NOLI Blog | Stories and Tips from Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute

Why Dutch Oven Cooking is a Thing!

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:57:02 GMT

In all my years of being an outdoor person I’ve met a lot of folks who have had some kind of camping experience, from being in the Scouts or at summer camp when they were young to camping with their family and friends as adults. Most take a grill for hot dogs, hamburgers, steak etc. A Coleman stove is a standard as well, mainly for fixing food in skillets and pots and to make coffee. But the last few years I’ve been seeing more and more Dutch ovens being used for main meals.

My first experience was when I was a little girl watching my grandmother set a Dutch oven in the coals in the winter to cook dinner in our fireplace in the den. From that time on I've always loved having a fire and wish I had paid more attention when my grandmother cooked. So, when I got my first home, I made sure to build a firepit in my back yard and occasionally, when friends would visit, I would say "Come on outside with me, we're going to do a little experimenting in the fire pit." They were fascinated as I started a fire to generate coals and, after I had it going well enough, baked a peach cobbler! Since then, I’ve watched the trend grow and often see them now at just about every camping event or gathering I go to. Using them can really step up your game from the norm to have better food in camp. One pot meals like spaghetti where you don’t have to boil the noodles first save time and require less cleanup. And cleanup is made simple for greasy breakfasts and sticky desserts when you use specially made liners.

But they’re so heavy you say? Good news! A family owned US Company named GSI Outdoors has a line of hard anodized aluminum Dutch ovens that are a 1/3rd of the weight of traditional cast iron. I have the full set and love how easy they clean up, are non-stick and cook more evenly than cast iron. But best of all, they don’t rust. The exciting part is they can be packed in a canoe or kayak without the extra weight! For example the 10” weighs less than 4 lbs and the 12” is a mere 6 lbs vs. a cast iron that can weigh almost 20 lbs!

I have cast iron Dutch ovens as well and love using them when I’m car camping. Once taken off the fire they keep the food good and hot for a very long time which is good in cooler weather. But the aluminum DO’s are the ones to take on canoe/kayak trips. I’ve done it many, many times and they perform a little better than cast iron in the respect they heat up faster and aluminum is a better conductor of heat.

It doesn't take much equipment to Dutch oven cook in camp. All I need is my DO, a pair of tongs and a lid lifter and, if it's been raining or I'm pressed for time, a bag of charcoal. The concept isn't that much different from cooking a casserole or a pan of biscuits in the oven at home. I just had to learn a few simple techniques of how to use coal placement to create a perfect oven environment inside a Dutch oven of 350°.

When I go on trips with friends, instead of eating instant or Mountain House type dehydrated meals we use a Dutch oven to make a one-pot meal that’s hot and hardy and can serve everyone. The way I look at it is, "What else is there to do around camp after you get set up? Why not cook in the fire!" It's fun to me and I enjoy eating better food than hot dogs and sandwiches. Nine times out of ten when car camping folks will just throw something on the grill. But I think its nice to make a hearty pot of stew or my gourmet spaghetti with cheese that everyone seems to enjoy. Something baked is nice, like corn bread to go with soup or biscuits in the morning for breakfast with homemade jam. Even just a hot fruit cobbler is a welcome change to normal camp food. This is why it has become such a “Thing”! It’s no more trouble to have freshly made spaghetti, a cherry cobbler hot and gooey right off the coals and even freshly made hot biscuits or cornbread in the great outdoors! With a little prep, planning and education it makes things easy because once the “pot is on” using these techniques, it’s a perfect outcome practically every time. That’s when you can set a timer and sit back and relax a bit while the food cooks.

During my Campfire Dutch Oven Class at our outpost at Rocky Fork State Park on Oct 25, I'll talk about the history and current uses of cast iron and Dutch oven cookery, how to choose and care for a Dutch oven, how to use different arrangements for baking, roasting, stewing or frying, and, most importantly, how to use various ingredients to create delicious camp meals perfect for sharing. The class will include a demonstration of how to cook a one-pot meal, bake scrumptious cobblers and breads, and other delights. We'll cap off the day with a group meal of baked spaghetti, bread, salad and hot fruit cobbler for the perfect ending to our outdoor culinary experience! Cost is $60. You can learn more and register here .

Happy campfire cooking and I hope to see you there!

Debbie Briscoe is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and instructs flatwater kayaking, water safety/rescue and camping-related classes for NOLI. She has helped countless individuals get into the outdoors over the years, many of whom she now counts among her friends.

Survival 101: Don't Give Up!

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 23:45:48 GMT

In 1971, a 17 year-old girl was flying with her mother on Lansa Flight 508 when it was struck by lightning and disintegrated mid-air, falling 10,000 feet to the jungle floor below. The girl, Juliane Koepcke, had just graduated high school in Peru and she and her mother were flying to meet her father at the jungle outpost where they conducted research as zoologists. Juliane miraculously survived the fall, but had a broken collarbone, a deep gash to her right arm, a concussion and one eye swollen shut. She searched for her mother to no avail and then, remembering advice that her father had given her to follow water downstream to human settlement if ever lost, began her harrowing journey to find her way to help. She spent the next 11 days bushwhacking her way alongside and, sometimes, in rivers battling pain, hunger, fatigue and despair with only the clothes on her back and the vague hope of rescue. Day after day she trudged along with no idea where she was and whether her course was, in fact, leading to civilization. She tried to rest when she could but the onslaught of mosquitoes made it nearly impossible. To make matters worse she soon realized that the wound on her arm had become infested with maggots, which she tried unsuccessfully to dig out with a bobby pin. And yet, despite all that, she kept going. She wanted to get back to her father and refused to give up. She was determined to live.

After 11 days, she came upon a shack along the river with a small boat tied up, next to which was a gas can. Recalling how her father had once poured gasoline on an infested wound on their dog, she doused the gash on her arm and counted more than 30 maggots as they emerged. Exhausted and not wanting to steal someone’s boat, she laid down to rest and was later discovered by some fishermen when they returned. These fishermen transported her by canoe to a village where she was airlifted to a hospital and finally reunited with her father. Juliane was the sole survival of the Lansa Flight 508 disaster and, yet, later evidence at the crash site indicated that others may have also survived the initial crash, only to later perish while waiting for help.

How, then, did a teenage girl with little to no survival training survive such a tragedy while everyone else perished? She certainly did not fit the stereotype of the barrel-chested, brash survivalist with an oversized knife on their hip. No, what Juliane had was better than that. It was quieter and more subtle. What she had was an indomitable will that, paired with that one bit of knowledge from her father to follow water downstream, eventually led her to help and cemented her story as one of the most inspiring accounts of survival over the last 50+ years.

We often discuss Juliane Koepcke during our wilderness survival classes at the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) in Erwin, as a model of both what survival is and is not. We want to dispel the myth upfront that only “tough” guys and gals can make it. Survival isn’t about conventional physical toughness so much as it is about knowledge, skills and, above all else, attitude. For every story like Juliane’s, there are many more that ended in tragedy when otherwise strong and capable outdoors people were unable to muster the inner strength to carry on in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and just not give up. It’s easy to understand why. Panic, pain, hunger, thirst, exposure, fatigue, loneliness, despair and complacency are all enemies actively working to chip away at our will to survive. They will undo us if we let them. It is a psychological game as much as a physical one and the single most important thing we can do when we are lost or injured miles from help is to commit to our survival early and often. Set goals: “I will see my family again and nothing will keep me from getting back to them.” Even small goals can help us stay on course and moving forward: “I will crawl to that next tree. And the next. And the next.” And so on until we’re rescued or make it to safety. Within the survival community we call that Positive Mental Attitude, or PMA, and it’s the first and most important of the 7 Priorities of Survival.

As crucial as PMA is, we mentioned that knowledge and skills are also hugely beneficial and potentially life-saving when faced with a survival situation. And that’s where the other 6 Priorities of Survival enter in: First Aid, Shelter, Firecraft, Signaling, Water and Food. Knowledge and skills related to these priorities provide the framework to help us ward off those enemies of survival mentioned earlier as well as provide a process to systematically attend to our needs in a productive and proactive manner. There are several things that humans need to survive. These include air, heat, water and food. Do without any one of them for long enough and the human body simply cannot function, causing it to shut down. We refer to these needs and their respective timeframes as the Rule of 3s. We can survive roughly 3 minutes without air, 3 hours from exposure to cold, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. These are generalizations, of course, but thinking in these terms informs where and how we should be spending our precious energy.

We cover these skills and more during our wilderness survival classes at NOLI. Not only do we teach the 7 Priorities, we teach additional related skills as well, such as knife use, knots, navigation without the aid of a map and compass and, importantly, how we can prevent most survival situations from happening in the first place. Learning these skills helps ensure we can confidently head out into the wilderness or to our local trail and return home safely. They can help us survive an emergency through competent and timely action. And, maybe best of all, learning these skills is fun!

Want to learn these valuable skills? Join us for our next 2-Day Wilderness Survival Class on Oct 4-5 in Cherokee National Forest in Hampton, TN. Learn more at https://nolilearn.app.resmarksystems. com /public/short/pZl8XxrTsj . To see all upcoming classes go to www.nolilearn.org .

See you outdoors!

Scott Fisher is the founder of the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) and teaches survival, wilderness navigation, whitewater kayaking, swiftwater rescue and Leave No Trace.

Hooked on Kayak Camping

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 02:19:53 GMT

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love kayak camping. I have explored many beautiful waterways in Northeast Tennessee and the wealth of beautiful lakes and rivers in the surrounding Appalachians. I feel very fortunate to live in a region that offers so much.

When I started kayak camping, my friends and I would mostly go locally. I can remember a friend and I paddling all over Watauga Lake for an entire day combing every cove to find the perfect spot to camp. It started off with her and I on these trips, and then several others started going a few weekends a summer and we all got hooked. We would plan group meals to share and sometimes paddle all the way to the marina and back from our campsite just for ice cream. Once we set up camp, we would paddle around in different directions all weekend exploring the lake.

I have always loved a good campfire and in, the evenings, we would often sit in the warm glow of a fire in folding chairs we had packed in our boats recounting stories from the day or telling river stories since most of us had all started out paddling whitewater on the Nolichucky River. I was the one who got the first touring kayak to be in a triathlon and, afterwards, started using it to day trip on Boone Lake near home. After that I went a couple of time with a kayak club in Knoxville, once to Fontana Lake in the Smokies and once to St. George Island off the Florida panhandle. That’s where I got to paddle my first time in the Gulf of Mexico, and it thrilled me!

Soon I was switching back and forth between paddling my whitewater kayak on class II-III rivers to longer and sleeker fiberglass touring and sea kayaks on larger bodies of water. The longer kayaks enabled me to skim along on the water faster than a shorter kayak and they lent more room to pack everything in them, and I found myself continuing to explore. That summer I spent the 4th of July on an island on South Holston Lake and did a 3-day trip on the New River in North Carolina. As our skills improved, we learned how to pack food that would not spoil and got smaller compact gear that would go in dry bags, enabling us to go on more challenging trips. Over a Thanksgiving weekend five of us launched on Lake Berkley in middle Tennessee and paddled all the way around the horn and through the cut-through made for container ships to enter Kentucky Lake. In strong headwinds and rolling waves, but mild temps, we navigated 50 miles in 3 days. That area is called the Land Between the Lakes and the lakes are so wide you cannot see to the other side and they are deep enough for the ships. We were all self-contained with all or own food and shelters and we all did it in long 17’ sea kayaks.

And then one January, when it was too cold to paddle here, I attended a camp-out in central Florida in the Ocala National Forest. I took my kayak because they told us that we would get to paddle on two different rivers with a guide. “Nice!” I thought to myself. Our guide, Andy, was the co-owner of a kayak school that offered classes and weekend trips, so he was not only a very experienced kayaker he also knew all about Florida. He also made his own cedar strip kayaks that are literally works of art. With a guide like that, I decided to go the following year and the year after that!

He eventually invited several of us to kayak camp with him and another friend for a 3-day kayak camping trip down a section of the Suwannee River in Northern Florida. I, of course, jumped all over it because I already had all the gear and it sounded like a trip of a lifetime. I had already seen that the rivers were beautiful in Florida, not the swampy, mosquito and alligator ridden rivers my imagination had previously envisioned! The springs are crystal clear and stay a constant 68-72 degrees year around, so I was going to get to snorkel and swim because in the springtime its sunny and warm down there.

Six of us went and Andy hired a caterer, Ben, to do our food. It was awesome! I did not even have to take my coffee pot because Ben had it ready first thing in the morning along with a hot breakfast. Besides a packed lunch and an exquisite dinner each night, he would have cold drinks ready for us in a cooler for when we got off the river each day. One of my favorite things was to nap in my hammock while he cooked dinner. I had never gotten to do that before, and his food was certainly better than anything instant that I would have taken.

The relaxing opportunities in camp and on the water made it a true vacation as we paddled down a gorgeous gently flowing river all day taking our time and stopping to enjoy and photograph the giant live oaks, cypress trees and beautiful birds, as well as go swimming in the springs and enjoy the sandy white beaches along the river. The Suwannee River is a tannic river but it's not black or stinky or anything like that. It's the color of tea and fed by freshwater springs that look like glistening coves as you wind down the river and can paddle right up into most of them. They are so clear you can see the fish, and some have little parks for swimmers. One even has a high dive and a rope swing. We also stopped and had lunch and ice cream at a campground that has a short order grill and a camp store.

Once we reached our camp each afternoon, we unloaded our boats and piled everything in these nice carts and wheeled our gear up to screened in platforms that have a covered roof and a screen door. Some laid out sleeping pads or hung a hammock from hooks on the beams. So, there was no need for a tent unless we preferred to sleep outside. We also did not have to rough it because all the river camps had hot showers and clean bathrooms and a large pavilion with picnic tables where the meals were prepared and served.

Setting down to a nice meal each night and enjoying a fire afterwards was awesome, but there were also unexpected treats. There is a species of firefly in the springtime that is different than what we have here in Northeast Tennessee. Instead of slowly rising into the tops of the trees, they stay at eye level all night! I was fascinated and watched them until I fell to sleep.

I continue to do many other kayak camping trips, but the Suwannee River trip remains my all-time favorite because of the beauty of the river, the relaxing pace and the diversity of the flora and fauna. So, I have decided to start offering it as 3-day 2-night package deal through the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) just like the ones I fell in love with. The package includes:

A stable 14’ kayak with dry hatches, a paddle and life jacket
Andy and NOLI Instructors as your river guides for 3 full days on the river
2 nights camping in nice river camps with full amenities, screened in platforms with power and ceiling fans that sleep 2-3 people each
All meals including breakfast lunch and dinner each day cooked fresh in camp by our favorite caterer Ben!
Transportation from the takeout to the put-in so that your car will be at the end when we take off the river on the last day!
We also provide a How-To Video and Packing List in advance to help you prepare

We hope you will join us Oct 10-12 for this wonderfully unique trip “Way Down Upon the Suwannee River” and create lasting memories. Or, if you would prefer to keep your adventures closer to home here in the Appalachian Highlands Region of Northeast Tennessee, we have our Kayak Overnight Adventure trips this summer on the beautiful emerald-green waters of Watauga Lake, including Jul 12-13 and Aug 30-31 , where we paddle right up to our campsites at a Forest Service managed campground with full amenities. Kayaks and camping gear provided. Questions? Please feel free to contact us at 423-641-0100.

Deb Briscoe is lifetime outdoor enthusiast and an instructor with the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI). She teaches flatwater kayaking, water safety and rescue, and camping-related classes.

Choosing a Helmet

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 22:49:30 GMT

Taking a look at the virginia tech whitewater helmet safety ratings

Editor's Note: This article was originally to be published last year but was delayed due to Helene.

I was online a while back when my newsfeed algorithm posted an article about safety ratings for whitewater helmets. The click-bait worked, and I followed the link to read testing data about one of our most important pieces of safety gear. Little did I know I’d be opening such a Pandora’s Box! The article I read was about the results from a Virginia Tech study first published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering in October of 2022, rating different brands of whitewater helmets… and the response from the brands that didn’t fare so well on the Virgina Tech tests.

Spoiler Alert: Sweet Protection walked away with the 5-star ratings .

If you want some nitty-gritty, nerdy, numbery details… read on.

On the surface, testing and determining which helmets perform the best in a whitewater environment seems like a straightforward task. Not so much! There actually is no “standard” testing in the USA for whitewater helmets. There isn’t even really consensus about what forces a helmet should be able to withstand, how the force should be dissipated, or even what impacts are likely to produce a concussion. We have to go deeper into the rabbit hole.

The CDC defines concussion as:

… a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells. ( www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html )

What’s interesting about this definition, and many other definitions I found online, is that there are no numbers. It doesn’t define how hard the blow must be, how rapidly the head must move, or what exactly “back and forth” means.

The European standard EN 1385, used by some helmet manufacturers as a minimum to meet or exceed, is that the helmet must tolerate a force of no more than 15 Joules without losing structural integrity. They measured this by dropping a helmet with a 4kg metal head inside, from a 1-meter height onto an anvil and measuring the forces generated with accelerometers. The standard also includes consideration for durability of the outfitting to normal wear, corrosion resistance, “fit” of the fastening system, etc.

Virginia Tech studied 5 different brands of whitewater helmets. They took each helmet, filled it with a mannequin head and a bunch of accelerometers, and hit them with a weighted pendulum. The resulting force was 72 Joules.

Testers from Virgina Tech used a STAR rating system. That’s not a random assignment of constellations based on user opinions or other subjective feedback. The STAR rating system is based on a calculation developed to predict what kinds of head trauma football players might sustain during a game, and subsequent concussions. The calculated STAR ratings were then translated to a more user-friendly 1-5 number of “stars,” with 5 stars being the best and 1 star the worst. In their testing, the helmets were ranked against an average performance and then rated against each other for their discrete 1 to 5- star score.

But what does that mean to us as paddlers? Should we worry about 15 Joules, or is 72 Joules right? Does 15 Joules of force create a concussion? Does 72 Joules create unconsciousness? Would either fracture the skull?

The world of biology tells us this.

Everybody’s brain is different. Your risk of ending up with a concussion after sustaining head trauma is different from anyone else’s. Concussions are diagnosed after the fact. If you have a head trauma and display the signs and symptoms of a concussion, you were in fact concussed. Some symptoms may include dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, confusion, “seeing stars”, amnesia, slurred speech, or disorientation.

Some research seems to suggest that the absolute amount of force is not the determining factor in concussion. Speed, rotation, and other factors also come into play.

I suspect that there are other important internal factors as well, such as neural tissue elasticity, that are largely determined by a litany of lifestyle choices that far precede any blow to the head. I didn’t find any research about strategies to reduce concussion pre-trauma. After the fact though some early research suggests cigarette smoking can increase the symptoms of a concussion. Paradoxically, injury to a specific area of the brain, the insula, might cure cigarette addiction. This level of complexity in helmet choice is beyond the scope of this article, but look for my upcoming, “Which helmets leave insula vulnerable to injury; 5-star choice for smokers.”

Basically, any strong blow to the head has a potential to cause a concussion.

For numbers' people like me, that’s a VERY unsatisfying answer. It is also remarkably not useful for making decisions about risk mitigation on the river. And all helmets are not created equal, even within a manufacturer.

While it’s theoretically possible to know how much force your head hit a rock with while you were setting up for your combat roll above Killer Fang Falls, it is at the same time unknowable. There is no way to precisely calculate all the variables from head trauma at the point of impact in the natural world. The environment we choose to interact with is too fluid (pun intended) and dynamic.

We can do some hypothetical guess-timations though. Let’s consider a male with an average sized head (setting aside however unlikely it might be that a whitewater paddler would not have a “big head”), who capsizes his kayak in swift water and hits his head on a rock. Doing some rough calculations, the impact to his head after falling a half a meter would produce a moment of something like 9 G's of force. Embedded in that list of mathematical assumptions is that the head would be traveling with almost 9 Joules of energy.

That amount of force applied to the head, happily encased in a well-designed whitewater helmet is below the EN 1385 testing threshold of 15 Joules and is FAR below the 72 Joule forces used in the Virginia Tech study.

Where does that leave us as we emerge from the theoretical world and find ourselves in the real world ready to throw down some cash on a new helmet for the upcoming paddling season? Risk mitigation is as much art as science and always involves a personal line in the sand for risk tolerance. In outdoor activities, when injury and disability can mean long delays for advanced care and rescue, I think being more prepared for the worst is better than being minimally prepared. Whitewater is an inherently risky environment, and we accept that every time we put on the river. As far as helmets are concerned, I’m gonna choose one that is comfortable, durable, and performs the best in scientific testing.

I’ll be ordering my Sweet Protection Wanderer II today.

NOLI offers a range of paddling, swiftwater rescue and wilderness medicine classes geared towards helping paddlers safely and confidently enjoy their time on the water. To learn more about these classes and many others, go to https://www.nolilearn.org .

Who Takes a Woofer?

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:16:35 GMT

Wilderness first responder training - Is it for you??

I've been in front of the classroom for hundreds of Wilderness Medicine courses, including over a hundred "Woofers" Wilderness First Responders Courses. Students and I get to know each other fairly well over the fast-paced, interactive, 72-hour class. We share and learn from each other. We not only laugh together, we've also been known to cry. Perhaps to a fault, I am authentic. If I share a story in class it's because it's real. I put my ego on hold, if I don't know an answer to a question I'll say so, then I'll look up the answer during a break. I ask for their input if they have experience with the topic at hand. I not only allow but encourage them to share their personal experiences. I let them lead topics when they're more acquainted than I am. I've helped them change flat tires, jumped dead batteries, etc.

As a result of this bonding and sharing, I've become familiar with those who fill the seats. The following is a very short list of the a few of the memorable people I've had the privilege to spend some time with over the past decade. Not a single reference here is fictional, these are real people, I've only excluded their names for privacy:

A young man who credits a wilderness therapy program he attended as a teenager for saving his life, and who now works in wilderness therapy to help other at-risk teens.

A couple in their 70s who want to through-hike the Appalachian Trail together.

A talented photographer/videographer from Tennessee, who works on ocean-based scientific research vessels, and travels the world.

A veteran from Israel, who first earned the WFR, then earned her EMT, became a wildland firefighter, and is currently in flight school for helicopters.

A man who was opening a hunting lodge in Alaska and knew he would be days away from EMS if it's ever needed.

A Russian native, who struggled to understand English but excelled, nonetheless, and by the end of class was helping other students.

A father-son duo who attended a class together. The son became a CPR Instructor and earned his EMT before graduating high school.

A father-daughter combo, sport climbers, who attended that same class, and stand-out for different reasons altogether.

A mother-son combo. The mother was an Orthopedic surgeon.

A veterinarian who specialized in marine animal rescue, specializing in whales and loggerhead sea turtles.

A man who would later become a paramedic and was the field team leader for a Search and Rescue event to which I was deployed last year.

A married couple who works on a volunteer trail maintenance crew. After performing CPR on the trail one day, they felt compelled to learn more life-saving skills.

A military group of Special Operations Medics who wanted to learn a new perspective to add to their skill set.

A woman who had to step out a few times per day to breastfeed her infant, that her partner is otherwise taking care of for the week.

A theater major who is very good at makeup and taught me how to use stage makeup to create better fake injuries during scenarios.

A holistic chemist and a physician who repeatedly clashed over their wildly opposing views. They eventually came to respect each other's opinions.

A married couple from Britain who had recently finished Medical School and were traveling and trying something new before settling into their careers.

A young man with a learning disability who said he wished all his teachers cared as much about his success as I had. We cried and hugged when he shared this with me on the last day of class.

A couple who attended together who I became friends with and would later join for a 5-day rafting trip on the Chilko River in Western Canada.

A WFR class that bonded so deeply with one another they created a messenger group and still check-in frequently with each other, now 6 years later.

An amazingly strong, independent woman, who had test anxiety so bad she locked herself in the bathroom and cried for ten minutes before the test (which she nearly aced).

A 15-year-old, (accompanied by an adult because he didn't meet the age requirement of 16) but completed the training anyway. He would later text me at midnight of his 16th birthday so I could mail him the certification card for which he was now eligible.

An 83-year-old man who took the class "to gain a bit of knowledge" and left the class saying that the course had given his life a new mission.

A group of fifteen young men preparing for a mission trip, whose organization changed their destination during the class, and a few weeks later would be in Ukraine.

Dozens of young instructors, who I've helped teach and mentor, who work as far away as Michigan, New Hampshire, California, Nepal, Australia.

I've left out scores of other notable folks for the sake of brevity.

