DIRTBAG BOOKCLUB: WHITEWATER OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS by KirkEddlemon, reviewed by Lee Turner

It is not very often that we are given such a jewel as that of Kirk Eddlemon’s Whitewater of the South Appalachians. Both Volume I and II are packed full of detailed and much needed insight into the area’s whitewater treasures. Easy and maneuverable, these books hold great information for experienced and beginner boaters alike. He gives you an authentic understanding of what it is like in the Southeast in terms of flow, access, directions, camping, and most importantly beta, opening minds to areas many people never thought to paddle.

This book isn’t just about the information though. Its amazing pictures truly give you a real sense of the whitewater Eddlemon is already painting with his words. The color and imagery alone is enough to leave you breathless, craving the river. Also, there is an entire collection of emboldening stories within its pages that give light to Eddlemon and others’ personal experience. In the end, Eddlemon does not just give you an excellent tool, he also manages and continues to inspire paddlers from all over with his passion for the Southern Appalachians.

Excerpts:

“[…]Daddy’s serves up countless exciting rapids packed with satisfying moves and play spots depending on flows. The canyon constricts at the final rapid where the river presents a choice of a few slots. Stay away from the right, instead opting for one of the middle slots. Downsteam, retreating walls five way to an open half-mile float to the takeout at Devil’s Breakfast Table.”

“Across the way, boundless swirls of bubbles poured in like diamonds from the sky through an overhead cleft in the rock. As I made my way from one room to another, I often popped my head up through a new skylight in order to wheeze in a breath of fresh air. I was searching for that particular sight that has everything to do with the naming of the place, so I took another deep breath and swam into another small grotto, this time leveraging and wedging myself against fins of rock on the bottom so as not to float back to the surface. I then twisted over on my back and looked upward through the clear water, and there above me a bright circular orifice in the dark stone hung like a big blue ball. I had found it! I had found ‘The Blue Hole’.”

“I wrote this book because I want to share my experiences with others. For a long time now, I’ve taken an extended, glassy ride on a wave woven with the vast mosaic of stories told by those who willingly speak to the richness of human experience possible when you shove off from the bank and submit to the current. Every place is different for every person, and filters through each of us as light through a prism. In creating this account of what’s out there, I express my deep gratitude to those who have shared with me, and as I let those stories diffract through my own narrative, I weave myself into the fabric of the wave, so that others can hopefully catch the surge in their own ride.”

LEE TURNER: DBP’s Woman of Whitewater WEDNESDAY 

Lee Turner’s love for the river took root from an early age. Born in Tennessee, she spent much of her life in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. It was there that her parents, both outdoor enthusiasts, introduced her and her brother to the fantastical world of kayaking on the New River. It wouldn’t be until attending the University of Tennessee though that she would truly appreciate whitewater. Surrounded by some of the area’s best paddlers, she fully immersed herself in the sport. She watched, learned, and constantly practiced her skills that would take her to the next level.

​Lee, now a class IV boater, pours her passion for whitewater into everything she does. She currently serves as the Marketing Director of Team River Runner’s Charlotte Chapter, working to introduce veterans and their families to the healing power of paddling. She also enjoys her role as an instructor for the group as well as helping to guide trips on a regular basis. Aside from work, Lee, alongside fellow teammate, Hannah Groves or Han-Gnar, started the paddling team Gnar Fairies, who are constantly encouraging women to embrace the river and pursue the “dirt bag” lifestyle. The group is constantly growing and eager to make a name for themselves. You can follow Lee and the Gnar Fairies’s adventures on Facebook and on their blog

http://gnarfairies.blogspot.com. Also, check out their Instagram

 @gnar_fairies.

 Also please read the full article about Lee in our Magazine, from 1/21/15. CHEERS, LEE!!