Nantahala Rafting Trips

Tuesday was a great day of rafting for the Middlers and Seniors at camp, including the mini session girls who arrived last weekend. We offered everyone either a day trip or an overnight trip that included staying at our Nantahala outpost. This meant sending one group down the river in the morning, and the second in the afternoon, with the afternoon group spending the night.

Rockbrook is fortunate to be one of only two summer camps that have a US Forest Service permit to raft the Nantahala River. This means we adhere to the same standards as professional rafting companies in the Gorge, and it allows us to hire our own guides, use our own top-notch equipment and schedule these trips when we need them.

A trip down the Nantahala is an excellent introduction to whitewater rafting. The guides first introduce paddling techniques, and explain what to do while going down the river. The entire trip is 8 miles long and takes a little more than 2 hours. There’s a nice rhythm of rapids (with names like Delbar’s Rock, the Bump, Patton’s Run, and the Ledges) and calm sections to keep everything exciting. The highlight is the final rapid, a class 3 drop called the “Nantahala Falls” or “Lesser Wesser.”

Check the photo gallery soon to see more pictures!

Sliding Rock North Carolina Fun

This part of North Carolina, in the western part of the state, is well known for its lush mountains and waterfalls. In the Brevard area alone there are more than 250 named waterfalls (Do you know the two that are on the Rockbrook Property?). Some of these waterfalls are quite remote and hidden, but others are popular places for swimming.

The most famous example of these waterfalls is Sliding Rock. This is a place in the Pisgah National Forest where Looking Glass Creek cascades about 60ft over a smooth sloping rock and drops into a deep pool at the bottom. The Forest Service has developed it into an organized recreation area so it can provide parking, lifeguards and first aid services during the busy summer months. In the last few years, Sliding Rock has become so popular the Forest Service has begun charging a small fee to use the area.

The Rockbrook Middlers and Seniors take a trip to Sliding Rock most sessions. We go at special times when the area is less crowded and we always bring our own additional lifeguards. It’s a great mountain experience for the girls, and when you top it off with a trip to Dolly’s Ice Cream stand, it really can’t be beat.

You’ll have so much fun, you might raise your foot in excitement!

Balancing on the Rock

You’ve probably heard that “balance” is one of the most important skills to have for rock climbing. It’s true; a lot of the technique involves balancing on your feet, and usually one foot, as you move up the rock. But it’s not only that simple. It’s also important to learn how to hold yourself still, to use your muscles to shift your weight from one foot to the other slowly and smoothly. Generally, as you climb, you’ll keep your torso stationary and move a hand or foot up to the next hold. This is sometimes called the rule of “3-point contact” and refers to the practice of only moving one foot or hand at a time while your other limbs stay on the rock. For example, you might keep both feet on the rock, hold on with one hand, and shift your weight to the left or right to reach a new handhold.  Likewise, you might hold on with both hands, keep one foot set, and lift your other foot up to a new hold. The trick is to stay smooth, keep your body still, and shift your center of gravity from left to right and up. It’s this deliberate and precise moving that we meaning by “balancing.”

Are you rock climbing this summer?

Junior Hiking Trip

Talley and Jessi took a bunch of Junior campers on a really cool day hike this week. They packed a lunch and drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to hike along a section of the Art Loeb trail. They made it all the way to the top of Black Balsam Knob (6214 ft) and Tennent Mountain (6040 ft)! This is a true “above the clouds” experience, as these are some of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi river. Fortunately, the weather was awesome so the girls could see for miles.

Hiking & Camping at Summer Camp

Just a great shot from up in the Pisgah National Forest