Now, as I begin to approach retirement probably over the next half dozen years, these connections mean even more to me. It has been my privilege to spend time with extraordinary humans who go their separate ways and pay it forward in their community and beyond. Weeks, months, and years after class I'll occasionally hear from them. They've made a rescue. They're just checking in. They'll send a photo from a mountain or a beach. They have questions about recertifying, joining a rescue team, donating for hurricane Helene, asking if I'll write a review for a job for which they're applying, etc.

They frequently tell me that I have inspired them, but if that is accurate, it's only half the story. The truth is: They've inspired me and continue to do so.

As you can see, I've had the pleasure of training with a wide range of folks of different backgrounds, ages and interests over the years. So, circling back to the original question "Who takes Wilderness First Responder "Woofer" training?" If your work or play takes you to the outdoors, "You do!"

Join us for an upcoming WFR course and come away with both internationally recognized certifications in WFR and CPR. To learn more and see upcoming dates, including our May 17-24 class in Flag Pond, TN, go to Wilderness First Responder Course - 8 Days . We also offer the shorter 2-day Wilderness First Aid Class .

Survival 101: 5 Ways to Stay Out of Trouble in the Outdoors

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 01:48:21 GMT

NOLI Survival Instructor Scott Fisher discusses common causes of survival situations and ways to avoid them.

No one has ever embarked on an outdoor excursion, whether to a local trail or a remote backcountry destination, and said to themselves “This is the day I will have an accident or get lost and need to survive.” Why would they? It’s just another day spent outside. They’ve hiked or biked that trail a hundred times. Or kayaked that river for the last decade. Or maybe it’s a new area they are excited to check out that a friend told them about or that they found on All Trails. Others have done it and things worked out just fine. In fact, the online reviews are emphatic: it’s wonderful!

Why then do so many unfortunate souls find themselves in just such a predicament every year, lost, injured, cold, or worse, where their well-being and very survival is at stake? In this ongoing Wilderness Skills series, we are taking a look at what wilderness survival is and how we can take care of ourselves in the outdoors in such a manner that we return home safely at the end of the day. Today, we look at leading causes of survival situations in the wild and ways we can avoid them. Their order is somewhat debated but these 5 causes are implicated in a significant number of outdoor-related fatalities or injuries, in no particular order.

Hypothermia. Often cited as one of the leading causes of outdoor fatalities and close calls, hypothermia, or when the body loses heat faster than it can create it, is no joke. The human body needs several things to survive: air, heat, water and food. Whereas we can typically survive days without water and weeks without food, we may only last hours in cold conditions if we are not dressed or protected appropriately. In fact, most people are surprised to learn that exposure to temperature in the 50s is enough to eventually cause hypothermia if we do not have adequate clothing and/or shelter. Add in rain and wind and we lose heat even faster. How to avoid it? Wear synthetic or wool layers suitable for the current and forecasted conditions, carry rain protection, carry an emergency shelter such as a mylar space blanket and carry a lighter or matches.
Dehydration. Another leading cause of outdoor trouble is dehydration. Dehydration occurs when we lose more fluid than we take in and the body no longer has enough water to carry out its normal functions. We think of becoming dehydrated during the warm months but dehydration can occur any time of year, even in the middle of winter. In fact, staying properly hydrated is necessary for our body’s heating mechanisms to function properly so in cold temperatures it’s important that we drink, even if we don’t feel thirsty. Staying properly hydrated will also help us think more clearly and avoid costly mistakes. How to avoid it? Carry one liter of water for every 2-3 hours of hiking or outdoor activity, more as the heat and/or activity intensity increases. Your pee should be clear or no darker than the color of straw. If out longer, carry a means to treat water from natural sources such as a filter or chemical tablets/drops such as chlorine dioxide. Avoid high intensity activities in the hottest part of the day as circumstances warrant.
Trauma. Lacerations, breaks and other forms of trauma, frequently the result of falls, consistently rank among the top causes of outdoor mishaps. And not necessarily big falls from rock climbing or other high elevation activities. As often as not, they occur while walking or biking on a trail when we lose our balance, fall and injure ourselves. One of our instructors and his wife were hiking to a waterfall on the Elk River in North Carolina when she rolled her ankle. She heard a snap and immediately knew it was broken. These sorts of accidents can be problematic anytime they occur but especially when we are removed from advanced medical care, transportation, warmth and other luxuries that we often take for granted. Add hypothermia, dehydration and/or no easy way to make your way to safety, and what would have been an unfortunate but easily manageable injury in town can quicky escalate to a potentially fatal situation in the wild. Fortunately, the instructor in this case taught wilderness first aid and was able to improvise a splint and, with the help of a friend, carry his wife out. How to avoid it? Make sure the activity and location are appropriate for your experience and fitness level. Wear hiking shoes with a good tread, watch your footing, allow yourself enough time to complete the activity without feeling rushed, take wilderness first aid and CPR training, leave a trip plan with someone so they know where you are and when you expect to return, and carry a communication device (cell phone if you know you’ll have a signal or personal locator beacon such as a Garmin inReach if you won’t) to contact help in the case of an emergency.
Lost. If you’ve ever been lost, even for a brief period of time, you likely experienced the sort of dread that can only be characterized as primal. There is something viscerally unsettling about not recognizing your surroundings and having no clear idea how to make your way to safety. It often starts innocently enough; a hiker leaves the trail to go to the bathroom. Or they go off trail “momentarily” to take a “shortcut”. Before they know it, they have lost their bearings and move from place to place, becoming more hopelessly lost with every step. They never planned to spend the night, let alone days, lost in the woods so are woefully unprepared to survive cold temperatures, a lack of water, food, etc. These are the folks who the news reports as missing every year only to, sadly, be found deceased days, weeks or months later, sometimes within a mile or two of their trail. How to avoid it? Carry a map of the area you’ll be in and know how to use it (or use an app like Gaia or All Trails, just make sure you maintain enough battery life). Stay on the trail. This is a big one. Unless you’re experienced with wilderness navigation, resist the temptation to go off-trail or take “short cuts”. If you do have to go off-trail to use the bathroom or find water, mark your location with something visible from a distance, shoot a compass bearing as you leave the trail and count the number of steps you take. When finished, reverse the bearing by adding/subtracting 180 degrees and walk the same number of steps back. This will put you within vicinity of where you left. If you’re still on trail but don’t know exactly where you are, again, stay on the trail. If needed, retrace your steps to the last point you recognize and pick back up from there. If you still can’t get your bearings, consider sheltering in place and await help, assuming you are prepared for the conditions and left a trip plan with someone who knows where to send help to look for you.
Panic. A well-known outdoor magazine did an article some years ago implicating panic as the leading indirect cause of outdoor-related fatalities. Why indirect? Panic itself won’t kill you but it certainly will exacerbate other causes and contributing factors. If you’re running out of daylight and are uneasy with the prospect of being stuck in the woods at night, for example, you may speed up your pace and inadvertently twist an ankle or fall, injuring yourself in the process. Or you may take a ”shortcut”, only to find yourself lost off trail as darkness closes in. Panic leads to poor decision making and rash behavior and is the enemy of what we refer to as Positive Mental Attitude, or PMA. How to avoid it? Use the acronym STOP. S stands for Stop - remove yourself from any immediate danger, commit to your survival and staying calm, take a seat for a moment, make yourself as physically comfortable as possible, drink some water, and BREATHE. T stands for Think – think through your situation and what you need to get out of trouble. O stands for Observe – see what resources you have to help your situation; look at the map, sky and recognizable terrain features to get your bearing. P is for Plan – make a plan factoring in your current condition, resources, daylight and weather; self-evacuate or shelter in place and await assistance.

We cover these topics and more during our wilderness survival and navigation classes at the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI). Learning these skills helps ensure we can confidently head out into the wilderness or to our local trail and return home safely. They can help us survive an emergency through competent and timely action. And, maybe best of all, learning these skills is fun!

Want to learn these valuable skills? Join us for one of our upcoming wilderness survival and navigation classes .

See you outdoors!

Scott Fisher is the founder and executive director of the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute. He teaches wilderness survival, wilderness navigation, whitewater kayaking, swiftwater rescue and Leave No Trace.

Wilderness First Responders: Do the Best You Can, with What You Have, Based on What You Know

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:14:00 GMT

NOLI Wilderness First Responder Instructor Randy Manuel makes the case for why those who spend time outdoors should want this training.

Rob Kelly was driving a bus along the Nantahala River, a popular whitewater river in Western North Carolina, when he noticed a kayaker, Sue Martin, trying to avoid a tree lodged in the outside bend of the river, where the current was quickly taking her. Despite Sue’s efforts, she washed into the partially submerged tree and capsized, the power of the water entrapping her in her boat upside down against the tree, unable to breathe. "I distinctly remember trying to roll" Sue recalls, "then trying to pull my skirt, but my paddle was wedged against my boat and skirt, and I could not do either. Then I reached up to signal for help, banged on the bottom of my boat to indicate I needed assistance. Then, as I ran out of air, I remember seeing bubbles flowing by me, and I desperately tried to gasp in some bubbles to get air. It was at that point that I lost consciousness." Rob, an experienced kayaker himself, stopped the bus and waded across the fast-moving river to reach Sue, who was now unresponsive. Sue continues "Since my boat was wedged under water, in the branches of the tree, it was difficult to free me. When he finally was able to get my head above water, he said his thoughts were that it was going to be a body retrieval, not a rescue, as my face was grey/blue. But despite that, he gave me some rescue breaths before having to put me back underwater to continue to try to free me and my still-wedged boat." After multiple attempts, Rob was able to eventually free her from the tree and her body floated downstream to where other rescuers were standing by. They pulled her from the water and up the embankment, where she was given CPR by paddlers who had been riding on the bus. After several minutes, they detected a faint pulse and, shortly after, she began coughing and gurgling water. The color returned to her face and she became verbally responsive. She was taken to the hospital and later made a complete recovery.

Kelly M., who helped provide CPR, remembers the day vividly: “We pulled her from the water, and I thought it was gonna be strictly a body recovery, but we were able to start CPR and somehow, against the odds, we revived her and got her evacuated to (the hospital)."

Rob, who put his own safety at risk to reach Sue, was quoted in the Smoky Mountain News following the accident as saying “Over the five-minute period, you saw her go from basically not being alive to verbal.”

There are several heroes in this story. Rob, certainly, for his decisive and selfless actions to rescue Sue. Those who assisted with her evacuation off the river played a crucial role. And, those who provided roadside medical care are credited with bringing Sue back to life. Without this last group, the effort would have been no less heroic but would have sadly resulted in a body recovery instead of a successful rescue.

There are other incidents in which capable and timely action made the difference in saving lives, recounted by those involved:

"We caught an emergency appendicitis in the middle of the jungle in Costa Rica, during a surfing trip. Medical stuff can be really iffy out there. Glad we made the call we did, and quickly too!" Taylor H.

"I dealt with a crushed leg from a saw mishap while doing trail work. The evacuation required a very difficult half-mile carry-out with a stokes basket." Phil G.

"I saved a girl in Costa Rica by identifying "streaking" that stemmed from a very basic rash. Also, in Australia I had a girl that had cellulitis, and because we identified it early enough, we were able to get her the help she needed. Finally, I was stung by yellow jackets and though I had not gone into anaphylaxis before, in a few seconds-time I realized that this was bad, I was going to die. The difference in making that decision and my throat shutting down was 8 minutes." Hailey DH

"I dealt with a kid who was severely dehydrated and showing signs of severe heat-related injuries. I was able to make the correct decisions, get him hydrated, and ultimately keep him in the field as his vitals were stable. He was able to rest overnight and completed the course." Scott B

So, what do these selfless individuals who helped others have in common? They have all had Wilderness First Responder training (WFR).

Wilderness First Responders are outdoor trip leaders, instructors, river guides, trail guides, hunting and fishing guides, EMTs, search-and-rescue team members, ultramarathoners, ski patrollers, backpackers, kayakers, climbers, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts too many to name. They have all devoted time, money, and energy to earn that certification. Reputable outdoor organizations rely on "Woofers", as they’re called, and Wilderness EMTs (WEMT) to lead trips and keep their clientele safe when groups venture into the backcountry. And serious recreationalists rely on WFR training as a means of taking care of themselves and others on their outdoor adventures or any time when advanced care is not close at hand.

A Wilderness First Responder is considered the top tier of Backcountry first aid provider. While WEMT is a higher skill level, one must first be an EMT or Paramedic before earning the "W" that's added to your certification. Wilderness First Responders need not have previous training nor maintain these additional certifications to remain current. Otherwise training for the WFR and the WEMT is virtually identical.

What is the focus of a "Wilderness Medicine" class?

Even though the 911 system in our country can be awe inspiring, it has its significant limitations when we are far from a road in which an ambulance crew can reach us. That distance doesn't have to be very far before rescues can get exponentially more complicated.

Out of necessity then, WFRs and WEMTs are trained to perform procedures and treatments that would otherwise be reserved for someone with much higher training. Wilderness Medicine Guidelines come from a board of directors that reviews recent research, as well as assessing risks versus benefits. For example: resetting a dislocated shoulder can be done incorrectly, causing long term problems, so it should be done by a physician. However, the benefits of performing the procedure soon outweigh the risk of performing it incorrectly. Therefore, resetting dislocations falls within the scope of practice for WFRs and WEMTs alike.

They are also trained to treat minor as well as complex fractures and other injuries. They're taught to treat dozens of illnesses and medical conditions, including behavioral emergencies, anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, strokes, and seizures. They're trained to prevent and/or treat environmental problems such as hypothermia, heat related injuries, frostbite, snakebites, dog bites, altitude sickness, drowning, CPR/AED/BLS and many more. They are trained how to "clear the spine" when appropriate so that a patient may be able to reliably walk out of the backcountry in spite of a bad fall. They're trained how and when to administer certain drugs such as epinephrine, albuterol, diphenhydramine, acetaminophen, naloxone, and a wide range of others.

They are able to predict outcomes based on all the information on hand, making them problem-solvers and critical-thinkers. Their training includes weighing all the additional factors around specific problems: "Can I fix what's wrong? Am I just addressing the symptoms of a bigger problem? How long before this gets worse? How long before it's going to be dark? What temperature can be expected in a few hours? Is it going to rain? When? How far away is help? Do I have cell phone reception to get help started this way? Can the patient walk or must they be carried? How many additional rescuers might be needed? What does an inbound rescue team need to be made aware of?" ...and literally dozens more questions that may apply to a given situation.

The Wilderness First Responder course focuses on a deep understanding of the human condition, understanding problems, how they appear, how to prevent them, and what, if anything, we can do to address them. A WFR class is based on conversations and discussions, demonstrations, hands-on activities, challenges, and realistic scenarios instead of traditional lectures as often as possible.

This article opened with just a few accounts of real-life rescues. There have been so many others who have contacted me over the past decade that I can't remember but a small percentage of them. Former students, sometimes years after their training, recount the details of a rescue that they were involved in and the role their training played in a successful outcome. Does that humble me? Yes. Does that motivate me to give every bit of energy I have in every classroom? Damn right it does.

My goal then, knowing someday this could be the difference between life and death: Give everyone the best possible training I can during the amount of time we have together. If they've done little more than memorize correct answers for a written test, they may not be able to figure out the best course of action when it really matters, and some day it really will matter. If instead, we have had engaging conversations, we've laughed, cried, we've shared, struggled, enjoyed, empathized, and students really, really get it, then the odds of success for that future rescue have gone up immeasurably.

One final quote from a former student to summarize why I'll do this job for as long as I am able:

"Because of the training I had with you, I was able to save someone's life today. Thank you. What you do saves lives." Olivia S.

The Wilderness First Responder class is a eight-day certification (72 hours) held at the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) in Erwin, Tennessee. Certification is good for three years and includes CPR/AED certification. Certification is maintained by participating in a WFR Recertification Class every three years. Our next WFR classes are Aug 3-10 and Oct 19-26. Please visit https://www.nolilearn.org/activity/wilderness-first-responder-course--8-days for additional WFR dates and to learn more. Already a WFR and need to recert? Upcoming dates can be found at https://www.nolilearn.org/activity/wilderness-first-responder-recertification--3-days . We also offer the shorter two-day Wilderness First Aid Class (WFA) for those who can’t commit to the nine-day WFR Course.

Randy Manuel is the Lead Wilderness Medicine Instructor at the Nolichucky Outdoor learning Institute, a Wilderness EMT and an Instructor Trainer for SOLO Schools in New Hampshire. He is also the Training Officer and Field Team Leader for Cherokee County Search/Rescue and an ACA level IV Swiftwater Rescue Instructor.

Scott Fisher is the founder and executive director of the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute.

Why I Hike.

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:27:50 GMT

NOLI instructor Michelle Duffourc shares some thoughts on why hiking and backpacking are so special and how they have shaped her life. There's more to it than you might think.

PeopIe are often curious when they learn I backpack. “I hear it’s pretty there.” “I bet that’s good exercise.” “Isn’t it hard?" "Aren’t you afraid?” “Don’t you ever get bored?” All of these are valid questions whose underlying purpose is to ask … “Why do you hike?” And while the answers to these questions can be pretty straight-forward (incredibly pretty; yes, indeed; sometimes; not really) they are, well, flat, and don’t truly capture the essence of what hiking means to me. The reasons I hike are better summed up as a series of memories, feelings and experiences that have been stamped upon my life and changed it for the better.

I am climbing on the Appalachian Trail (AT) northbound out of Bradley Gap towards Hump Mountain. While some people may find this climb easy, I am NOT one of them. I hear my heart beating in my ears and my breathing is heavy as I ascend the ~600 feet in the 0.8 mile separating the two points. I look up (UP being the operative word) and see, yes - the fence! That means I’ve already passed the false summits and am near the top. And as I crest the summit, I am surrounded by the grassy bald, the sun warm on my back, the cool breeze blowing in my hair, beneath a dome of cobalt blue sky. Greeting me is the panoramic 360-degree view stretching to Grandfather Mountain, more than 20 miles away to the east. My husband has told me that when he stands in this place of wondrous beauty, the chorus of the song “Hallelujah” from the movie Shrek comes to his mind. I understand why – I am here, in this moment and it is bliss. I hike for the sense of reverence I experience in places which cannot be reached any other way.

I am with a small group of students splashing in the pool at the base of Rock Creek Falls. I have taken other groups here and it is always the same reaction. Medical students, PhD students, scientists – serious people with serious jobs. We arrive and people spread out to enjoy the features of this box canyon with a double waterfall hidden in the wilderness. I teach people how to skip stones across the small pool while others wade in to cool off on a hot day. A student calls out “Hey, Dr. Michelle, I see a crawfish!” and we scurry over to watch Mr. Crawfish crawling around the rocks in a deeper part of the pool. We squeal (myself probably the loudest) when Mr. Crawfish darts backward with lightning speed to position himself under a rock, ready to ambush any insect that comes his way. By the time we are ready to head back everyone is grinning from ear-to-ear and I take photos so they can share their memories of a good day. I hike for the child-like sense of joy that comes from playing in nature with good friends.

I peer out of the opening blasted through the rock face and look upon the raw power that is Mooney Falls. At 200 feet, Mooney Falls is the highest of the waterfalls on Havasu Creek, located within the Havasupai Reservation just west of Grand Canyon National Park. The waters of Mooney plunge over orange cliffs into a pool so blue it doesn’t even seem real. Mist kicked up by the waterfall constantly sprays the rock face, rendering it cold and slippery. There is only one route to the base of this waterfall, and that is to climb down these rocks, clinging to chains and anchors drilled at strategic locations. Rough stairs and footholds have been cut into the surface but it is a near vertical climb of ~150 feet with no safety clips (search “Mooney Falls descent” on YouTube to appreciate). Most of my group have already descended, and only Sally remains with me, waiting patiently with no pressure. Falling is my big fear and I have to decide whether to listen to it, or trust in the training I did in preparation for this hike. I take a deep breath, swing my legs over the ledge and climb down to join the others in exploring the wonderland that is Havasu Canyon. I hike to push beyond the boundaries of my self-imposed limitations.

My physician looks at my chart: “Hmm, 122/75 – your blood pressure is perfect.” My biometric scale indicates I have above average muscle and bone mass and thus am less likely to develop osteoporosis. At work I notice the water cooler is empty; I remove the empty bottle, grab a full one, and using my legs lift the 5-gallon bottle onto the cooler. It is only when I walk away do I realize that I just lifted 40 lbs with one hand without thinking. Lunch is at a restaurant a mile away; at this time of day it will take 15 minutes to drive there and parking is limited, so I decide to do the easy 2-mile round trip walk. When I first ambled onto a hiking trail 25 years ago I didn’t realize each step was an investment in my future health. I hike not only to improve my current health, but as a gift to my future self and more importantly, to my family.

The last mile of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail is nearly flat and I enjoy the lovely stroll as I near my destination. There, up ahead, I see it – Burnt Mill Bridge with a giant banner proclaiming “CONGRATULATIONS END-TO-ENDER!” I begin to cry, because when I started this adventure I didn’t truly believe I had the grit and strength to complete the Hiker Challenge. And here I am, 12 sections and 343 miles later, about to finish. Across Kentucky, and into the Big South Fork of Tennessee, past waterfalls and over rock arches I walked. Through snow, rain, gasping heat and beautiful crystal-clear days to be here, now. But of course, I didn’t accomplish this feat alone. My friend, Minta and niece Julie, AT through-hikers both, embrace me as I cross the line with tears running down my face and welcome me to the sisterhood of female long-distance hikers. My husband, Rob and friend Jess, both of whom supported me through the challenge, are also here to celebrate this life-changing accomplishment. I hug Steve, the Director of the Sheltowee Trace Association, whose hard work makes the Challenge possible. Even on days when I walk by myself, many wonderful people, their kindness and support, are a part of me. I hike to be part of a nurturing community that helps the world be a better place, one trail and hiker at a time.

When I hike, I am thankful for the strength of my body, the beauty of this earth, and the embrace of the community that welcomed me with open arms. In short, I hike because I am grateful for every gift hiking has given me since I first set foot in the mountains I now call home. This summer I plan to hike with blue ghost fireflies, wild ponies and explore more of the Appalachian Trail, among other adventures. Please join me; I’d love to learn why you hike (or want to learn how to hike). Let’s discover a new adventure together.

Michelle Duffourc is a backpacking and hiking instructor at the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) in Erwin, Tennessee. To join Michelle for an upcoming Backpacking Overnight Adventure along the Balds of Roan go to https://www.nolilearn.org/activity/backpacking-overnight-adventure--2-days . To see all upcoming classes and events go to https://www.nolilearn.org/backpacking-camping-hiking-classes.

Adam's Tips for Injury Recovery

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:00:01 GMT

On the one year anniversary of his near-fatal accident, NOLI Kayak Instructor Adam Herzog shares tips for recovery.

December 14, 2022 started like any other day. Drop the kids at school, paddle the Green River at high water, stop at the climbing gym for a quick session, and pick the kids up by 3. But that afternoon I was on a ventilator in the ICU. I made a big mistake at the gym and my quick session turned into a life changing accident .

The 45-foot fall left me physically and psychologically devastated. The ensuing weeks and months profoundly challenged my endurance, pain tolerance and belief in myself. The initial plan for rehabilitation was three months in a nursing home, then three months of inpatient rehab. With four broken, non-weight bearing extremities, the physical therapy options were slim to none. I was told I would need a wheelchair ramp at our house. But two months after I fell I was back in a kayak. In May I managed to podium in a couple of class III races. I raced the Green in November, and I regularly ride 30 to 50 miles on my mountain bike. Walking is still a problem, but otherwise I am extremely happy with my progress.

Friends often ask how I healed so quickly. To celebrate my one-year anniversary I wrote a few tips on injury recovery:

Don't feel sorry for yourself. Wishing for different circumstances does not make anything better. Look ahead and remember, if you are not dead, someone out there has it worse than you.
Read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. If you are feeling bad for yourself, you won't after reading this concentration camp survival story.
You can't do it alone . Healing does not happen in a vacuum. I had massive support from my wife and kids, extended family, the hospital staff, physical therapists, and the outdoor community. I would not be here without them.
Use a mantra. Mine was, "Hurts so good!"
Bite the sour apple. Kristin, a Norwegian nurse assistant told me about this phrase from her home country. It became my second mantra and I bit the sour apple many times during my hospitalization. Suck it up and take the pain.
Prepare for survival every day. I trained for a mission to the Mount Everest of whitewater, the Stikine River in northern British Columbia, for five years. In August 2022 I pulled off a successful descent with a small team. The trip was smooth. My training paid off. Ironically the real test was yet to come.

