Paddling Alabama

[Firedog]

Outdoor Cleburne, August 12th, 6pm at the Heflin Recreational Center, mark your calendars

 

“Paddling Alabama”

 

Speakers:

Lex Brown of TRO- Lloyd Owens Canoe Trail, paddling opportunities in Cleburne County, Renew our Rivers cleanup day August 14th at TRO

 

Fred Couch- Director of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, discuss the adoption of the Tallapoosa into the Alabama Scenic River Trail, Triathlon in September

 

Charlie Mix- Professional kayaker from Heflin, sponsored by Riot Kayaks, Mion Footwear, Skirt Works, WRSI Helmets, and Alabama Small Boats. He will discuss paddling in Alabama and show whitewater paddling footage from Little River Canyon.

We want everyone over here in east AL to try to attend. It would be a good opportunity to meet and greet local paddlers and other outdoor enthusiast.

[angrysparrow]

I'm especially interested in hearing about the Tallapoosa being added to the Scenic River Trail.

This year the last week of April/first week of May, a friend and I kayaked the entire length of the Tallapoosa.  We started north of Villa Ricca GA, where the streams flow together to form the river and followed it to it's intersection with the Coosa River near Fort Tolouse in Wetmpka AL (just over 250 miles on-river). 

The biggest challenge for adding it would be a 'legal' way to get around each of the hydro dams.  That need not be a difficult project, or even expensive, but it is the main issue from the perspective of someone that has done it.  We had to trespass at 2 of dams to make our portage, not to 'break in', but to 'get past'.  Once was simply to exit a locked gate that we paddled up to. 

The Tallapoosa really is a beautiful river, and should be added.  (Yes our trip was during the flooding!  And we used Lex at TRO as a resupply point).

[Firedog]

Come to the meeting on the 12th and Fred can probably help with any questions.