All paddles on deck

Fifteen Western Carolina University international students went whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River, located in Bryson City, 45 minutes northwest of Cullowhee.

This was the last trip for the semester organized by the Base Camp Cullowhee (BBC), the outdoors program of Western Carolina University. “[The Nantahala] is a river that has a mix of class two and class three rapids. The very last rapid is a class three – the Nantahala Falls – and there’s six or seven class two rapids on the river.

A total of eight miles stretch on the Nantahala Gorge that we paddled,” said Liz Allen, rafting coordinator and one of the three leaders that guided the excursion. With a temperature of a comfortable 80 degrees, the trip went smooth even thought the water is a freezing 36 degrees.

“We had a great time. The weather was great. No injuries, no broken bones, no bloody fingers or anything. It was awesome,” said Kurt Bivins, one of the BCC guides.

Check out the video of the trip!