Have high but realistic expectations. I could not bear the thought of spending three months languishing in a nursing home. I used the prognosis to fuel my fire. But I did not believe my orthopedic surgeon when he told me my ankle injury would change my life. I should have.
Stay off the dope. Opiates are the drug of choice for acute, severe, traumatic pain. Take them when you need them, but only when you need them. As one of my physicians said, "It's okay to take narcotics for physical pain, you run into trouble when you take them emotional pain."
Leave nothing in the tank. Push physical therapy to the absolute limit (within the confines of your PTs advice) and back off only if you over do it.
When you are at rock bottom, the only way out is up. I dreamt of the Stikine for three decades. When we finished the run I felt the hollow echo of success. What next? I knew I would not repeat an expedition of that magnitude. I framed my accident as an opportunity to learn how to kayak all over again.

It would be disingenuous to claim a complete recovery. I still use crutches every day due to a debilitating pilon fracture in my right ankle. I had to give up my jobs as a paramedic instructor and trauma nurse. But I refuse to let my disease define me. Adaptability and ability to deal with adversity are crucial to success in life. I gained as much as I lost from the accident.

Adam Herzog is a NOLI instructor and elite-level kayaker who has been kayaking for over 30 years. He has notched podium finishes and wins in Jerry’s Baddle, the Watauga Race, the Chatooga Race, the Battle of the Broad, and the Nolichucky Race. Adam has paddled extensively in the U.S. and Canada. In 2022 he completed his lifetime goal of successfully paddling the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River, considered to be the Mount Everest of kayaking.

Dealing with Drought

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:39:09 GMT

NOLI Kayak Instructor Adam Herzog shares a few thoughts on how to handle the word that paddlers hate most: Drought

“Burn ban in effect.” An electronic DOT sign flashed on the side of the road. “I guess it’s official.” I thought. Dry conditions persist this fall. The last few years the southeast was flush with water. Often, we have had too much of a good thing. The last severe drought was in 2016, the year Gatlinburg was ravaged by fire.

Weather cycles through patterns. But it’s hard not to get down and out when the rivers look like creeks, creeks look like streams, and stream beds are as dry and cracked as a desert floor.

There are cures for drought though. They just require a little creativity. Luckily, we live in an area that has plenty of options when the rivers run dry.

Paddling flatwater is an excellent way to stay fit. You can focus on pure technique without the distraction of whitewater. When you practice at 100% efficiency in flatwater you can hopefully achieve 80% efficiency in whitewater. I have a handful of flatwater workouts that push me to my limit. I combine my flatwater drills with roll practice. Beginners tend to be diligent in practicing the roll. But high-level paddlers often neglect maintenance of the first and most crucial layer of self-rescue. Take turns on video with a friend and break down the subtleties of the roll. When it finally rains again you will be a well-honed rolling machine.

Try something new. Poor whitewater conditions mean prime time for cycling, trail running, hiking and climbing. The southeast is full of multisport opportunities. Trying new sports will expose you to fresh terrain in your backyard.

Dam releases provide drought relief for southern boaters from March through November. Tallulah, Cheoah, the list goes on. Northbrook power company is drawing down Lake Summit in Western North Carolina so the Green will hopefully have water through fall, offering options from the class 1-2 lower section through the class 5 Narrows.

Don’t be too picky. I recently kayaked the Nolichucky at 395 cfs. It was a sunny warm day in the middle of the week. I was the sole paddler on the water. I found some fun lines while osprey and bald eagles fished the crystal-clear water and fish the size of my paddle blade darted under the surface. It was low, but as long as there is enough water to float a boat, who cares if it’s a little bony?

We are lucky to live in an area with plenty of options when the rivers run dry. Biking, hiking, dam releases and easily accessible flatwater all provide drought relief. In the meantime, do your rain dance. I see a glimmer of hope in the current forecast.

Adam Herzog is a NOLI instructor and elite-level kayaker who has been kayaking for over 30 years. He has notched podium finishes and wins in Jerry’s Baddle, the Watauga Race, the Chatooga Race, the Baddle of the Broad, and the Nolichucky Race. Adam has paddled extensively in the U.S. and Canada. In 2022 he completed his lifetime goal of successfully paddling the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River, considered to be the Mount Everest of kayaking.

To schedule instruction with Adam or one of our other exceptional instructors, go to www.nolilearn.org or contact us . Training is available year-round.

Pro Tips for Green Race Spectators

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:40:08 GMT

Veteran racer Adam Herzog shares ways to beat the crowds at one of whitewater's greatest spectacles.

Green Race. Those two words keep kayakers (and spectators) awake at night. The class V+ Green Race is the best day of the year, and this year's race on Nov 4 will be no exception. It’s like Christmas for a hardcore kayaker. The race has progressed from a grassroots, dirtbag affair to an internationally renowned annual event complete with live bait safety crews, thousands of spectators and a live stream that requires stringing 3000 feet of fiber optic wire into one of the most rugged gorges in the East.

My first race was in 2002. I’ll never forget the lightning bolt of adrenaline that struck me at the start line. I completed my run in one piece and finished with a time of 5:06. At the time it was good enough for a top ten finish. Now it probably would not make the top 100. In ’02 the crowd was rowdy but small compared to the throngs of hikers that descend the rutted-out Pulliam Creek trail now. At the time, my friend Stacey described it as “Disneyland on crack.” But we knew every hiker and paddler on the river that day. It’s a different scene in 2023. Not bad, but different. Thousands of hikers and paddlers come to watch the show. The woods are alive, crawling with people. The gorge buzzes with energy.

There is nothing wrong with hiking or paddling in on race day for a first-hand view of the action. But there are ways to beat the crowds. Here are three insider pro tips:

Livestream the race: John and Chelsea Grace, Jason Hale, Tommy Hilleke and an army of volunteers put in a monumental effort to livestream the race. The technology gets better every year. Enjoy the race from the comfort and safety of your own home. The last few years I laid down a race lap and made it home in time to watch the second half of the race in my living room. The cost to livestream is $40 until Nov 2, $45 if registering after. Here's the link .
Hike in the week before the race: the dry spell has resulted in low, limited flows. Tuesday through Friday the river will be running higher thanks to the folks at Northbrook, the power company that controls the dam. Gorilla will see hundreds of runs on race week. It’s a great time to hike in and check out the action without dealing with the mega crowds on race day. Hiking and parking information can be found here .
Check out the top half of the course: people tend to gather around the marquee drops Go Left and Die and Gorilla. Those rapids are where the race is often lost. But multiple race winner Tommy Hilleke told me once, “The race is won between Frankenstein and Whale Tail.” It might not be as exciting as watching Gorilla, but if you want to see champions laying down smoking fast times, check out the unobstructed view of the upper racecourse.

If you decide to hike or paddle in to enjoy every sou thern kayaker’s favorite day of the year, embrace the crowd. Do it safely though. Leave young kids and dogs at home. Wear a PFD and helmet in the gorge. Carry a rope if you know how to use it. And if you are paddling or racing, put flotation bags in your stern. Merry Christmas.

NOLI instructor and coach Adam Herzog has raced the Green 14 times in the last two decades, breaking the five-minute mark many times. If you want to go sub 5 minutes and get “class V certified” for the 2024 Green Race, or are interested in scheduling non-race related private instruction with Adam, contact us . Training is available all-year and the best performers start early.

NOLI Instructor Suffers Near-Fatal Fall and Comes Away with Important Lessons

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 02:32:54 GMT

The following report was originally published by the American Alpine Club in January 2023 .

On December 14, 2022, Adam Herzog (43) miraculously survived a fall in which he suffered severe injuries after failing to clip into an auto belay in a climbing gym. Upon finishing the climb, he simply let go, and fell 45 feet to the ground. “I feel very lucky to be alive and not paralyzed,” said Herzog.

In Herzog’s own words:

“The fall resulted in a skull fracture, bilateral pulmonary contusions, three spinal fractures, right proximal radius fracture, left distal radius fracture, right pilon fracture (ankle shattered), left fibula fracture and a severe concussion.” His recovery is ongoing, “I was in the ICU on a ventilator for two days, and in the hospital for 15 days. I am expected to make a pretty full recovery. The pilon fracture may have some long-term effects and I lost some extension in the right arm.”

His post-accident recollections:

“I awoke in a fog of drugs. A tube was jammed down my throat. A ventilator forced air into my chest unnaturally with positive pressure. The next day I woke up extubated. My wife was there as always, helping me through another crash. But this one felt bigger than the others.

Adam rappelling before his accident. PC: Zach Frayser

“The next fifteen days I lay on the slick mattress of a hospital bed, intermittently conscious, asleep, exhausted, confused, and occasionally keenly aware that I had a long recovery ahead. I spent the next several weeks mulling over the events of December 14th. ‘How could I be so stupid?’ I wondered again and again. I beat myself up, apologized to my friends, family, and the staff at the climbing gym. I could not believe I would climb to the top of a route without clipping in. It seemed impossible.

“My friends reassured me. ‘It was an accident, man. It happens.’ A surprising number of people had similar stories of friends who took big falls on auto belays. I googled it and found a number of gym related accident reports.

Analysis

Herzog writes, “I’ve been a paramedic for 22 years and a nurse for 14. In the medical field we refer to the ‘Swiss Cheese Model’ of medical errors. All the holes line up and boom, somebody dies. My accident was a perfect storm of mistakes that coincided with catastrophic results. They are listed here in the interest of preventing other climbers from falling into the same trap:

1. Hubris : I am not an expert climber. But I am an elite whitewater kayaker. I have been padding for over thirty years. The morning of my fall I paddled the Green River at high water. Once off the Green, I thought my risk exposure was over for the day. I didn’t treat the gym with the same respect I brought to the river. I should have.

2. Heuristics : Heuristics are mental shortcuts. They help us navigate our daily lives and can be useful or harmful. In my mind, “outside = dangerous, inside = safe.” When I climbed outdoors, I neurotically practiced setting up belays, cleaning routes, and rappelling before heading out. But I saw the gym as contrived, manufactured, and fake. A fifty-foot wall is a fifty-foot wall. It doesn’t matter if there are four walls and a ceiling around it.

3. Inattention : I don’t bring my phone to the climbing wall so that I am not distracted. But the day I fell, I was preparing for a paramedic recertification exam. I studied a book between routes. I wonder if that distraction contributed to my fall.

4. Deviation : I have a system I usually stick to religiously. I climb a route, unclip, walk away, and take 5-10 minutes to rest before I approach the wall again. Before I fell, I climbed halfway up a route and dropped back down to the ground. I unclipped but instead of walking away, I immediately got back on the wall. The small deviation from my normal routine removed the visual cues that usually lead to me clipping into my harness. I am 6’4” so when standing right next to the wall, my line of sight is well above the gate.

5. Redundancy : I was climbing alone so there was no one to double check my system. In top rope and lead belay we constantly check each other’s knots. But on the auto belay it’s up to the climber to double check his or her system. In my haste I neglected to check anything.

6. Focus : The route I was on was a white (marked) 5.10. That grade is the upper limit of what I climb. Because I was at the edge of my ability, I was ultra-focused on the route and holds. That is why I didn’t notice the rope was not retracting as I climbed. Had I been on an easier route I suspect I would have been more attentive.

Adam after being discharged from the hospital. PC: John Parmenter

“These six factors led to my fall. I sit in a wheelchair typing this up, grateful I will only have to live in it for a couple of months. I hope that by writing this, I may prevent future incidents.

“Auto belay devices almost never fail. But people do. As long as humans are involved, mistakes happen. Are there steps gyms could take to prevent other terrible falls? Maybe, but ultimately it is the climber’s responsibility to climb safely. The gym can provide measures to mitigate risk, but we must engage those measures, and know that if we work around them, there is nothing between us and the gym floor.”

Postscript

On April 14 - four months to the day after his accident - Adam, who has a history of competing in whitewater kayak races, entered and won the Nolichucky Beat Nightfall Race, finishing the 8-mile race in just under an hour. Six weeks later he successfully completed an ACA whitewater kayak instructor course and earned his instructor certification. He attributes his recovery, which continues to this day, to a disciplined approach to rehab, training and a positive mental attitude.

Adam after winning the Nolichucky Beat Nightfall Race, four months after his accident

Adam Herzog is a NOLI instructor and elite-level kayaker who has been kayaking for over 30 years. He has notched podium finishes and wins in Jerry’s Baddle, the Watauga Race, the Chatooga Race, the Baddle of the Broad, and the Nolichucky Race. Adam has paddled extensively in the U.S. and Canada. In 2022 he completed his lifetime goal of successfully paddling the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River, considered to be the Mount Everest of kayaking.

To schedule instruction with Adam or one of our other exceptional instructors, go to www.nolilearn.org.

Adam on the Green Narrows in NC.

The Joys of Whitewater Kayaking

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 12:49:13 GMT

What makes whitewater kayaking such a blast? Read on to find out.

If you haven’t seen it yet, Johnson City has been rated as one of the best destinations for outdoor adventures in the United States. If you haven’t read the articles singing our praises, you’ve almost certainly met the people who have! Every time I’m riding my Onewheel at Tannery Knobs or hanging out at the Nolichucky River, I meet people who have traveled here to hike, bike and boat. But did you know that of all the wonderful things our region has to offer, we are one of the best places to learn to whitewater kayak?

Whitewater kayaking might seem like something only reserved for thrill seeking adrenaline junkies, but it is an activity that has something for everyone… from mild to wild! We have great rivers to learn on, like the Lower Nolichucky and Watauga River below Wilbur Dam. After mastering the tricks and techniques of good boat control and river safety, you can branch out to rivers like the French Broad and find bigger waves and more technical rapids. We even have rivers for experts with powerful currents, waterfalls, or world class technical creeks.

It’s a great way to develop personally too. It doesn’t take long for the intimidation of the first time you sit in a kayak to get replaced by the engagement of figuring out how to “read” the river, pick your line downstream, and laugh and smile with the thrill of running rapids. Engaging with nature and powerful forces like our majestic rivers can make the problems of the modern world fade into the background and help you get back in touch with something deep inside of you. It’s that piece of you that rises to a challenge, embraces fears, and moves ahead despite the difficulty. The sense of well-being and self-confidence you've gained stays with you off the river and in your life.

Kayaking is a blend of individual achievements and social interaction. Connecting with people that enjoy the same level of challenges as you, enjoy learning new things, and are willing to make the time in their lives to participate in these things can open a new world of fellowship and camaraderie. I’ve met people from all walks of life on our rivers. On the river, we’re all just paddlers. We’re engaging with something bigger than us, working on improving ourselves and our skills, and are there to help one another when needed. In my experience, when we’re on the river the things that tend to drive us apart in “real” life fall away, and we can re-connect as individuals sharing some precious time together.

Kayaking has obvious physical benefits too. The instability of water requires us to develop a highly tuned sense of balance and coordination. Balance based activities are some of the most simulating things for our brains and help build neurological health. Each paddle stroke engages your upper body and core. How many times have you heard someone say they’re going to the gym or yoga class to, “work on their core.” It’s way more fun to do it in a kayak!

Getting out on our rivers and creeks can deepen your sense of connection to the land as well. Kayaking isn’t always about thrill seeking or being a daredevil. Paddling down a river gives you a chance to see some of the most scenic spots in our hills and valleys that are difficult to access from land. In a matter of minutes, you can paddle from a parking area to a remote gorge. Once the river turns away from the road, you are left to embrace a state of flow and watch the scenery flow by. Once equipped and trained, you can leave your house and be on the river in a matter of hours. People are traveling from states away to have the same experiences that are right in our backyards.

Imagine sitting at your computer on a rainy Friday. While your co-workers are lamenting that their weekend plans are ruined, you’re celebrating because you know the rivers are coming up! The hardest part of your day is going to be deciding what wonderful and amazing river you’re going to paddle on that weekend. When your spectrum of choices goes from good to great, you’ve made some excellent life decisions. Learning to kayak can be one of those great choices.

The Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) in Erwin, Tennessee offers a full range of whitewater and flatwater kayaking instruction for all abilities, beginner through advanced. For more information and to see upcoming classes, go to www.nolilearn.org.

Brad Eldridge is a whitewater kayak and canoe instructor at the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute, chiropractor and the President of the Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts.

Kayak Safety & Rescue: Life Lessons in Haro Strait

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:46:16 GMT

It was a nearly perfect morning on the Washington state Pacific coast. My wife (Michelle) and I had a delicious breakfast, broke down camp, loaded our rented tandem kayak, and paddled down the sheltered bay that bisects Stewart Island. Along with our guide, Annie, we ran with the tide and a light southwesterly breeze to make the three-mile open water crossing to Henry Island. As we crossed in the 2-foot swells, we were just cruising, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and gazing toward the horizon hoping for our first orca sighting of the trip.

Once we passed west of the tip of Henry Island, we headed south a bit and our guide signaled that we would take a break in a field of bull kelp. Thickets of bull kelp make an ideal resting place for sea kayakers because the kelp floats, which are round and 3 to 8 inches across, protrude from the water and break up the momentum of the waves. We stopped for a few minutes, bobbing up and down with the swell, occasionally chatting but mostly taking sips from our water bottles. Over the sound of waves and calling birds, Michelle heard a distant noise. It sounded like a cry for help – or was it a gull? We listened for a few seconds when another, more distinct yell rang out. For an instant we all hesitated, trying to determine the direction of the cries. From our vantage point low to the water, all we could see was dark bull kelp floats scattered across the ocean’s surface. It sounded like the panicked calls were coming from somewhere between us and the shoreline, so we sprinted southeast through the kelp patch toward shore. After we broke through the offshore kelp forest, we spotted two small dark objects on the surface alongside something that looked like a partially submerged log. As the distance closed, the larger object resolved into a flooded green aluminum canoe. The smaller ones were two middle school age boys struggling to reenter the water-filled boat. Every time they tried to enter; the boat would flip. As we neared, they quit trying to enter their boat. Instead, they hung onto the hull of the now inverted canoe and stared quietly as we approached.

Michelle and I coasted up on the right side, leaving about a 5-foot gap between our tandem and the canoe, just in case the boys panicked and tried to climb on the deck of our boat before we were prepared. Caution is necessary in a situation like this because a panicking victim can easily capsize a would-be rescuer’s boat - leaving more people in the water. Annie coasted up a similar distance on the left side of the flooded craft. Our first evaluation was that the boys had been in the water for at least fifteen minutes. They were shivering, minimally responsive, and their movements were clumsy. After quickly weighing the options and their condition, we agreed that we could get them out of the water and warm them up more quickly by towing them to shore than by attempting to get the boys back into their boat. We then instructed the closest victim to grab the left perimeter line behind the rear cockpit of our tandem. At first, he refused because he did not want to release the cell phone in his right hand. The impasse was broken when Annie slid her boat up on his left side and convinced him to hand the phone to her. The other boy was similarly coaxed to grab the left stern perimeter line of Annie’s boat. We then started toward shore in the direction of the nearest cottage. When we had closed to within 75 yards of the house, a man came out onto the shore, saw us towing the boys, launched a tandem sit on top kayak, and headed out toward us. The boys, who were shaking with cold, were handed life vests and then hauled aboard the sit on top kayak by their father, while we stabilized the boat. As the reunited family headed back toward shore, we recovered the flooded canoe and towed it to shore. After this brief but adrenaline-filled detour, we continued our journey southwards down the Haro Straight, skirting the shore of Henry Island.

This story, with its happy ending, may seem like just a minor anecdote. But those children were exceedingly fortunate that we happened by, heard their cries for help, and responded appropriately. One boy had on a cotton T shirt and shorts and the other just board shorts, which was barely adequate for the air temperature of around 60 degrees. However, a person without protective clothing who is mostly submerged in water loses heat 30 times faster than they would in air of similar temperature. The surface water temperature in Haro Strait is typically about 51ºF at that time of year, and they had been in the water for an unknown period. By the time we intervened, both boys were shaking, uncoordinated, and moderately unresponsive due to hypothermia. So – what can you learn from this story that will help you from getting into a similar situation?

First, the boys had no life jackets and were not dressed for immersion. Individuals of low body mass who are not wearing either a wet suit or dry suit may be incapacitated or rendered unconscious within 30 minutes after immersion in 50ºF water – a time which may be nearly doubled if the victim is wearing a life jacket. More importantly, once a person without a life vest is rendered unconscious by hypothermia, they will drown. Even in warmer water, a blow to the head, exhaustion from treading water, or hypothermia due to extended immersion are more rapidly deadly for a person who is not wearing a life jacket compared to a person who is. Thus, it is important to wear your life jacket at all times when on the water, as well as when entering and exiting the boat.
Second, the capsized canoe had no internal flotation and no self-rescue equipment. Even if the boat contained such equipment, it is unlikely that either child had been trained how to reenter a flooded canoe. Therefore, they had no way to get out of the water to reduce their heat loss – nor could they use the canoe to return to shore. Canoes, or kayaks without water-tight internal bulkheads, should have floatation in the form of inflatable float bags or closed-cell foam blocks anchored securely inside the boat. Such flotation raises the boat higher in the water when it is flooded, making it easier to self-rescue. Additionally, minimizing the amount of water that can enter a capsized boat reduces its weight and the free surface effect, making it more stable for assisted rescues and easier for rescuers to empty. In the rescue above, the hundreds of pounds of water in the 18-foot canoe made a modified T rescue nearly impossible, particularly considering the near shore swell and the reduced dexterity and strength of the swimmers. Thus, we made a nearly instantaneous decision to abandon the flooded boat and get the boys to shore.
Third, one boy initially delayed the rescue by not being willing to relinquish his cell phone. As they likely had only a few moments before becoming completely incapacitated by the cold, any unnecessary delay in getting them out of the water could have had tragic consequences. The bottom line - nothing you own is worth your life.
Fourth, the conditions were not conducive to the long-term survival of anyone in the water at that location – even if they were wearing a wet suit or dry suit and a life vest. The wind and tide direction would have made it very difficult for even a strong swimmer to swim the 150 yards back to shore. Instead, the boys were being pushed diagonally away from shore by an offshore wind and 3 mile per hour tidal current. Since it was a weekday, there was very little boat traffic and thus, very little chance for immediate rescue by other boaters.
Fifth, the boys had no effective emergency signaling devices. Though we don’t know whether they tried to contact their parents with their cell phone, phone reception in that location is spotty at best. Without life jackets, their heads were barely above the water’s surface, making them difficult to see from any distance amidst the confused swells and floating bull kelp. We only heard their cries of distress because we were slightly downwind from their location when we stopped for our rest break. The sound of their cries was so faint that we could have easily missed them in the noise of paddle splash had we been still padding, rather than resting. It is also unlikely, because of the wind direction, distance, and background noise, that anyone on shore could hear them. Given their direction of drift in the offshore wind and ebbing tide, they would have been swept southwest into 8-mile wide Haro Strait with no effective way to signal for rescue.
Because of these, and other factors, this situation could have easily ended with the serious injury or death of these two children.

After reading this, you might think “Well, I don’t paddle in the ocean and so don’t really have to worry about this around here”. So, consider the following fictional scenario based upon the event described above.

It is the end of February in east Tennessee and the weather is unseasonably warm. The warm, sunny weather gives you a bit of cabin fever, so you decide to go out for day paddle on Watauga Lake in your new kayak. It is a blustery day, with the wind out of the southeast about 5 miles per hour. Since the wind is a bit cool, you decide to start your paddle at about 3PM – when the temperature is predicted to hit 75ºF. You decide to paddle out from Watauga Point around Clifford Island and back – a round trip of just under 2 miles. Based on your previous paddle trips, you should easily get back to your car by 4:30 PM. You stick a water bottle, some snacks, and a fleece jacket into the cockpit and put your cell phone and car keys in a dry bag behind your seat. Because you find it uncomfortable, you slide your life vest under the rear deck bungies. Then you set off toward the island, ready to enjoy some solitude and nature on a beautiful late-winter afternoon. As is typical in the afternoon on a warm, late winter day, the crosswind picks up as you paddle across to the island. After stopping occasionally to drink and look at the scenery, you finish circling the island and head back toward your car. When you round the northwest side of the island, you notice the wind is blowing harder and that the channel between the island and Watauga Point is covered with small white caps. Even though the ride is a bit “bouncier” than you are used to, your kayak is stable and you head onward – looking forward to a nice dinner at home. About halfway back, a gust of wind blows your cap off. You lunge to your left to grab your hat, lose your balance and the boat capsizes - dumping you, your fleece jacket and the dry bag containing your keys and cell phone into the lake. The sudden immersion in 45ºF water is incapacitating and it takes a moment for you to get your bearings after you come to the surface. In that moment, the wind pushes the overturned boat just out of your reach. You try to reach the boat to retrieve your life jacket, but the wind and wave action is blowing it to the east faster than you can swim. You look around but there are no other boats in sight. The cold water is chilling you quickly and you must make a choice, swim back to Watauga point or make for the island. You try for Watauga Point but the exertion and convective heat loss lead to hypothermia, muscle cramps, and possibly loss of consciousness – all when you are less than a hundred yards from shore…

Paddling is a wonderful way to get exercise, forge lifelong friendships, and connect with the natural world. I would not trade anything for the experience of watching the sunrise on Watauga Lake or sitting around a campfire with some good friends on a Suwannee River sandbar. Paddling safely reduces the risk of harm to yourself, your family, and to those who might try to rescue you. So how do you paddle safely? Buying a boat with appropriate flotation and safety gear matched to any conditions you might conceivably encounter is a good start. However, the right gear makes little difference if you don’t know when or how to use it properly. More important still is sound judgement – which keeps you from exceeding your skill and experience level and thus putting yourself and others in danger. Such judgement can be developed only by training and experience. No YouTube video or “how to” blog can replace “hands on” instruction on the water from a highly skilled professional. Though such training takes time, effort, practice and patience, I would ask you this – “How much is your life worth?”

