Tennessee Rivers: A Paddler's Guidebook (Outdoor Tennessee Series) - Softcover

Lantz, Bob

9781572332324: Tennessee Rivers: A Paddler's Guidebook (Outdoor Tennessee Series)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1572332328 ISBN 13: 9781572332324

Publisher: University of Tennessee Press, 2003

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“Helmets and hats off to Bob for his new book Tennessee Rivers! In order for people to enjoy and have a good experience on the river, they need an accurate description of their destination. This is also vital for safety reasons. This book provides that along with much of the history of the areas as well. As a native Tennessean, I especially enjoy the history that is scattered throughout the book. There are many stories of individuals who have spent countless hours of their own time to protect and preserve our Tennessee Rivers. The maps are easy to navigate and the roads and especially the bridges are easily identifiable.”
-Daniel Boone, board member and past president, Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association

The bible of Tennessee canoeing and kayaking, this book provides the paddling enthusiast with a description of each Tennessee stream’s access points, along the large maps, water levels, and difficulty ratings. A revised edition of Lantz’s A Canoeing and kayaking Guide to the Streams of Tennessee, it includes new information and improved maps – eighty in all.

The Author: Bob Lantz is an associate professor of technology education at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee. He founded the Blue Hole Canoe Company and takes an active interest in outdoor recreation and environmental issues.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

The Author: Bob Lantz is an associate professor of technology education at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee. He founded the Blue Hole Canoe Company and takes an active interest in outdoor recreation and environmental issues.

Excerpt. � Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Prepare to Paddle
The Paddler We re in a river canyon and twilight is upon us. The day s light fades. A dull rosy color tones the features of the river. But it s getting harder to discern any telltale details within the water s flow. We ve completed our river paddling for the day. We re tired. We cannot even see very well. But we can still hear the river, every bit as loud as before. We re moving slower. The river isn t. The schedule of the river knows no twilight. The river runs on through the night, and through the next day, and the day after that. The river even runs on through the following work-a-day week while we re all elsewhere plying our respective trades.

And I have often marveled at that idea. As best I can figure, water continues to flow over that midriver ledge, even in the dark of night when no one is there to thrill to its presence or fear its pounding power. We sometimes get a little crazy when we spend too much time mulling the obvious. Is there any lessening to the magic of that drop when the flow pounds on in its own world of riverine isolation? Surely not. I suspect the magic is continuously there, always available to those who might pass within its radius of influence. For how would the river know when it is 2 P.M. on a Saturday and paddlers will shortly float on by? So I decided to test this definition of river wildness. I paddled the Obed on a Tuesday morning and found that same weekend afternoon boat-swamping wave at Widow Maker rapid. At another time I introduced my Yankee bride to the Hiwassee as we floated it by full moon at midnight. We found those same midrapid thrills in the middle of the night (and more fear than I thought would be there).

The good news is that the river keeps on moving on. It seems that only the paddler is needed to make the river scene a complete experience.

So let s get you out there . . . and safely back! What will you need to experience the river?

Personal flotation devices (PFDs).
A Canoe.

Canoe outfitting.
Two (or more) paddles.
Suitable wearing apparel.
Training in the use of a canoe.
Information on the stream section.
Provisions for an automobile shuttle.
Most importantly, other canoes in the party!

Chapters and even books have been written about each of the above topics. And, indeed, it is worthwhile to study, learn, and obtain the necessary information. You will enjoy your outdoors ventures much more when you do them right. And your chances of comfortable survival increase dramatically with each increment of knowledge added to your general canoeing expertise.

This chapter will not make you a seasoned river rat. For that, you need to paddle, talk with others, help others, ask others for help, paddle, join canoe clubs, lobby for free-flowing rivers, paddle, read newsletters, read magazines, read maps, read water, paddle, make mistakes, take advanced training, provide training for others, paddle, install canoeing hardware, make roof racks, sight down the keel line of your canoe, buy a different canoe, paddle, buy synthetic underwear, buy wool, buy fleece, paddle, teach, preach, beseech, paddle, paddle, paddle. Paddle carefully during the short, cold days of winter; paddle in control during the cold-water flush of springtime; paddle and endure during the tepid droughts of fall. You learn by doing. That s a major lesson from life. And it s not unique to canoeing. So get out and paddle. And wear your PFD.

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