Customer Reviews

A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Carolinas, 8th

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is indeed THE guide to paddling in the western Carolinas, but it contains one extremely important error: the put-in listed for the Upper Green (class III) is actually the put-in for the Narrows (class V).

The true put-in for the Upper Green is just below the Tuxedo power plant; the take-out is what Benner mistakenly describes as the put-in.

on North Carolina white water. There are a number of regional white water guide books, and while they can be more helpful in some ways, they are not nearly so comprehensive. Benner has got it all. If it's in NC or SC and it's whitewater, then it's in there. The Caveat: Bob Benner is the old school author of most of the book. His son, David, is from the more elite hair-head generation. This means that the rivers rated by David are on a different scale from those rated by Bob. The good news: careful reading will reveal the difference between Bob's description's and David's.

I've only paddled a few of the runs described in the book but have found a lot of information that needs updating. Apparently the authors are unaware that Al Gore invented the internet a generation ago and that there are online gages for many (?most?) of the runs described. (e.g. French Broad) but few are mentioned in the book. The description is usually along the lines of drive there and inspect onsite. You could waste a lot of time and gas if you don't consult the USGS gages first. Another example the put-in location described for French Broad section 6, is fenced off with a chain link fence topped with barbed wire. Given the rusty nature of this fence, it has been there a long time, well before the 2005 date of the latest "revision".

One of the first guides to WNC whitewater, this book covers all of the significant whitewater rivers in and around Western NC. All the detail you need, without a bunch of filler.

Received book in a timely manner and in excellant condition. It was purchased as a gift so I cannot vouch for its content.

Very descriptive & helpful resource for finding the kind of paddling water you are looking for in the Carolinas. So glad I bought this book!