If you are interested in becoming a safer and more skillful flatwater paddler, consider taking an upcoming “ Flatwater Safety & Rescue for Paddlers ” course on July 8 or August 5 offered by the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute. You will be glad you did. To learn more about all the classes NOLI offers, go to www.nolilearn.org .

Have fun on the water and stay safe!

Rob Schobo rg is an avid kayaker, guide and outdoor enthusiast and teaches backpacking and hiking classes for NOLI.

A New Year and the Outdoors are Calling!

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 01:30:28 GMT

It's hard to believe but we're just a few short weeks away from kicking off our 2023 season here at NOLI. And, if you're like us, you're looking forward to spending as much of it outdoors as possible. We have a lot planned this year - one of our fullest schedule of events to-date - with over 50 different classes and 150+ unique events on the calendar. Returning are all of our established classes across our core disciplines including Kayaking, Canoeing, Wilderness Medicine, Water Safety & Rescue, Conservation, Hiking & Camping, and Wilderness Survival & Navigation. First out of the gate are our 2-day Wilderness First Aid & CPR classes on March 4-5 , important training for all outdoor enthusiasts to have for when things don't go according to plan and advanced care in not close at hand. In March, we also have a number of kayak and canoe classes coming up, including class 2, class 3, combat roll, creeking transitionals and 3-day immersives. Our first wilderness survival class of the year is March 18 and one- and two-day wilderness navigation classes are March 25 and March 25-26 respectively. And, if you want to learn or expand on one of the most essential outdoor skills, we have our first Knots for the Outdoors Class for the season on Mar 19 . And the fun continues in April with Advanced Swiftwater Rescue classes on Apr 8 and Apr 9 , Backpacking 101 Class on Apr 9 , Class 3/3+Whitewater Kayak Spring Tune-ups during NoliFest on Apr 14 and Apr 15 , Class 2/2+ Whitewater Kayak Spring Tune-up on Apr 14 , Hammock Camping & Tarpology on Apr 15 and a free guided hike to Coon Den Falls on Apr 8.

We are also pleased to announce the addition of several new classes and adventures this year, some of them the direct result of your feedback and requests. These include:

Suwannee River Multi-Day Kayak Adventure - We introduced this in late September of last year but Hurricane Ian had other plans. This 3-day kayak camping adventure on the uniquely beautiful Suwannee River in Northern Florida is sure to be a highlight of anyone's year. Spots are already filling up for our May 5-7 Adventure so book early to reserve your place.
Wilderness Survival 201 and Immersive - We are routinely asked by our survival students about follow-on training opportunities. We heard you and are pleased to be adding a Wilderness Survival 201 class and Wilderness Survival Immersive (4 days). Stay tuned for details.
Youth Camps - We are still assessing these for 2023 but are looking to possibly add Outdoor Adventure Camps for youth this summer. Stay tuned!

In addition to the links above all of our classes can be found on our website at www.nolilearn.org. We also post these on our Facebook page as we get closer to the events so, if you’re on social media, be sure to like or follow us for the latest news and updates.

Returning to lead our classes in 2023 is our stellar team of talented instructors: Viki Austin, Debbie Briscoe, Brad Eldridge, Minta Ray, Rob Schoborg, Ryan Shealy, Jerry Smith, Robin Pope and Bill Schooley. To learn more about all of these exceptional individuals, among the very best in the business, go to www.nolilearn.org/meet-our-instructors.

We remain committed this year, as always, to providing outdoor education to as many people as possible regardless of age, experience or financial circumstances. To inquire about scholarship options contact us at info@nolilearn.org .

Lastly, we very pleased to announce that we are moving to a redesigned website with an improved customer interface that will make searching for and booking classes easier. We've brought in the top outfitter web solution design firm in the country and what they've come up with so far is outstanding. Stay tuned but in the meantime our current site is up-to-date and taking registrations.

The outdoors is as much a part of a healthy lifestyle as ever, maybe more so, and we look forward to spending time with many of you again this year doing the things we all love. If you need anything or have any questions, contact us any time. See you outside in 2023!

Scott Fisher is the founder of NOLI and teaches kayaking, water safety & rescue, wilderness survival, wilderness navigation, wilderness first aid and Leave No Trace.

TWRA Discounts Archer Fatality and Pope Near Miss Due to Trotlines; Declines to Change Regulation

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 01:26:15 GMT

At the January Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting, staff from the TWRA Fisheries Division reviewed the Tennessee trotline regulations as compared to regulations in surrounding states. At the December Commission meeting they had already indicated that the fatality of Brandon Archer on the Buffalo River in 2019 did not count in Tennessee as a boating fatality because he was taking a swim break from his canoe at the time. And the near miss of David Pope on the Nolichucky River in 2021 did not count as an observable river incident because there were no injuries or significant property damage (like occurs in a powerboat accident). In January, the Commission decided that because there were therefore no documented incidents or fatalities they did not need to address these concerns about the trotline regulation.

Ande Demetriou, a Board Member from the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association as well as an ACA instructor, a member of the ACA's River Kayaking Discipline Committee, and a Memphis business owner, testified to the Commission continuing ACA Tennessee's request for common sense changes to the regulation.

Video of the presentation by Mark Thurman, head of TWRA Fisheries Division and the subsequent testimony and conversation is available on demand at this link at the 1:39:59 mark.

ACA Tennessee will continue to pursue legislative change to this regulation. Recent media coverage is also linked here:

Tennessee Lookout, 12/2/22
Paddler groups frustrated by lack of regulation by state wildlife agency – Tennessee Lookout

WTVC Chattanooga, 12/2/22
TFWC passes new trotline regulations, not enough to satisfy paddlers | WTVC (newschannel9.com)

Daily Memphian, 12/3/22
Tennessee's trotline fishing decision delayed - NewsBreak

Tennessee Lookout 1/13/23
Tennessee agency declines to regulate trotlines, despite allegations of danger – Tennessee Lookout

WTVC Chattanooga, 1/16/23
No trotline restrictions added by TFWC, ACA plans legislative action (msn.com)

TWRA Resists Calls for Common Sense Changes to Trotline Regulation

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 01:16:59 GMT

If you would like a 2 minute read, please click on these linked news stories covering the testimony.

(Always click on the paddling stories so they continue to cover paddling stories!)

If you would like the watch the testimony for yourself — and it was a tremendously moving day of testimony — please follow the TWRA video links below.

Over the last few days a group of paddling leaders testified at the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission in our ongoing effort to update Tennessee trotline regulations to make our waterways safer for all recreationists.

We continue to advocate that it is not within our values as a state to have regulations that allow one sportsman to deliberately create a lethal hazard for another sportsman and be protected within the law while doing so.

We were honored to be joined by Courtney Archer, the mother of Brandon Archer. Brandon tragically perished during a swim break on a canoe trip on the Buffalo River over Labor Day weekend in 2019. It was three weeks after he graduated from MTSU and 1 day before his 22nd birthday. In my own humble opinion, Mrs. Archer was a warrior queen telling her son’s story to try protect someone else’s family from having to go through what she has gone through.

Robin Pope also testified as a representative from the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, an eye witness to the paddler - trotline entanglement on the Nolichucky River in 2021, and the father of David Pope, the paddler who experienced this near miss.

Other testimony was offered by

Daniel Rogers, President of West Tennessee Canoe & Kayak Club and an Assistant District Attorney from Jackson, TN
Ande Demetriou, owner of Blues City Kayaks and a board member for Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association; from Memphis, TN
Dr. Alan “Sonny” Salomon, a senior statesman from the Memphis Whitewater community, who read testimony into the record from Charlie Walbridge, American Whitewater Safety Editor and AW Board Member
Scott Fisher, founder of NOLI - Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute
Andrea White, ACA Southeastern Regional Chair and Chair of the ACA Regional Activity Council

We were briefly optimistic on Thursday when the Commission indicated an interest in creating a 30 day workgroup to work on this topic, but we were disappointed when neither the Commission nor Agency leaders would go on record at the full Commission meeting on Friday committing to work together to improve our regulations in this manner.

Under the category of silver linings, the ongoing conversations about trotline regulations have allowed ACA Tennessee leaders to begin building relationships with the new generation of TWRA agency leaders as the agency regroups from a leadership shakeup in May of 2021. This new group of leaders have shown a greater willingness to build a rapport with paddling leaders and work collaboratively on training opportunities for the public, to discuss any future proposals related to the possibility of paddler regulation, and to help train 8 new TWRA Paddlesports Sergeants. We cannot foretell the future, but a willingness to talk would be a good starting point and a marked improvement.

That said, the uncertain prospect of an undefined Fish and Wildlife Commission workgroup to improve trotline regulations -- which, at best, would be held over the holidays -- is not very encouraging; it would appear that we will probably be turning to the legislature to try to secure the kinds of common sense improvements in our trotline regulations that neighboring states have already made.

We asked the Fish and Wildlife Commission to adopt the following proposed changes to Tennessee’s trotline regulations. These proposals have been in practice in neighboring states for years and have proven safe and effective. These proposals are consistent with best practices recommended by waterway safety experts. These proposals will not diminish the utility of trotlines for catching fish but will greatly increase the safety to those who use Tennessee waterways.

1. Floating, colored markers at each end and at intervals of every 25 hooks (in practice in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia)

2. Parallel to the nearest shore (in practice in North Carolina)

3. Submerged at least 3’ below the surface (in practice in Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Kentucky)

4. No trotline may be set, placed, or used so as to constitute a hazard to boating or public safety (in practice in South Carolina and Georgia)

The Memo/Packet of materials ACA Tennessee provided to Commissioners is linked here:

On December 2, the Fish and Wildlife Commission did vote to add two requirements to the trotline regulation, but fell short of the safety considerations national experts have asked for. The Commission did, for the first time, create a requirement that trotlines be checked every 24 hours, long considered a minimal safety standard in regulations in other states. The Commission also added a stipulation that the trotline cannot extend more than 3/4 of the way across a river. While this is an improvement from the previous version of the regulation which allowed bank-to-bank trotlines, Scott Fisher demonstrated in this educational video (at the 7:53 mark) that

a trotline that only extends midway across a river is not actually much safer because the hydrologic force of the water still keeps a hooked victim in the current.

Please click the button below to send an email to the Tennessee Legislature asking them to watch this compelling testimony and pass a bill to solve these problems.

Elevate your Perspective: Making the Switch from Tent to Hammock Camping

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:56:37 GMT

I’ve had many revelations through my journey as a once-upon-a-time tent camper to a current hammock camper. And it has truly been a journey because the learning curve was very different from when I first learned to camp. Here are a few of the main ones.

We were all taught that when pitching a tent your body must either be perfectly level or at least have your head higher than the rest of your body so that all the blood doesn’t rush to your head while you sleep. Well, it’s different in a hammock; you aren’t laying like a banana and your legs and feet are elevated and your torso and head are level. The trick to that is to hang your hammock in a way where you can lay asymmetrically (at an angle) to achieve a flat area for your head and torso with a slight elevation of your legs! And isn’t it good for your legs to be slightly elevated anyway to help drain the lactic acid from being on your feet all day?

Another revelation I had when I first started sleeping in a hammock was that I didn’t have to get down on my hands and knees anymore to get in my shelter. When getting in a hammock you simply sit down and swing your legs over into it. I like that I can sit in my hammock at chair height and can easily get out of it by simply walking backwards to stand up.

Then there’s that fact that it doesn’t matter how many rocks or pinecones are on the ground or that it’s not exactly level. It's liberating! You can hang right over all of that stuff and not even disturb the forest floor at all. You can also see out 360 degrees in a hammock if you don’t have your tarp pulled down real low. I love watching the fireflies in the summer or a storm roll in after dark.

Also, I don’t roll off my sleeping pad anymore as I did in a tent. I use an under quilt attached under the body of the hammock for insulation and it doesn’t create condensation like a pad can. And with my down sleeping bag or top quilt coupled with the down under quit I’m cradled in my hammock which makes it so soft, warm and cozy.

OK, rain is a bummer, but it happens, and it is easier to deal with by hanging the tarp first before hanging the hammock. So, instead of rain getting inside my tent before I can get the rain fly on, I can get my tarp up before even taking my hammock out of the bag and it stays dry. I can even cook with my backpacking stove under my tarp while sitting in my hammock while it’s raining. And one of my favorite habits is to have that first cup of coffee from my hammock in the morning. It takes a nice big tarp of course and learning how to properly pitch one is a science. There are even tarps with doors for total privacy!

Additionally, the fear that goose down sleeping bags being a bad choice in case it gets wet isn’t an issue any longer either. That worry went away because in a hammock I’m at least 3 foot above the ground away from any chance of getting wet when under a tarp. So, embracing downy goodness is not only allowed it’s encouraged for hammock camping because it’s the warmest and lightest choice.

I went on a trip with friends to the Hiawassee in Southeast Tennessee several years ago and a big storm rolled in after we had all gone to sleep. I was the only one in a hammock set up and everyone else was in a tent. It rained so hard I watched rivers of water washing under me. Once I was confident that all my stuff was secure and that I was high and dry I was able to go back to sleep. The next morning, I made my coffee from my hammock and snuggled back down into my sleeping bag for a bit. I watched one of my friends drag her tent over to a water spigot at the bath house to wash the mud splatter from it before she packed it up dripping wet. When I packed up, the only thing that was wet was my tarp that stuffed into a small bag. The next year when we made that trip again that same friend had gotten a hammock rig!!!

Then, how about where to put all your stuff? Starting out in a tent we all got used to throwing in a pad, a sleeping bag, our clothes bag and maybe a bottle of water. No food of course, that goes in a bear bag in a tree or in the car. If you have any wet things, some people string up a clothesline or spread everything out inside their tent. I discovered I can do the same in a hammock. By adding a ridgeline of cord to my hammock it can be used as a clothesline for damp clothes. And my eyeglasses and headlamp can be hung on it right where I can reach it.

I have a dry place to hang my mostly empty backpack on the end of my hammock too, because nothing should be on the ground for critters to get into. I even tie my shoelaces together and throw my boots over the other end of my hammock. If you have a chair with you, put that under your tarp as well and throw stuff in it like your water bottle and place it where you can reach it while in the hammock. Sure, learning suspension systems for tarps and hammocks has a steeper learning curve and there is a technical aspect to it than simply throwing up a tent. But, in addition to the above benefits, I don’t need to carry poles or ground cloths any longer and everything fits so easily in my backpack.

I first got interested in this from an online forum called hammockforums.net. And I then met some of the first people who developed many of the innovations that have perfected hammock camping by attending the hammock camping gatherings that are called "Hangs”. It was like going to a festival for hammock campers and seeing all the different types of set-ups and different methods of deploying them. It really gave me a good grasp of the concept and helped me figure out angle of the suspension from the trees, how much sag the hammock should have and how high from the ground to hang the hammock. But after seeing many different examples and practicing with my hammock set up to dial everything in, it became quick and simple!

Hammock Forums spun out of the White Blaze Forum for the Appalachian Trail hikers. Most all of the original cottage vendors that make the best gear came out of those innovative years on Hammock Forums and most were AT thru-hikers and many have very successful businesses now. There are Facebook groups now too and many other little groups on other social media platforms.

Back in 2010 when I started making the switch, there was only the forum and going to the hangs was a regular habit that we all participated in, and we learned so much together. I found myself traveling all over the place from north to south and in all seasons. From deep winter hangs at Mount Rogers to southern hangs all over Florida and South Carolina and making friends along the way. I've hung with the Gorge Rats in Linville Gorge in North Carolina with the guys who have mapped all of it and have made it available on their forum. They took me to parts of the gorge that are not even on the USGS maps, and they’re all hammock hangers.

The Forums still exist and it’s free to join but take it from me, it's nothing like just going to the store and buying a mass market hammock like ENO or Grand Trunk. It’s much more than that, it’s a journey that can change how you look at sleeping in the outdoors for the better and there’s a fellowship to help you along your way. I’ve shown many friends the joy of sleeping better in the outdoors that had nearly given up, and they’ve shown me gratitude for getting them back out there.

Happy Hanging!

Debbie Briscoe

AKA

L.D. Cakes

Debbie Briscoe teaches hammock hanging, flatwater kayaking, camp cooking, and water safety and rescue for NOLI.

Fall is Backpacking Season!

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 23:49:44 GMT

As temperatures drop and colors change from the lush green of summer to the patchwork quilt of fall, it’s almost as if all the folks in the Appalachian Highlands are drawn outdoors. Local parks are filled with neighbors inhaling the crisp air, dogs rolling in crunchy leaves, and children donning their warm coats with the approach of the silvery tendrils of winter. The region’s rivers empty of summer’s swimsuit-clad tubers but are still playgrounds for boaters and fishermen who know the magic of cool water and breezy afternoons. Trailheads often left empty on the muggiest days of summer burst with locals taking to the trail for a chance to walk amongst the golden canopy of fall. The message is clear, we must go outside.

An avid lover of the outdoors in all forms, there is truly no season or condition that will keep me from making my way to the mountains, the river, the lake or the trail. However, fall invites the opportunity to share one of my favorite ways to enjoy the Appalachian Highlands: overnight backpacking. I started backpacking in my early teens with a childhood best friend and her dad, learning to shoulder everything I needed to explore the ridges, gaps, and coves of Appalachia on my small frame. This love for self-sufficient adventures has evolved into thousands of miles spent on the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and countless others. However, not unlike Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, I hold closely to the notion that there truly is no place like home: the mountains and valleys surrounding Johnson City and the entire Appalachian Highlands Region.

In this season, I’ll stay right where I am. Spend a morning listening to the wind zip across the ridge in the Roan Highlands. Enjoy a walk in the Grayson Highlands that I’ll almost definitely share with wild ponies. Stroll along the banks of Watauga Lake and watch the water become a glossy mirror for the golden shoulders of Pond Mountain above. Steal away to the trails of Buffalo Mountain Park after work and feel overwhelmed with gratitude for this haven just minutes from Johnson City. Make my bed in the leaves under a blanket of stars, joined only by a golden harvest moon.

Taking up a new activity like backpacking and venturing into the unknown can be a bit overwhelming as you learn about gear, techniques, planning, locations and safety considerations. You can minimize the stress though by going with someone experienced enough to show you the ropes, keeping everyone safe and healthy while leading you to places you may have only heard about or seen in pictures. Go out with a trusted friend or become one of mine as I share my love for backpacking through my work with the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI). Join us on an upcoming Backpacking Overnight Adventure on October 22-23—a one-night overnight trip with gear and instruction provided along one of my favorite parts of the Appalachian Trail traversing Unaka Mountain in Northeast Tennessee. We'll include topics such as trip planning considerations, safety considerations, what to pack, gear selection considerations, organizing and packing your gear, choosing routes and campsites, meal planning and camp cooking suggestions and Leave No Trace practices. Our route will take us approximately 12 miles over two days to Beauty Spot near Erwin, Tennessee, offering stunning long-range vistas on clear days.

So, if you have ever looked up at the mountains and wondered what it might be like to journey across each one, sleeping by a mountain stream under a crisp autumn sky and carrying everything you need in a backpack I hope you'll join us Oct 22-23? This is an excellent opportunity for both those who are new to backpacking and looking for a supportive environment to venture out for the first time as well as experienced hikers who want to learn new tips and tricks or just enjoy the companionship of a small-group adventure. For more information go to https://bookeo.com/nolilearn?devent=41568XXYFPC1835B30AFEC_2022-10-22_SqZFDHE3K3up or www.nolilearn.org/calendar.

Minta Ray is an avid outdoors enthusiast and instructor and has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.

Trotline Update & Call-to-Action from Scott Fisher

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 23:43:22 GMT

Over Memorial Day weekend in 2021 I was leading a kayak instructor class on the lower Nolichucky River, a popular section of river widely used by paddlers, fishermen, rafting companies, swimmers and families with children on tubes. This section is frequently busy but was even more so over the holiday weekend, with a steady stream of people enjoying themselves. With me were two of the leading water safety experts and instructor trainers in the country, Robin Pope and Tom Burroughs. Collectively, we have been teaching safety and rescue for over 60 years and have trained thousands of recreational users and professionals, including paddlers, first responders, fire fighters, veterans, park rangers and fishermen. As we worked our way downriver one of our students, David Pope, became snagged by an unmarked line that was stretched bank to bank across the river. It was anchored on river left to a limb jutting out over the river and then continued some distance before going under water, placing that part of the line above the waterline and in the main flow. The line was thicker than regular fishing line and almost impossible to see until David was floating into it. Making matters worse, as he quickly worked to free himself while the current continued to take him downstream, he saw a large heavy-duty fishhook come in direct contact with the front of his life jacket. It’s only through the quick actions of this skilled kayaker that he was able to avoid getting further entangled and pulled underwater. Had the hook caught him in a place other than his life jacket and impaled him there is a strong possibility that he would not be here today. Upon further examination we saw that there were at least 30 more hooks evenly spaced and secured to the main line. Most of the other hooks were underwater, with some dangerously close to the surface.

Trotline material similar to that which entangled our student

Given that the line was unmarked, which is required by law, we assumed it was abandoned and cut it where it was anchored on both banks and in the middle where it was weighted down. When confronted by the line’s owner shortly after, we explained what had happened and the risks the line created but he declined to acknowledge the hazard it posed to river users, despite having just snagged David moments before. We subsequently handed the line back to the owner intact except for the three places we cut the line and continued downriver. At the takeout we were physically blocked in by the trotline owner and others in their vehicles and confronted by the owner’s father, at which point we called in law enforcement. TWRA had jurisdiction on the matter and was, thus, called in to investigate. The TWRA agent, Bethany Watson, interviewed the trotline owner and me separately (she did not interview any of the other six eyewitnesses) and presented her report to the Assistant DA, Todd Hull, who recommended against prosecuting the case because, in his words, he couldn’t blame us for doing what we did given the circumstances. Despite this recommendation from ADA Hull, his boss, Unicoi County District Attorney Ken Baldwin, caved to pressure from the trotline owner’s family and sent the case to grand jury, resulting in me being charged with two counts of interfering with fishing and the case ultimately going to trial this past June. During the trial Judge Stacy Street granted a motion for acquittal and dismissed the case after the state presented its evidence, ruling that it had failed to meet the burden of proof, and questioned that this case should have been brought to trial in the first place. He stressed that all river users have the right to enjoy our state's waterways and that we need to find a way to do so in a manner that looks out for the interests of each other. I couldn't agree more.

Section of river where student was entangled

I and those in our group that day are fully committed to the right of all user groups to enjoy Tennessee's waterways. We are all out there enjoying the beauty of this region doing what we love. I’ve been paddling this area for over 20 years and, outside this incident, have never had an issue with another user, including fishermen. Nor has anyone I know. When we see a fisherman, we respect their space by giving them a wide berth and paddle on. We often wave as we pass by and they frequently do the same. Occasionally we chat for a few minutes. So, any effort to portray this as part of a larger paddler vs fisherman conflict would be an unfortunate mischaracterization that benefits no one. We know issues do occasionally happen, but as someone who spends more time on our region's rivers than most, I haven't seen them. I think that, overall, here in Northeast Tennessee we've done a pretty good job - both paddlers and fishermen - of respecting one another. And, speaking for myself, I have no intention of that changing.

With that in mind, our sole concern here - and the reason we are lobbying TWRA and Tennessee legislators to revise the trotline regulations - is one of public safety. A line full of hooks stretched across a navigable waterway creates a potentially deadly hazard for all river users. We've seen that in Brandon Archer's case in 2019 when eyewitnesses reported that he was entangled by a trotline and subsequently drowned while swimming in the Buffalo River in western Tennessee. His body was retrieved later with the line still wrapped around his leg. And we had another near miss in the incident involving our student last year. Yet some, including officials within TWRA who I have spoken with directly, have downplayed the risk, asserting that should someone be hooked by a line running either fully across or partially across a river the line would just break free. This is an assertion lacking in an understanding of the forces of moving water and simply not true. To illustrate that, I and another swiftwater rescue instructor conducted a simulation that clearly demonstrates the strength and lethality of these lines, and why an entangled or impaled victim in current is unlikely to be released. We shared this educational video with these same officials hoping it would inform their review of current trotline regs but never received a response. What I have a harder time getting my head around, though, is that these officials seemed to accept the possibility of someone getting hooked in the first place.

