The Nolichucky River

Many beautiful rivers run down the valleys of the Appalachian mountain range, their waters eventually making their way to the mighty Mississippi or the Atlantic ocean - depending on which side of the eastern continental divide they happen to be on. Today's picture features one of these beautiful rivers - the Nolichucky River.

The Nolichucky River's headwaters are in the North Carolina mountains near Asheville. The cool, clear mountain water of the Nolichucky travels westward towards Erwin, Tennessee, crossing some pretty rough terrain along the way. The resulting rapids along this section of the Nolichucky provide some of the south's finest white water rafting opportunities!

As we were driving up the river on the way from Jonesborough, TN to Erwin, we passed a familiar site: Cherokee Adventures, a company that provides white water rafting trips on the Nolichucky River. You see, back in my college days I spent over one-half of a hot April day fighting the Nolichucky's rapids courtesy of Cherokee Adventures, and it was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of my life. It's good to see that they are still in business today!

Yesterday, the waters of the Nolichucky weren't as swift nor was the water nearly as white as I remember from that day so long ago, but then again it's December, not April. Like all Appalachian rivers, the Nolichucky swells considerably in the spring as the runoff from the melting mountain snows make their way towards the sea. By April, you can expect the Nolichucky to once again live up to its Cherokee name: Rushing Waters!

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