said there are no designated swim ming areas on the lake because swimmers could entangle themselves in the submerged tree stumps and brush that have not yet decomposed. Swimmers- may. swim at un supervised areas at their own risk. The best way to spend a day at Jordan Lake is on the water. Jordan Lake Boat Ren tals rents motor boats and sailboats by the hour or by the day. Their selection includes boats for fishing, skiing and houseboating. Fishing and ski boats rent for about $30 a day while a 32-foot houseboat that sleeps six rents for about $100 for 24 hours. Sailboat rentals range from a quick, 13-foot Laser to a 23-foot coastal cruiser. It is advised to call ahead to confirm your boat's availability and reservations are encouraged. For more information on boaf rentals and reservations call Jordan Lake Boat Rentals, 362-5389. At The Historic Station Lunch 11:30-2:00 M-F Serving Until 10 Nightly Late Night Menu Til 2 am Coma laid Enjoy Patio Dining Wins, Beer Assorted Spirits Candlelit Atmosphere Happy Hour 10:00-2:00 201 E. Main Carrboro Dinner 5-10 7 Nights A Week Thursday, June 23, 1S33 The Tar Heel 9
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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June 23, 1983, edition 1
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