Trotline simulation

Tennessee fishing regulations as currently written are woefully inadequate in ensuring the most basic of trotline safety practices to minimize the likelihood of someone getting hooked or entangled by one of these lines. A solution to address these shortcomings has been presented by ACA Tennessee in the form of the Fishermen's Rights and Responsibilities Bill . Its stated purpose is to preserve the rights of Tennessee anglers, to make Tennessee waterways with trotlines as safe as possible for other recreational users, and to align Tennessee's currently threadbare trotline regulations with some of the more safety-minded practices of neighboring states. It's not long and worth a read but some of the notable revisions include requiring trotlines to be set parallel to the nearest bank, submerged at least three feet below the surface of the water, clearly marked in such a manner as to be clearly visible, and not be set in a manner that constitutes a hazard to river users.

I support these measures and hope you will too. The best thing you can do at this point - and we ask that you do it now - is to use the provided link below to contact our state legislators and let them know that you support trotline regulation revision. It's a click-through letter that only takes a couple minutes, although you are welcome to personalize it if you wish. TWRA is accepting public comments until this Fr, Sep 9, ahead of their meeting next week when they will present their proposed 2023 regulations to the Fish & Wildlife Commission. By submitting our letters of support, we will be letting state legislators and TWRA know that the time is now to do the right thing and make these changes in the interest of the safety and welfare of those who spend time on Tennessee's waterways. I have seen more people on the river over the last two years - paddlers, swimmers, kayak fishermen and especially families on tubes - than any time in my 20 years paddling these rivers. It will take just one 7-year-old girl or boy to get hooked in the foot, leg, arm or face and then get pulled underwater and drowned to make folks wonder how such a tragedy could have happened. But it will be too late. The damage will be done and a family will be missing a loved one when it could have been prevented. If nothing else, we should care about the safety and well-being of our community and look out for each other. Public safety is the driver here and TWRA would benefit the community at large by making sure that their regulations truly represent the broader public good.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this cause over the last year. There have been too many of you to list but know how much you are appreciated. Please help us continue the effort to change Tennessee's trotline laws by clicking below and asking all those you know to do the same by Fri, Sep 9.

Scott Fisher

Scott Fisher is the founder of the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) and carries advanced instructor certifications in whitewater kayaking and swiftwater rescue.

Trotline Trial Transcript and more

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 23:34:51 GMT

Kayak Camping for Adventure!

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 23:24:25 GMT

Are you the kind of person who wants to find a place far away from the crowds and the sound of cars? I am. I love getting outside in the wilderness where I’m free from everyday living. No phones, no TV, and not even a care to know what time it is. When I first started kayaking I found it wonderful that I could go places I couldn’t drive to or even hike to easily - a sandy beach alongside a river, a forested area where all you can hear are the sounds of nature, and other such delights. I started wanting to stay out for longer and longer stretches of time, and camping in those places was how to do that.

An overnight on an island or a multi-day trip traveling down a slow-moving river like the Suwannee in Florida exploring every nook and cranny along the way is exhilarating and fulfilling as well as a great escape. It's like going back in time. I’ve also discovered large lakes like Kentucky Lake and Berkley Lake that are so wide you can’t see the other side and in such places have spotted golden eagles soaring above me and spied herds of deer in the lush coves. Then there are lakes with waterfalls like Lake Jocassee in South Carolina that have 60 and 80 foot cascades flowing into them that I’ve paddled right up into! And paddling out of an estuary from the South Santee River into a calm ocean bay was a discovery I never could have done from a car. But, of all the places I've kayaked, the Appalachian Highlands of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia offer some of the most stunning waterways with hundreds of miles of beautiful shoreline framed by the lush verdant mountains that characterize our region.

Not every trip need be isolated and sometimes it’s nice to find a little civilization along the way for re-supply or facilities but the most important thing is to have the right gear and supplies. I know we might want to think it’d be like Daniel Boone canoeing down a wild and unknown river but not really. Some comforts are essential because face it, we like being prepared! I like good coffee and better food than dehydrated meals. I also like a nice chair to relax in and a good shelter to protect me from the elements. It’s also important to have the right clothes that aren’t heavy and bulky to pack and that dry quickly.

Learning how to pack all this stuff is a little different from backpacking and can vary depending on the craft of choice. At first I thought I needed a canoe. But, although canoes can carry a lot and are easier to take bigger things in, it's also very doable in a kayak. The first trip I did was in a pretty small, low volume kayak that didn’t have very large hatches so it was a bit of a challenge to fit everything in. I learned not to take too many clothes and how to pack those in a dry bag that fits through the hatch. I also learned how to pack clothes in a way that things can be slid in and out without having to dig through the whole bag to find what I need. And I discovered a variety of other useful things as well, such as the benefit of compression sacks for my sleeping bag, which shelters were the most compact, which cooking systems packed well and how to best carry water.

Gear placement is important so that it is distributed in a way that your boat is balanced and organized. Being organized also helps with transferring everything from boat to camp in fewer trips and helps prevent being strung out all over the place. Of course keeping important things dry from condensation or paddle drip, such as my sleeping bag, clothes and food, is a priority as well. No one wants soggy crackers or waterlogged camp shoes!

Food was my biggest challenge since a big cooler doesn’t really fit in a kayak and ice doesn’t last but a day or two. I don’t care for those pre-made dehydrated meals made for backpacking, so I’ve come up with some “fresher” ideas that don’t need refrigeration and that taste good too! Besides campfire cooking I learned how to Dutch oven cook with those lighter aluminum Dutch ovens, dry bake with a camp stove and two nesting pots, use a reflector oven to bake with aluminum baking pans wired together and even how to cook a bag of microwave popcorn with a camp stove.

Sleeping systems are a thing of personal choice and mine is a hammock unless I’m camping on sand bars or beaches where tents are necessary. I like hammocks because there are no poles to pack, its cleaner since it’s not touching the ground and they are less bulky. I’m above the wet, cold ground so why not use a down sleeping that compacts much smaller and is certainly warmer.

I’ve done many trips over the years and during that time I’ve perfected my methods and learned that although less is sometimes better it's still nice to have certain comforts that make the experience even more enjoyable. And sleeping well and eating well is important to enjoy a trip. So I try my best to make that a priority while I’m out there doing what I love so I can look forward to going again and again!

Want to experience the joys of kayaking camping yourself? Joins instructors from the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute for our next Kayak Overnight Adventure on Watauga Lake July 23-24. Spots are limited. Click here for more information.

Debbie Briscoe is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and instructs kayaking and camping for NOLI. She has helped countless individuals get into the outdoors over the years, many of whom she now counts among her friends.

2022 - Here We Go!

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 22:28:04 GMT

It’s hard to believe that this is our fifth year bringing outdoor education and activities to the region since our start in 2018. Over that time we’ve seen ourselves grow each year, doubling in size again in 2021 and seeing an increasing number of our guests come from ever greater distances to make a visit with us the center of their travels. We love being part of the collective effort to showcase the many wonders of Northeast Tennessee while providing folks with outdoor education that is fun, safe and impactful.

2022 is shaping up to be our best year yet with approximately 50 different types of classes and 140+ unique events scheduled! These cover the gamut of outdoor activities, or disciplines, including kayaking (whitewater and flatwater), whitewater canoeing, wilderness survival & navigation, wilderness first aid & CPR, water safety & rescue, backpacking & camping, and conservation. We have an outstanding team of instructors lined up who are all equally committed to making sure you not only learn new skills but have an exceptional experience in the process. Our class and instructor ratings are consistently top mark reflecting just how invested they are in your success. To see some of the wonderful comments left by our guests click here .

What to expect in 2022:

Kayaking – One of our most popular disciplines, our core kayak classes are returning including beginner level whitewater classes (1 and 2 day), intermediate/advanced whitewater classes and flatwater kayak classes on the lake. Our novice whitewater kayak classes are also returning after feedback from our students indicated there was a gap in training for paddlers who are beyond the beginner stage but not quite ready for class 3. Our 3-day whitewater kayak immersive classes are also coming back, an increasingly popular option for those who want to take their training to the next level and that several consecutive days on the river does such a good job of accommodating. We’re also continuing with our newer whitewater kayak creeking transitional class for those who are interested in learning this sub-discipline on a standard class 3 river first before committing to a true creek. This class is also a good option for any class 3/3+ boater who wants to hone their boat control to a razor’s edge. We have several class 2/3 and class 3/4 Spring Tune-Ups in the next couple months that are quickly booking up and are aimed at helping paddlers shake off the winter cold and quickly return to good form.

One of our staples, the Flatwater Kayak Fun Day, is returning with many dates scheduled throughout the warmer months. It's tough to beat a good day paddling on beautiful Watauga Lake with a lunch stop on an island to take in the scenery. Our Kayak Overnight Adventure is coming back for its second year after great success launching it last summer. And we have a special treat coming in the fall of 2022 – a destination multi-day kayak trip on the Suwannee River in Florida! More to come on this in the coming months. Whitewater instructors Ryan Shealy, Brad Eldridge, Jess Christian and Scott Fisher all carry ACA certification and are ready to help you achieve your goals. Deb Briscoe returns as our lead flatwater kayak instructor and you won’t find a more enthusiastic advocate for the joys of paddling.

Canoeing – Our numerous whitewater canoe offerings are returning including beginner, novice and intermediate level classes. Also returning is the whitewater canoe creeking transitional. Similar to the kayak creeking transitional, this class is a great option for those who are interested in learning this sub-discipline on a standard class 3 river first before committing to a true creek. This class is also a good option for any class 3 open boater who wants to hone their boat control to a razor’s edge. If you’ve never tried the art of the single blade, or have and want to take your skills up a notch, join one of our canoe instructors for some fun and productive time on the water. Whitewater canoe instruction is hard to find and lead ACA certified instructor Viki Austin is as good as they come.

Water Safety & Rescue – Our core water safety and rescue classes are returning, including swiftwater rescue, flatwater safety & rescue and water safety for kids. We are also offering an L3 River Safey & Rescue Instructor Certification Class L3 Instructor Certification Class on May 7-9 for those interested in teaching others how to be safe on the water. Our swiftwater rescue classes tend to fill quickly so we recommend booking early if your work or play takes you on or around moving water - these are skills you’ll want to have. Our swiftwater classes are led by ACA L5 IT Scott Fisher and our flatwater rescue classes are led by ACA L3 River Safety & Rescue instructor Deb Briscoe.

Wilderness Medicine – Wilderness First Aid and CPR remain two of our most in-demand classes and to accommodate that we have added two additional instructors and have five dates on the calendar this year. We strongly encourage anyone who spends time in the outdoors to take this training and recertify every two years. This is training you’ll want to have if and when you need it. Successful completion comes with two-year certification through ASHI, one of the leading credentialing bodies in the country. Our first WFA and CPR classes of the season are coming up March 12-13 and there are just a few spots left. Our primary instructors are former EMT/current PA Robin Pope and former firefighter/first responder Jerry Smith. Both are outstanding and carry instructor certification through ASHI.

Wilderness Survival & Navigation – Our wilderness survival and navigation classes have steadily grown over the last several years to become some of our most popular. Our one- and two-day survival classes are held at our rustic camp on aptly named Survival Island, located right off our outpost in our namesake, the beautiful Nolichucky River. These classes focus on surviving the first 72 hours after an accident/emergency and cover such skills as shelter building, knot tying, fire making, knife craftsmanship, water procurement, signaling and aidless navigation. These skills are not only hugely empowering in the wilderness they are also fun to learn and practice. Our first two-day survival class is this weekend, Mar 5-6, and we still have a few spots left. Our one- and two-day wilderness navigation (aka map & compass) classes are some of the most comprehensive you will find. Using these tools and techniques takes practice and there is simply no substitute to learning good fundamentals and then spending time in the wilderness practicing these skills. Lead instructor is former Army Ranger-qualified infantry officer Scott Fisher who has over 30 years’ experience with these wilderness skills.

Hiking & Camping – The majority of our hiking and camping classes are returning this year, including Backpacking 101, Hammock Hanging and Dutch Oven Cooking. Also returning are our hugely popular free guided hikes to the many great trails in the region. These hikes are capped at 10 to minimize our footprint so we recommend booking early (registering is required). Our first hike of the year is this Sat and takes us to Rock Creek Falls in Unicoi, TN and registration is still open . We are also pleased to enter into our second year offering the Backpacking Overnight Adventure (BOA). This is an excellent opportunity for those who are new to backpacking and looking for a supportive environment to venture out for the first time as well as experienced hikers who want to learn new tips and tricks or just enjoy the companionship of a small-group adventure. Key gear, such as backpack, tent, sleeping bag and pad, is provided. Our hiking and camping instructors include AT thru-hiker Minta “Blueberry” Ray, Debbie Briscoe and new addition to the team Rob Schoborg.

Conservation & Stewardship – We remain committed to protecting the areas in which we live and play and, towards that end, will continue to offer our Leave No Trace classes and other conservation-related events to help raise awareness of our role in the broader ecosystem and how we can all be responsible stewards of our planet. Our free Leave No Trace Awareness Workshops serve as the core of this education and, in addition to our scheduled classes, we can come to schools and other groups by request.

Outdoor Arts – We are looking at two possible additions this year: Writing in Nature and Outdoor Photography. Stay tuned!

All of our classes are on our website www.nolilearn.org and you can see our complete course calendar here .

Wishing you all the best in the year to come and we’ll see you outdoors!

Your Friends at NOLI

Fishermen’s Rights and Responsibilities: Drafting a Trotline Bill

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 22:15:57 GMT

Daniel Rogers (right), pictured with daughters Aly and Abi and NOLI instructor Ryan Shealy.

In the wake of the trotline incident on the Nolichucky River during Memorial Day weekend, 2021, it has become evident that Tennessee’s trotline rules do not adequately address the hazards that trotlines can pose to paddlers, swimmers and other users of the waterways. Our team of paddling leaders at ACA Tennessee – working to support Scott Fisher in the short term and all Tennessee paddlers in the long term – needed to propose changes to the law. As an attorney whose hobbies include both fishing and paddling, I found myself in a unique position to contribute.

As it stands, the only thing Tennessee laws and regulations require of a trotline is that it not exceed 100 hooks, that the drops be at least 24” apart, and that it not be set below dams or in the mouths of rivers, creeks or sloughs. That wasn’t good enough.

In 2019, a recent MTSU graduate died on the Buffalo River while on a canoe trip. He had stopped to swim and became entangled in a suspected trotline. After another near miss with the instructor candidate on the Nolichucky in 2021, we knew it was time we acted to change Tennessee’s law to make trotlines safer.

When I was training under Tom Burroughs, he emphasized the mantra, “prevent the preventables.” I’ve found that to be wise advice, applicable to many things. That was the approach we wanted to adopt toward trotlines. We weren’t looking to outlaw them or strip them of their usefulness to anglers; rather, we wanted to mitigate the inherent risks that a trotline can pose by adding some requirements that would make them more visible to boaters and swimmers and reduce their potential as an entanglement hazard. We wanted the law to state explicitly that trotline anglers have a responsibility not to set a trotline in a way that creates a public hazard, and we wanted to give paddlers a legal defense if they encounter a trotline that presents a clear and present danger and remove that danger by removing or altering an angler’s trotline. Above all, we wanted to prevent future incidents and fatalities on Tennessee waterways.

The incident on the Nolichucky took place just a couple of river miles downstream from North Carolina, where that same trotline (set from bank-to-bank across the current) would have been illegal under NC law. That gave us the idea to survey the laws and regulations governing trotlines in other nearby states. We hoped to find language from existing trotline laws and regulations in other states that we could use to make Tennessee’s trotline law among the best in the southeast.

We wanted to propose a Fisherman’s Rights and Responsibilities Law that would serve as a dynamic example of user groups coming together to share the river while also addressing the responsibilities of sportsmen to refrain from creating hazards for others.

We began by doing a state-by-state search for laws and regulations related to trotlines in every state touching Tennessee, then, we expanded the search to the southeastern U.S., in general. What we found was intriguing, and inspiring. We compiled it into a “digest” of the notable points of each state’s rules. Have a look:

North Carolina

15A N.C. Admin. Code 10C.0206

“Legible and indelible identification of the user’s name and address or the user’s Wildlife Resources Commission customer number.”
“Each trotline shall be conspicuously marked at each end… with a flag, float, or other prominent object so that its location is readily discernible by boat operators and swimmers.”
“Trotlines shall be set parallel to the nearest shore.”

South Carolina

SC Code §50-13-50

“It is unlawful to leave a game fishing device unattended. A game fishing device left unattended is contraband.”
“It is unlawful to use, place, set, or fish a device so as to constitute a hazard to boating or public safety.”

SC Code §50-13-620

“A trotline… must be marked with a white floating marker not less than a capacity of one quart and not more than a capacity of one gallon and must be made of solid, buoyant material that does not sink if punctured or cracked. A floating marker must be constructed of plastic, PVC, spongex, plastic foam, or cork. A hollow buoy or float, including plastic, metal, or glass bottles or jugs, must not be used except that a manufactured buoy or float specifically designed for use with nongame fishing devices may be hollow if constructed of heavy duty plastic material and approved by the department. The owner’s name and department customer identification number must be legible on each of the white floating markers. Both commercial and recreational fisherman shall comply with provisions of this title pertaining to the marking and use of a nongame fishing device. A trotline must be marked on both ends. A commercial trotline must be marked at intervals of every fifty hooks. A commercial trotline which uses fifty or fewer hooks must be marked at intervals of twenty-five hooks. A recreational trotline must be marked at intervals of every twenty-five hooks. Each interval float must be “International Orange” in color.”
“A tag issued for a nongame device must be attached to the device at all times. A permit and tag receipt must be kept on the person to whom issued while possessing or using a nongame fishing device.”
“A device or part of it improperly marked, tagged, or identified is in violation and is contraband.”

SC Code §50-13-630

“A fishing device authorized by this article must not be used, placed, set, or fished so as to constitute a hazard to boating or public safety.”

SC Code §50-13-650

“April first to October first a trotline is not permitted in waters in this State one hour after official sunrise to one hour before official sunset unless the trotline is sunk to the bottom or to a minimum depth of four feet below the water surface.”
“A trotline, cable, line or any other device used for support may not extend more than halfway across a stream or body of water.”

Georgia

GA Code §27-4-32

Sport trotlines must be marked with the owner’s name and address and with visible buoys and must be submerged at least three feet below the surface of the water.”

Florida

Florida Administrative Code §68A-23.004

Trotlines prohibited between 9:00 a.m. and sunset in most waters

Alabama

Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.46

“It shall be unlawful for any fisherman other than a licensed commercial fisherman to fish one or more trotline, snag or snare line or combination thereof containing more than 100 hooks.”

Mississippi

40 Miss. Code R. §3-3.1

“It is unlawful to set any freshwater commercial fishing equipment so that it extends more than half way across any stream, channel, drain or other body of water. A guide line that does not impede navigation may be set.”

Louisiana

LA Rev. Stat. §56:321

“No person shall set, maintain, take or attempt to take fish from any trotline of which any segment of the staging line measures in excess of four feet where any portion of any hook extends above the surface of the waters of any of the bodies of waters within the state of Louisiana.”
“Such action shall be considered prima facie evidence of negligence in a civil action for damages suffered by another as a result thereof.”

Arkansas

002.01.20-133 Ark. Code R. §26.21

Nothing notable

Missouri

Mo. Code Regs. Tit. 3§10-6.410

“Live bait traps, hooks, trotlines, throw-lines, limb lines, bank lines, or anchored jug lines (rendered immobile from the location where set) may not be left unattended for more than twenty-four (24) hours or must be completely removed. Unanchored jug lines in streams must be attended at all times by the permittee’s immediate presence. Unanchored jug lines in impounded waters must be attended by the permittee’s immediate presence at least one (1) time per hour. For purposes of this section, immediate presence is defined as within sight of the location of equipment in order to personally claim or identify such equipment during inspection by an agent of the department.”

Kentucky

301 Ky. Admin. Regs. 1:410§4

Sport fishing trotlines must be set at least three feet below the water’s surface
Must be checked or baited at least once every twenty-four hours

Virginia

4VAC15-350-60

“Any person setting or in possession of a trotline, jugline, or set pole shall have it clearly marked by permanent means with his name, address, and telephone number, and is required to check all lines at least once each day, remove all fish and animals caught, and remove all lines when not in use.”

And with this digest in hand, we drafted this bill:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-4-104, is amended by deleting the section and substituting:

(a) Fish may be taken:

(1) With rod and reel;

(2) By hook and line held in the hand while fishing; or

(3) By one (1) or more trotlines that meet the requirements of subsection (c).

(b) Except as provided for in subsection (a), this title, or the commission's rules or proclamations, a person shall not use or possess an instrument for the killing, catching, or taking of fish or other aquatic life.

(1) Consist of a main line with drop lines that are not longer than twenty-four inches (24") to which single hooks are attached. The drop lines must be no closer than twenty-four inches (24") together. A trotline must not consist of more than one hundred (100) hooks that are attached and baited to catch fish;

(2) Be conspicuously marked at each end with a white floating marker having a capacity of not less than one quart (1 qt.) nor more than one gallon (1 gal.) and made of solid, buoyant material that does not sink if punctured or cracked. Each white floating marker must be marked legibly and indelibly with the trotline owner’s name, address, and telephone number or the agency identification number for the trotline;

(3) Be marked at intervals of every twenty-five (25) hooks with an interval float that is daylight fluorescent orange in color, as defined in § 70-4-124(b). Each interval float must be marked legibly and indelibly with the trotline owner’s name, address, and telephone number or the agency identification number for the trotline;

(4) Be set parallel to the nearest shore;

(5) Not be set within one hundred yards (100 yds.) of the mouth of any river, creek, or slough, or within one thousand yards (1,000 yds.) below any dam that is owned or operated by the Tennessee Valley authority or the United States army corps of engineers;

(6) Be submerged at least three feet (3') below the surface of the water, and no part of any drop line or hook may extend on or above the surface of the water;

(7) Not be used, placed, set, or fished in a manner that constitutes a hazard to boating or public safety;

(8) Be checked and all animals caught removed at least once every twenty-four (24) hours; and

(9) Not be set before one-half (1/2) hour before sunset and be removed within one-half (1/2) hour after sunrise each day on April 1 through October 1 of each year.

(d) It is a Class B misdemeanor offense for a person to intentionally make or possess, or use for the taking of fish, a trotline that is inconsistent with the requirements of subsection (c).

(e) Any trotline made or used in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of subsection (c) is contraband and subject to seizure by any law enforcement officer having knowledge thereof, subject to §70-6-201.

(f) There is a cause of action for a person who suffers bodily injury or death resulting from the use of a trotline in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of subsection (c). In a civil action under this subsection (f):

(1) A violation of subdivision (c)(6) is prima facie evidence of negligence on the part of the trotline owner; and

(2) The court shall award a prevailing plaintiff treble damages, together with reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-4-302, is amended by adding the following as a new subsection:

(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section and § 39-14-206 that a person removed or altered another person's trotline to prevent or remedy a clear and present danger posed by the trotline to the person or another person who was lawfully using the waters of the state.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2022, the public welfare requiring it.

We've taken the best language we could find and asked the Tennessee General Assembly to adopt it, but we need your help. Please click the link in this article and ask your representatives to support this bill. Paddlers are a large and growing percentage of the citizens of Tennessee. If we speak up now we have the opportunity to prevent another senseless tragedy.

Will you help us?

Trotline Dispute Leads to Criminal Charges

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 22:05:40 GMT

Letters to the Editor in Support of Changing TN Trotline Regulations

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 21:01:37 GMT

1. Charlie Walbridge, Johnson City Press, October 29, 2021

2. Kingsport TimesNews, OpEd & CALL FOR LETTERS, October 13, 2021

3. Charlie Walbridge in the Kingsport TimeNews, October 17, 2021

4. Mike Jaskoski in Kingsport TimesNews, October 18, 2021

5. Sam Fowlkes in Erwin Record, October 27, 2021

6. Viki Austin in Erwin Record, October 27, 2021

7. Brad Eldridge in Erwin Record, October 27, 2021

8. Daniel Rogers in the Humboldt Chronicle , November 3, 2021

9. Daniel Rogers in the Milan Mirror-Exchange , November 3, 2021

10. Daniel Rogers in the Commercial Appeal, November 10, 2021

TN Paddling Leaders Ask TWRA to Change Trotline Regulation for Safety

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 20:24:11 GMT

On October 22, 2021, I made a pilgrimage to West Tennessee to offer public comment in front of the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission about Tennessee's trotline regulations. I was not alone. Daniel Rogers, the President of the West Tennessee Canoe & Kayak Club, who is both a lifelong angler and a certified ACA River Kayaking instructor, and Scott Fisher joined me.

The Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission (TFWC) basically serves as the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). On this day they were voting on the 2022 fishing regulations in preparation to print the new Fishing Guide in November. For any motion before Commission there is always a period when the Chairman solicits public comment from the gallery, which is when we expected to speak. Paddling leaders made a very conscious effort to approach the Commission as safety-minded advocates for our paddlers and our rivers with an expectation that while the Commissioners might have a different perspective, they would also be approaching the issue as responsibly minded sportsmen concerned about public safety.

TWRA Executive Director Bobby Wilson and Fish & Wildlife Commission Chairman Jim Ripley were very gracious to us and gave us time on the agenda to speak for 3-5 minutes each, but the Chairman did not allow us to speak before they voted on the fishing regulations. Bypassing the standard comment period for the fishing regulations, the Chairman took the vote, which passed unanimously, without allowing comment on the regulations before that vote was taken.

As a lifelong angler, Daniel led us off with an appeal to recognize the overlap between the paddling and fishing communities, the shared values around conservation and safety, and looking for ways our communities can work together to resolve user group conflicts. He also asked them to consider ways that the Tennessee trotline falls short of the regulations employed by neighboring states on several aspects related to safety.

Scott followed up with an appeal from the heart. He asked the Commissioners to envision kids on inner tubes floating down the river and what might have happened if a seven year old girl on an inner tube had gotten caught on that trotline instead of a professional first responder. He appealed to them to answer this call to change the regulation before there is another fatality recorded in Tennessee that is attributed to entanglement with a trotline. (Note: Brandon Archer drowned on the Buffalo River in Lobelville, TN in 2019 when his foot got caught in a trotline https://www.actionnews5.com/2019/09/03/memphis-man-drowns-river-middle-tenn/ )

I closed out the paddlers' testimony, reminding the Commissioners of all of the bridges we have crossed between TWRA and the paddling community over the last several years and continuing to hold the door open for more of those opportunities. I appealed for their consideration that we need a channel to steer user group conflicts to de-escalate conflicts and find common ground solutions before situations escalate to the point of criminal charges or fatalities. In this moment, I asked them to take a first step by focusing on all the ways the current Tennessee trotline regulation -- as amended by the Fish & Wildlife Commissioners who came before them -- already acknowledges the dangers of trotlines in moving water and appealing to them to amend this regulation so that bank-to-bank trotlines across a navigable waterway will no longer be legal.

You can watch our testimony here. The section of the meeting where we appeared begins at the 37:30 mark and lasts for less than 15 minutes. TFWC Meeting 102221

Following our testimony, the Chairman directed Commissioner Tommy Woods of Piney Flats, TN, who chairs the Boating and Law Enforcement Committee, and Commissioner Kent Woods of Kodak, TN, who chairs the Fisheries Committee, to work together to gather recommendations for changes to the trotline regulation. After the meeting Director Wilson suggested that I can follow up directly with Fisheries Chief Frank Fiss and Colonel Darren Rider, who serves over Boating and Law Enforcement, to track the progress of this initiative. We were not given a timeline for next steps, but whatever recommendations are made will have to come to a vote before the full Commission. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for December 16 and 17 in Gatlinburg, TN.

Ever Read the First Person Account by Someone Caught in a Trotline?

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 06:51:33 GMT

As published in The Erwin Record , Wednesday, October 13, 2021

It includes the first hand account of David Pope, a professional first responder and a lifelong whitewater paddler, from his experience nearly getting caught in a trotline.

Trotlines are Dangerous

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 06:37:59 GMT

Why is Scott Fisher Facing Criminal Charges for

Removing a Potentially Lethal Hazard on the Nolichucky River?

Over Memorial Day weekend, our own Scott Fisher was teaching a Whitewater Kayaking instructor course on the Lower Nolichucky River in Erwin, TN. In this case he was accompanied by Robin Pope, the ACA President of the Board of Directors and Division Chief for the Paddlecraft Safety Division for the US Coast Guard Auxiliary nationwide. Also accompanying them was Tom

Burroughs, a highly esteemed Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Trainer and Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Trainer Educator from Arkansas. (In our own ACA world, Tom and Robin are 2 of the 5 highest ranking Whitewater Safety & Rescue Instructors in the nation.)

During the course of the class, one of the instructor candidates became tangled in a fishline and briefly snagged a fishhook on his PFD. Upon examination, the instructor class realized that a trotline with multiple had been placed bank to bank across the whitewater river. The ensnared paddler was a highly

experienced kayaker and he had the wherewithal to disentangle himself rapidly and without injury. But this section of river is a heavily traveled tourism destination, often utilized by kids and families on all manner of paddlecraft and inner tubes. The trotline was suspended at a height that would strike a canoe, kayak or raft paddler, or an inner tube rider, anywhere from just above water level to neck and head level, and an SUP paddler at ankle to thigh level.

The instructor team recognized that a hazard had been placed on the river during a heavily trafficked holiday weekend and removed the hazard. There were no markings

on the trotline that were visible to anyone at water level to identify an owner and no owner was anywhere in sight. It was not a hypothetical hazard; it was a demonstrated hazard having already ensnared a paddler.

Downstream, fishermen confronted the class, videoed the exchange and posted inflammatory narratives and threats against paddlers on social media. At the takeout, the fishermen blocked the paddlers' cars and would not leave until law enforcement was called.

Fundamentally, this situation could have been handled as a user conflict between different user groups sharing the river, or safety could have been prioritized and actions taken against the person who created

a hazard on a navigable river (and the county's most popular tourist attraction). Instead, TWRA and the local District Attorney decided to press criminal charges against Scott Fisher.

Scott served our country as an Officer in the 101st Airborne, a Ranger qualified soldier who was decorated for his service to our country. And now he serves us as one of the top 15 Whitewater Safety and Rescue instructors in the American Canoe Association nationwide. On Memorial Day weekend he helped keep our community and the people who vacation here safe on the river. He does not deserve to be fingerprinted and processed like a criminal or face criminal charges for keeping people safe after the trotline was demonstrated as a proven hazard.

Please click this link (below) to send an email to the TWRA Fish and Wildlife Commissioners and ask that the trotline regulation be changed so that it does not allow a trotline to be set bank to bank across moving water.

How to Appease the River Gods

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:03:04 GMT

A kayaking friend told me a terrible story today about a time when he found a body in the river.

I won’t go into the details here of how he found her or how he got her out. The part of the story that struck me the most were the events leading up to the tragedy.

This particular boater was in a recreational kayak, not designed for whitewater, on a Class III+ river. She apparently had been on relatively easy sections of the river before, but on that fateful day, had decided to attempt a new section she had never seen. She packed a lunch in a zip lock baggie, and brought a book to read presumably on the sandy shores of the river during her lunch of leisure. She was alone.

She had taken some precautions in case of trouble. She tied a rope from the bow of her kayak to herself, and then on her paddle as well. That rope may have been what trapped her in her kayak after she flipped in a rapid with a difficulty level well above her skill set.

Whitewater paddlers regularly make comments about the will of the river gods and magical thinking. It is usually done in a joking way, and usually after a swim or other unfortunate circumstance. As in, “Wow… I always nail that boof.. That was a loooong swim. I guess the river gods are mad today!” In all honesty though, we know we made some error along the way that led to our beat down.

How do we appease the river gods? Different paddlers have different answers. Though in my experience paddlers aren’t particularly superstitious, I’ve heard many different answers to this. It usually involves some sort of gear sacrifice to the river: sunglasses, Nalgene bottle, throw rope, or -- in extreme cases -- paddles and boats.

But what do the river gods really want? Occasional sacrifices? A pair of sunglasses twice yearly? A sacrificial fire into which you throw a prusik cord, one Nalgene bottle, and white sage? Probably not.

What the “river gods” really desire is competent and well-trained paddlers.

While the very nature of whitewater paddling by definition has a certain amount of unpredictability, it’s not totally out of our control. The most dire consequences are totally avoidable with the appropriate amount of practice doing hard moves on easy rivers, pool sessions when possible, practicing rope throws, good mentorship, and focused training.

At NOLI, we take time every spring before classes start to have refresher classes in Wilderness First Aid, Swift Water Rescue, and instructor-to-instructor paddling sessions to discuss common experiences and best practices.

Everyone is rusty after the winter months when paddling opportunities are less frequent. All skills are perishable without reinforcement and practice. Often times those weak spots in our technique or reflexes are where the “river gods” will strike. We can increase our odds of success with consistent training and humble self-reflection about where we’re at and where we’d like to be.

I’m as guilty as anyone. When I fail to execute a monster boof, or get flipped by a radical curler wave, or my paddle gets snagged by a “paddle snake,” I’m happy to blame it on supernatural intervention. But I also understand when I am saying, “the river gods must be angry today,” that it is actually a euphemism for, “Wow, I really messed up!”

The sacrifice that the river gods really want is time and effort. By taking the time each and every year to do an honest self-inventory of skills we need to improve, and taking the time to polish those skills in a safe and controlled environment, we are far less likely to find ourselves in a dire situation with potentially tragic consequences. This is true for every level of paddling, from flat water to extreme whitewater.

When was the last time you practiced accurate rope throws? How consistent is your roll? Yeah.. your offside roll too. When was the last time you had to do a combat roll? Will you be ready the next time the river asks you to do one? Are all your locking carabiners in good working order? Are you personally physically fit enough to participate in your own rescue and swim aggressively in cold, swift water?

The spring is a perfect time to not only go through a gear and personal skills inventory; it is also the perfect time to knock off the dust where needed. If it’s been a while since your last Swift Water Rescue class , sign up for a refresher . If you’re struggling with a consistent combat roll, get with experienced friends who can help you or take our NOLI combat roll class . Start the spring on rivers one class below where you ended last season and work on fundamentals like catching eddys, surfing waves, ferries, and peel-outs.

We’d love to see you in any of our classes . Most importantly though, we’d like to see you enjoying the river and appeasing the river gods to paddle another day. While risk on the water can’t be eliminated, the sacrifice of time by putting in the effort to get appropriate training each and every season will make the river gods, and yourself, very happy with the results.

SYOTR

Brad

Brad Eldridge teaches whitewater kayaking and canoeing. To learn more about the types of class offerings that Brad teaches go to www.nolilearn.org/kayak and www.nolilearn.org/canoe .

The Outdoors are Calling in 2021!

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 06:51:05 GMT

It's hard to believe but we're just a few short weeks away from kicking off our 2021 season here at NOLI. And, if you're anything like us (we bet you are!), you're looking forward to spending as much of it outdoors as possible. We have a lot planned this year - our fullest calendar of events to-date - with over 50 different classes and 150+ unique events scheduled. Returning are all of our established classes across our core disciplines including Kayaking , Canoeing , Wilderness Medicine , Water Safety & Rescue , Conservation , Hiking & Camping , and Wilderness Survival & Navigation . And we are pleased to announce the addition of several new classes this year, some of them the direct result of your feedback and requests. These include:

Knots for the Outdoors - 3 hour class that not only teaches you how to tie a variety of useful knots but gives you the opportunity to practice them in real-world applications.
Map Reading & Compass 2 - Many of you asked for it so we are now happy to offer a Map Reading & Compass 2 Class for those who have taken Map Reading & Compass 1 and want to further develop their skills.
Whitewater Kayak "Spring Tune-up" - A great way to shake off the winter cold and quickly return to good form.
Whitewater Kayak Creeking Transitional - For kayakers interested in getting into this tighter, steeper subdiscipline of whitewater boating, our transitional class gives participants the opportunity to learn and apply creeking techniques on a standard river first rather than committing to a true creek right off the bat. A great skills development option for class 3+ non-creekers too.
Overnight Kayak Adventure - A while in the making, we are now excited to offer Overnight Kayak Adventures on the emerald green mountain-ringed waters of Watauga Lake. This course will be loaded to our website shortly so stay tuned!
L4/5 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Course - Now offered for those seeking to become Level 4 (Basic) or Level 5 (Advanced) Swiftwater Rescue Instructors. Our Level 3 River Safety and Rescue Instructor Course and full line-up of water safety classes will also be returning, as will our Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor Course .
Youth Camps - We are still assessing these for 2021 but are looking to possibly add 3-5 day Whitewater Kayak and Wilderness Survival-themed camps for youth this summer. Stay tuned!

Returning to lead our classes in 2021 is our stellar team of talented instructors: Viki Austin, Debbie Briscoe, Kayla Carter, Brad Eldridge, Bill Schooley, Ryan Shealy, Jerry Smith and Robin Pope. And we are pleased to announce the addition this year of Minta Ray, an avid hiker and outdoorsperson who successfully completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2018. She'll be leading many of our hiking and backpacking events, including our Backpacking 101 Class and our free instructor-led hikes throughout the region. To learn more about all of these exceptional individuals, among the very best in the business, go to www.nolilearn.org/meet-our-instructors.

We remain committed this year to providing outdoor education to as many people as possible regardless of age, experience or financial circumstances. To inquire about scholarship options contact us at info@nolilearn.org. As always your safety and well-being remain our top priorities and, to that end, our COVID-19 protocols remain in place for your protection as well as that of our instructors and community.

The outdoors are as much a part of a healthy lifestyle as ever, maybe more so, and we look forward to spending time with many of you again this year doing the things we all love. If you need anything or have any questions contact us any time. See you outside in 2021!

Scott Fisher is the founder of NOLI and teaches kayaking, water safety & rescue, wilderness survival, wilderness navigation and Leave No Trace.

Get Outside - Responsibly

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 05:32:08 GMT

It’s exciting to think that more people are connecting with public lands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have shown that spending more time in green spaces and engaging in physical activity have positive health outcomes for your mind and body. However, there’s now piling evidence to show that we are not taking our environment’s health seriously. The amount of negative impacts people can have on our natural world is nothing new. As if it wasn’t already bad enough prior to the pandemic, the negative human impacts in the forests and waterways are worsening now. The purpose of this blog post is to provide you with three ways you can earn the title of a responsible outdoor enthusiast, but first let me share some of the reasons I care about this topic.

The biggest human impact problem in the outdoors in my opinion is trash. It’s easiest to spot along a back road that otherwise would be quite scenic and serene. But, it’s the hardest bad habit for people to break it seems. Land managers and the avid outdoor enthusiasts alike are noticing that the backcountry trash culture is getting worse as more people flock to find outdoor opportunities as respite from quarantines and for purposes of social distancing. While I like to think it’s universal that trash on trails makes everyone’s blood boil, I know that it doesn’t because I see it out there all the time. Why does it not register with some people that tires dumped into ravines, picnic supplies left behind at overlooks and heavy broken pieces of gear tossed aside or left in shelters along the Appalachian Trail (AT) is NOT OK?

Trash along the Nolichucky River

I know this is not solely a Northeast Tennessee issue as there are people across this country who disrespect our public lands by throwing out trash in our rivers and parks. Also, I realize that trash is of course not the only backcountry problem caused by humans. First responders are burdened with increases in search and rescue missions because more people are outside without the right gear or knowledge of their surroundings. Rare and endangered plants are being plucked or trampled on in sensitive ecosystems. We are seeing first-hand the negative outcomes from human impacts related to fires in the West. Wildlife is being disturbed for photo ops or other unnecessary reasons. And, lastly various user groups are upset with having more traffic from other user groups on shared trail systems.

The pandemic has seen increased visitation to parks - and trash

I’ve noticed that bad etiquette in the outdoors has also become quite a disturbing niche on the Internet that is considered a form of entertainment for people now. There are social media accounts dedicated to showcasing the myriad of ways humans degrade our natural environment. I’m not clear on their purpose most of the time. I applauded them at first because it’s clear that they want to help educate people about behaviors in the backcountry that can be damaging. Now, I realize there’s a darker side to this phenomenon with potential to cause backlash and to drive people away from the outdoors. Some of these accounts take pleasure in publicly embarrassing the folks who are displaying bad behaviors. Bullying and shame is never the answer. This tactic damages a person’s bond with the outdoors and worse could cause someone to double down on their bad behavior in spite. We must focus on the modeling the right behaviors and seeking out the people who wish to be part of the solution. Are you one of those people?

Volunteer Bekah Price cleans out an AT shelter

I’ll also add that no one is perfect or expected to be. I still make mistakes all the time. Mistakes are how we grow and learn. Real change comes when you take responsibility for your actions and choose the path that leads to new outcomes. We must learn how to make change and truly understand why we are doing it. Obviously trash on trails really upsets me, but I try my best to approach these topics with grace and understanding. I tell myself, “After all, these newcomers to the outdoors are probably not educated about the best practices and lack a moral compass in the woods.” We must make it a priority for ourselves that we learn some basics for how to get outside responsibly and take better care of the land.

Volunteers maintaining part of the Appalachian Trail

So, now I offer you three ways in which you can take the path toward becoming a more responsible outdoor enthusiast:

Advocacy – Donate to or help raise money for non-profits that serve the outdoor industry. Call your local, state and federal elected leaders to demand more resources for public land managers to help them enforce and educate the public about proper waste disposal. Most importantly, be a good advocate by modelling good behaviors in the backcountry. You can also find something related to the outdoors that you are passionate about and share that with the world in a positive and unique way.

Stewardship – Become a volunteer trail maintainer or get involved in a volunteer trail work day. Seek out park staff or organizations that would welcome you to assist them in taking care of the land they manage. Seek out educational resources to learn more about the ecology of a specific place or learn more about the natural world in general. Try to find more environmentally friendly ways to accomplish tasks at work and in your daily lives.

Leave No Trace – And, finally, learn these seven guidelines set forth by the Center for Outdoor Ethics. I can teach you some fun hand gestures to help you remember them all. Actually, I invite you to sign up for my two-day course with NOLI that would earn you a cool badge and pin that says “Leave No Trace Trainer” and then you can go out and teach more people! It’s also a great resume booster. If you’re interested in my class, you can find out more information and sign up here. The next Trainer Course is Nov. 14 and 15. We have limited the capacity to six spots to accommodate added safety precautions during the pandemic.

Girl Scouts pick up trash along the Nolichucky River

Should you not be able to do any of the things I mentioned, I hope just by reading this you take time to think through how much of an impact (positive or negative) that you can make while on your next outdoor adventure. I want everyone to know that the outcomes of human impacts on our environment could mean we lose access and degrade natural areas completely. We can be motivated to change our habits when we are told by a doctor that we must exercise more to live longer. Who is going to motivate you to do the same for the sake of the natural world so that it may thrive and ultimately so that we can survive? We must take care of public lands and waterways like we should take care of our bodies. After all, we are products of our environment and it is what ultimately what sustains us.

Kayla Carter is a Leave No Trace Master Educator and the Outdoor Development Manager for Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership. She successfully through-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2014 and helps maintain part of the trail during her free time.

October is Conservation Month at NOLI!

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 05:15:22 GMT

October is Conservation Month at NOLI. Actually, we like to think of every month as conservation month at NOLI but want to make it front and center in October. The goal: to raise awareness of conservation and stewardship-related issues, discuss ways we can get involved including best practices that we can all adopt, and to profile organizations both regionally and nationally that are doing excellent work on behalf of the environment.

Native American tribes such as the Iroquois, Cherokee and Lakota adhered to a philosophy called the 7th Generation Principle, which embodied the belief that before taking any action affecting the land they would consider its implications to 7 generations hence. They recognized that they didn't “own” the natural world but were rather entrusted with its care. They drew from the land but did so sustainably and with respect, ever mindful of ways to minimize their impact. They understood that it was a symbiotic relationship, a co-existence: exploit the natural world and they would be exploiting themselves. This philosophy was brought into the mainstream in the 1800s by the pioneering naturalist and conservationist Aldo Leopold. His Roots in the Land Ethic asked the question “How can we protect our lands?” It made the leap from an ethos that stressed unregulated exploitation of the land to one that regarded the natural world as another important component of our community and, therefore, worthy of our protection. He believed that this is something that we should do not because we have to but because it’s the right thing to do. We at NOLI subscribe to this same philosophy.

Aldo Leopold

Reflective of that we have several conservation events coming up over the next few weeks. First, we will be speaking to students enrolled in the Northeast Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Certificate Program on Oct 20 about Sustainability and Leave No Trace (LNT). This program prepares graduates for entry or advanced promotion into a wide range of management positions in culinary, food & beverage, lodging, attraction, and tourism related industries. Northeast Tennessee has an abundance of natural beauty and the rest of the world is taking notice as we continue to see increased numbers of people visiting and retiring to our region. So, it’s fantastic to see a program like this dedicate part of the curriculum to a topic focused on tourism and hospitality that is sustainable and conservation-minded.

Next, we have an Eco Explorer Day planned with the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians on Oct 24 where we will teach the 7 Principles of LNT and then lead a short hike where we get to apply the principles along a section of the Appalachian Trail. We’ll wrap up the day picking up trash along our namesake river, the beautiful and mighty Nolichucky River. We are so glad to be partnering with the Girl Scouts in this effort and especially to be playing a role in helping these girls make a lasting connection to the outdoors that will hopefully inspire them to be environmental advocates and protectors for future generations. This event is full but we plan to offer events like this again next year.

Nolichucky River

ast but not least, NOLI LNT Master Educator Kayla Carter will be leading a 2-day LNT Trainer Course on Nov 14-15 at our outpost at USA Raft. It is a condensed version of the Master Educator Course and is designed for educators, guides, agency employees, other outdoor professionals and anyone interested in learning more about minimum impact skills and ethics. This course covers the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace as well as techniques for sharing these low impact skills. The main objective of this course is to train attendees on how to model and present the ethics to others. You don't have to be an outdoor leader to take this class; it's open to anyone with an interest in learning more about LNT and ways they can share its teachings with others. We are currently taking registrations. For more information and to register click here . Also, look for Kayla’s blog article in the coming weeks entitled “Get Outside – Responsibly”.

Kayla Carter teaching LNT

What’s Next?

Over the rest of this month look for regular posts on our Facebook page that profile an environmental issue, organization or best practice. If you haven’t already done so be sure to Like or Follow our page to get notified of new posts. Have a suggestion on something we should include? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at info@nolilearn.org .

Our mission at NOLI is to celebrate the outdoors and help others do the same. And we recognize that central to that mission is protecting our outdoor spaces through awareness, conservation and stewardship. We hope that you will join us in committing to playing a part, no matter how big or small, to help protect our natural places so that future generations will inherit a vibrant, healthy planet and get to experience the same sense of awe and wonder that we enjoy today.

Scott Fisher is the founder and owner of NOLI. He teaches whitewater kayaking, swiftwater & flatwater rescue, survival, wilderness navigation and Leave No Trace.

Backpacking: The Perfect Way to Get Away from It All

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 05:01:30 GMT

Social distancing has been a reality for all of us now for quite some time, and looks like that won't change any time soon. This has led to social disruption, among other impacts, to all our lives. Do you think that NOW might be time to check out how you might do with backpacking? Are you ready to plan the trip when it is safe to do so? Backpacking is a wonderful way to get exercise, replenish the soul and get fresh air. It might be a little work, but I promise you that it is the most rewarding accomplishment. It even may take off the few extra pounds you may have accumulated during the restrictions over the last few months.

I have been backpacking and hiking across the good old USA for over 15 years, Yosemite, Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yellowstone, Tetons, Acadia, the White Mountains, the Great Smokies and right here in Northeast Tennessee, where we have some of the most beautiful areas in which to hike and camp. Each trip has been a different adventure. Sitting on the bank of a remote lake when a bull moose walks by just 20 feet away, barred and screech owls at night, and seeing a mama bear with 3 cubs by a creek from a safe distance are just some of the wondrous things you might encounter. It is special to be able to leave the trafficked areas for the solitude within our country's most beautiful parks and forests. Leave your anxieties behind and join me.

Backpacking is, for me, a way to be alone and yet with friends in such a simple way. Think about it…you carry all the real essentials: food, water and shelter. And all on your back. For me it embraces the antidote for all angst and stress: gratitude for nature. And think of the exercise! Did I already mention that??

This is how I started. After I had been hiking for a few years and had been wearing a day pack I thought that I might like to stay a night outside. I walked into the local outfitters and bought an overnight pack. They had several to choose from and they helped me choose the right one. Yes, I dropped some money, but I was prepared. This is the nucleus of your outfit, the hub, so to speak. The backpack, in my opinion, should be bought where you can get fitted, not online. There is another crucial part of your beginning that I would not advise to buy online, at least not at first, and that is your footwear. I started out with higher boots and have walked many miles in all sorts of shoes. Waterproof or not? I have strong ankles so I can go with low or high boots. Another consideration is the season in which you will be going.

