On the weekend of May 18, 2018, a group of 24 veterans, active duty, family members, and some friends joined Sierra Club Military Outdoors on the Chattooga River. Bordering states of both Georgia and South Carolina lies the mighty Chattooga River. The SCMO Southeast 2nd annual Memorial Day River Run is destined to become a new tradition.
Folks enjoyed a weekend of kayaking and whitewater rafting on the 50th Anniversary of one of the Southeast’s most wild and scenic rivers. The Chattooga River is wild and protected. Beautiful forests and wildlife surround the untouched river. People floating down the river witnessed some of the most stunning natural views in all of the entire Southeast.
Our guests spent three nights at Camp Chattooga Sounds that is tucked away in a small corner of South Carolina. This 22-acre campground is run and operated by an Army veteran and his family. We were treated to a low-country boil, some downhome bar-b-que, and amazing Southern hospitality by Greg and his family. At night, stories by the campfire happened, and board games played. And a Sierra Club staffer learned what a Luna Moth was thanks to the 16-year-old daughter of an Air Force Reservist. Musician Stephen Wood and his fiancée Lauren joined this group of diverse military and veterans. Stephen is working with the Georgia Sierra Club and the Wild & Scenic River’s foundation to produce a fundraising concert in the fall of 2018. To honor the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Act, and that weekend on the Chattooga River will inspire the original music pieces performed that evening.
The three days of action started on Friday morning at our friend’s from Nantahala Outdoor Center Chattooga base camp. We all got briefed on safety precautions and what to expect for the weekend. The river guides and veterans have a lot in common, such as a thirst for adventure and thrill-seeking no matter the age or gender. Day one consisted of an intro to kayaking on Lake Tallulah. Day two consisted of a rainy float down section three of the river. At the end of day two, the clouds parted before we made our way to the legendary Seven Falls Rapid.
On day three, the clouds and rain remained at bay as we all got to float down section four of the river with a rapid succession of class three to five rapids due to the intense rainfall. That included Seven Falls again. Despite our guests being in awe of nature while building friendships and camaraderie, there was 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.
Sierra Club Military Outdoors hopes to make this a continued tradition in the Southeast for years to come. Our goal is to introduce folks a new friend or an old lover called the Chattooga River.
