The Natahala River is a challenging river for first time rafters. As our group took on the first set of rapids, Alex Gomez and Kyle Kinser took a spill out of the raft! The water is so cold it can take your breath away! The current is so swift that you have to yeild to it's flow and slowly make 
your way to the edge. We waited by the bank while our two dare devils with blue lips and frozen bones made their way back into the boat.
your way to the edge. We waited by the bank while our two dare devils with blue lips and frozen bones made their way back into the boat.This was just the beginning of a day of fun! At one point in the day just about everyone made it into the RIVER! I think some got pushed in! Whoops!
Melinda Garner & Donna served us a picnic at the half-way point, where we pulled over and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation. It was an amazing day! The sun was beaming down on us with it's warmth. Leaves were starting to change and laughter filled our journey!The challenge of the Natahala is the last set of rapids. We stopped to plot and plan how we would survive the massive undertow and what was the plan of action if someone fell out!
The undertown at Natahala Falls is like a grizzle bear. When it grabs your boat you will feel like you are being sucked under! No matter how big the boat is. The current down stream is matched by an upstream flow of equil force. Thus it is called a 'suck hole'. If someone falls out at that point, they are almost quarenteed to get pushed to the bottom of the river. Our strategy therefore is to make sure everyone stays in the boat.
With our pulse rate up and our paddles in the water, we took on the mighty Natahala Falls and I am glad to report that no one fell out! Thanks to the great guiding skills of Steve Gardner, Elliot Graves, Megan Gardner, Maria Renea Altuzar, Katie Kerfoot, and Luke Davis we survived!