Then I got my tent. There are lots to choose from out there. I have had only two. One of the first considerations should be the weight of the tent. It should be no more than 4 lbs., preferably. There are many alternatives to tenting, of course. There are hammocks, bivouac shelters and more in ultralight gear. I have been used to tenting, so that is my preference.

Next, we go on to sleeping bags, sleeping pads, water and cooking systems, first aid supplies, and luxury items (can’t do without fresh coffee!), including food. I will discuss these things in a later blog. Remember to add up the weight. You will be carrying it!

Maps, compasses, GPS are all essential items for successful trips. Plotting out a doable course for yourself, making reservations (if necessary) and letting another person know where you will be going and when you will be returning are all tasks that make for a safe and enjoyable trip.

We all have been respecting the COVID-19, our families and communities during this time. Now more than ever the outdoors are calling. Will you answer the call?

Joy Cook instructs Backpacking for NOLI. Her next Backpacking 101 Class is Oct 3 from 9a-1p. For more information and to register go to www.nolilearn.org/hiking-camping.

Adventure is Calling & We are Ready!

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 04:52:30 GMT

I'm certainly not telling you anything that you don't know already when I say this has been an interesting year so far. We've all been impacted by COVID-19 and NOLI is no exception. In response to growing concerns over the pandemic we shut down operations on March 14, the day after wrapping up our first wilderness navigation class of the season. Shortly after, Tennessee and North Carolina issued stay-at-home orders and shut down all non-essential activity and businesses, including outdoor recreation-based businesses. With the stay-at-home orders lifted in early May and recreation-based businesses authorized to re-open per TN Executive Order 35 on May 11, as well as a regional downtrend in COVID-19 cases, we have made the decision to re-open on June 8.

We are super excited to start classes again and look forward to spending time with you outdoors doing what we all love. Your safety remains our top priority and, as such, we have developed a risk-mitigation plan to protect our participants, instructors and the community-at large that will in some cases include changes to our curriculums and practices. This strategy is informed by direction and guidance from the CDC, our NOLI Physician Advisory Committee, state and federal government and our credentialing bodies. We have a number of measures in place but we can boil it down to four main ones:

Social distancing - We ask that participants maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others not in their household whenever possible. In most cases we have decreased class size to allow more space to do this
Masks - All participants and instructors will be required to wear cloth face coverings such as a bandana or Buff-style neck-gaiter when social distancing is not possible
Hand hygiene - We ask that everyone clean their hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer throughout the day
Increased cleaning procedures - We will do routine sanitizing of all high-use areas

Although these measures will result in some changes to the way we do things we are as committed as ever to providing the same high quality experiences that are educational, safe and fun! As we enter our third year our core disciplines remain the same: whitewater & flatwater kayaking, whitewater canoeing, water safety & rescue, wilderness medicine, wilderness survival & navigation, backpacking & camping, and conservation & stewardship. So, what do we have in store for each of these in 2020? Let's get to it!

Kayaking & Canoeing

We will pick back up with our group and private instruction for beginner through advanced level paddlers, from those who have never sat in a canoe or kayak before to those looking to step up their game on more challenging waterways. Our flatwater kayak fun day continues to grow in popularity, affording individuals, families and groups the opportunity to come out to one of our beautiful lakes in the region to learn the basics of kayaking and then enjoy a paddle tour to an island for lunch. Kayaks and equipment are provided for all our classes. We will also be having our ACA Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor Certification Course in Jul/Aug. And our exceptional whitewater canoe classes are returning as well for those wishing to master the art of the single blade.

Water Safety & Rescue

We will be conducting our standard array of safety and rescue classes with a few exceptions. For our whitewater paddlers and professional rescuers out there you will be happy to know that we are still doing our ACA Level 4 Basic Swiftwater Rescue Course, with some modifications to avoid person-to-person contact. We have suspended our scenario-based advanced rescue classes for now due to the close contact required. We have added an ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue Instructor Class this year in partnership with paddle clubs across the state to increase the number of qualified instructors out there in the community. And we are also adding a Flatwater Safety and Rescue Class aimed at educating recreational paddlers and kayak fishermen on how to be safe the next time they are out on the lake or ocean. We still see too many accidents and near-misses each year among recreation paddlers and our hope is that this class, as part of our new Water Safety Initiative, will help to reverse that trend.

Wilderness Medicine

Our first aid and CPR course offerings - Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Basic First Aid and CPR/AED - are back this year and have all been modified to avoid person-to-person contact. These come with ASHI certification good for 2 years and are as important as ever for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. If you spend any time in the backcountry (or in town for that matter) do yourself and others a favor and sign up for this training. You'll be glad you had it if ever needed.

Wilderness Survival & Navigation

Our survival and wilderness navigation classes continue to grow and attract folks from throughout the southeast and beyond. You may have seen the Amazon Prime show AWOL - Air, Water or Land that profiled Northeast Tennessee and included a segment on NOLI and footage from our camp on Survival Island, where we conduct many of our classes. Our one and two-day survival classes return and focus on teaching participants how to survive and thrive when the unexpected happens and we have only ourselves to rely on to return home safely. Our focus in on the first 72 hours - the most critical timeframe in a survival situation - and participants spend time learning the 7 priorities of survival including shelter building and fire making. And our wilderness navigation classes return as well, where participants learn the increasingly rare art of map and compass use and then get to apply their new skills during a beautiful hike. The growing popularity of these classes indicate that people crave this back-to-basics training.

Backpacking & Camping

If anything, the COVID crisis has shown us that people want to get outdoors more and that includes backpacking and camping. We have a great lineup for you again this year on these activities including our Backpacking 101 Class, Hammock Camping, Kayak Camping and Dutch Oven Cooking. So come on out for these fun and informative classes and get a leg up the next time you head to the back country or front country for an overnight stay. We also have a free Backpacking talk coming up on June 25 at Mahoney's Outfitters and invite you to join us. Look for the event to be posted soon.

Conservation & Stewardship

Our conservation and stewardship classes continue to be at the heart of what we are about at NOLI - the responsible use and protection of our natural places. Our Leave No Trace workshops return and help provide participants with the principles and context they need to help ensure that when we go out to enjoy our favorite activities outdoors we leave these places no worse, and maybe better, than how we found them. We do these awareness workshops for free for any group interested - we just did one via livestream last month for a hiking club - so all you need do is contact us to set one up.

We also want to let you know about a new calendar feature on our website. We had received a number of requests for this and finally figured out the best way to do it. You can now select the calendar tab on the menu bar and see all classes coming up in one place. You can also search for an upcoming class date by course title by selecting Courses & Instruction .

Lastly, we want to remind everyone that we remain committed to providing outdoor experiences and instruction for all people, regardless of ability to pay. We don't believe that access to the outdoors, including education, should be limited by financial means. For more information on scholarships contact us at info@nolilearn.org.

So to wrap up, stay safe, look out for one another and get outside. We'll see you there!

Scott Fisher is the founder and owner of the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute.

An Adventure Sports Take on Coronavirus Risk Assessment

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 04:38:05 GMT

Outdoor recreation comes with a certain yet variable amounts of inherent risk. If we wanted to make the safest possible choices, we’d stay home. Yet for many of us, we’re drawn to the outdoors. For those of us who chose to play hard outside, in a world of changing conditions, often in the wilderness away from roads or immediate help, the question of risk-versus-reward is often present in our minds and in discussions with our crews and partners.

After having spent a lot of time over the years focusing on my technical skills — a better forward stroke, a snappier roll, stronger finger strength or a better back step — I’ve come to view risk assessment as a skill set that is more important, and more transferable, than the technical skills, strength or fitness I’ve focused on over the years.

There are a number of ways of looking at risk by using different metrics to help objectify what are at their core subjective decisions. What most of them share in common is way to look at likelihood of occurrence along with the severity, and to use that information to access whether that meets our own risk tolerance as well as that of our group, crew, company, or in this case, society. These formats are effective but can at times be kinda clunky. They deal best with static risks as opposed to situations where conditions are constantly changing.

A system that I’ve taken to using both in the woods and in life is known as the Acceptable Level of Risk method or, more commonly the “Can I? Should I?” approach. In rapidly evolving, highly dynamic situations, this approach is effective at responding when life is being lived in grey areas.

Simply put, when assessing risk, possible interventions and choosing actions, we ask ourselves (and/or our team), “Can I? and, Should I?” to determine in the choice of action is below your (or your group’s, or in this case, society’s) acceptable level of risk. If the response is a yes to both questions, we proceed. If it is not, we look at ways we might alter our approach to achieve the double positive needed for action, or we choose another course of action, including potentially not acting at all.

With the ongoing uncertainty of a pandemic crossing our globe and through our communities, I’ve spent a lot of time lately pondering these two questions. I’m hearing a lot of people saying they can go paddling, and thus they will. And as the can is often clear and known, I’ve been spending much of my time considering the should.

The answer to this side of things isn’t well known. We are dealing with a functionally invisible pathogen and for the most part, none of us are aware if our primary concern should be not catching the virus or on not spreading it to unsuspecting friends, loved ones and strangers.

For me, while I know I can choose to ignore all requests from public health experts to stay at home, if I’m honest with myself, I can’t answer with a strong yes to a question of if I should. From my standpoint, there are too many unknowns and if I choose wrong, there will be no taking it back or reversing the effects my decisions may have on families and communities.

Perhaps it’s a biased perspective as a coach, but these two questions always point me back towards a greater question: Why?

Why do I feel compelled to seek adventure outdoors? Why do I knowingly take on additional, unnecessary risks to recreate or work outdoors? Why might it be so important to me that I would risk the health of others?

For me the outdoors is all about connection, to people and to nature. It’s about challenging myself and giving myself an opportunity to learn and grow. It’s about friendships and community. It’s about being places that I love and sharing those experiences with others.

From my perspective, the risks we choose to take in the outdoors are our own decisions. But those decisions can and do affect our crew, our partners, our families and communities. Though when push comes to shove, it seems like it’s our own ass, it’s worth noting that countless would-be get injured or worse in responding to someone else’s unfortunate accidents.

In facing a global public health crisis, the impact of our decision can be much more wide spread, trickling from our own communities into others. The choice to ignore requests to stay at home is to willingly increase the risk profile of not just yourself and your crew or family but to your communities, and whomever they come into contact with. We are dealing with a reality where either poorly informed or patently bad decisions are rippling out into the world causing disease across nations and continents. The data on this is quite clear.

For me personally, I just can’t reconcile the should with the can. For me, I should do everything possible to slow and prevent the spread of disease, to mitigate the effects on our healthcare system. I should avoid being cavalier and self serving when the consequence will wreak havoc on other people’s families and communities.

If the question is should I ignore the insistence and advice of public health officials for my own pleasure and amusement, at the risk of endangering others, for me, that answer is a firm no.

Article originally published at https://medium.com/@golder/an-adventure-sports-take-on-coronavirus-risk-assessment-593605afe574 .

NOLI instructor Golder Goldstein teaches swiftwater rescue. When not outdoors, you’re likely to find Golder spreading the stoke for life and learning as a writer and Certified Human Potential Coach.

Rocky Fork Partnership Creates Safer Whitewater Paddling

Sat, 17 Aug 2019 04:29:17 GMT

Whitewater is a natural force that captivates the minds of many when witnessing its raw power and beauty. This natural phenomenon brings together many different people for various reasons. I’m often amazed at some of the good partnerships that have been crafted from the passion that whitewater can create. On Saturday, August 3, 2019 another one of these good partnerships were formed as Park Rangers from Rocky Fork State Park (TN newest State Park in Flag Pond, TN) joined local paddlers for the first ever Rocky Fork Beaver Workday.

The idea for this event started a few months ago when a former Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts, Hanley Loller, bumped into Park Ranger, Tim Pharis, at a random gas station chance meeting and inquiry about fishing licenses. Then the conversation turned into paddling on the Rocky Fork and how numerous strainers have become a major issue for the micro-creek run in recent years. Tim and Hanley quickly went to networking and rallied support for the event from current APE Officers and State Park Manager, Jesse Germeraad. The group unified to review the safety and volunteer protocols required by TN State Parks with the overall goal in mind. Then we put together a plan for a workday to clear wood out of the stream bed during low water flows.

Local paddlers became motivated with interest when we announced the event in late May for the August workday. For some who were fortunate to paddle this run before it chocked up with wood a new excitement was rekindled for a nearly forgotten piece of quality whitewater in a beautiful place. The legalities of removing dead fall in stream beds in State and National Parks are continually a concern for paddlers and this new partnership was opening a new avenue to alleviate those concerns.

The nice August day arrived for us to gather as a lumberjack crew. Jesse and Tim greeted Jerry Griffin, Mike Patterson and me in the parking lot (put-in for the whitewater run) and we reviewed our scope of work together while prepping tools. Jesse and Tim took care to be environmentally responsible by using biodegradable bar oil in their chainsaws for this effort in the creek. The State Park policy was only Park Rangers could operate chainsaws, so Jesse & Tim took charge of the major cutting while paddlers would use hand saws and haul cut wood out of the stream bed.

We jumped in the State Park UTV and truck to head downstream to the first spot we wanted to focus on clearing. On the way down Tim showed us a visual stream gauge he had installed recently on the river right side of the first bridge you cross as you drive up Rock Fork Road entering the State Park. We are guessing that runnable levels will occur around 1'-6" and above on the gauge.

While down checking out the new gauge Ryan Horn and Scott Fisher rolled in to join us for the workday. Then our crew of 7 rallied up to “Urethra” (the only named rapid on the run) to start removing a large log that was in the main drop as our first focus. It became obvious quickly that both Tim & Jesse were skilled with their saws and they made short work of logs cutting them into smaller pieces for us to clear from the stream bed.

We worked downstream from Urethra tackling several old down trees in a left line around an island that both Mike and I have always wanted to run, but has been closed down due to these large strainers. To open this bedrock slide up by removing the wood was like creating a whole new rapid. This fueled the passion even more thinking about paddling this creek again after the next big rain fall.

About 4.5 hours later the stout crew had managed to clear this +1 mile section of creek of all the major strainers in play from the parking lot to the Highway 352 Bridge (takeout). The Park Rangers were delighted to provide a safer recreational opportunity for the State Park with this effort and I know several paddlers who are now pumped for the upcoming lighting rides laps down this unique Class IV-V roadside creek run.

The partnership created in this effort by the Rocky Fork State Park Rangers, Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts (APE) and Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI) is one we plan to continue well into the future to promote safer paddling and hope it becomes a model for other parks.

Photos contributed by: Scott Fisher & Ryan Horn

#RockyForkCreek #Creeking #ParkRangers #Paddlers #rockyforkstatepark #safeissexy

NOLI instructor, Team Jackson member and Tri-Cities World Kayak Ambassador Wesley Bradley is a long-time paddler and enjoys sharing his love of the outdoors with others.

Kayak Camping for Adventure!

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 02:59:25 GMT

An overnight on an island or a multi-day trip traveling down a slow moving river like the Suwannee in Florida exploring every nook and cranny along the way is exhilarating and fulfilling as well as a great escape. It's like going back in time. I’ve also discovered large lakes like Kentucky Lake and Berkley Lake that are so wide you can’t see the other side and in such places have spotted golden eagles soaring above me and spied herds of deer in the lush coves. Then there are lakes with waterfalls like Lake Jocassee in South Carolina that have 60 and 80 foot cascades flowing into them that I’ve paddled right up into! And paddling out of an estuary from the South Santee River into a calm ocean bay was a discovery I never could have done from a car.

Not every trip is so isolated and sometimes it’s nice to find a little civilization along the way for re-supply or facilities but the most important thing is to have the right gear and supplies. I know we might want to think it’d be like Daniel Boone canoeing down a wild and unknown river but not really. Some comforts are essential because face it, we like being prepared! I like good coffee and better food than dehydrated meals. I also like a nice chair to relax in and a good shelter to protect me from the elements. It’s also important to have the right clothes that aren’t heavy and bulky to pack and that dry quickly.

If kayak camping sounds like something you'd like to learn more about check out our 4-hour class on Sep 14 at https://bookeo.com/nolilearn?devent=41568XUFXF916C4D6F52BF_2019-09-14_r9KAzhrvcVPk.

What's the Big Deal About Hammocks?

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 02:48:44 GMT

You’ve been seeing them everywhere, brightly colored fabric hammocks in every store and also seeing them strung up in yards and as a lounging place in campgrounds or at the park. The hammock revolution took the colleges by storm and most school-aged kids want one to go ENOing. Well that’s one kind of hammock, but have you seen a real camping hammock? Yes, there is a difference because a camping hammock is generally longer for one and they have sewn on or removable bug nets or can have one added to it.

I’ve been camping off the ground away from the rocks and sticks and uneven ground for over a decade now. Almost every outdoor friend I have shown has made the switch as well because it’s simply more comfortable and you get a better night sleep! It changed my whole perspective of camping once I got in one because I never really slept well in a tent and use to wake up stiff and tired no matter how thick my camping pad was. It’s also cleaner because I’m not crawling in on my hands and knees anymore; bringing whatever is on my boots in with me. I walk right up to my hammock and sit down in it like a chair and take off my boots. Another cool thing about camping hammocks is if it’s raining I can sit and watch it rain from under my tarp and use my camp stove to fix my dinner. Everyone in a tent has to sit and wait out the rain.

You ask, “Aren’t you lying like a banana?" “Won’t it hurt my back?” The answer is no, not if you’re doing it correctly. In a gathered end hammock you lay in it at an angle, head left, feet right (or vise versa) so it spreads the fabric out and then your torso and head are actually flat with a slight rise of your legs. It feels like you’re lying in a cloud because there are no pressure points and it relaxes your spine. The slight elevation of your legs and feet are a healthy plus as well because it helps lactic acid build-up to decrease overnight. Studies have shown that sleep patterns improve too with longer periods of deep sleep. I always fall asleep much more quickly in a hammock and it is theorized the rocking motion that’s created when you first get in simulates being back in the womb.

The Under Quilt I believe was the most innovative invention to stay warm in a camping hammock from it’s conception. The concept originated on Hammockforums.net by a member who was tired of fighting a slip sliding pad all night. It went through a few variations but is now perfected. The under quilt is made of nylon fabric and stuffed with down so it keeps the back side of you warm. For the top side of you, an unzipped sleeping bag can be pulled up over you and tucked around your shoulders like a quilt that has a foot box or you can spring for a top quilt made to pair with an under quilt.

Staying dry is pretty simple with the specialized tarps made for hammocks. They can be minimal wing type tarps or fuller coverage tarp, some even have doors that close shut with snaps or ties! Set at a perfect pitch you can block the wind or welcome a breeze and at the same time keep you dry and give you privacy.

There are bug nets that go over a hammock in different ways or sewn on the hammock with a side zipper entry as well. I personally love the gear organizers that hang on a ridgeline over me for a place to put small things like my glasses or some chap stick. I hang my headlamp on that ridgeline as well and there are other tricks to keep everything off the ground high and dry with a camp chair or special peak bags. I often do this little thing in the mornings; the night before I take an extra bottle of water and a Starbucks Via instant coffee pack with me before I retire along with a small alcohol stove kit and my camp cup. First thing in the morning I lean over out of my hammock a little away from everything and start my stove, pour water in my cup to warm and have my first cup of coffee before ever getting out of my sleeping bag!

I’ve found it a very pleasing experience to camp in my hammock and love to share my love of camping in them with everyone. I’ve made hammocks for so many friends, some of whom have never camped in their lives until I encouraged them to try! One of the latest just told me of a weekend she went to a campground that had no trees to hang her hammock and had to share a tent with another woman (yes sometimes that happens but I have stands for that). Well she said she didn’t really like the new tent experience too much because she got hot in the closed up tent and was lying at a weird angle that made her slide off her sleeping pad. I had to feel bad for her but also kind of giggled and said I guess I’d spoiled her starting her out in a hammock!

I like to say I’ve raised my view of camping in the outdoors to a higher perspective by using a camping hammock and maybe a few good folks out there as well. So maybe now you can understand what the big deal is all about.

Debbie Briscoe instructs hammock camping, flatwater kayaking, kayak camping and Dutch-oven cooking for NOLI.

Spring Training!

Wed, 08 May 2019 02:40:46 GMT

While it is possible to stay active throughout the winter, for most people winter activity levels tend to be less than in the warmer months. The promise of warmer days, with increasing hours of sunlight, are motivating for us to get out and get active! As the gray skies clear, we feel the lethargy of winter start to melt away, and we're ready to pick up where we left off last fall!

Woah! Hold on there!! Before you try to jump back in at your end of season activity level, consider some spring training! Did you suffer an injury last season? How well did you rehab it? Even if it’s feeling better after some winter rest, is it really strong enough for what you’ve got planned this season?

One way to consider the need to exercise to prepare for outdoor activities, is to realize that it’s not enough to be strong enough to get through an activity. The goal is to be strong enough to get through in good style; i.e. without injury or exhaustion after doing what you do. This means that your base level of physical fitness must meet or exceed the physical requirements of your sport when it is the most demanding.

I’m not suggesting putting off your favorite activities in lieu of going to the gym. I’m suggesting you ramp up slowly, stretch out tight shoulders and knees, rehab those muscles and tendons with some resistance work, and do a self inventory of how well you've over-wintered. A plan like that will help you get the most out of the summer.

Strength training is one of the best options. Resistance training can include things like weight lifting, or body based exercises like push-ups, lunges and squats. Cardio is good too, but resistance training is better for rebuilding muscle, ligaments, and joint range of motion. Those are the things we lose during periods of less activity.

One way to qualify an activity as “exercise” is to do it at a level ABOVE what you’ll need for the activity you’re looking to do. If your kayak weighs 40 lbs, strive to be able to comfortably bench press 80 lbs of weight. If your canoe weighs 50 lbs, strive to be able to comfortably squat 100 lbs. Be sure it’s strenuous enough to get your heart rate up, break a sweat, and require genuine effort.

Balanced based activities are also excellent ways to get a whole body workout. And they can be more fun than lifting weights. Activities like yoga, slack-line walking, wobble ball training, jumping rope, or obstacle course work are good examples.

There’s no exact calculation of how much more demand you should condition your body to handle. The idea is that in order to prevent injury, you need to be strong enough to handle physical demands that are above the average demands of your sport. If your shoulders are conditioned to handle 50 lbs of stress, when you’re kayaking and get munched in that hole, and need to apply 70 lbs of paddle power to get out, injury may result.

Using your inside days to prepare for your outside fun will help your entire season be more enjoyable. Be safe, learn some stuff, and most of all, HAVE FUN!

NOLI instructor Brad Eldridge teaches whitewater kayaking and canoeing. He is also a licensed chiropractor.

Why Dutch Oven Cooking is a Thing!

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 02:24:44 GMT

The first time I saw a Dutch oven used with charcoal briquettes to heat it was after a river cleanup when a fellow made peach cobbler right in the fire pit. I was blown away and asked him to teach me, and that’s when I bought my first DO! Since then I’ve watched the trend grow and often see them now at just about every event or gathering I go to. Using them can really step up your game from the norm to have better food in camp. One pot meals like spaghetti where you don’t have to boil the noodles first save time and require less cleanup. And cleanup is made simple for greasy breakfasts and sticky desserts when you use specially made liners.

I have all the cast Iron as well and love using them when I’m car camping. Once taken off the fire they keep the food good and hot for a very long time which is good in cooler weather. But the aluminum DO’s are the ones to take on canoe/kayak trips. I’ve done it many, many times and they perform a little better than cast iron in the respect they heat up faster and aluminum is a better conductor of heat than cast iron.

When I go on trips with friends instead of eating instant or Mountain House type dehydrated meals we use a Dutch oven to make a one pot meal that’s hot and hardy and can serve everyone. This is why it has become such a “Thing”! It’s no more trouble to have freshly made spaghetti, a cherry cobbler hot and gooey right off the coals and even freshly made hot biscuits or cornbread in the great outdoors! With a little prep, planning and education it makes things easy because once the “pot is on” using these techniques, it’s a perfectly heated oven at 350 degrees. That’s when you can set a timer and sit back and relax a bit while the food cooks.

During my Campfire Dutch Oven Class at our outpost at USA Raft on Oct 17 I'll talk about the history and current uses of cast iron and Dutch oven cookery, how to choose and care for a Dutch oven, how to use different arrangements for baking, roasting, stewing or frying, and, most importantly, how to use various ingredients to create delicious camp meals perfect for sharing. The class will include a demonstration of how to cook a one pot meal, bake scrumptious cobblers and breads, and other delights. We'll cap off the day with a group meal of baked spaghetti, bread, salad and hot peach cobbler for the perfect ending to our outdoor culinary experience! Cost is $45. You can learn more and register here .

