By Lornett Vestal
On the weekend of May 18-20, 2018, a group of 24 veterans, military, family members, and friends joined the Sierra Club Military Outdoors (SCMO) on the Chattooga River bordering Georgia and South Carolina for the Southeast SCMO's second annual Memorial Day River Run. Our participants were treated to a weekend of kayaking and white water rafting on the 50th anniversary of one the Southeast’s most wild and scenic rivers. The Chattooga River is wild and protected, with beautiful forest and wildlife surrounding it. People floating down the river witnessed some of the most stunning natural views in the entire Southeast.
Our participants spent three nights at Camp Chattooga Sounds, which is tucked away in a small corner of the South Carolina. This 22-acre campground is run and operated by an Army veteran and his family. Participants were treated to a low country boil, a down-home bar-b-que, and wonderful Southern hospitality by Greg and his family. Stories were shared by the campfire and board games were played in the evenings, and a Sierra Club staffer even learned what a Luna Moth was, thanks to the 16-year-old daughter of an Air Force Reservist. The group was happy to welcome musician Stephen Wood and his fiancée Lauren, who joined the group of military and veterans for the weekend's festivities. Stephen is working with the Georgia Sierra Club and the Wild & Scenic Rivers Foundation to produce a fundraising concert in the fall of 2018 that will honor the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Act. This weekend on the Chattooga River will serve as inspiration for the original music pieces performed.
The three days of action started on Friday morning at our partner's, the Nantahala Outdoor Center, base camp. The group was briefed on safety precautions and what to expect for the weekend. The river guides and veterans have a lot in common, including a thirst for adventure and thrill-seeking, no matter the age or gender. Day one consisted of an introduction to kayaking on Lake Tallulah. Day two consisted of a rainy float down section three of the river. Fortunately, the clouds parted and we were treated to a beautiful day before we made it to the legendary Seven Falls.
On day three, the clouds and rain remained at bay as participants floated down section four of the river with a rapid succession of class three to five rapids, due to the intense rainfall. This section included Seven Falls. Despite our guest being in awe of nature while building friendships and comradery, there was still time for a bit of education. A forest service ranger spent Saturday morning chatting with our group about career opportunities for veterans, the local flora and fauna, and why the Wild and Scenic Act is vital to protecting the ecosystem of the Chattooga River for humans and wildlife alike.
The Sierra Club Military Outdoors hopes to make this a continued tradition in the Southeast for years to come, and to continue introducing folks to a new friend or an old love called the Chattooga River.
To learn more about the Sierra Club Military Outdoors program, click here >>
To get involved with the Southeastern Military Outdoors program, contact Lornett Vestal here >>