Happy campfire cooking and I hope to see you there!

Winter Workout for Paddlers

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 03:18:31 GMT

Photo credit: Jeremy Gass

Face it: when winter rolls around, most of us cut back on boating. What with holiday parties, shopping and ice on the river you just can’t help losing some of your “chops”.

Okay. But let’s do this: use this time of year to stay fit and stay sharp. Here are some exercises that will keep you silky smooth when the good weather hits.

GOALS:

Increased flexibility and range of motion in the hips, torso, and neck – for that extra snap that keeps you upright.
More strength and endurance in the seldom-used muscles (that is, seldom used except for when you are actually boating). Areas like obliques and other torso muscles. You know, the ones that get really sore and tired after a long day on the river.
The mind/body skill connection. Like any athletic skill, boating skills have to be grooved, and re-grooved in. While there is no substitute for the real thing these exercises will help keep the feel of these movements fresh for when you take it back to the water.

WARM-UP

Grab a bar, paddle or stick and take a seat.

Here you see me in my new invisible kayak, on the Jim Fleur River, ready to warm up.

First move is the torso rotation:

So yeah, this is a simple exercise. The key is to keep good posture (don’t lean on the backband, cause it ain’t there) and, above all, get full rotation. Then rotate a little bit more. Hold. Do it in the opposite direction; then repeat 20 times.

Next move is a “J-lean”, which is a fundamental skill/strength for all paddle sports. It doesn’t look like much in the photo. Trust me – do this exercise! Do it right, and you will feel the burn and you will get your reward.

The key thing about this move is to, once again, keep your weight centered over your backside, and lift your butt cheek way off the floor. In this picture, my right butt cheek is up, my right side oblique is flexed, and I am balanced on my left butt cheek. This move is also known, to some folks, as “Competition Flatulence”. Whatever. Do this 20 times on each side. Add some torso rotation if you'd like!

Finally, we are going to simulate the set-up for the kayak roll. Setting up for the kayak roll requires flexing a set of muscles that we really don’t use much except for when we do the kayak roll.

In this photo, I have bent forward at the hips (the “tuck”), and pushed my fake paddle towards the floor. If I was in a real kayak in a real river, I would be ready to sweep the paddle and then hip snap – causing me to roll up on my left side. Whew! Glad I rolled up! Too cold to swim!!

PHASE II - BUILD STRENGTH

Let’s jump right in with a simple exercise to strengthen the torso - a simple side plank:

HOLD IT … until you feel it, like I am feeling it in this photo. On both sides of course.

Abdominal exercises are always a good idea for paddlers to strengthen the core so, in addition to any other exercises you may do such as sit-ups, crunches or leg-lifts, try this oblique crunch to help further strengthen that torso:

Start by crossing one leg with your back flat on the floor and one hand behind your head. Using your obliques crunch up to the opposite knee. Do 30 of these per side.

For you advanced abdomination exercisers try these V-ups, another great core-strengthening exercise:

Start flat on your back with your arms either straight above your head or out to the side (pictured). Lift your legs and torso simultaneously towards one another and briefly hold. Do 2 sets of 20 repetitions, or until you can't do any more with proper form.

What about those lower back muscles? Superman showed me how he keeps his as strong as steel:

Start by laying on your stomach on a flat surface and raise both your arms and legs at the same time like you're flying. Hold for 5 seconds, then repeat 10 times.

For upper body strength, the push-up in still king as it engages your chest, triceps and shoulders in one great exercise. Begin with your back straight, weight centered, hands shoulder-width apart:

If this position is too demanding modify the start position by beginning with your knees on the ground. Make sure to still keep your back straight:

From your start position, lower yourself to about a fist width from the ground while - and this is important - keeping your back straight. No sagging allowed!

Pushup 1, 2, 3, 4… studs and studettes. Do 3 sets of as many as you can do while maintaining proper form, but no less than 50 total. No kidding.

If you have access to light weight dumbbells, here's a few more exercises to throw into the mix. The first is the bent over row to work one of the bread-and-butter muscle groups relied on by paddlers - the back:

Bend over at the waist with dumbbells in hand, palms facing in. Pull the dumbbells up and to your sides while maintaining the lumbar, or lower back arch, to prevent injury to your lower back. No rounding of the lower back here! Lower and repeat. Do 3 sets of 15 repetitions.

Next, let's work another important body part for paddlers - the shoulder. We'll start with the front lateral raise which focuses on the anterior, or front, of the shoulder:

Start with your arms hanging in front of you, palms facing back. Lift dumbbells straight out in front of you to shoulder height, being careful not to swing them up. Do 2 sets of 10 repetitions.

Next, we move to the side lateral raise:

Begin with your arms hanging by your sides, palms facing in. Lift your arms out to your sides to shoulder height. Lower and repeat. Do 2 sets of 10 repetitions.

Finally, we move to the rear lateral raise to focus on the posterior, or back, part of the shoulder:

Bend over at the waist with arms hanging to your sides and palms facing in. While maintaining the lumbar arch lift arms to your sides to shoulder height as shown in the picture above. Lower and repeat. Do 2 sets of 10 repetitions.

Now the hard part's done. Let's finish up with a little stretching, first with a downward dog:

And cap it all off with a good old hamstring stretch:

So much about physical and sport skills is about feeling the motions and not about thinking the motions. Over the winter, we don’t forget how to boat – we just get rusty. These moves will help you keep well-lubed and ready to jump back in your boat with vigor when the thaw comes!

We know you have some favorite exercises. Tell us about them!

SYOTR

Bill Schooley has been kayaking for 40 years and is in better shape than most people a third his age. He teaches both whitewater and flatwater kayaking for NOLI.

Nolichucky Wild & Scenic Designation Effort

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 02:56:00 GMT

Did you know that only 0.35% of the rivers in the USA are protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act? Over the last year and a half many in our river community have come together to support a grassroots movement to change that on the beautiful Nolichucky River Gorge. The idea was set into action by Curtis England in May of 2017 with an online petition to grow individual support: https://www.change.org/p/designate-the-nolichucky-as-a-national-wild-and-scenic-river?fbclid=IwAR3Q5nlwSjWgtNcWTdzzRqw8zc2c7p5kFEiN6-WnaGQdt5Og8lEXbLCuY-o .

By August of 2017 the petition had already reached over 10,000 signatures. A new goal for 20,000 signatures was set and surpassed in only a couple of months. The overflowing support of the petition was part of the first phase of the plan that Kevin Colburn, National Stewardship Director for American Whitewater, developed to gain community support for the designation. Kevin has had a passion for this cause for many years and he is playing a key role in building support for Nolichucky Wild & Scenic designation.

The cause got a great promotion that received a lot of attention in early Nov of 2017 at the Green Race Pre-Party with the video release of “This is the Nolichucky” from John Grace, Owner of Amongst It .

2018 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. This made for the perfect time to build a movement around the iconic Nolichucky Gorge. Many more individuals, businesses and organizations rallied to the cause to continue growing local support. A new endorsement webpage has been setup to help bring together all who want to Support Wild and Scenic Designation for the Nolichucky Gorge: https://www.noliwildandscenic.org/endorsements/ . Folks from: USA Raft/Mountain River Guides, NOLI – Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute, Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts, Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited and Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association were instrumental in spreading the word to the community and reaching out to local, state and federal elected officials to come experience the Nolichucky.

In Sept of 2018 the group hosted a VIP rafting trip for Tennessee District 4 Representative John B. Holsclaw, Jr. down the Nolichucky River Gorge. John Grace was there again to help capture this great day on film and produced a second video “This is the Nolichucky Part II” recently released.

Over the course of the past 18 months conversations with elected officials at the state and federal levels keep encouraging us to grow local support. With the Nolichucky Gorge being in two states (NC & TN) and three different counties (Mitchell, Yancey and Unicoi) it is important that we continue to reach out to these communities to grow support within. These efforts have led to good support from the Tennessee side thus far and the focus is currently on working with many locals in North Carolina to continue to grow support there.

Our goal is to get a bill passed through Congress and protect this river for not only the local communities, but for all of those who like to fish, paddle and play in the water.

Help us keep the Nolichucky River wild and free for future generations to enjoy it the way we do!

Learn more about how you can support this effort here: https://www.noliwildandscenic.org/

Like the Facebook Page to keep up with current updates at: https://www.facebook.com/nolichuckyriver/

It's NOT the arrow...it's the ARCHER!

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 02:48:34 GMT

During a person’s paddling career, there are many things to consider: how to stay safe, have fun, develop the necessary skills, learn different rivers at different levels, find friends to paddle with that have similar interests and skills, just to name a few.

One of those things you have a lot of input into is… GEAR! Boat shape and style, paddle length and composition, PFD type, helmet brand and color, which high definition camera to use to record your epic run… It’s overwhelming! But there is a factor that supersedes all those considerations.. YOU! You are the common denominator that brings all the gear together to navigate and hammer down on all those sweet river moves.

But hey, I get it, personal paddling skills are arguably the hardest to come by. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes commitment. When it gets hard, or your reach a plateau in your skills progression, it’s tempting to start looking back toward the gear.

Maybe you need more rocker in your bow to punch those sick monster holes? Of course, your planing/displacement hull isn’t really as good as a displacement/planing hull. (That’s a choose your own adventure sentence. Just circle the answers that fit your situation. If you have a planing hull, someone will tell you to get a displacement, and vice versa). Is that REALLY the right offset for your paddle? Of course, if you change up your paddle from wood/fiberglass/carbon to carbon/wood/fiberglass, you’re mad stroke technique will be MUCH better. And on and on…

The truth is, until you can paddle your own boat, the gear cannot provide the fundamental skills required. Those skills come from deep in the hindbrain. It’s the old reptilian part of our brain that manages all reflexive body movements like walking, posture, eye movement, and balance. It’s the same part of your brain that is severely challenged when you’re learning to kayak or canoe. It’s actually the same as when you were learning to ride a bike without training wheels. At first it seems impossible; as soon as your feet leave the ground, gravity wants to bring you back to the earth. Usually there are well meaning adults around telling you all manner of techniques and tricks to keep upright:

“OK.. I’ll get you going with a push… Then pedal like crazy to get some momentum!”

“You’ve gotta look where you want to go. The bike will follow your gaze.”

“Leaning into a turn will help you. You won’t have to turn the wheel as far if you lean into it.”

Sounds a lot like the advice your well meaning friends have told you when you start paddling:

“ OK.. When you get into the current, you have to lean forward and PADDLE! You’ve got to be going faster than the water to maintain control..”

“Look where you want to go! The boat will go wherever you look.”

“Lean into the turns. Using your edges and ‘carving’ will help turn the boat. You won’t have to paddle as hard if you use your edges.”

But until your brain figures out all the subtle and automatic things it has to do to maintain balance and control, you fall over off the bike, or flip your boat. Then one day… one magic and wonderful day… it all clicks, and you can do it! And by ‘do it’ I mean, you can stay up. Then you can start to apply all the great advice you’ve been told. Once you can stay upright, the real learning can begin.

This phenomena is the root behind the saying that, “The only real way to get better is time in the boat.” It takes time for the brain to figure out all the subtleties of being on the river. Moving water is very different to travel over than terra firma. The current and forces under your boat are constantly changing, eddy lines surge, swells pop up under your boat, waves form and crash, and on and on. Your response to these changing phenomena have to be immediate and reflexive.

How fast your brain learns to feel and respond to the river varies greatly from person to person. It varies with things like prior fitness and activity level, overall level of health, age, adaptability, tolerance for risk, fear response, etc. I believe that this process is both what makes paddling super fun (some might say addictive) for some people, and makes it terribly frustrating for others and makes them want to quit. For those that stick with it, it is highly stimulating to the cerebellum, or hindbrain. A stimulated cerebellum is a happy cerebellum. It loves to work and be challenged. The more it learns, the more it wants to learn, and can create a sense of well being that is hard to achieve without physical activity. Activities that require constant balance corrections are particularly good at this.

As your brain works out the autonomic responses, you can help to feed your front brain too. You can keep yourself engaged and entertained by getting excellent instruction. Some of the more voluntary actions like proper stroke technique, how to roll your kayak or canoe, and how to read water features will all help you progress in a safe and effective way. Working with other paddlers, or taking formal instruction, can teach you techniques that will help you step up the challenges to your hindbrain, and accelerate your learning curve.

One day you’ll look back on your paddling career, and remember the days that you could barely stay upright in your kayak or canoe in flat water. You’ll remember the first time you got on a river and how terrifying and fun the first monster Class II+ rapid was you crashed through like a boss. At that point, when you want to change it up a little, you try different boats to see how they respond to strong current, or big holes, or how it can help you catch smaller and smaller eddies in bigger and bigger features.

You’ll realize that YOU are the common denominator. YOU have the skills to get down the river with all manner of gear. The hull shape, paddle style, or other gear only add to your abilities, they don’t determine them. It’s not the arrow that hits the target, it’s the archer. YOU are the archer!

Brad Eldridge is a kayak, canoe and self-defense instructor for NOLI. He is also a licensed chiropractor.

No Way to Call for Help and You're On Your Own!

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 20:46:29 GMT

Twisting Falls Gorge, Elk River, NC

It was a cool autumn day in 2017. My wife, Becca, and I were headed out for a hike into the Twisting Falls Gorge of the Elk River. We often take short day hikes alone. Both of us grew up in the mountains of North Carolina so we had never thought much about it. On this particular day, however, I had decided to ask my friend along to enjoy the hike as well as provide additional support in case something went wrong. My wife wasn’t all that happy with the idea of having someone else along on our “Alone Time” together, but I informed her that given the remoteness of the trail as well as the difficulty, it would be wise to have someone else along. I guess all my years in the emergency service taught me to be overly cautious when it comes to matters of safety. The day started out with a beautiful drive up by Watauga Lake and finally into the Poga community. We made our way around a winding two lane road up to the top of the mountain before finally coming to a dead end in the trailhead parking lot.

As we prepared for the hike we loaded up with the minimal gear we thought we would need which included a bottle of water and the clothes on our back (we were experienced hikers and thought we had no need for anything else). As we started making our way down the trail we could hear the distant sound of the falls echoing through the gorge. The smell of the autumn leaves was in the air and the temperature was a comfortable, sunny 68 degrees. No doubt it was a perfect day to be outdoors. We had hiked about 3/4 of a mile when we came to the steep part of the trail that descended down to the falls. We all agreed that we needed to be careful due to the extreme slope of the mountain. As we started our decent, 40 yards down the slope I heard a rustling noise behind me as my wife slipped and fell to the ground. She started laughing at herself as she picked herself back up and dusted off. I advised her to be careful and we continued on. We had worked our way down the trail about 150 yards, getting steeper with every step. I saw the trail drop almost vertical and around that area I stopped to view the next set of obstacles in our path.

Steep trail into the gorge

I stood there looking down the hill as my wife made her way down behind me. I heard the same rustling sound as before followed by what sounded to me like a stick breaking. Once again, I turned to see my wife sliding down the hill and once again, she started laughing at herself, only this time the laughing suddenly stopped and was followed by a look of sheer terror. I knew that she was in some pain by the way she was acting, but I was thinking she had a sprain at this point. My friend and I helped to get her to the side of the trail where she would be a little more comfortable and we could check her out easier. It was here that she looked at me with a seriousness that I had only seen once before when she had told me she was in labor with our first child. As she gave me this look, she told me in a quiet but stern tone that her leg was broken, no doubt about it. She had broken bones before, so she knew the feeling. It turns out the stick I heard break was actually her leg.

As a fifteen-year veteran of the fire service, twelve of which I have spent as a professional firefighter, I have witnessed multiple traumas in many varying scenarios. But none of them had affected me like this. I started to shake a little and my wife realized that I was more than a little uncomfortable. Believe it or not she looked at me and told me to calm down and that I knew what to do. I guess that’s all I needed because I went straight into full rescue mode. All of my training I had been through over the past 15 years was trying to find a path to logical action. I was going through my mental checklist on everything I needed: splints, ropes, basket stretcher, and ….. “Oh my goodness, I’m in a remote gorge with a bottle of water to work with!” This was going to be a completely different way of thinking than I was used to.

I began to switch my thinking from traditional first aid to wilderness first aid and I quickly realized that I was going to need more than just a bottle of water to get her out. My first instinct was to call 911 for help from the professional rescue team. So I pulled out my phone and as I looked at the nonexistent bars of service, I realized that calling for help was not an option. Its up to us now! I looked up the mountain behind us at the steep slope knowing it was our only way out. I turned to my friend and told him that one of us had to run back to the car to see if we could find anything to help us out. He agreed and volunteered to go. Luckily he was in great shape because he had been training to test for the police department later that month. While he was gone I made my wife as comfortable as possible and began looking for some sturdy sticks to make a splint.

The author's wife after being splinted

I had calmed myself down and was thinking much clearer at this point. I remembered that I had a rope and some webbing in the car as well as a first aid kit which contained various useful items. I didn’t, however, mention these things to my friend and I was frustrated with myself for not telling him before he left. About the same time that I was going through this in my mind I heard him toss the rope bag down the slope and scrambled down carrying all the items I just listed. He looked at me and smiled and said “I guess I did learn something from your wilderness first aid class" (he had been my test student when I was learning the curriculum and I had forgotten all about it). He had also taken a swiftwater rescue class with our paddling club that summer, which gave him the knowledge to set up the rope system. We took some of the webbing and the two sturdy sticks I had found and fashioned a picture-perfect splint. After we were confident with our work we began our plans to evacuate my wife

The evacuation out was slow and strenuous for all three of us. Stopping every few feet to rest or reposition, inch by inch we worked our way up the steep trail and up to the parking area. It had taken us about 30 minutes to hike down the trail and by the time we made it back to the trailhead it had taken almost 2 hours to get my wife out. Once we were safe back at the car, we made our way to the hospital where we found out that she had broken her tibia and fibula. The doctors and nurses were all so impressed with the splint that they had to take pictures. After a lengthy surgery and about 5 months of rest and rehab, I'm happy to report that she is doing well. She also admitted how glad she was that I had invited my friend.

X-ray of Becca's broken leg

The lesson with this story is this. When you spend time in the outdoors hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, or any other activity, it is your responsibility to be able to help the people you are with. Just because you have done it a hundred times safely, it doesn’t mean that the next time you won't have a true emergency situation. If I hadn’t had wilderness medicine training, I’m not sure I would have known what to do. Never adventure alone, take a wilderness first aid class, be prepared for the unexpected and be able to adapt and improvise to get your friends and family the help they need. Thanks for reading.

Jerry, Becca and their children

Jerry Smith is a professional firefighter and first responder. He is an ASHI certified Wilderness First Aid instructor for the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute (NOLI). Upcoming WFA classes can be found at www.NoliLearn.org.

"What kind of kayak is that?"

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 20:50:50 GMT

The other day, I was on my way to do some whitewater boat riding and stopped to get some gas. I noticed someone staring at the big plastic blue boat in the back of my truck. When I smiled, he came over and asked: “What kind of kayak is that?” It happens often enough and I love the opportunity to surprise folks. I get my internal Polaroid warmed up for the look on his face when I tell him “It’s not a kayak. It’s a CANOE.” What?!?!

I get it. Canoes look like this, right?

Yes...but they also look like this:

He’s perplexed. “So how is this boat not a kayak?” I point to the whole top of the canoe which is open, as opposed to the smaller cockpit of a kayak which is sealed with a skirt to shed water. The foam pedestal in the middle lets you kneel instead of sit. Foam bulkheads wrap across your thighs to translate the movement of your hips and legs to the boat. And canoeists use a paddle with a single blade instead of two. The T-grip on one end increases the dexterity of canoe strokes.

Not convinced, he asks: “You take that on a river?” Heck yeah! It’s made for it. Modern whitewater canoes are designed to deflect water and ride over splashy features, thus keeping it as dry as possible in experienced hands. They are nimble and maneuverable in complicated whitewater. They are made of a tough polyethylene plastic which is durable and strong for hitting all the rocks we have in the southeast. They are outfitted with foam that connects you so well to the boat that you can even roll the boat up if you happen to flip upside down. Some folks, myself included, install pumps that dump water that gets in your boat, making it easier to paddle when things get splashy.

He approves. “I might be comfortable in one of those. I tried a kayak but didn’t like it — too confined.” This is the main thing I love about the canoe. I am so much more comfortable kneeling than sitting. It’s much easier to move around, get in and out of the boat and stretch on long days. I also love that the added height helps me see the rapids better. My torso has so much more range and leverage as it acts as the important connection between my legs in the boat and my hands on the paddle in the water.

Boaters choose a canoe over kayak for lots of reasons. Some like the graceful aesthetic and history of the craft. Some like the comfort and lack of confinement. Others enjoy the challenge of reading water well in order to find the “dry” lines and executing the range of strokes with a single blade. If you think you’d like to ride the whitewater in a canoe - or if you are already in a canoe and want to ride more challenging whitewater - sign up for one of our classes at Nolilearn.org .

The author enjoying yet another day of single-bladed goodness.

Five Benefits of Kayaking You Don't Know About!

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 20:53:28 GMT

1. Everyone can do it!

Kayaking is like riding a bike. One of the essential skills is balance, and staying upright. Once this skill is mastered additional techniques and tricks can continually be added to increase skill, difficulty of rivers paddled, and FUN! A healthy person of any age can learn to balance in and paddle a kayak. You can start slow, on flat water for instance, and move on from there. Progression in skill has no set pace, so you can take it at any speed you like. Some people move rapidly from Class I to Class IV or V rivers. Others are happy on lakes and lazy rivers, enjoying the meditation of paddling, watching wildlife, camping, or just time with friends and family. It’s your experience on the water; do what you like!

2. It’s safer than you think!

OK… I hear your eyes rolling. Being strapped in a piece of plastic bombing down a raging river does not look safe! Each year thousands of people take part in recreation on the water. Only about 15% of all accidents on the water are from kayaks, according to data collected by the American Canoe Association (ACA). Two of the most common reasons for serious injuries and/or death was improper training by the operator of the water craft, and not wearing a life jacket (Personal Flotation Device - PFD). By taking these simple precautions, the incidence of accident and injury could be dropped by as much as 75%! There are inherent risks to kayaking of course. But by getting proper instruction and training, and using appropriate safety gear, the risks are less than people generally think.

3. Kayaking Works Your Core!

To effectively paddle your kayak, you use your core muscles, not just your arms. A paddle stroke that only uses arm muscles lacks power, and doesn’t move the kayak as effectively through the water. By starting right, and learning proper techniques, you’ll also be strengthening your core body muscles. Strong core muscles are also helpful for life off the water. Core muscles are essential for balance, lifting, squatting, low back health, healthy hips, and good posture.

4. The Southeast is a PREMIER kayaking region!

Within an hour drive from Johnson City kayakers can paddle in a pristine mountain lake, down a trophy trout stream, or run some of the most exciting Class V whitewater in the country. Though not many locals know it, people from all over the country travel to our mountains to kayak with friends and family. In the height of summer, when daylight lasts until 9pm or later, we can even paddle after work! The variety and range of difficulty offers a range of opportunities that can leave you with interesting challenges for years of happy paddling.

5. Kayaking is good for your BRAIN!

You’ve probably heard of various suggestions of activities that help maintain and develop brain health. Usually people think of math, learning a new language, or solving crossword puzzles or sudoku. Those activities are indeed stimulating, but they are not as good as exercise and movement. The best kinds of movement and exercise for brain stimulation are things that require balance. Balance activities engage the entire body. The brain must constantly monitor large and small muscle groups, arm and leg positions, muscle contraction and relaxation, and thousands of other things. Challenging the brain with activities and developing skills that require precise balance create brain plasticity, can help with learning new skills in other areas, and can prolong brain health as we age.

SURPRISE BONUS REASON!

The main reason to learn to kayak is because it’s FUN!

Brad Eldridge is a licensed chiropractor who also teaches whitewater kayaking, canoeing and self-defense. He can be reached at drbraddc@gmail.com . For information on NOLI's kayak and other outdoor classes go to www.NoliLearn.org .

We're Live!

Sun, 13 May 2018 20:56:57 GMT

We're Live!

Welcome to NOLI, The Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute! Open for business on the beautiful Nolichucky River in Northeastern Tennessee. We have a healthy selection of courses that will enhance your outdoor recreation experience and provide for many years of enjoyment for you, your family and friends. Please take some time to browse our offerings on this site and learn about our instructors. Feel free to contact us with any questions and be sure to check out our Facebook page. A lot of hard work and passion has gone into the creation of our region's first comprehensive outdoor school and we look forward to serving this beautiful part of the world and getting to know you. Onward!